Comments on: Try versus Do

By: I’m an Organizing Junkie» I’m An Organizing Junkie

I’m an Organizing Junkie» I’m An Organizing Junkie — Thu, 21 May 2009 06:04:00 +0000

[...] the three questions you can ask yourself to help keep you on track. The second blog post called Try Versus Do is referring to getting out of debt but can certainly also be applied to organizing. Are you [...]

By: Derek

Derek — Wed, 13 May 2009 11:43:15 +0000

“How about never? Does never work for you?”

By: Christina

Christina — Wed, 13 May 2009 03:17:03 +0000

another Simpson’s quote, yet so relevant: “I can’t promise I’ll try…but I’ll try to try.”

By: Sarah

Sarah — Wed, 13 May 2009 00:57:51 +0000

Oh, just one final point.

I HATE people who are habitually late for things. I can understand if someone is five or ten minutes late once in a while, but I have people at work and one friend in particular who is habitually late. And when I say late, I mean my friend is at least 30 minutes late when we are supposed to be meeting.

RUDE!!!!!!!

By: Sarah

Sarah — Wed, 13 May 2009 00:56:16 +0000

Hi everyone,

I think this is a very timely post. I have taken the word ‘try’ out of my vocabulary. I either do or don’t. If I find myself saying try I know that this is something I think I will fail at, or don’t want to do….

EchoLake, this is my year to “do” as well. Despite being 100 pounds overweight I have set a goal to trek to Everest Base Camp in November. My weight challenge is to lose at least 68 pounds by the time I go and I have been doing bushwalks at least once a month starting with 5 mile walks and my longest has been 10 miles last weekend, ending in the last mile being up a mountain…..

I am excited to see what life will be like as a “normal” sized person, having been at least 100 pounds overweight for all of my adult life.

It has all come together for me this year, have been sloppy with my eating, sloppy with my exercise and sloppy with my finances, just doing enough to get by but not enough to build a healthy financial and physical future for myself.

Gosh, I sound like a puritanical angel don’t I? Trust me, not the case….It is soooooo hard to give up chips and unfortunately I get them free at work so they’re always there tempting me.

Enough about food!!

By: Marie

Marie — Tue, 12 May 2009 20:29:05 +0000

ok, quote from the Simpson’s: “Can’t someone else do it?”

By: Geoff

Geoff — Tue, 12 May 2009 20:27:33 +0000

Derek, I always kinda liked “why put off until tommorow what you can get away with never doing?” (some comedian) g

By: Derek

Derek — Tue, 12 May 2009 20:07:28 +0000

How about “why do today what you can put off til tomorrow”

By: Ann

Ann — Tue, 12 May 2009 19:39:33 +0000

Gail is the third person to use Yoda to make a point since the beginning of this month. This quote was also used by a networking specialist and a retirement financial adviser.

All hail Yoda!

By: Saver Queen

Saver Queen — Tue, 12 May 2009 18:38:08 +0000

Echo Lake – congrats on your weight loss success and determination to succeed in other goals!

Geoff – I feel the same way. It’s basically saying “I chose not to prioritize that”.

Suzanne, that’s hilarious about your example of giving birth!

By: Suzanne

Suzanne — Tue, 12 May 2009 17:56:08 +0000

I agree with winkwink also. When my boys used to tell me they “can’t do….” I would tell them the only thing they can’t do is give birth, and even that could change with new technology. On a lighter note, I used to tell them that the only thing I can’t do is “pee standing up without splashing my ankles!” It’s all in our mindset. I see now that when I say I am going to ‘try’ to quit drinking pop, again, that I am giving myself permission to fail. Not a good starting point, so I am going to set a date, and just quit. Not try, but do. The debt repayment is in progress, and it feels so good to track on my charts each balance going down. No more trying, I am doing, thanks to Gail and this site.

By: Amber

Amber — Tue, 12 May 2009 17:34:06 +0000

Thanks for the inspiration! You’re so right about why we use the word ‘try’. I find myself using it a lot these days for a variety of reasons. It’s time to stop that.

By: *pol

*pol — Tue, 12 May 2009 16:56:06 +0000

Then there are those irratating people that tell you they will see you there, and then don’t show up! That is lying!

I was taught that I shouldn’t make a promise I can’t keep. So instead of saying, “I will see you there” I say, “I really want to come, but I have to check first”. Sure it sounds like a half-assed commitment, but if I think I could be lying by saying I’ll do it, then I feel terrible!

I do not TRY to manage money though, I just DO IT! It feels so good to know what’s happening with it. And there is no one to blame but me if it doesn’t work out.

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush,
a borrower nor a lender be,
nobody plans to fail, but plenty fail to plan
…. etc… etc…

By: EchoLake

EchoLake — Tue, 12 May 2009 16:12:20 +0000

Although not a money “try”. For years I wanted to lose weight and sometimes I would try. In January 2008 I decided that I would lose weight – there was no choice – so far I have lost 73 lbs. and I am just 11 lbs. to my goal. No more “trying” for me.

So, now we are saving for a trip to Hawaii. No “trying” we are.

The other phrase I hate besides “try”. Is “I deserve” this that or the other thing. Mostly I hear this statement from people who can’t afford what they figure they deserve – but they still go on the vacation or buy the big screen TV and then complain when they can’t afford groceries.

From Gail I have learned – deserve is earned through saving – paying up front for the rewards we earn in life. I am determined to never pay interest on something “I deserved”. I will save for such rewards – and not just “try” to save.

By: Marie

Marie — Tue, 12 May 2009 16:10:42 +0000

” I will try to get rid of debt ” vs ” I am getting rid of my debt ”
How do you know which one you are doing?
Calculate your net worth at the end of each month. You’ll know. After every calculation, if your net worth increased, write in BIG letters: “I am getting rid of my debt!”
I do not feel bad about using the word ‘try’ when I have limited control over events. It is better to try than do nothing. I know people affraid to ‘do’ (in case they fail) and never try. Give it your best shot. If success did not happen, check why and keep it in mind for next time. But assess each ‘try’ so you learn that you can ‘do’. Confidence building exercise!