Errors of ignorance versus errors of ineptitude

In his latest book (The Checklist Manifesto), surgeon Atul Gawande makes a simple yet profound distinction. Some mistakes are made because the person doesn’t know enough or know the right information or have the right skills (these are errors of ignorance), but other mistakes arise from not applying what we know.

In implementing strategies to move my life, work and income in the direction of freeing my time from money and still making a meaningful positive impact on the world, I must admit most of the mistakes and missteps I have made have been from not applying what I know.

I procrastinate on implementing what I know would help move me forward: hiring some more outsourcing help to implement the overwhelming number of ideas for projects I constantly generate; hiring a coach/project manager to “herd my cats,” that is, to help me stay focused and working on the right things and moving projects to completion in a more systematic and timely manner.

So, this post is to get you thinking about what kind of mistakes you make: Do you need more information or skills? Or do you need to use what you already know in a better way?

Getting down to the MEAT of the matter

When you think about it, you have four commodities in your life that you can influence to create a sense of freedom:
M-Money
E-Energy
A-Attention
T-Time

The world, other people, your job, advertisers, companies, etc. are all competing for your MEAT. It’s you task to manage your MEAT to maximize the likelihood of a life you want to live; Your Life of Freedom, as I have called it.

I came across the ideas of Rob Bennett (http://www.passionsaving.com/), who helps people semi-retire early or retire in gradual steps. He has a concept he calls “Making a purchase from the Freedom Store.” This involves managing your money (saving money by being frugal and plugging money leaks); your time (trading some bits of time now for freedom down the road); attention and energy now for creating desirable future conditions.

I like this idea. Invest time, money, energy or attention now learning some software or web-based process that can save you time down the road. That is a deposit into your freedom account.

Invest time in locating and plugging money leaks now can buy you freedom down the road.

Learn how to create automated income (set up an online shopping cart and store; master autoresponders; create blogs, websites, podcasts, etc. to let people know about you and what you offer that is of value). Set up ongoing sources of passive automated income (like affiliate income or automated systems for marketing, selling and delivering your products and aftersale marketing).

What purchases have you made from the Freedom Store today, this week or month with your MEAT? If you haven’t made any, what plans could you make to start buying your future freedom?

Start as soon as you can.

Easy outsourcing

I have used outsourcing a bit and found it helpful, but I haven’t used it as much as I could or should to move my business forward and to free my time while making money.

In realizing this, I have vowed that this year, I will use outsourcing much more and master this process as well as find some reliable outsources I can turn to at a moment’s notice.

I came across this site recently and it looks like it may be the ticket.

http://www.outsourcingoutsourcing.com/