Use the Calendar

If I had to pick the worst issue plaguing modern-day humans, it's this - perceived time starvation.

It causes people to quit the piano.

But, it also causes many students and parents to never even begin.

We'll often receive an inquiry from interested parents. The first conversation goes great. But then, the email conversation will go something like this:

Parent: I just need to talk with my spouse about scheduling and I'll get back to you tonight.

Me: Okay, great!

(1 week passes)

Me: Hey there, just following up with you! Any thoughts on when you'd like to come in for a free trial?

Parent: I haven't had a chance to sit down and talk it through yet. Send me a reminder on Friday if you don't hear back from me.

(Friday arrives)

Me: Hi! Following up with you as requested - any idea when you'd like to come in yet?

Parent: Oh, sorry, busy week. I'll get back to you by the end of the weekend.

(Monday arrives)

Me: Hope you had a great weekend. Any idea on the scheduling yet?

Parent: (never responds to messages ever again)

We all do this with something. If it's not scheduling a piano lesson, it might be "getting around to" scheduling that Zoom call with an old friend. Or buying that replacement doorknob you've needed for the past year.

These things take minutes. But our brains feel like they'll take hours.

Good news is, there's a simple solution - use the calendar.

Yes, my friends...as always, the simplest solution is the best one.

Make a list of the things you want to do this week that you've been putting off. Get the calendar out. And block off the 10 minutes you'll finally get around to doing the thing.

If you struggle with practicing, put practicing in the calendar.

If you need to tidy your living space, but it in the calendar.

Like building a muscle, you'll get better at it the more you do it. And once you realize this stuff doesn't take as long as you think, you'll become truly unstoppable.