Productive & Organized

This is the Year & NOW is the Time - Take the Self-Assessment to See If You Qualify for a F'ree Strategy Session

"I'm not making excuses anymore.  I'm tired of looking for important papers.  I'm tired of wasted time.  I'm tired of not focusing on my business like I should. This is the year and now is the time!"  That is what I heard from a new client as I was talking to him this week, and I could not agree more!  2009 was rough on a lot of us.  2010 is the start of something new, something better.  Success IS in your grasp!  Do you feel it?  I hope you do.

I want to support that success, so I've decided to open my calendar and offer a limited number of f'ree strategy sessions via telephone or skype.

Interested?  Then start by taking this self-assessment:  http://www.calahansolutions.info/self-assessment.html

You will get your results online and via email immediately and if you qualify for a strategy session, we'll contact you to set up a time to talk. 

What are you waiting for?  Make a change to make 2010 your best year yet.

To your success!

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!

AboutOne is About YOU! Win a chance at an iPod Touch!

I am quite honored to share that the founders of AboutOne contacted me earlier this year and asked me to sit on their advisory board.  After hearing Joanne Lang's extremely professional presentation and vision for an on-line tool that would help busy moms get and stay organized, I was hooked.  Of course I was honored to be on their board!

Up until this point, the AboutOne team has been diligently in the background planning and programming the awesome new tool.  They are now needing your input to ensure that they are spending their development dollars in the right place.  (One of the things I like about this company is that they really care about what YOU think!)

If you have a few minutes, I'd love it if you would go to www.AboutOne.com and take their market survey.  It won't take long and it will help the team tremendously. 

A little about AboutOne:

Coming early in 2010, AboutOne is designed to help busy moms get organized, ->> it is a highly secure, on-line service that helps you quickly enter, track and organize your information and your household information, share pieces with family members and give you the ability from any location, 24/7 to find what you need in seconds.  

 

In addition to helping moms (and yes, dads you will love it too!) the AboutOne team is all about "giving back" too.  Here are three ways that they contribute on a bigger scale:

• free access for our Heroes (army, navy, fire etc) program
• sponsoring children in need
• giving time at events to raise money for cancer.  

Please help the team ensure that the product meets YOUR needs by taking the survey at www.AboutOne.com- it takes less than 10 minutes and you can win an iPod Touch every month too.

Oh!  They will be participating in the Great Organizing Giveaway too!

To your success!

PS -- This is the last post for this week.  Next week be on the look out for my guest posters.  Please show them some love and comment on the blog. :-D

 

With a Little Help From My Friends

Hello!  I hope that you are doing fantastic. 

I wanted to give you a little heads up about some short-term changes for my blog.  Tomorrow, I will go into our local hospital for abdominal surgery.  They tell me that I'll be "out of it" for about two weeks or so.  As much as it might be humous to see what I would write while on pain medication, I'm not sure I would want any of it published.  :-)  With that in mind, I figured it would be a fantastic time to ask my colleagues to help me keep you informed!  So, over the next few weeks, you will continue to receive blog postings from me, but they will all be guest posts.  As soon as I'm recovered, I'll be back sharing more tips and client experiences.  I hope that you have a wonderful remainder of 2009 and a fabulous entry into 2010!

To your success!

PS -- If you did not read my post about the Great Organizing Giveaway, you must mark your calendars for January 25th!

I am so excited and I just had to tell you about it!

January is Get Organized Month and I decided to celebrate it big this year!  As you know, I have some fabulous colleagues in the productivity and organizing industry.  This past year, many of them have contributed their knowledge to blog postings and special reports I've coordinated.  We've had so much fun pulling those together that we decided to do it again, but bigger and better!

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.

Specializing in Chronic Disorganization is Not Easy, But Ellen Did It - Ellen Hankes Earns CPO-CD Designation!

Ellen Hankes is the 1st Certified Professional Organizer in Chronic Disorganization (CPO-CD®) in both Nebraska and Iowa!

Ellen Hankesis one of our AWESOME consultants at Calahan Solutions, Inc. and I'm writing today totally thrilled and excited for her as she takes the next step on her professional journey.  Ellen does not toot her horn very often, so I want to toot it for her! 

When Ellen started working with us she joined the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization and immediately began growing her skills and knowledge.  This month she became a Certified Professional Organizer in Chronic Disorganization (CPO-CD®). 

The CPO-CD® student spends 17-20 months of intensive time studying and applying this learning in practical application with current clients. The purpose of the NSGCD CPO-CD® program is to develop a Professional Organizers skills and knowledge by utilizing a coaching style relationship.  The CPO-CD® program is specifically geared to improve the quality of service, techniques and knowledge a Professional Organizer provides to their Chronically Disorganized clients.

Ellen's focus for work is helping those that have been diagnosed with ADD/ADHD or Hoarding find peace in their daily lives both at home and at work. 

If you have a minute, jump over to Ellen's blog and tell her congratulations. 

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!

We love getting your questions!  Ask one or many!  We review questions on a regular basis and publish in one of our blogs or newsletter.

I'm Amazed and Honored to be a Finalist for the Most Innovative Organizer Award! Vote Today!

I'm shouting from the rooftops, I’m so excited!  Calahan Solutions, Inc. has been nominated for Most Innovative Organizer by NAPO-LA (the Los Angeles chapter of the National Association of Professional Organizers)!  The Most Innovative Organizer is given to the professional organizer who is blazing trails within the industry in terms of his or her business structure, website, products, or services.

I did not even know that I had been nominated, so when I got the call earlier last week, I was in shock.  If you don't know, this is like the Oscars of the organizing world! There are only four other nominees for this category out of the whole world wide web! WOW! I'm honored to be in the company of some really amazing people and businesses.  To make it even better, I'm associated with a number of them too! 

Entrepreneurs You Must Learn To Relax - Here are 74 ideas to get you started

Hey there!  I hope that you are having a FANTASTIC day so far. 

I wanted to let you know TPE picked another one of my tips.  (Yippie!) I was thrilled they were focusing on this topic because so many of my clients tell me that they struggle with relaxing.  Who can blame you?  As a business owner, there are thousands if not millions of things that run through your head on a regular basis.

However, it is a REALLY important business skill to master.  If you don't take time out to relax you become foggy and less productive. 

Mike--from TPE---pulled together 74 of his contributors to create a post just for you.  The great thing about his posts is that he makes it really easy to skim.  Look at each item's quick title (in bold) and decide if you want to read the detail. 

I'd love to hear what you think the best tip is or if you have one that is not listed.

Be well.

To your success!

 

www.NetworkWithSteph.com

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://bit.ly/PrioritySetting.

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To your success!

 

www.NetworkWithSteph.com

 

Self-Discipline and Productivity - How to build self-discipline

I have to admit, this is not a topic I write about very often, but it is very much worth mentioning.  Getting organized is step one, but STAYING organized requires great systems and self-discipline.

Why don't I write about self-discipline?  Well, it is scary for people (me included sometimes!)  Many people instantly start feeling guilty when they think of their own self-discipline.  Is that you?  Today, I share some interesting (and simple) ways that you can work on yours.

NEW! Networking on My Blog - Productive & Organized

Yesterday, I told you about the great kiva birthday promo  Denise Wakeman is doing.  As I was looking at her blog comments (see to the right) I realized I could enhance my blog with some functionality too. 

I love to have conversations online or offline, but I realize that the easier it is to have a conversation the more likely you will actually do it!  It is just like any other system, the more steps it takes to do something, the less likely you are to do it!

So, now, when you scroll to the bottom of any post of mine, you will see it is super easy to comment.  Not only that, if you want, you can comment on other people's comments.

Try it out!  Scroll to the bottom of this post and tell me what you think of the new functionality.

To your success!

Steph

An Opportunity to Give Back - NOT a Handout, but a HAND UP #big50 #kiva

So, Saturday night I was surfing through my Facebook account (www.StephOnFacebook.com) - way too late I might add, I should have been asleep - when I came across an up date from my buddy Denise Wakeman.  She is turning the big 5-0 in June (I was so shocked to hear that) and is doing a special birthday program. I was so thrilled, I had to tell you about it too.

Inspiration for Change - Where in the world has Steph been?

Hello Friends!  I wanted to write a quick note to let you know why I have had to "vanish" for a while.  About 8 weeks ago an endocrinologist started me on a new medication that ultimately led me down a whole new path for life.  If you want the details, keep reading.  If not, know that I'm back and have an ever increasing joy for life and living it!

We Are Expecting!

I am so excited to tell you about the new publication that we will be kicking off in a month's time.  I have heard from you that you would like a way to sort through all of the organizing products out there to determine what is good and what is less than.  We heard you!

Our Organizing Product Reviews site will go live no later than January 2009.  We originally wanted to go sooner than that, but my video camera broke!  I'm now up and going again, so we are diligently reviewing and filming products so that you can not only see pictures, but actually view the product in action!

I would love your help in making this publication as valuable for you as possible.

So Where Has Steph Been?

Hello!  I realize that I have not written much this past month and I thought I would share why!  A colleague of mine, Melanie Spurgeon of Design Built Homes was selected as the builder for the Central Illinois Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.  She contacted me in early October to see if I would be on the strategy team.  Well, how could I refuse?

Listen in on Blog Talk Radio!

I'll be talking with Angel Wilder of "Errand Guru Talk Radio" at noon CST.  Angel and I connected through the HARO group (help a reporter out - ask me about it if you want great media leads!) Keep reading for more on this internet radio show!

Find it on Your Computer in 5 Seconds - Stephanie on WCIA

We were thrilled to be asked back on to WCIA to talk some more about do-it-yourself projects.  Today we talked about a great software program that I use and many of my clients love. Keep reading to see the recording of the segment.

Wow! NAWBO Selected Me for a Member Spotlight

One of my favorite groups (non organizing and productivity related of course) is the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO.)  I have been a member for a number of years. 

I have mentioned before how making time for rejuvenation and recharging batteries is so important.  NAWBO is that for me.  I go to meetings and meet energetic business owners and listen to great programs.  I almost always have a great idea that I'm formulating as I drive home that one time a month.

I am now humbled that they selected me as one of their national spotlight members!  You can see more here: http://nawbo.org/spotlight.cfm?mid=14

What do you do to recharge?  What groups do you belong to that have helped you enhance your business?

To your success!

Favorite Organizing Products

Rob Collins from WCIA asked me to come back on the morning show this week.  So, up at the crack of dawn I go!  I love working with different media personalities.  It is so fun to see how different media outlets operate.  As always, Rob makes things really easy.

In any case, they put both segments up on their web site so that I can share!  I talked about how to make an action system as well as overviews of some of our favorite organizing products.  You can

Organizing WGCY Radio Recording

Last March I had the pleasure of spending some time with Jim Killian, News Director for WGCY radio.  He was fabulous.  It was really easy to talk with him and he made me feel at ease. (Thanks Jim!)  To make things even better, Jim provided the recording of our conversation for me to share. 

Listen in Live! Stephanie on WJBC on Saturday

Hello!  I hope that you are having a fantastic day!  I wanted to give you a heads up that I will be on the morning show of WJBC this coming Saturday.  Susan and Norma from the Broad View will be interviewing me LIVE from 10-12 am CST.  WJBC does a live webcast of all of their programming, so you don't need to be in the area to hear the show.  Follow the link below to  be able to listen online.

http://www.wjbc.com/wjbc-webcasts.htm

Have a question you would like answered?  Call into the show! They will give the call-in information throughout the show.
To your success!

De-Clutter! A Ton of Weight in 2008 - Update

We are at 109% of our goal!

When we set our goal of a Ton of Weight in 2008, we thought the goal was really lofty.  I mean really, a ton sounded like a lot...

Steph is Now an Official Member of the "Freak Pack"

So, you are probably wondering what the heck a "Freak Pack" is right? We are writers on Stacks and Stacks Clutter Control Freak Blog. 

Announcement: Your Organized Home Launched!

We are so excited!  Our newest publication is now up and going - Your Organized Home.

http://www.ProductiveAndOrganizedHome.com/

New Blog by Calahan Solutions Consultant!

I am writing today with a lot of excitement and joy as I announce a new blog available for your reading!  Ellen Hankes is one of our consultants and she provides organizing services to clinets in Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas.  She is also a fabulous speaker and an amazing person. 

She has been practice blogging for about a month and I really enjoy reading her posts.  Here are a few of the posts she has written recently:

Reporter at Your Door? How Would You Respond?

Whew!  Look at that picture!  If you have not met me in person, one thing you will be able to see for sure in this coverage is how expressive I am, but more on that later.

A few weeks ago I was contacted by Jenny Li of NBC's WEEK News 25.  She told me that they wanted to do a local story tagging off of the new NBC show "Lipstick Jungle."  Would I be interested in being featured?  Could she come to the house to do the interview? 

What was my response?  Utter panic!  Hey, I am human after all.  Wouldn't you if a reporter was coming to your house with a cameraman? 

Steph on T.V. WCIA Channel 3 Morning News

For those of you that know me, what I am about to tell you will shock and amaze you!  I actually got up at 4:30 am this morning so that I could drive to Champaign Illinois and get interviewed on the WCIA Channel 3 Morning show.  Now, for some, getting up in the morning is not a challenge, but I am NOT a morning person, so this was a big deal.  (I have always said it is easier to stay up until 4am then to get up at 4 am!) I was out of bed and coherent enough to complete the two segments and I did not fall asleep in between. 

Rob Collins made everything easy though.  He is as nice off-air as he is on air.  We talked about how to recognize your organizing style as well as a process you can use to de-clutter your space.  If you are curious how the half-awake Stephanie did, check out their rebroadcast on the Internet. 

After you have watched it, let me know what you think by sharing your comments below!

To your success!

Better Business Bureau's Torch Awards - Calahan Solutions selected as a finalist!

We are thrilled!  I just opened my mail today to learn that we are a finalist in the Better Business Bureau's Torch Awards. 

The BBB Torch Award was created to recognize a firm whose business practices and related activities exemplify the BBB's mission of promoting, through self-regulation, the highest standards of business ethics and conduct.

Candidates for the 2008 Better Business Bureau Torch Award will be judged on their ethical practices according to the following guidelines: