Sunday afternoon I became aware of a virus that had infected my computer – it was showing up as a program called System Tool, and it was instructing me to buy it so that I could thwart the 38 viruses that were then infecting my computer. Something didn’t seem legit. Unable to focus on the issue at that moment due to an important birthday celebration in my family, I shut down to avoid further havoc and left a note front and center on my desk to call my techie, George, first thing Monday morning to help me solve this nightmare.
The birthday celebration was wonderful. Although I didn’t sleep well that night. It could have been the amazing, and large meal that I had eaten. More likely though, it was the haunting of the virus in the back of my mind, eating away at my files in my dreams.
First thing Monday morning, I began to decipher the issue. System Tool was indeed a virus (masquerading as an anti-virus). With lots of help, I found Malwarebytes Anti-Malware (free download) which isolated and removed over 40 threats, and restored my computer to its normal functioning.
Several hours later, and now logging onto to my computer to ‘begin’ my work day. It threw the day off completely. This virus had stolen several of the most productive hours of my day.
Time to re-assess. Because, that is all we can do when our day has delivered a surprise, a one hundred and eighty degree turn.
No choice but to step back and fiercely determine the priorities for the day. What absolutely must get done. What is critical Monday work?
It did take a little while, but not that long. What DID become clear to me was that there were three things that I needed to focus on and complete, prior to leaving my office later in the day for outside meetings.
Once clear, I focused on these three simple things. Everything else came off the list.
Once clear, I moved through these three things swiftly and decidedly.
Made me kind-of wonder what the other stuff was doing on the list, anyway. The gift of a virus delivering razor sharp focus for a Monday.
Ah, sweet simplicity packaged as a rogue virus.
“A little simplification would be the first step toward rational living, I think.’ (Eleanor Roosevelt)
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