> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # #227 - Messy Thinking - URL: https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/227-messy-thinking/ - Published: 2025-02-24T05:22:18.000Z - Updated: 2025-02-25T11:58:45.000Z - Description: Deal with calendar overload, and learn how to handle the five most difficult people at work. Learn how to make a career pivot, read some great travel tips and play a fun daily number game. - Author: Matt - Tags: Newsletter ✍️ Introducing [JournalBot](https://bsky.app/profile/journalbot.bsky.social?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) \- a new Journaling prompt every day, delivered through BlueSky. [Find it here.](https://bsky.app/profile/journalbot.bsky.social?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) ## The Stuff that MattRs **Monday Motivation.** Let this week be the one where you take a look at your calendar, and clear some things out. [Five steps to take that will help deal with Calendar overload.](https://mailchi.mp/charterworks.com/charter-five-steps-for-solving-calendar-overload-and-unnecessary-meetings-for-your-team?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) Some serious practical action to take when the schedule looks too heavy. *Bonus Stuff.* [*How to get control of your time.*](https://theconversation.com/how-to-get-control-of-your-time-235801?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) *Some excellent inspiration on prioritising for the important things.* **Management**. [FIve of the most difficult people you’ll find in your team, how to identify them and how to handle them](https://newsletter.canopy.is/p/the-5-most-difficult-employees-and?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk). Brilliant summary, and a great bookmark for any manager. **Skills**. [The five soft-skills that will be more important in the age of AI. ](https://www.forbes.com/sites/carolinecastrillon/2025/01/19/5-soft-skills-critical-in-the-age-of-ai/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) **Career**. [How to make a successful career change.](https://theassist.com/how-to-make-a-career-change/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) This step-by-step guide is a great starting point if you are thinking about that pivot. *Bonus Stuff.* [*Google introduces the Career Dreamer tool*](https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/19/googles-career-dreamer-uses-ai-to-help-you-explore-job-possibilities/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) *to help you shape your career, with the help of AI.* **Goals**. [Lay off the goals a bit will you?](https://www.kouroshdini.com/lay-off-the-goals-a-bit-would-you/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) Most that matters cannot be measured, an alternative view of goals. *Bonus Stuff.* [*This video explains some of the reasons why you are not reaching your goals.* ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRvllZqOu78&ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) **Service**. [Find your purpose in the service of others.](https://admiredleadership.substack.com/p/finding-your-purpose-in-the-service)I’ve been thinking a lot about what makes me tick, this is just one of the pieces that resonated with me. ✍️ ****Random Journal Prompt:** What matters most to you in life? Do you think you have your priorities straight? [From JournalBot](https://bsky.app/profile/journalbot.bsky.social?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) ****Bonus Stuff.** [Try my 30 day Journalling Challenge](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/journalling/). ![airline window viewing white clouds](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1525254134158-4fd5fdd45793?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=M3wxMTc3M3wwfDF8c2VhcmNofDU1fHx0cmF2ZWx8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzQwMzE1MTgwfDA&ixlib=rb-4.0.3&q=80&w=2000) Photo by [xx liu](https://unsplash.com/@liuxx?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) / [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/?utm%5Fsource=ghost&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcampaign=api-credit) **Travel**. [Fifty years of travel tips.](https://kk.org/thetechnium/50-years-of-travel-tips/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) Kevin Kelly has travelled a lot, and he has some great ideas to help you maximise your trips. **Networking**. You don’t **need** to start a newsletter, [here’s how to build a strong network with just four emails a year. ](https://www.fastcompany.com/40414066/the-networking-secret-that-only-requires-writing-four-emails-a-year?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) **Thinking**. [How to be a messy thinker. ](https://invertedpassion.com/how-to-be-a-messy-thinker/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk)There may be value in adjusting the way that you think about some things. **Conspiracy**. [What can we do to stop the thread of Conspiracy Theories?](https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/what%5Fcan%5Fwe%5Fdo%5Fto%5Fstop%5Fconspiracy%5Ftheories?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) An important interview that explains why som brains like a conspiracy, and what we can all do to limit the spread of them. **Asshole**. To have deeper conversations,[ maybe it’s time to stop being so nice.](https://psyche.co/ideas/to-have-deeper-conversations-try-being-more-of-an-asshole?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) I don’t advocate being an ass, but I can see how a little more honesty can stimulate a debate. **Finally**. [Dodeku. A very simple, but tricky daily number puzzle.](https://dodeku.com/?ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) Place the tiles on the grid, and make the sums work. 🎵 Have you tried ****FlowStuff**? It's my ever growing and changing playlist of music for concentration and relaxation. Just shy of 50 hours of mostly beatless and wordless music. [You can follow along here.](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2rXoop87aCB6oe1HBERtyn?si=f38e9657e468481c&ref=mattrutherford.co.uk) ### 🔈 My week in Music... ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c2/2e/c22ecd6b-9412-4701-b914-97051141e207/content/images/2025/02/IMG_5183-1.jpeg) Zaho De Sagazan - Dublin 2025 My recommendation this week is Chill Country album from Wisconsin, and I got out to see some live music. [Read My Week in Music here](https://www.mattrutherford.co.uk/mwim-10/) ### Stuff Someone Said (feel free to share) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/c2/2e/c22ecd6b-9412-4701-b914-97051141e207/content/images/2025/02/-227-1.png)