Productive & Organized

Sometimes Taking Action is Not the Right Choice

Sometimes taking action is not the right choice.  I have been thinking about that statement for a while now.  Then, tonight it came up again as I was interviewing Des Gray on Mindset.  OK, so maybe it is time that I write about it again.

It seems funny for me to say it because I'm continually telling people they need to get into action and out of perfectionism and procrastination.  Just do something!

However, I'm reminded that not all action is good action.  In fact, last year when I told you about my theme for 2011 of Decisive Productive Action I touched on some of these points too.  It is worth rehashing here though, because it is an important point to understand.

I Invite You to Make 2012 Different - Take a stand and say YES with me.

Warning - this message may be a bit more harsh than you are used to reading from me.  Read it anyway!

If you are like most business owners, you created your business because you wanted to live on your own terms and you knew that you have something amazing to offer.

But, have you realized that dream?

Are you doing what you love, or putting out fires? Do you have minor business problem gathering other problems, rolling downhill and ending up smack, dab in your personal life?  Do you find you are getting sidetracked and not finding the traction you need to move your business forward?

The truth is every performance gap, every little inefficiency, every lack of organization or productivity, not only reduces the effectiveness of your business, it also steals time from your personal life! This is TRUE FOR all BUSINESS owners!

As business owner you need to confidently take your business to the next level… if you’re not, you may be going nowhere fast...  In fact if you are like 95% of business owners, you are already there…in the area of a million ideas and nothing getting done.

If Time Blocking Does Not Work, What Can You Do?

The other day I delivered a Webinar with Allyson Lewis called Reduce the Clutter & Organize Your Desk - On a Clear Day I Can See The Top of My Desk!

After the session, I received this message:

Stephanie: I have trouble with time blocking. I don't always feel mentally, emotionally, or physically ready to do what I've scheduled for that specific period. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance. Ann

I'm glad that Ann asked that question!  She is not the only one that struggles with time blocking.  It is not for everyone.

Today I'll talk about what you can do when the time management technique of time blocking and your brain don't work together.

Answers to YOUR Biggest Challenges to GETTING IT ALL DONE - Everyone Wants Stuff NOW!

For the last few weeks, I have been talking to my communities on Facebook asking them:

I would love to know what is YOUR biggest challenge to GETTING IT ALL DONE?

One of the responses I heard quite a bit was:

  "Everyone wants everything right now!"

Does that feel familiar?  Today, we are in a instant gratification society.  We can get information SO quickly that sometimes we forget that people are not machines. 

One of the biggest time stealers is interruptions.  A lot of people, especially in today's "I need an answer now" society feel that they need to be able to respond to people immediately.

Let's talk about what you can do to combat that feeling.

Psychology of Clutter

What do you think of when you think of the word "clutter"?

Do you think of the piles of papers on your desk (and/or floor)?

Do you think of your over stuffed closet?

Do you think of your schedule, stuffed to the max with obligations?

Clutter is often represented by piles of stuff, but did you know there is a psychology of clutter? 

Have you ever had someone come to your space and help you get it cleaned up and organized, only to find that it was a big mess a few weeks or months later? 

Maybe it is because you only addressed the stuff.

Barbara Hemphill coined the phrase "Clutter is Postponed Decisions."

I often say that clutter is 80% emotion and 20% stuff.

Here is a great short article from the Denver Post on Psychology of Clutter.  What do you think?

http://www.denverpost.com/recommended/ci_8060057

"You Can't Connect the Dots Looking Forward; You Can Only Connect Them Looking Backwards " Steve Jobs

Back when I was in college all things "geeky" was my focus.  I was studying for two degrees: computer science and human resource management. 

Steve Jobs (co-founder of Apple Computer, NeXt and of Pixar Animation Studios) wasn't somebody that I studied in class, but he was someone I admired and studied outside of class then and now.  I am very sad to have learned that he passed away. 

He was a unique individual.  Uncommon.  But you have to be uncommon to be successful.  You have to do what it takes that others are not willing to do.

Today, I share a video of one of my favorite talks of his and a few quotes from that speech. I connect with the message he shares and often find myself using similar thought processes when I choose to work on (or not work on) activities.  I thought these words might help you with priority setting too.

Is Quiet Time Productive?

The other day I mentioned on Twitter that the "in-between" time where you are in a waiting pattern can be the most non-productive.  @pinwheelgirl shared her perspective and it inspired this post.  To see our conversation, take a look at the picture to the right.  The most recent comment is on top and historical follows. 

Do you experience quiet time?  Do you experience thinking or "percolating" time? Non activity time?

Business owners need quiet time to reflect and think.  To be a visionary, you can't be going all of the time.  Sometimes professionals think they need to be go-go-going in order to be productive.  In fact, if you are going all of the time and not thinking, you are not as productive as you could be.

I'm sure that you have heard that in order for your business to be successful that you need to spend time working "ON" your business, not "IN" your business.  Do you make sure you do that? 

Schedule some "percolating" time today.  :-)

What do you do?  Are ideas "percolating" during your in-between times, or do you have thinking time in another way?

To your success!

P.S.  Join me on Facebook -->  www.StephOnFacebook.com

Do You Continually Rub Your Finger With Sandpaper?

Consider this:  What if you see me start rubbing my finger with sandpaper.  I rub my finger until it gets raw, so I start rubbing on a different finger with the same results and then move to my hip, my head, etc.  You see me continue to rub with the sandpaper in different places on my body...thinking... maybe if I rub harder or faster I can get better results...

What would you be thinking?

Then I stop.

What if the solution is not where I rub or how fast or how hard I rub with the sandpaper?

Paper Piles - 3 Tricks to Eliminate the Avalanche

Your desktop and frankly any other horizontal surface are the hardest places to keep clear.  Bills to pay, to-do lists, event invites, magazines you have been meaning to read, orders you need to fill, and the list goes on and on. 

Often, we keep things "out" - either spread around or stacked - on our desk and other surfaces because we don't want to forget to do something that we have deemed important or don't want to forget.

Today I'll share 3 tricks that have worked for me and my clients.

Join the Refresh-Her Challenge

On Mondays I frequently share something to get your juices flowing.  I call it Motivational Moment.  I'm writing today very excited to tell you about a program you really should consider participating in and even if you don't want to do the entire program, you MUST check out the 3 videos that reveal the small steps you can take to create a huge impact to your bottom line.  They are filled with motivation.  But, I'm getting ahead of myself here... let me back up a bit.

Dr. Shannon Reece is a colleague and friend that has participated in a number of my collaborative posts as well as shared her thoughts on eliminating fear right here at Productive & Organized. Every time she has participated, I have received great comments from you!  Today, I will tell you about a few different opportunities to learn more from her and some of them are at no cost to you!

Do you have a balance plan?

"Balance?  What is that?!" was how she responded when I asked her if she had a balance plan.  She is not alone!  People are working more than ever.  "The more I work the more I get done" is the thought, but that is not always true.

Professionals often become overwhelmed with the handling of their personal and business matters. Business owners know that boundaries around their work and efficient systems are paramount to career success. Yet, few experience the benefits of self-employment because they are buried in an ever-mounting pile of paper and backlogged tasks.

I'll share an alternate route today.

My first Twitterview with @marciahoeck - Decisive Productive Action Taken

A little while back, I wrote to you about my theme for this year: decisive productive action.  One of the things I mentioned was that I was not going to let perfectionism get in my way and that I was going to enhance my focus on making decisions and carrying them out effectively.  Well, my buddy Marcia Hoeck Steger put me to the test last week!  She and I were on the phone catching up and she asked me if I would do a Twitterview with her. 

A what?!?

I then learned that a Twitterview was an interview that was conducted on Twitter using a hashtag (we used #BizProd) to aggregate all of the comments together in one spot where people could follow the conversation.

Hmmm...  I had never done one of those before.  Sure!  Let's do it.  So, we scheduled the following week to hold our inaugural twitterview. (It was her first time being the interviewer.) Today I'll share the experience and the interview on the topic of productivity.

Listen to Stephanie on Solace Wealth Management on Blog Talk Radio

Listen to Stephanie answer questions about productivity & organization on the Solace Wealth Management show.  John will interview Steph for 60 minutes. Have questions you want to make sure Stephanie answers?  Share them in the comments below or add them to the comments on the show's chat. Listen to internet radio with Solace Wealth Management on Blog Talk Radio

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To your success!

PS - I LOVE hearing from my readers!  Do you have a tip or trick that works well for you?  Let me know!  Do you have something that you are struggling with that you would like me to write about?  Let me know that too!

PPS - If you would rather listen to my posts go to http://www.cinchcast.com/StephCalahan where you can listen online or download to iTunes or your computer.

___________________________________________________________________________________

©Stephanie LH Calahan (AKA StephCalahan) is a dynamic entrepreneur, nationally
known speaker, media personality, author, publisher; personal productivity and
organization consultant, and business coach.  She understands that every person
is different and requires systems that work for them.  As the founder and CEO of
Calahan Solutions, Inc., she and her consultants focus on conducting presentations,
personal coaching, assessments and productivity / organizing services for
entrepreneurs & time pressed professionals. 
Learn more: www.CalahanSolutions.com or www.ProductiveAndOrganized.net

 

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My Theme for 2011: Decisive Productive Action

Do you have a theme for 2011?  At the beginning of the year, I read a number of blog posts and articles from people that said they would pick anywhere from 1 to 5 words to focus their year.  I have been doing this for the past few years and have found that it works really well.  2011 = DECISIVE PRODUCTIVE ACTION

Start the New Year off with a New Focus on Your Personal Affairs

It is hard to believe that it is already January!  It is Get Organized Month and now is a great time to focus on your personal affairs.  Rather than rushing in April to make sure that all of your paper work is in order, do it now and start off the year with a kick!

It is interesting to me that many entrepreneurs and business owners spend the majority of their time completely consumed by their business and totally neglect their personal affairs.

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Make Your Resolutions/Goals from a Customer/Client Perspective & Grow Your Business Next Year (The 3 Ss)

Every year at this time we start to think about how the current year has progressed and what we want to do in the upcoming year. The new year brings new hope for your small business!  Unfortunately, somewhere in the back of your mind you realize that the resolutions you have made in the past were not always realized.  Somehow, they got sucked up by your every day busy life.

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I have often said that New Year's Resolutions don't work and that you really should make solid goals instead.  So let's talk about goals instead of resolutions.  There are a bunch of different ways to create your goals.  A quick and easy way to get solid goals that will make a difference for you is to make them from your customer's perspective!  When you focus on your clients, you will create a whole new perspective for your business vision.  The goals (ok you can call them resolutions if you would like) will have more sticking power too.  So let's look at how you do just that. Know the 3 Ss:  Success, Suck and Stretch.

106 Thoughts on Overcoming Overwhelm in a Freaked-Out World

"Overwhelm" is a word that I have been hearing a lot lately.  I hear it from my clients and workshop participants as well as my connections on social media sights.  We have a lot that comes at us every day and it is important to have strategies to break out of that overwhelmed state quickly.  So, I asked my colleagues if they would share their favorite tips for overcoming overwhelm. 

As you read through the 106 comments, you will find commonalities as well as complete conflicts in strategy and tactic.  Just to make sure you don't get overwhelmed reading a long post on overwhelm, here are a few tips to consider:

• This post is not meant to be a step-by-step guide.  I do not suggest that you adopt all the tips below.
• Pick and choose the tips that will be most useful to you. There are different concepts listed here — not every single one will be useful to every person. I hope you’ll find 3 that are useful, or that are reminders of something you’ve been wanting to do.
• Experiment! Try out different thoughts and see if they work for you.
• None are guaranteed. But many are very likely to bring happiness.
• These thoughts are not in any order. Some of the best ideas for you may very well be at the bottom!
• Share your ideas.  I'm sure that if you do, you will help someone else reading this post.

5 Simple Steps to Eliminate Fear and Even Use it as an Asset

Everyone experiences fear.  It’s a natural part of life and something you can’t avoid.  But most fear isn’t real -- it’s created by you.  So the good news is that this type of imagined fear, having been created in your mind, can be controlled by you too!

Improve Your Self-Image and You'll Improve Your Personal Productivity Power

PERSONAL PRODUCTIVITY POWER!  In order to get it, you have to understand the success cycle.

Your thoughts and emotions control your behavior which in tern controls the results you experience.  All of those things directly and indirectly impact your self-image. 

So, are you working with a positive self-image?  Today, I'll talk about six steps you can take to impact your personal productivity power.

Personal Productivity, Organization and Mindset #Cinch Podcasts In One Location

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You Can Make a Difference in YOUR Productivity in 7 Minutes!

Have you ever felt like you were ...working harder than ever,

• but not accomplishing anything that made you feel like you had a purpose being responsible and doing what you needed to do for your family, friends and employer/clients,
• but weren't fulfilled spending most of your time 'putting out fires'
• and not accomplishing the really important things
  
  
• working hard for 'someday' when you'll be able to do what you want with the ones you love feeling like there had to be more?

My friend, Allyson Lewis felt that way too. But, when someone introduced her to a new way of thinking, her life began a radical and wonderful change in just 7 minutes. 

Increase Productivity: Focus on What You CAN Control - Free Yourself from Feeling Overwhelmed/Stressed

Thanks for dropping by my blog today.  I hope that you will take a moment to share your thoughts after you have read today's post.

It seems the more people I talk to, the more I hear about stress, frusteration and the inability to concentrate due to overwhelm.  I hear it from my networking partners, clients and readers.  You either have too much to do, interruptions plague your day, too much work, other people putting pressure on you and more.

The good news is that there is something we can do about it.

Your Priorities - Take the Quiz and See How You Do

The key is not to prioritize what's on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities. ~ Stephen Covey

I hear it all of the time from my business colleagues and clients.  "I don't have time!"  It is true that we are busier than ever.  It seems that the more tools and tricks we get, the more we have to do and the less time we have to do it.  I read somewhere recently that we get done in 14-15 hours what 30 years ago would have taken 40+ hours to do.  Yet, it still does not all get done... Why is that?  Maybe it is because we are not focusing on the right things.

Take today's quiz and then tell me how you did.  It can be really eye opening!

Grow Your Productivity by Hours a Day

Think about this today!  What is your 20?

A few days ago, my blog post on Self-Discipline and Productivity - How to build self-discipline was being re-tweeted and discussed on Twitter.  Here are a few comments:
 

IleenieWeenie  My whole life is a slip. RT @chris_bailey: ...it's okay to slip - @StephCalahan: Self-Discipline & Productivity http://bit.ly/c60sOb 

1.   chris_bailey practice the 80/20 rule..it's okay to slip - @StephCalahan: Self-Discipline & Productivity http://bit.ly/c60sOb /via:@IleenieWeenie

IleenieWeenie is SO NOT a slip-up!  Yet many feel that way.  I thought I'd share another perspective on this mathematical fact.  The 80/20 rule is a fantastic and Patrick Dixon shared his perspective in the video below.

5 Easy Ways Kick-Start Your Daily Personal Productivity

As you search for your ultimate personal productivity blueprint, don't forget to think about how you get going in the morning.  There are some simple things that you can put in place to make sure you hit your full potential. 

In fact, if you don't have a morning routine that enhances your chances of starting off right, you may doom the rest of your day to failure!

The good news is that you can enhance your morning routine and significantly improve your odds of having a productive rest of your day.

With that in mind, here are 5 ways to start a very productive day:

Watch for Episode #3 of TLC's Hoarding: Buried Alive Show

TLC recently began airing a series called "Hoarding: Buried Alive"  and I'd like you to consider watching episode #3.

Wile my blog normally talks about organizing and productivity as it relates to your office and work environment, I'm sharing information on this show and specific episode for two reasons:

1 -- Hoarding affects millions of people, including individuals with hoarding behavior or tendencies, family members who fear for their loved one’s health and safety, neighbors and public officials. Multiple generations can be impacted by an individual that struggles with hoarding.  Shows such as this one are creating a greater awareness of hoarding behaviors as well as some of the strategies used to work with people who hoard.

2 -- We were honored that the TLC series selected our very own Ellen Hankes CPO-CD (certified professional organizer in chronic disorganization) to work with Mary.  On Sunday evening, March 28th, TLC television will air a show that was filmed in Omaha, Nebraska. Hoarding: Buried Alive features Mary as she works to address her extreme volume of personal belongings. Ellen served as the consulting Professional Organizer for the show. 

Hoarding behavior typically has two aspects: that of acquiring and saving of items with little or no value coupled with extreme difficulty in discarding these items. 

Mon Motivation - 16 Failed Predictions - Limiting Your Beliefs Can Limit Your Success

"Nothing is as hard to do gracefully as
getting down off your high horse."
~ CourtneyWilding ~

Often we do it when we aren't thinking about it.  We create opinions about our systems and processes and convince ourselves that it is the only way to do something.  We have climbed onto our "high horse" and have a really hard time coming down. 

These self-limiting states of belief can be bad if we let them take over, however.  "Whole generations of people can believe something is impossible until one person breaks through and proves them wrong." (Chris Voss)  Throughout our history, there have been some amazing predictions about the future that at the time did not seem so amazing.  Someone would state what they believed to be true and others would agree.  Now, only with time passing do we understand how limiting their belief systems were!  [You don't think the world is flat do you?]

Today I share some of my favorite "expert" statements that have been proved to be incorrect.  As you read through them, consider which of your belief statements might be wrong and what you could accomplish if you got off of your "high-horse."

Mon. Motivation - What Direction are You Moving?

I find the great thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving.  To reach the port of heaven, we must sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it, --- but we must sail, and not drift, nor lie at anchor.
~Oliver Wendell Holmes~

So often we get lost in the details and analysis of what we should do that we forget to take action.  There are many quotes from brilliant people on this subject. 

Top 9 Mistaken Organizing Statements

There are a number of statements that I have heard people say over the years with regard to their organizing projects.  They are the top mistakes that you can make when thinking about getting your space and time under control. 

What Drives You to Your Success? Spine Tingling Inspiration Video - Motivational Moment

From the goofy days of "Fresh Prince of Belle Aire" to the award winning performances of "The Pursuit of Happyness," actor Will Smith has molded his career to amazing levels.  Monday Motivation! Today I share a video montage of interviews of Will where share his thoughts and drive.  I hope it brings as much thought, energy and passion to you, as it has to me!

Sometimes we just have to laugh @ our procrastination (video from @AgentXPQ)

Sometimes you just have to laugh at yourself to really have an "a-ha" moment.  @AgentXPQ decided to do just that!  Check out this short 1:20 minute video and see if you relate and then let me know what you think! 

The Great Organizing Giveaway is Here!

The new year is a great time to think of ways that you can improve your life -- Getting Organized always lands in the top 10 lists of New Year Resolutions.  There are many outstanding resources available help you, but I often hear that it is hard to find them.  Our solution was to get the resources available in one spot!

The Great Organizing Giveaway is Here!

Learn 5 Secrets to Put Procrastination Off Until Tomorrow!

"I can’t help it!  I was born to procrastinate." That was the statement I heard when talking with a new client about a week ago.

So I asked her, "Are you happy with your procrastination?  Does it serve you well?"

“No!” she exclaimed.  “That is why I called you.  I’m missing important deadlines and my co-workers and family are fed up with me."

Do these statements resonate with you?  If so, then keep reading. You can overcome procrastination if you learn a few simple secrets.   Sometimes procrastination (putting an activity off until a later date) is necessary — like when a higher priority item comes up that you have to work on.  However, if procrastination becomes a habit, trouble often follows.  Start by understanding that there is nothing genetically or inherently wrong with you. So far, scientists have not found a procrastination gene!  That is good news because it means it is a habit you can kick.

For Goodness Sakes! Let GO of Your Story

We all have them --- stories.  Some serve us well, while others hold us back.  What are yours doing for you?

You see, I used to be a product of my own story.  Good right?  Not always.  As a business owner, I have a LOT of passion around what I do, but there were things in my life that were keeping me from my full potential.  Yes, I have won several awards and have a successful practice, but deep down, I KNEW I could do more.  Have you ever felt that way?  So what was it?  Did I need more education?  Did I need better marketing?  Did I need a new brain?  What?!?  Well, early in 2009, I figured it out.  I needed a new story and maybe you do too.

Life Coaching Tips to Organize Yourself For Success

(Guest Post: Natalie Dee)

Nothing succeeds like success. A small 'victory' on your chosen path fills you with joy and gives the strength and confidence to pursue further. To make success a habit is difficult but not impossible. Strength and confidence along with hard work and determination may help you progress in the desired direction. How do you organize your progress so that your life goals are realized? The process is as important as the destination.

Organize Your Ideas and Watch Them Unfold

(Guest Post: Sheila Zayas)

How many times have you had a product idea only to see someone else on a 30-minute infomercial promoting YOUR idea?

Whether you want to create an innovative product or provide an unusual service, organizing your ideas is key to seeing your vision come to pass.

Want a Paper Planner for 2010? Check out these Great Reviews by @JanetBarclay

Janet Barclay of Your Organizing Business wrote a great post a few days ago that recapped how she is choosing her planner for 2010.  In her post Paper Planners: The Showdown, Janet talks about how she solicited recommendations from her readers (most all Professional Organizers) and boy did she get some great suggestions.

"The recommendations I received fit into three main categories: traditional, downloadable/printable, and innovative, so I’m grouping my comments accordingly."  Janet Barclay

This is a must read post if you are looking for that perfect paper planner.  You may come to the same conclusion as Janet, or you may find that your needs are totally different, but you will get a fabulous overview of some of the most popular planning systems today.

Have a planning system you love?  Tell me about it. 

To your success!

PS -- If you've enjoyed this post and want to see more, why not subscribe to our daily emails (Feedblitz) or through the RSS Feed (click here)?  Or, follow us on Twitter!  Or connect on Facebook!

The Great Calendar Debate - Paper or Electronic - 21 Experts Weigh In

We are in the home stretch of 2009 -- bring on 2010!!  One item frequently purchased at this time of year is a calendar or planner for the upcoming year. 

But, what is the right kind of planner to use?  Some say the traditional paper planner is the best, while others swear by their smart-phone or on line tool.  How do you decide what is best for you? 

Keep reading to learn what my colleagues and friends had to say about the "Great Calendar Debate."   They provide tips to help you decide as well as some recommended tools.

Do You Hate Your To-Do List? Try This Instead

"Stephanie, I make list after list after list, but never get anything done.  Half of the piles on my desk are lists that I've made at different points!" 

Dawn was exasperated and frustrated.  To do lists are great, but only if they work. 

Do You Have a Yeah/Yuckie List? Maybe You Should

I'm sure you are thinking, "Stephanie has lost her mind!"  A Yeah/Yuckie list?  That sounds like something kids would do and maybe it is, but today, we're going to talk about why you might want to make one of your own.

A Yeah/Yuckie list is a thought process you can go through to help you determine if you are spending your time wisely.

I've Had Enough and I'm Doing Something About It!

I've had a lot of clients over the yearsthat have waged war on their paper, but a while ago I received a letter in the mail that made me smile and say, "You GO Girl!" 

Mary and I had completed a strategy session that included ideas for how she could manage the ever mounting piles of paper in her home office.  She had good ideas about what she needed to keep and what to let go of, but over time, the piles had just accumulated and had grown to an overwhelming amount.  We came up with an idea that was fun and managed the situation really well.  I'll tell you about it today.  See if any of her statements resonate with you too.

Don't Get Your Time Stolen -- 6 Mistakes to Avoid

You can't call the police and file a report on today's topic, but it is one of the worst thefts that can happen in life.  Time theft is stealth--it sneaks up on you.  Don't let this happen to you!  Today we need to be vigilant with our businesses.  Every expense must be reviewed, even investments of your time and energy.  Here are 6 areas for you to get under control this week and know you won't get your time stolen again.  First, the mistake --> then what you really should do.

Reader Asks: How can we organize paperwork for more room & keep our bills/receipts in order?

This week, Jennifer from Knoxville, Tennessee wrote us with a paper and space question:

Hello. My parents are owners of a restaurant and I believe we have outgrown our little building how can we organize our paperwork to give us more room and to keep our bills and receipts in order? 

Jennifer:  This problem comes up at least once in the life of every small business.  Here are some things you can do to fight the mounding piles of paper:

Evaluate Your Current Position for Business Success - Motivational Moment

If you are like many business owners, this economic downturn has you looking at your business in different ways.  Are you and your staff as effective as you could be?  Maybe it is time for a business review.

My colleague from Connecticut, Carrie Dubray of www.OrganizedbyDubray.com, shared a great exersize for this very thing.  Check it out and try it!

Don't blame your clutter on someone else

When you were growing up, who cleaned your room?  Who decided when things needed to dissapear?  How did the stuff get cleared?

Weird questions?  Maybe, but for many of us our childhood stuff was managed by our parents/care-givers.  They took care of the stuff.  Or, the stuff did not have a home and stayed where it landed.

"In either case, the child never learned how to facilitate stuff deletion," wrote one of my new organizing and Twitter buddies Janice Russell (@MYM_Organizing).

It is More than OK to Hit the DELETE Key - Learn How Now

 

Hit the DELETE Key Often!  With the ever increasing amounts of electronic mail that we get, it is OK to hit the delete key.

I have found, however, that there are many people that are uncomfortable with that action.  Today I will share how one client and I worked through her barrage of email to put systems in place and manage a backlog of 1,000s of emails.

Get Your Special Report: Priority Setting - Working on the Right Things

“Efficiency is doing things right, but effectiveness is doing the right things."
 ~Peter Drucker~

In today’s economic climate, it is more important than ever to make sure that the things we choose to spend our time on are the right things.  Drucker encourages us to understand that it is important to decide “what” is to be done first.  Only after that decision is made should we figure out the “how” and “when”.

When you consider your system for setting priorities, you must focus on doing the right things, rather than simply doing things right.

• Are you in charge of leading your business or department?
• Do you have a large list of abandoned projects all sitting at various levels of incompletion? 
• Do you have a list of projects that do not reflect your best work?
• Do you struggle with figuring out how to focus your time and energy and work on what is truly important?

If so, you'll want to closely examine what's on the pages of this special report.  I reached out to my contacts from around the globe and asked them to share their favorite priority setting tips and tricks to help YOU be successful.  Get yourself on the track to better productivity by seeing these 40+ tips.   

I hope you enjoy the report! I also hope that you will teach others how to focus on what is really important in their life.  If you find value here, please let your peers know about this report. You can find the original page for the report here: http://Steph.bz/PrioritySetting.

 

To your success!

 

 

 

7 Steps to Free Up Room On Your Brain’s Hard Drive so You Don't Lose Your Mind! (Part 5)

For the past few days, I have talked about why our brain is like a computer and shared the first six of seven tips on what you can do to free up room on your brain's hard drive.

Today I'll share tip 7 for freeing up space and getting rid of brain clutter.

7 Steps to Free Up Room On Your Brain’s Hard Drive so You Don't Lose Your Mind! (Part 4)

For the past few days, I have talked about why our brain is like a computer and shared the first five of seven tips on what you can do to free up room on your brain's hard drive.

Today I'll share tip 6 for freeing up space and getting rid of brain clutter.

7 Steps to Free Up Room On Your Brain’s Hard Drive so You Don't Lose Your Mind! (Part 3)

For the past few days, I have talked about why our brain is like a computer and shared the first three of seven tips on what you can do to free up room on your brain's hard drive.

Today I'll share tips 4 and 5 for freeing up space and getting rid of brain clutter.