Review: The Other 8 Hours

After reading a few other reviews online of Robert Pagliarini's The Other 8 Hours, I actually paid full price for this hardcover, I was so excited to read it. What could possibly be so interesting about a business book to a Stay-At-Home-Mom? Well, technically, it's a time management book, and I'm all about that. So here's what thought of it.

First, I have to say that several of the reviews I read commented specifically on his "course" language. I personally found absolutely nothing offensive. Nothing. I think at one point he used the phrase "get off your ass", but that was it, and I was actually looking for offensive language since I couldn't imagine how it would fit in a business book. So if you also read those reviews, allow me to throw in my two cents - there's nothing offensive here, at least to me.

Now that that little issue is out of the way, let me summarize the book. Basically, Robert suggests a four-step approach to getting more free time, specifically making the most of the "other 8 hours" you aren't sleeping or at work, and then using it to make money and make your life better. Sounds good, right? Sure, but what about those of us on more flexible schedules? I still found his suggestions effective. Robert isn't going to clock you with a stopwatch and make sure you use all 8 hours, nor does he encourage you to do that to yourself! However, if you apply even some of his suggestions, I think you'll notice a more productive day. I have. For example, one of his suggestions is to do brain things and body things at the same time. Since reading The Other 8 Hours, I've rethought if I want to spend my workouts listening to my iPod blindly or using that time to listen to motivational podcasts, digital books, reading real books, etc... Last week I planned an upcoming meeting while on the recumbent bicycle, and yes, I could read my writing!

The section on making more money with your other 8 hours is very detailed with a lot of specific resources and step-by-step guides. It was a bit overwhelming for me as a SAHM who has been out of the business world for a while, but it's clearly valuable information. I started with the blogging section (something I'm obviously comfortable with) and I hope to experiment with some of the other ventures as the courage and creativity hit me. The final section is dedicated to making the most of your personal life during the other 8 hours, and that immediately struck a chord with me. That's what I'm all about, making time to read to my kids, getting fresh air, learning to tat or become a better photographer. I like that he places equal emphasis on the importance of these activities and not just on working 24/7 to get rich.

The only part of the book I found a bit lame was the "LifeLeeches" section, which lists a number of ways we lose our other 8 hours to less than stellar activities. I suppose there are people out there who still need to be told that TV, social websites, whining and water cooler gossip are all wastes of time, but for me, the list was simply common sense. Still, if that one reader suddenly realizes how much more he could accomplish if only he stopped checking daily on Lindsay's latest adventures or gaming until 3 am, then I guess it's worth it.

The book, by and large, is filled with simple, direct motivation, clear suggestions, and useful resources. Perhaps most telling is the fact that after reading this book, I was motivated to create a list of other books I've been meaning to read, hit the library, and start reading them. So one good book has lead to a list of others, all of which (hopefully) will pour a little more good into my head. To learn more about this book and others I've enjoyed, check out my book recommendations on the right.

Grateful for Glitter

I'm not much of a morning person. Sure, I get up, I go through the motions, I'm polite and mom-like, but really, I'm dreaming of, well, dreaming. One of my morning responsibilities is to get my son off to school. Like millions of kids, he rides the bus (which is safer and more environmentally responsible than car-riding, but that's another post). A handful of other parents and I dutifully stand around the bus stop for 10 or 15 minutes each morning, keeping the rough-housing down and grilling the kids on their spelling words. It's a mom's life.

This year, however, there's a new trend that's pretty hard on the sleepy morning eyes. This year, in the early morning sun, little girls everywhere are covered in glitter. Apparently their innocent, angelic childhood glow is insufficient, so they have sparkles on their clothes, their shoes, their backpacks, even their tiny little fingernails. It's like saying "Good morning" to a dozen little disco balls every day.

I know my own daughter will grow into some similar fad when she's older, and Lord knows I blinded more than a few people with my fashion choices when I was a kid. In truth, though, I'm glad glitter is the trend - in fact, I wish the boys could get away with it too. I think kids should wear bright happy colors, plaids, polka-dots, or whatever makes them happy. More importantly, though, I think kids should be impossible to miss. I think of it as a visual "scream". If a kid yells for help, I want to hear it. I want everyone to hear it.

I recall hearing from a police officer that the camouflage trend was the worst thing that ever happened to search and rescue missions - how do you find and help a child who's dressed to disappear? To this day, my kids don't wear camouflage - in the woods they wear blaze orange! We're a military family, too, so camouflage is everywhere, but not on my kids. Remember, you don't have to live in a rural area for them to blend in - all it takes to hide them is a median, park or natural landscaping. Camouflage is very effective stuff!

Nope (slurp coffee), I'll take that crazy glitter any morning. Let those little ones shine!