So Be Organized

Uni Task In Rapid Succession

2011-11-13T03:57:00.000-08:00

The brain doesn't get the whole multi-tasking concept.

It wants to email, create, think, text, watch OR make a phone call, not do all at the same time.

Just like a Guinness Book of Records hot dog eating champion it likes to do one thing from A-Z and then go on to the next item and do that from A-Z, which is essentially uni tasking in rapid succession.

We have a tendency to do item A, from A- F, then interrupt with item B, which we do from A-M, which gets overtaken by Item C which we do from A-T.

That's whats causing brain fog, you can pop as many Omega 3's as you want, but until you respect the brain you'll be forgetting stuff all over the place.

So do yourself a favor, identify the key items you need to take care of and take care of them in single file. Keep an ipad / note pad handy to jot down any other ideas that pop into your mind.

Just remember the record eating hot dog eater, one item at a time in rapid succession.

Your productivity will soar, your memort willl return and your brain will become your best friend and that's a really good thing.

Clutter is just a pile of delayed decision making.

2011-11-06T02:33:00.000-08:00

Clutter is just a pile of delayed decision making.
Clutter is just a pile of delayed decision making.

It makes our shoulders tense and gives us the unconscious notion that we don’t have a handle over the fundamentals of our lives. Listen loud and listen clear: get rid of your cluttered environment. It is going to suck the happiness and empowerment out of your day.

You see that pile of unopened mail on the counter? You are never ever going to find the right time, mood and lighting to really take care of it. Do yourself a favor, set the timer for five minutes, pull out the most important items and chuck the rest -- yes, even the $5 coupon to the store you’ve never been to.

You need a clean slate. Someone somewhere has a million-dollar idea for the next start up that is being squelched by the clutter on her counter; don’t let that person be you. Clear space is essential for clear thinking, don’t be held hostage by junk mail and other clutter. It is not worth it.

We are the mama birds of our nest. We need room for the chicks, the parents and a nice supply of worms. The rest is extra credit. Respect the nest and don’t fall into the trap making your nest your dumping grounds. Getting rid of stuff is your duty, letting things pile up all over the place leaves less space for the chicks and causes their feathers to get itchy.

Sobe Story :

Unable to keep her head above clImage by Sean MacEntee via Flickruttered water. Client X was advised to keep a garbage bag hung over a hanger in each of her closets. The moment an item wasn't needed anymore it got placed in the bag. When the bags were full they were brought to her favorite charity.

Strategic positioning of give away bags enables items to be sent on their way to making other peoples lives brighter while keeping aforementioned closets and counters clutter free.

It makes our shoulders tense and gives us the unconscious notion that we don’t have a handle over the fundamentals of our lives. Listen loud and listen clear: get rid of your cluttered environment. It is going to suck the happiness and empowerment out of your day.

You see that pile of unopened mail on the counter? You are never ever going to find the right time, mood and lighting to really take care of it. Do yourself a favor, set the timer for five minutes, pull out the most important items and chuck the rest -- yes, even the $5 coupon to the store you’ve never been to. You need a clean slate. Someone somewhere has a million-dollar idea for the next start up that is being squelched by the clutter on her counter; don’t let that person be you. Clear space is essential for clear thinking, don’t be held hostage by junk mail and other clutter. It is not worth it.

We are the mama birds of our nest. We need room for the chicks, the parents and a nice supply of worms. The rest is extra credit. Respect the nest and don’t fall into the trap making your nest your dumping grounds. Getting rid of stuff is your duty, letting things pile up all over the place leaves less space for the chicks and causes their feathers to get itchy.

Tweaks from the top

2011-10-25T07:17:00.000-07:00

Tweaks from the top:

A good CEO doesn’t live or die by adhering to existing systems. Instead he/she knows when to tweak them to serve customers or clients.

As the CEO of your home, there are a g’zillion systems that constantly need tweaking — meals, snacks, uniforms, — so be organized and start thinking ahead now and incorporate some predetermined tweaks into your life. You know your daughter is going to lose her latest hairband and have a melt down every few weeks, so have one on hand to protect the innocent as you run for the school bus.

SoBeStory: You pull up to the school with your youngest and realize that he (he, not you, but more on that later) had forgotten his snack — again. We all know that panic isn’t in the parental toolbox, so quickly reach into the trunk for your survival satchel and finangle a quick replacement of Cheerios and raisins, complete with baggie.

A CEO-ordered tweak from the scheduling department, with a slight assist from strategic planning.

Good job Mama, you planned for the inevitable. Junior is going to have a better day and you will sleep soundly tonight.

Make sure this gets reflected in your year-end bonus.

Connecting the Dots

2011-10-12T07:26:00.000-07:00

Ever had one of those days where life gets so overwhelming that we use all our energy fighting the overwhelming urge to crawl up in our beds in a fetal position ?

Managing the schedules of the children, Mom and Dad, the pets, the car , the home can be enough to make the best of us a little cranky once in a while.

So 2 weeks ago it was my turn to lose the plot. Seriously. Most days I can juggle things well but I just couldn't get ahead of the curve. So I did what good people do .... I consumed huge quantities of caffeine and sugar .. it didn't get me ahead of the game. So I did the next best thing and totally dumped all my troubles on the shoulders of my innocent friend Laura over at Hollywood Memorial's therapy waiting room.

I was alot better after a good therapy session and didn't have to throw the whole day in the garbage, however it wasn't until later on that day that I GOT IT.

You see, life as a parent is very much a dot to dot puzzle. Most of the time we can see where we are going with the dot to dot puzzle. We see a shoe, a flower or a giraffes foot. However, every once in a while whether the days are super hectic, a particular child is going through a rough patch or we are sleep deprived we start to lose the plot. Literally.

We lose the ability to look at the dot to dot puzzle and see the mushroom, toy car or chicken. Thats when we start to crumble, thats when we feel overwhelmed and ready to throw in the towel.

What can I say? It is an inevitable part of parenting to have rough days. Just know that if you find yourself in the same position and after consuming caffeine and sugar by the truckload you still aren't budging. And if you've chewed off a few friends ears and you still feel yucky then go ahead and take a deep breath and focus on all the good stuff you have accomplished, all the dots you have connected.

Go ahead and allow yourself to think about what is going on right here and right now. Maybe just maybe there is a specific corner of your world that is slightly unraveling and needs your concentration to connect those dots again. That worked for me, who knows, it might help someone else find that little flower on the right hand side of their dot to dot too.

Being Busy Is Inevitable ... Being Anxious Is Optional

2011-10-10T11:02:00.000-07:00

Being Busy Is Inevitable ... Being Anxious Is
Optional.

Seriously. Who would have thought ?

Image via WikipediaCoffee and milk, ice in my latte and my two new boots. Joined at the hip, never to be untwined.
Then the thought struck me ( literally) one day, that hard work and anxiety are not Siamese twins.

So many of us synthesize the two together. Where did that come from ? Since when did our busy work in the back yard as toddlers translate into anxious work as we get older ?

I think we need to work on separating the two.

I know alot of Moms and one thing I can assure you is that we are not scared of hard work. We each have alot of people depending on us to feed, clothe, empathize, validate and be kind to them.

The hard work ahead is inevitable, but any anxiety is optional.

Our brains tend to learn even if we want them to or not, so from here on I am going to work on untraining my brain to get anxious, I just find it so toxic and useless too.

So I challenge you to take the choice to separate the two and don't equate yourself with your latest mistake. Work hard and even harder just forget to get anxious ( or something like that). And you all know that I am talking to myself.

Organizing Tips for Creative Types :

2011-10-03T20:10:00.000-07:00

The System Is The Solution, Michael Gerber.

Creating more systems in our lives does reduce anxiety, however if you are experiencing a different variety of anxiety at the prospect of taking your creativity and writing it down on the back of a postage stamp know that you are in good company, same too for organizing your home.

Many of us feel initial resistance to boxing ourselves in. Think back to the time when you finally cracked the code on that perfect chocolate cake or when you finally worked out how to get your newborn to sleep. Or your morning cup of coffee, the way you explain to the barista to add the honey/splenda/ sugar when it is hot/ cold/ lukewarm and to not forget the soy and to always/ never shake it all up.

The beauty of these systems you already have working in your life is that you have discarded what does not work, you have worked out what works beautifully and you have chosen to stop reinventing the wheel.

So stick with me here, the beauty of incorporating more of these system is that it will free you up to use your mind however you feel fit to without being dragged down by the tyranny of constantly reinventing the wheel. Think of yourself magically turning into Michelangelo whose hands finally are free to paint after months of holding paint pots.

So rather than feeling constrained that you are being forced to live a life devoid of color and spontaneity feel comfort in the notion that the saved energy from not constantly reinventing the wheel will free you up to add any amount of color into your world.

The same magic that your unique way of taking your coffee gives you can spread over into all aspects of your life. And the next time you are behind someone in line at Starbucks who cant quite make their mind up as to what they want …. and you hear their ‘humming and haaing’ and feel their anxiety you will nod sympathetically and be grateful for the simple systems in your life.

From plastic envelopes for your children's puzzles to meal planning and beyond, these systems will free you up, not restrict you.

It's What You Do After You Buy The Book That Counts

2011-09-10T21:37:00.000-07:00

Image via WikipediaOrganizing Home Libraries

In a perfect world we would buy a book and put the book on our perfectly organized bookshelves. Period.

Instead, we find out bookcases somewhat cluttered, waiting for the perfect rainy afternoon to organize them the way they should be organized. And truth be told, we don't even want all the books we own anyway.

Here are a few tips that work in our home.

1) Don't keep all the books you buy.

Seriously, some books are not what you thought they were, some books and an interesting 'once in a lifetime' read and others are keepers. Find friends, libraries and classrooms that want your hand me downs. Consider selling them back to the online / bricks and mortar store you bought them from, just don't keep books in your home just because.

2) Make sure you have enough room.

Sometimes we forget that bookcases are not elastic. Consider buying more bookcases if necessary.

3) One in one out.

Once you've established your bookcase set up consider implementing a 'one in one' out rule. It prevents the clutter and encourages you to keep your home library current.

4) Think before you buy

Next time you find yourself with a freshly printed tome in your hands ask yourself where it will go, what it might replace and if there are other options available to you rather than buying. Perhaps you can borrow a friends or purchase it digitally. A book in the hand will not always be worth one on your shelf.

Life-Balance. What Fruity Sugar Stars taught me.

2011-08-07T02:28:00.000-07:00

Image via WikipediaIs there such thing as work life balance ? Can that 'to-do' list balance perfectly on the tip of your golf clubs and playdough ? (i.e. work, relaxation and quality time with kiddies)

In my world I often have to remind myself what my priorities are. It is somewhat of a natural inclination to want to do it all. It sometimes take the self discipline and precision of a black belt karate champ to stay focused on the tasks at hand.

Here's an

exercise that often helps me visualize the need to prioritize :

The next time you go shopping take a good look at all the possible items there are on the shelves and then take a good look at your shopping cart. Clearly you will need to be making choices as you walk around those aisles as all the potential items wont fit into that cart. You get the idea already don't you ? You can't fill your cart all the way up on aisle one or you'll be in trouble around aisle 3.

Same too in life, for the majority of us it's volunteering for the PTA or heading the Food Drive just like it's fruity sugar circles or fruity sugar stars. Or if you can handle fruity sugar circles and fruity sugar circles then there is no way you have the space for fruity sugar puffs AKA heading the Annual Bake Sale.

If only those hectic weeks in our lives came with a shopping list, things would be so much easier. It can sometimes get tough deciding what those 'to-do's' of yours can be left on the shelf until next week and which ones must go into the cart this week.

I don't have a magic formula however by tweaking those 'to-do's' based on the priorities of the week or month you will have a better idea of what gets priorities.

So, is there such a thing as 'life balance' ? By being focused on our prioritized goals and cultivating our 'to-don't' lists and fully understanding that there will always be more we want to put in 'our carts' AKA our lives, we all will be one step closer towards that shiny work-life balance checkout.

Thank you dear airlines, thank you

2011-06-06T03:07:00.000-07:00

It seems that the Airlines have done us all a huge favor. Now that most airlines charge us for a second piece of luggage we are going to have to think before we pack.

We have become such 'what if' packers. What if it rains, what if it snows, what if there is a heat wave .. by the time we have finished packing we look like we are emigrating. And who even uses half the items we pack !!

Bottom line is that from now onwards we will be more inclined to think what we will really be needing, and pack accordingly. Consider this : It makes packing quicker, a more efficient use of space, less shlepping, less unpacking and much freer on the mind.

Image via Wikipedia

Worst case we can actually pick up a couple of extra forgotten items.

Flying with less fatigue and a lighter mental and physical load. Thank you dear airlines, thank you.

Don't Do Until Others .....

2011-05-31T03:22:00.000-07:00

You've heard the famous teaching about not doing something we don't like to some-one else. In addition to this stellar advice I'd also like to cut the sentence to fit this blog namely : Do not do something YOU don't like. Period.

Seriously, define what is loathsome to you and commit to get rid of it, outsource it or do it differently.

Life is too short to be spent doing things that drain you.

Is ironing boring you to tears? Barter with a neighbor. Still no luck? Call local ironing services and eat macaroni and cheese for an extra night if budgeting

is tight.

Doing things differently involves paring something really fun during the boring task or immediately after. So if scrubbing down the shower is horrific be sure to blast some awesome music or treat yourself to a Skype session with a good friend overseas.

The main point is to identify what is unpleasant and to make it go away...or at the very least be creative in ways to make it pleasant!

Wednesday Wisdom

2011-05-25T04:52:00.000-07:00

Image by jmsmytaste via FlickrWisdom is an equal combination of experience plus reflection. Take time to think about your life.

The Organized Life is A Journey

2011-05-23T05:41:00.000-07:00

They say that getting more organized is a little like losing weight. We do have to believe in the end goal but can't fool ourselves into thinking that one 'good' week will result in going down 3 dress sizes. We must be careful not to confuse the certainty that we will succeed with the discipline to confront the brutal facts of our current reality. So whether you are working on getting the kids to bed earlier, making dinners ahead or clearing the clutter from around the house, don't go looking for incredible overnight results. It's like those lego bricks the kids play with the end result is being built brick by brick.

So the getting to a more organize

d stress-free life is a process and a direction not an overnight destination.

Leveraging The 80/20

2011-05-20T05:32:00.000-07:00

80% of your stress will come from 20% of your workload.

If you can identify this key 20% and strategize how to work differently, then you have just unlocked the key to a less stressful and more productive work day

Simple to suggest, tougher to implement. Do it anyway.

Wednesday Wisdom

2011-05-18T04:45:00.000-07:00

Image by oschene via FlickrSchedule time to plan every day. For every minute you plan, you save 12

Wednesday Wisdom

2011-05-11T04:42:00.000-07:00

Image by caribb via Flickr How far you’ve gone is not nearly as important as where you’re going.~Healy

The Value of Clear Headspace

2011-05-06T09:47:00.000-07:00

I often 'sell' the concept of the incredible value of clear 'headspace'. Essentially when our minds are cluttered with the mundanities of life, we are unable to think and act in a flourishing manner.

We get by on a ' gotta get this off my mind' mindset rather than a ' wow - that's an interesting idea - how can I apply this to my life?' mindset.

Today I had that exact experience. For multiple reasons I have outsourced my shopping, so today when I ran into a store I didn't have my head buried in my list, I was simply walking in to pick up some chocolate ( no comments please). So when a lady I recognized from a while back walked by me I had the clarity of mind to say hello to her.

It turns out that in the decade since I had last seen her she had become an Educational Specialist and serendipitously that was exactly what I was looking for for one of my children.

I had no idea she was even in the country still and having worked with her really nicely years ago made her the perfect fit for us. We exchanged pleasantries and business cards and I will sit down with her and hatch a plan next week.

This is was an exponential gain for me and proved to me once again the tangible value of having a clear mind.

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Wednesday Wisdom

2011-05-04T04:40:00.000-07:00

Image via WikipediaWhat you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals. - Zig Zigler

Wednesday Wisdom

2011-04-27T04:38:00.000-07:00

Image by jwgustavson via FlickrThere is a time to let things happen and a time to make things happen.Hugh Prath

Wednesday Wisdom

2011-04-20T04:35:00.000-07:00

Image by + Wind.com.my via FlickrAction without thinking is the cause of every failure."-Alex McKenzie,

Wednesday Wisdom

2011-04-13T04:30:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

Seasons come and seasons go. But, your attitude must be non-seasonal in its drive toward the best things that life has to offer.

Wednesday Wisdom

2011-04-06T04:25:00.000-07:00

Image via WikipediaThe greater danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it." - Michelangelo

Idea Lab - One Size Fits All

2011-04-05T12:30:00.000-07:00

Today I had the distinct pleasure of giving a time management workshop to the Strategic Planning & Innovation team over at Sloan-Kettering, NY. This is one of the more creative, intelligent and fun teams that I have met.We had the workshop in the 'Idea Lab', the title was enough to pique my curiosity ... yet when I saw the walls I was enthralled.

This team takes it's work seriously ! They had to re-design an element at Sloan -Kettering and went about it by fleshing out their walls with incredible ideas rooted in the main goals they had researched ahead of time. See the photo below - lots of pieces of paper, lots of stickers reflecting team agreement and lots of incredible ideas hatched.

The team had a fun time and incredible 'out of the box' ideas were suggested and a nice percentage will be implemented.

So here's the kicker - think of our lives ... think of the areas that need to be tweaked ..... where is our idea lab ? Where do we get to truly think outside of the box and come up with innovative ideas that are congruent with our values ?

From the children's lunches to new marketing strategies - we all need an idea lab !

I committed to creating one. I am thinking about where I am going to create one in my home, I will keep you all posted.

Wednesday Wisdom

2011-03-30T04:24:00.000-07:00

Image by MichaelDGV via FlickrIt's much more healthy to believe in yourself and the future than to worry about them

Cultivating Your 'To-Don't' List

2011-03-25T20:02:00.000-07:00

Image via WikipediaWith so much talk about battling our 'to-do' lists we rarely have time to focus on their nemesis - the 'to-don't' list. After a certain point in time, normally somewhere between baby number 2 and moving home for the third time we realize that we have to chose where all that depleted energy goes. By proactively choosing what you are not going to do, you are deciding ahead of time what you are going to do.

So, by spending an extra hour at the park in gorgeous weather you maychoose to serve non-gourmet boiled eggs, pasta and an omega 3 caplet. Or you may choose to say no to the park and make a gourmet dinner.

Here's the kicker, there is no absolute right and wrong. By allowing yourself to be human and not have to do everything you free up your time and headspace to enjoy what you have prioritized to do.

Wednesday Wisdom

2011-03-23T04:22:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia True strength is found not in heavy lifting but in letting go.

Wednesday Wisdom

2011-03-16T04:20:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia1st hour of the day is its rudder. Use it to direct thoughts & energy in the desired direction.

Wednesday Wisdom

2011-03-09T04:16:00.000-08:00

Image by Jocelyn Catterson and Jeremy Daigneault via Flickr Quality is not an art. It's a habit.

Wednesday Wisdom

2011-03-02T04:12:00.000-08:00

Image via Wikipedia

If you want something done right, be an outstanding delegator.-Linda Eve Diamond

Wednesday Wisdom

2011-02-23T04:10:00.000-08:00

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Throughout the centuries there were men who took first steps, down new roads, armed with nothing but their own vision. ~Ann Rynd

Wednesday Wisdom

2011-02-16T04:07:00.000-08:00

Image by Getty Images via @daylifePeople with humility don't think less of themselves, they just think about themselves less. K. Blanchard.

Wednesday Wisdom

2011-02-09T04:04:00.000-08:00

Ditch the IF and go for WHENImage by Darwin Bell via Flickr

Wednesday Wisdom

2011-02-02T04:02:00.000-08:00

Image by Getty Images via @daylife "Success is a little like wrestling a gorilla. You don't quit when you're tired-you quit when the gorilla is tired."

Wednesday Wisdom

2011-01-26T04:00:00.000-08:00

Image by gin_able via Flickr

Listening builds trust, the foundation of all lasting relationships. Brian Tracy

Wednesday Wisdom

2011-01-19T04:56:00.000-08:00

Image via Wikipedia

We deceive ourselves when we fancy that only weakness needs support. Strength needs it far more.-Madame Swetchine

Wednesday Wisdom

2011-01-12T04:49:00.000-08:00

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Goals are dreams with deadlines. ~Diana Scharf Hunt

Wednesday Wisdom

2011-01-05T04:45:00.000-08:00

Image via Wikipedia

Write text here...

When you lose, don't lose the lesson. ~Author Unknown

Wednesday Wisdom

2010-12-29T04:42:00.000-08:00

Image by See-ming Lee 李思明 SML via Flickr

A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song. ~Chinese Proverb

Decisions Are An Ugly Species.

2010-12-23T05:24:00.000-08:00

Image via WikipediaWhat are decisions ??

They are an ugly species.

They take a happy sunny day and throw a rainstorm our way. Decisions involve our egos. Our fragile sense of selves and our aversion to not doing a good job or heaven forbid not being perfect.

Ever noticed how when some-one at checkout says 'how are you ?' that most people don't even answer !!!!! My personal opinion is that people don't want to decide !!!!

Whether it's a cereal choice or a choice of vacation, we hold off. Ask any airline how they make the bulk of profit. Delayed decision making is a surefire money maker.

So what is the answer ? Plan A : Decision-less living is the way to go
Plan B : Learn how to make decisions. We'll discuss it more in detail at another date.

Wednesday Wisdom

2010-12-22T04:35:00.000-08:00

Image by solidether via Flickr

Indecisiveness springs leaks in your schedule. P. Eder

5 Essential Rules For A Streamlined Kitchen

2010-12-20T12:48:00.001-08:00

This week I am a guest on the awesome website rookiemoms.com ....

5 essential rules for a streamlined kitchen

by ROOKIEMOM HEATHER on DECEMBER 20, 2010
in DINNER ON THE TABLE, EATING, HOW TOOur guest today, Rivka Caroline, is a mom of 7 and a self confessed time- and space-management junkie living in Florida. Without a lot of time or space to spare, Rivka is obsessed with new ways to save both; she won’t stop blogging till moms work smarter not harder and take the time to nurture themselves.

I asked her to share a few tips for getting my kitchen under control. And, of course, yours.

Time in the kitchen is seldom the Martha Stewart moment we envisioned. We are often under a time crunch, marinating ourselves in doubt over the protein choices and organic indecision we all face. Who has the time or strength for a kitchen makeover? Follow these simple, timeless rules towards a calmer culinary experience.

The dream: full-on kitchen makeover (by ecohome)

The reality: lil helpers, messy food, clutter (by tempophage)
1. Location. Location. Location.
Yes, the laws of Real Estate apply in the kitchen just as much as they do on Madison Avenue. Assess the prime real estate and make sure you using your square footage wisely. The top dollar locations are those within easy reach, the lower rent goes to the cupboards and drawers out of reach and the super cheap rent is for the spaces that you need a ladder to get to. Move the key items to a better location.

For the rest of the article click over to the awesome RookieMoms.com

Wednesday Wisdom

2010-12-15T04:31:00.000-08:00

When you have to make a choice and don't make it, that is in itself a choice. ~William James Image via Wikipedia

Wednesday Wisdom

2010-12-08T04:27:00.000-08:00

Image via Wikipedia

Postponing dealign with an interruption enables you to prepare yourself to discuss the matter in a more focused way.

Wednesday Wisdom

2010-12-01T04:24:00.000-08:00

Image by 丹涅拉 - Dani Gama via Flickr

Do you "understand" or do you "overstand"? Your perspective on the situation can make all the difference in the world. S. Calahan

Unitasking In A Multi-Tasking World

2010-11-26T02:20:00.000-08:00

Image by JWSherman via Flickr

If you want to be sure to look busy at work, stick a cell phone in your ear while you type feverishly on your computer while giving directions to a co-worker. Hey – we all multi-task – right ?

Nope. Not those of us who want to get work done in an effective manner.

You see Tim Ferriss, Author of the Four Hour Work Week writes that being busy is another form of laziness. ( Re-read that sentence, it’s golden)

So next week how about going against the tide and uni-tasking ? I know, it sounds archaeic and we know you like moving through your day at the speed of lightning but here’s the kicker : multi-tasking is truly a misnomer.

The brain doesn’t get compute multi-tasking. It wants to email, text or talk. Not do them all at once. It likes to do one thing from A-Z , not a whole slew of random items from A –D and then having to remember where it left off and where it has to take that D in order to get it to G. Way too confusing. That’s what causes brain fog and other forms of forgetfulness and no doubt a whole host of toxicity in the body.

So do your self a favour, identify the key items to take care of ahead of time and attack them one by one. It’s uni-tasking in rapid succession. Your productivity will soar, your memory will return and your brain will humbly thank you, and that’s a good thing.

Wednesday Wisdom

2010-11-24T04:22:00.000-08:00

Image by brewbooks via Flickr

Organizing is all about identifying what's important to the client and giving those things a reliable, consistent home. Julie Morgenstern

Iron on Sanity : Review of MD Labels

2010-11-24T02:11:00.000-08:00

5 Star Product

Oh the joys of finding your children’s clothing in the wrong drawers !

We knew we needed a system in place, however I wanted an easy, affordable and sustainable solution.

After a little surfing for a suitable answer I came across www.irononmdlabels.com and thought they had a great product.

They offer iron on labels in an assortment of colors and a choice of fonts. I ordered a color for each child with the same font for all of them. They offer a script font that makes me feel more intelligent, almost like I had painstakingly written them myself. Could this be too good to be true ?

Apparently not. The labels arrived within the week and were a pleasure to use. I simply stacked up the childs clothing and they ironed on within 20 seconds per item. You need to hold the iron in place so that the label adheres to the clothing really really well. They came out of the washing machine and dryer unharmed :)

All in all a fabulous product. Highly recommended for some ‘iron on’ sanity.

A Thought For Thursday

2010-11-17T04:23:00.000-08:00

Image via WikipediaEver heard weather forecasters say ‘ party sunny’ somedays and then 'partly cloudy' on other days ?

There's no difference !

I personally believe it all depends on the weather forecaster's mood. If he's having lawyers running after him for alimony, then we'll be having more than our fair share of cloudiness.

Saw him buying a new gizmo for himself ? You can be sure there will be sun shining down on you !

Check your own barometer .. will the sun be coming out tomorrow ?

Wednesday Wisdom

2010-11-17T04:20:00.000-08:00

Image via Wikipedia

The odds of going to the store for a loaf of bread and coming out with only a loaf of bread are three billion to one. Erma Bombeck

Wednesday Wisdom

2010-11-10T04:11:00.000-08:00

Image by Dunechaser via Flickr"Man's greatness lies in his power of thought." - Blaise Pascal

The Power Of The Extra Hour

2010-11-08T06:02:00.000-08:00

Image via WikipediaTonight has to be my favorite night of the year. It's the night we turn the clocks back. For us living in Miami we've been putting our kids to bed in broad daylight and putting them into the car in the mornings in pitch black.

Aside from the tangible benefit of putting children to be in the dark there is another massive benefit.

Having the ability to re-train our minds to go to sleep a little earlier due to the darker evenings is a fabulous gift also. Is there any-one you know who actually claims to get enough sleep ? Have you read about the host of things our body does to re-charge itself while we lie there snoring ?

Bottom line : Grab a few extra minutes of sleep.

Wednesday Wisdom

2010-10-30T20:17:00.000-07:00

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The more relaxed and steady you are about keeping a boundary, the less frequently you will encounter testing. P.Eder

Wednesday Wisdom

2010-10-30T19:57:00.000-07:00

Image by kristingissaro via Flickr

My best friend is the one who brings out the best in me. ~ Henry Ford

Wednesday Wisdom

2010-10-13T09:06:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia"Time will take your money, but money won't buy time." - James Taylor

Uni-Tasking Monday

2010-10-11T12:44:00.000-07:00

Image by ul_Marga via Flickr

Monday's blog entry was going to be called 'Multi-Tasking Monday' and although I love the name .. I don't love the message.

No more encouraging peeps to text, email, think and talk.

Doing one thing well can feel overwhelmingly slow, truth is that it is actually the opposite - it's the long - shorter way.

Why not consider uni-tasking in rapid succession ? Make the supper THEN send the text THEN water the plants.

That's this week's challenge.

Go for it. Your brain will feel more intact, your food wont be missing an ingredient and your keys wont be in the fridge.

Wednesday Wisdom

2010-09-28T12:53:00.000-07:00

Here's a nice thought that has been passed around .... ' A hero generally isn't any-one terribly different to you or me. They however possess the enviable skill of sticking at an unenviable task 5 minutes longer than the average person'.

So let's apply this to our everyday living. What can we apply this heroic 5 minute rule to ? Here are a few heroic measures that come to my mind : reading stories to children, loading the dishwasher at night even though you're super tired, throwing a soup into the crock pot, sweating it out on the treadmill and of course getting that work assignment DONE.

What areas would you suggest applying your heroic 5 minutes to ?

2010-08-16T01:01:00.000-07:00

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Deciding to Decide

From choosing new shoes for the children to buying a new phone, to dinner plans to travel plans, there is no avoiding decision making. Go to the store to buy some salad, then washing detergent and then a bottle of shampoo. By the time you’ve chosen all 3 you would have looked through over 300 products – no wonder we get dizzy making decisions !

Day to day life does require a sizeable amount of decisions to be made. So here’s a basic decision making guide :

Making decisions can be grueling if you’re already having a rough day, there will be times when you will need to save your brain cells and your sanity and decide not to decide.

There are certain decisions that you want to be meticulous over, such as choosing doctors, hospitals and vacations. Many other decisions can be ‘ pass-fail’, determine right away the level of time and energy is needed so you don’t over research each decision.

Morning time is preferable for multi-layer decision making when your mind is clearer

Outsource the decision altogether by asking some-one else how they navigated a scenario similar to yours. Consider asking friends, googling a possible answer or if appropriate even posting a question on Facebook.

The more systems you have in place the less you’ll have to use the decision making part of your brain. So go ahead and plan your menus, get your clothes organized ahead of time and have a consistent date night, the fewer decisions you need to make the better.

That’s my decision and I’m standing by it.

Happy Anniversary ..... or is it ???

2010-07-02T10:10:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

Good rule of thumb for Anniversary wishes. Before sending a Happy Anniversary email / text to both parties in a marriage, first check with the male party to ensure that said male himself is aware of said anniversary and has made appropriate gestures towards the female party. This is a good way to ensure that you are not the first to wish said female a Happy Anniversary. { Thanks David ... oh and Happy Anniversary !

Streamlined Babygift Giving

2010-06-29T12:52:00.000-07:00

Streamlined Baby Gift Giving

You know the scenario already: Your friend/cousin/ neighbor gives birth. You want to get her something special, practical and personal. Not sure where to get the perfect item, you wait a little. And a little longer. And then you cringe when you realize it's the baby's first birthday and you still owe that newborn gift!

We've all been there and, in retrospect, it's way too many decisions to make!

It makes sense, then, to streamline the process and bypass the decision-making center in our brains and reduce GBGGA (Global Baby Gift Giving Anxiety).

Here's how:

Simply decide on the one item that you love that also fits your budget. Then either stock up on them or always have the website handy and - voila! - you'll be delivering the gift before the mom has time to deliver the baby.

One of my friends treats the new Mom to a massage, my Mom keeps super soft pink and blue blankets in stock and I prefer the personalized blankets on the website http://www.namelynewborns.comIt's your call, just streamline that gift giving in a manner that works for you.

Stop Researching

2010-06-28T03:38:00.000-07:00

Image by manfrys via Flickr

Stop researching and find some-one out there who knows the information. Chances are most people are happy to share their experience and it will save you oodles of time.

Schedule Time For Fun !!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-06-25T15:14:00.000-07:00

Image by ©sammie via Flickr

When you make your schedule for the week go ahead and schedule in time for fun. If you don't highlight a specific time it wont happen due to the sheer volume of your responsibilities.

Not Planning Ahead Is Like .......

2010-06-25T15:01:00.000-07:00

Image by carlotardani via Flickr

Not planning ahead is like going to the airport without your suitcases. If you want to go anywhere you have to plan ahead. Get a pen and a planner out or click your PDA and plan ahead for your week ahead.

LadyMama: Happy Mom Tip #3: Don't Drop the Friendship Ball

2010-06-22T12:36:00.000-07:00

LadyMama: Happy Mom Tip #3: Don't Drop the Friendship Ball

7 Steps Towards A Cleaner Car

2010-06-07T12:14:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

1) Keep a pack of babywipes within arms reach.

2) Keep old plastic bags in the passenger side door and use as garbage bags

3) Discipline yourself to do a clean out as you fill gas.

4) Teach yourself and your passengers of all ages to never leave the car empty handed.

5) Do a thorough cleaning every sunday

6) Keep a staple of almonds or granola bars in the glove compartment for emergency munchies.

7) Most importantly - realize that you have the potential to be a hero in your child's/ grandchild's/ niece & nephew's eyes if you take them for a whiz through a drive through car wash. A small price to pay for instantly becoming some-ones favorite person of the week !

Cultivating Your 'To - Don't' List

2010-06-01T18:53:00.000-07:00

Spoiler alert ! Stop eating for a moment and take a deep breath ..... It's not about doing it ALL, it's about doing it most. If you are running around ragged then most likely you have too much going on.

Think through your priorities and give up some of your non essential commitments. That will free up more time and energy for the essentials.

Image by net_efekt via Flickr

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Schedule Time With Friends

2010-06-01T18:35:00.001-07:00

Image by kolix via Flickr

Would you love to have lunch with friends but don't have the time? . Don't deny yourself. These are essential elements for a balanced life. Consider scheduling them towards the end of the day and use them as a reward for crossing all those 'to do's' off your list. Don't think that you'll save time by minimizing fun - you're only human and human beings need meaningful connections.

When Do You Work Best ?

2010-06-01T18:31:00.000-07:00

Are You An Early Bird or a Night Owl ?

Image by myoldpostcards via Flickr

Play to your strengths and do the bulk of your thinking work during the times where you can get more accomplished. It's a lot easier that way.

Manage Those Interruptions

2010-06-01T18:08:00.000-07:00

Manage Those Interruptions

Image by npslibrarian via Flickr

Scary statistic : It takes a full 11 minutes to get back to what you were focused on after answering a text or any other distraction.

Solution L When you are focused on getting work done maximize your time by managing those interruptions. Silence your phone and turn off the internet windows that you don't need. Set a timer and your concentration ans productivity will benefit tremendously.

2010-06-01T18:03:00.000-07:00

I was intrigued by this timer. Was it possible to stay on task for a set period by visualizing the minutes passed as well as the minutes up ahead?

We tried it out at home. The visualization was great and my 8yr old and my 10 year old loved it.

I would recommend it as a tool for staying on task and for minimizing interruptions.

photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/timetimer/

What Do You Dislike Doing ?

2010-06-01T17:16:00.000-07:00

Image by Valerie Morrison - Four Thirds Photographer via Flickr

Stop Doing What You Dislike Doing IMMEDIATELY.

Seriously, define what is loathsome to you and commit to get rid of it, outsource it or do it differently.

Life is too short to be spend doing things that drain you.

Is ironing boring you to tears? Bribe the kids or barter with a neighbor. Still no luck ? Call local ironing services and eat macaroni and cheese for an extra night if budgeting is tight.

Doing things differently involves paring something really fun during the boring task or immediately after. So if scrubbing down the shower is horrific be sure to blast some awesome music or treat yourself to a Skype sessions with a good friend overseas.

The main point is to identify what is unpleasant and to make it go away or at the very least be creative in ways to make it pleasant ... ~ !

How To Really Get Ahead

2010-06-01T16:19:00.000-07:00

Each evening identify what the key 'to-do's' are for the next day. No more than 8 items should be 'urgent', Write them in your PDA or on an index card. You've now just prioritized your priorities.

Block off a nugget of work time tomorrow. No internet surfing or getting busy with other projects until they are checked off.

Don't forget to cross off the tasks as they are completed. Seeing a crossed off item is a great visualization.

Image by Mike Rohde via Flickr

Plan Ahead

When Are You Most Productive ??

2010-05-25T10:29:00.000-07:00

Image by ~C4Chaos via Flickr

Nothing is more important to my success than controllling my schedule. I'm most creative from 5am to 9am. if I had a boss or co-workers, they would ruin my best hours one way or another" Scott Adams, Dilbert Creator

We weren't born with an innate ability to work best between 9am - 5pm. The fast path to working smarter is to figure out when you work the best, and just as importantly - when we produce the worst quality work.

Truly the first step to an easier day is to not just figure out what to do, but when to do.

Great Stuff

2010-05-17T04:41:00.000-07:00

Image by pickup2sticks via Flickr

Dr Victor Frankl makes it onto my 'hero' list. Trust me when I tell you that the list is short. The link below shows rare footage from 1972 is a heart warming 4 minute speech as to why it is imperative to give every-one a chance at realizing their potential. Fabulous. Shame we can't clone him.

http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/viktor_frankl_youth_in_search_of_meaning.html

Think It's Impossible ?

2010-05-16T12:12:00.000-07:00

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Think becoming more productive is difficult ?

Take a peak at David Blaine's talk on how he achieves his awesome feats.

http://www.ted.com/talks/david_blaine_how_i_held_my_breath_for_17_min.html

The Price of Inaction

2010-05-07T04:35:00.000-07:00

Image by UnstablePixel via Flickr

The price of inaction is far greater than the cost of making a mistake." - Meister Eckhart.

We are all guilty on some level of pushing off those items we are scared to fail at.

However, not taking that next step is far worse than any mistake you could possibly make.

So the next time you have a flash of insight or a creative idea - go ahead and plan the next step. Worse case - you'll stumble, fall and dust yourself off.

Chances are that you'll learn something in the process, so it wouldn't be 100% mistake. Inaction however, (unless we're talking about whacky wild and dangerous ideas) is most certainly guaranteed a 100% failure.

Must Read Blog Of The Week : Average Goddess

2010-05-05T04:57:00.000-07:00

I recommend this blog cos Kristy sure says it how it is ! Love the humour. Love the straight talk.

http://averagegoddess.wordpress.com/

Productivity Challenge : Night Owl Meets Early Bird

2010-05-03T04:38:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

This Productivity Challenge Of The Week Aint Gonna Be Pretty ...... But It Will Be Productive.

Are you a night owl or an early bird ???

Chances are that you've categorized yourself one way or the other. Truth be told, we all like to work uninterrupted ..... so based on our habits growing up we set up shop either side of the clock.

That's fine unless it's holding you back.

Are you unable to fit in exercise because you're too busy hitting the snooze button or too exhausted at night to meet good friends because your eyes are closing ?

Consider tweaking your bird like tendencies and be more flexible regarding power naps, not burning the midnight oil every night of the week or occasionally waking up early for a jog.

Gourmet Supper

2010-04-29T04:57:00.000-07:00

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As my children cast attest, I'm not the world's best chef.

My buddy Sara posted on Facebook 'just another regular supper' of skirt steak, creamy mashed potatoes with shallots so instead of burning up with envy I decided to grow up and learn from her.

So here you go ..... just boiled white potatoes (they are softest) and peeled them and mashed them up and added soy milk until i felt they were creamy enough. i added salt and coarsely grated black pepper to them too.
i chopped garlic and sauteed it in olive oil with salt and mixed it in to the potatoes.
as for the shallots, i sliced them into thin pieces and sauteed them in dry red wine with olive oil, salt, grated whole black pepper, sauteed until they were soft and spooned on top of the steak and the potatoes.

Thanks Sara - share some more of your 'simple boring' suppers !

reBlog from SoBeOrganized: SoBe Organized

2010-04-27T02:18:00.001-07:00

I found this fascinating quote today:

This Productivity Challenge Of The Week Aint Gonna Be Pretty ...... But It Will Be Productive !!!!SoBeOrganized, SoBe Organized, Apr 2010

You should read the whole article.

Productivity Challenge : Managing Those Interruptions

2010-04-26T19:11:00.000-07:00

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

This Productivity Challenge Of The Week Aint Gonna Be Pretty ...... But It Will Be Productive.

Interruptions come in many forms. The flashing red light of an incoming text or a beep of a voice mail not to mention the ping of new emails and iming and phonecalls.

We are so interrupted.

Now, our hum drum 'to-do' list can't compete with the feel good buzz of a buddy's barb on facebook or a colleague's wassup im ... however our productivity takes a nose dive.

It's the getting back to the task at hand that is the most taxing. The mind takes a full 11 minutes to get back to right where it left off. Seriously, take this informal poll and count how many times you ask yourself ' where was I ??'.

If live is good and you're living the 4 Hour Work Week then please don't let me stop you. However, if you are accountable for work then may I humbly suggest you limit those interruptions. Painful as it sounds consider having ' interruption breaks' where you take a short break to check messages and check your facebook status.

A planned break is alot easier to get back to the point where you left off.

Productivity Challenge Of The Week

2010-04-26T19:02:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

This Productivity Challenge Of The Week Aint Gonna Be Pretty ...... But It Will Be Productive !!!!

Manage Your Internet Time

Seriously .... the instant allure of Facebook is soo much more fun that getting things done. Problem is : it can really whack a hole in your daily productivity quotient.

So, take an honest look in the Internet reflection and count up those minutes ( hours ?). It isn't pretty, but it is productive.

Ten Steps To A Home Office Haven

2010-04-22T06:33:00.000-07:00

Q : What to do with that cluttered, paper filled home office?

A : What cluttered, paper filled office ? Can you commit to a few hours over the next month without a major life event ? Follow these simple but essential steps for a tidy and empowering work space.

1) Remove The Carnage.

Take as many big transparent storage containers as you need and remove all those papers, books, unopened mail, shoes , coffee mugs (ahem!) from the office and place these items inside the containers. Any essential items such as lost credit cards and driving license found in the process should be put directly into your wallet. Don't put any liquids (water bottles, nail polish) inside the containers with all those papers.

2) Clean The Space
Get out the clorox wipes, the duster, vacuum and the can of condensed air and really clean the space.

3) Look at Your Space With Fresh Eyes
Go backto basics and confirm that you love your space - if you don't then you will resist being there. Consider repurosong the space and moving the desk to a different wall for a better fit. Still not loving it ? Look around your home for a nook that makes you smile.

4) The Basic Four
Now check the basic four
1) Good lighting
Make sure you are not squinting at the screen. Tweak the lighting so that you have that great combination of natural and artificial light.
2) Comfortable chair
Make sure you are sitting comfortably and that your Mom would be happy to see how straight your back is. ( Want to make her really proud ? Ditch the chair and get an exercise ball
3) Ergonomics
Get an ergonomic keyboard and adjust your chair / desk angle so that your fingers can do their job without causing your wrists pain.
4) Easy to reach storage
Get some shelves set up within easy reach.

5) Containerize
Get yourself some containers that make you smile. Magazine folders are great as they look uniform and have no lids. Choose your colour scheme (colors that make you smile) and stick to it.

6) What set up do I need to be more productive?
Need a pinboard ? Desk calendar ? Scanner ? Headset for the phone ? A new inbox ? A shredder ? Set these key items in place. Get a cup of pens too while you're at it.

7) Invite Friends Back In.
Now go to those transparent boxes and tackle the mess. A fair amount of items be will able to be thrown or given away. Only invite the essential and highly useful items back in again.

8) Create systems that flow
Now that you've pared down to essentials.
Ask yourself what systems your office needs to be productive. For example : Create a 'mail' area with stamps, envelopes and address labels. If you like clipboards get a few for specific categories. Create a new system for inboxes and outboxes.

9) What would make me smile ?
Bring in a new plant or fab family photo to add more happiness to your work environment. Or perhaps buy a brightly colored trash can that makes you smile.

10) Take Ten Minutes
Finish your work time 10 minutes earlier and organize your desk... daily.

Go for the challenge and respect yourself and the work you do from home. By implementing these 10 steps your desk will be gleaming. Constantly reassess if particular items are serving a purpose. Before you know it your home office will be your haven for productivity and pride.

Systemize Your Life Away

2010-04-19T15:04:00.000-07:00

Image by Buster Benson via Flickr

As a Mom and Time Management junkie here's one of my golden rules, which brings music to my ears every time I say ...... Systemize !

Mom's minds are too crammed full to create all that needs to be done daily. We need to reinvent the wheel as rarely as possible. In my world I systemize meal plans, bedtimes, quality time with kiddies, down time for Mom, shopping and of course date night !!

Must Read Blog of The Week : The Clutter Diet

2010-04-18T19:17:00.000-07:00

Lorie's Blog 'The Clutter Diet' breaks organizing down into, well, bite size pieces. Love it.

http://www.clutterdietblog.com/

7 Ways Disorganization is Costing You BIG MONEY

2010-04-18T19:15:00.001-07:00

7 Ways Disorganization is Costing You BIG MONEY

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Must Read Blog of The Week : Bneato

2010-04-18T19:08:00.000-07:00

Bneato is a concise, fun and graphically superb blog.

http://bneato.blogspot.com/

Must Read Blog of The Week : Apartment Therapy

2010-04-18T18:52:00.000-07:00

This blog is highly recommended - it's so visually appealing. It's what I want to be when I grow up ~ !

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/la/hot-posts/janes-tour-tiny-balconies-rethinking-the-floorplan-los-angeles-hot-posts-114402

Be A Mean Landlord

2010-04-18T04:53:00.000-07:00

Image by Chad Podoski via Flickr

It's really all about being a mean landlord....

When de-cluttering an area ( a home ?!) the most effective method is to first clear the area of all the items. Step two is to decide the purpose of the space and step 3 is to decide which items are being given away and which are invited back.

When you are not sure if an item is invited back ask yourself if it is paying its rent or is it just hanging out there without a purpose. In today's economy we all have to responsible for paying our rent without making up excuses.

Be a mean land lord and don't let any-one get off rent-free.

Clutter Control : The Four Rules Of Disengagement

2010-04-11T18:20:00.000-07:00

Cover via Amazon

Image by juliejordanscott via Flickr

I just read Gail Blanke's book ' Throw Out Fifty Things'. It's a nice motiviting book encouraging us to throw out .. well ... fifty things.

Here are some tried and true guidelines for clutter busting. Blanke identifies four key rules of disengagement (how to decide what to get rid of):

One. If it - the thing, the belief or conviction, the memory, the job, even the person - weighs you down, clogs you up, or just plain makes you feel bad about yourself, throw it out, give it away, sell it, let it go, move on.

Two. If it (see above!) just sits there, taking up room and contributing nothing positive to your life, throw it out, give it away, sell it, let it go, move on. If you’re not moving forward, you’re moving backward. Throwing out what’s negative helps you rediscover what’s positive.

Three. Don’t make the decision - whether to toss it or keep it - a hard one. If you have to weigh the pros and cons for too long or agonize about the right thing to do, throw it out.

Four. Don’t be afraid. This is your life we’re talking about. The only one you’ve got for sure. You don’t have the time, energy, or room for physical or psychic waste.

From Creativity to Productivity ....

2010-04-08T05:45:00.000-07:00

Image by pen3ya via Flickr

From creativity to productivity .... Surely that's a concept all people grapple with.

Here's my tried and true recipe based on my reading into the subject and of course my own personal smorgasbord of mistakes ...

1) Underestimate the competition
2) Break seemingly impossibly long task into smaller bite size parts
3) Be accountable to someone
4) Have a schedule that works for you - have lots of fun activities plugged into your week
5) Plan ahead and cross things off the list
6) Avoid perfectionism at all costs.
7) Be creative with how you work - think out of the box ( and sometimes around it, behind it and under it)

Must Have Product of The Week

2010-04-06T05:35:00.000-07:00

Calling all Kosher Consumers !

Here's your chance to be super organized in your kosher kitchen : Kosher Keepers - the labelled and color coordinated containers to make keeping kosher and organized a dream.

They are available at Costco in most NY and NJ stores. Here's their website http://www.kosherkeepers.com/

It's A Beautiful Day

2010-04-01T20:26:00.001-07:00

These garbage cans tell me that it's a beautiful day. I have one in each room. Seriously. Thank you Container Store.

The 7 Most Motivational Quotes Ever Spoken

2010-04-01T19:20:00.000-07:00

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This exceptional blog was written Mr. Self Development who is a motivational author that offers a practical guide to success and wealth; support him by visiting his blog at mrselfdevelopment.com

The 7 Most Motivational Quotes Ever Spoken

Today I want to talk about the seven most motivational quotes ever spoken (or written). Why? Because motivation is the key to success! I like what Zig Ziglar said about motivation, he said, “People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily.”

Motivation is something you need everyday. It's motivation that pushes you forward when you want to collapse; it's motivation that lights the end of the tunnel. If life is a road trip, then motivation is the engine that will take you to your destination. Nothing happens without motivation. Have you been motivated today?

Here are the seven most motivational quotes ever written or spoken, I’ve subtitled them, and given them some commentary, I hope you enjoy.

The 7 Most Motivational Quotes

Our Deepest Fear

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do” --Marianne Williamson, A Return To Love

If not you, then who? We are taught as children that others are great, and that we are not, so I ask the question, “Where do the “great” come from?”

I submit to you that the great arise from the most mundane of places; the great are those who refuse to remain as they are; the great are those who believe in their greatness.

You Will Become What You Think About

“The vision that you glorify in your mind, the ideal that you enthrone in your heart, this you will build your life by, and this you will become.” --James Allen, As a Man Thinketh

The thoughts that you harbor in your mind, the ones that you continually give your attention to, those thoughts will eventually become your life.

If you see yourself as a success, then you will become a success; whatever you consistently ponder, you will become.

Your Life Should be an Adventure

“Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.”--Helen Keller

Whatever your dream, go after it; never settle for a life of quiet desperation, never become a realist. John Eliot said, “As soon as anyone starts telling you to be “realistic,” cross that person off your invitation list.” Your life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.

You Should Never Overestimate the Competition

“The fishing is best where the fewest go, and the collective insecurity of the world makes it easy for people to hit home runs while everyone else is aiming for base hits. There is just less competition for bigger goals. If you are insecure, guess what? The rest of the world is, too. Do not overestimate the competition and underestimate yourself. You are better than you think.”-- Timothy Ferris, The Four Hour Work Week

Someone has to be successful, someone has to write the next bestseller, someone has to be number one, someone has to be on the best, why not you! As the famous poem goes, “You have all that the greatest of men have had, two hands, and two feet.”

Just Keep on Working

“I do not have superior intelligence or faultless looks. I do not captivate a room or run a mile under six minutes. I only succeeded because I was still working after everyone else went to sleep.”--Greg Evans

Keep working, and keep working, and keep working towards your goal, eventually you will get there. The key is to remain focused on your goal! I like what J.C. Penny said, he said, “Give me a stock clerk with a goal, and I will give you a man who will make history. Give me a man without a goal, and I will give you a stock clerk.”

If You Want It, Go Get It

“You got a dream, you gotta protect it. People can’t do something themselves, they wanna tell you, you can’t do it. If you want something, go get it. Period.”--Will Smith in the Movie: Pursuit of Happyness

There will always be “little men” telling you “how you can’t, why you can’t, and how you’re going to fail when you try.” But if you have a dream, go after it; never let someone tell you what you can’t do. You can do whatever you believe you can do.

Remember: Success Always Starts Small

“The greatest achievement was at first, and for a time, but a dream.” --Napoleon Hill

The largest tree was once a tiny seed. There was a time when Microsoft wasn't on any computers; there was a time when Michael Jordan had never scored in a basketball game. Never despise small beginnings, every success starts small. So stay focused, if your focus is steady, you will succeed!
Thank you for reading and be sure to pass this article along.

Spoiler Alert !!! Must Have Item ......

2010-04-01T14:12:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

Ever seen an item out there and thought 'awesome idea - I should have thought of that !'. That was exactly what I thought when I tried out Footzyrolls.

Footzyrolls are a life saver .... literally. When was your last black tie event ? Remember those incredible high heels that just pinched a teeny tiny bit as you cloppedy clopped out of your front door ? Then remember how the pinching continued throughout the evening into a throbbing ache ???? Me too. Stuart Weizman is a talented man but a tad of a sadist nonetheless.

So basically these rollable little life savers are little ballet slippers that fit into your pocket book perfectly and once your toes become numb and you can't hobble anymore you switch into them and ........... life resumes again.

My fave pair come in black and enable me to wear painful shoes knowing that I have a safety net once the throbbing gets too much. I seriously will be taking them to my black tie events in the future.

They retail for between $25 - $30. Their website is adorable www.footzyrolls.com - do your toes a favour and check them out :)

'To Buy Or Not To Buy' ~ 8 Tips For Smarter Spending

2010-03-26T06:48:00.000-07:00

Image by misswired via Flickr

'To buy or not to buy, that is the question'.

Step Away From The Item
Research shows that by holding an item we are more likely to purchase it. So when deciding to buy or not, look with your eyes. Once you are more certain, then go ahead and touch it.

Where will this go & what will it do ?
When considering buying an item, ask yourself where it will go and the specific function it will play. For example, if you can visualize the beautiful dish that is beckoning you from the clearance aisle on the shelf in the dining room , that may indeed be a wise purchase. If you love an item in a store and want to upgrade an item you have an home, then go ahead, just make sure the old item gets given away before it has time to morph into clutter.

Can something else be used in it's place ?
Make sure that something you already own can't fill that niche. You might be so intent on making a purchase that you forget that you have 3 other dishes that could be used instead of buying a new one.

Would I buy this at regular price ?
Sometimes a reduced price can sway our purchase decision. I am not minimizing the thrill of getting a great deal, however you want to make sure that the deal isn't clouding your vision. I once saw with my own eyes an entire pile of unworn clothing with tags on that were being given away by the owner, she had never really liked them but ' they were on clearance'.

Recheck the cart
At the checkout you might want to consider re-checking your choices as you hand your items over to buy. It's more efficient to tell the cashier that you changed your mind than you come back a few days later to return it.

Clearanced beyond belief ?
Once in a while the planets align and we find a slew of clearanced item with such greatly reduced items that our hearts literally skip a beat. If there is no way you can use them and no way you can walk by the items then scoop them into your cart and as you skip to the checkout think of who the lucky recipient will be and drop it off on the way home.

Why Am I Shopping ?If you ever find yourself asking yourself why you are shopping then you may have stopped at your local store as a default behavior not because you need something. So you might want to consider other ways to spend time.

Enter store with specific goals and go to that section first & budget time accordingly
Forget what you came in for (but know it was important )? Write down a handful of items that you don't want to leave the store without and head to those sections at the beginning of your trip.

At the end of the day remember that less is really more and it's not about getting the deal of the day, it's about surrounding yourself with items you love.

Never buy unwanted items again

2010-03-24T05:00:00.000-07:00

Next time you go shopping follow these essential tips:

Image via Wikipedia

1) Don't touch the item (there's a much higher chance of purchasing when we touch it)
2) Ask yourself when would I wear this? What particular void will it fill?
3) If you are being beckoned exclusively by its price then walk away or if it's a deal you cannot step away from then buy it for a friend.
4) Ask yourself why you are shopping - Are you there for a particular item? If you're just filling up a time block consider skipping the stores altogether and go for a walk around the block or local park.

Do you have clothing with tags on in your closet.....still?

2010-03-22T05:00:00.000-07:00

Image by the justified sinner via Flickr

I see items with tags hanging unworn in client's closets all the time. I believe there are two main reasons why.

A) Us women are optimistic/unrealistic - we KNOW we are going to shed a few pounds by next month, it doesn't always happen and voila!

B) I always hear women justify the unworn item with "It was on such a great sale!". Only buy on sale when you LOVE the item and would have bought it at full price anyway.

Cute Kids Snack Idea

2010-03-19T05:07:00.000-07:00

It's tough to compete with Laffy Taffy's and Fruit Roll Ups for snacks at school. Consider bringing humour to snack time and write a message or add a quick illustration to the banana skin.

In the photo my daughter drew phone symbols on her banana.

It was adorable, her friends deemed it 'cool' and whats more - she ate it !

Crossing It Off

2010-03-17T05:30:00.000-07:00

Image by jugbo via Flickr

Check items off your 'to - do' list daily.

Achieving a goal, no matter it's size, strengthens self-worth and positively alters feelings.

Identify a goal for this week.

Write it down and break it down into smaller steps.

Achieve the goal, celebrate and repeat.

Ways To End The Nightly Homework Battle

2010-03-15T04:56:00.000-07:00

Here's a great article from Rachael Ray's website that I was honored to be a part of.

Ways To End The Nightly Homework Battle
Katia Hetter

Where is your son's book report? Did your daughter remember her cleats for soccer practice? And whose permission slip were you supposed to sign?

Parents fight the battle to get homework done every night, and the next morning children often forget to pack it (and everything else they need) in their bags. The mad dash can mean someone gets to school late, and that can affect your kid's attendance record. But it doesn't have to be that way! Organizers from around the country have easy-to-implement solutions to make your children's homework easier for them to do -- and easier on your nightly and morning routines.

Create a homework station. Pick a spot where homework gets done, whether it's a desk, the dining room table or even the living room floor, says Brooklyn, New York organizer Amanda Wiss (http://www.urbanclarity.net). Stock the right supplies for your children to complete their homework, and store them in a drawer or a homework caddy, and make sure to replenish supplies. (Wiss likes the Fiskcars Art Caddy available at Amazon for $13.95, and a tray you can get from The Container Store for $9.99. A simple Office Depot caddy also does the trick). Then monitor your child's progress to ensure the location and supplies work for him. He may need adult supervision to avoid getting caught up playing with Legos at his desk. Or your child may need to be in the dining room near you cooking dinner, just because he missed you all day.

Check it off! Wiss likes checklists for children listing what they need to do and what they have to take to school each day, knowing that it can vary with the day. It can be as simple as a laminated list on the refrigerator that includes lunch, homework for that day, sports equipment, musical instruments, Girl Scouts or religious school. Little kids (and maybe some big ones too) like to check off things they've accomplished, and having it on the refrigerator for everyone to see adds to the fun. Older kids can use planners they get from school or cell phone calendars with alarms for due dates. Costa Mesa, California organizer Gail Gray likes the $5 planners at Agenda Works for children in 5th grade or higher grades.

Where is that spelling list? Have a home for the weekly "study to do's." Omaha, Nebraska organizer Amy Tokos (http://www.freshlyorganized.com) suggests a magnetic clip on the refrigerator or bulletin board for each child to hold the spelling list, the list of states and capitols or ongoing book report projects. Kids are using these things daily and sometimes taking them back and forth from home to school. "This is also helpful for party invites and other info that the kids need to hold on to for a temporary period of time," she says. Older kids may need more extensive "to do" lists to handle research papers and studying for big exams that must be accomplished over time.

Start young. Good habits will help children handle more complex homework assignments as they grow older. Gray, who blogs about kids' homework, has a "Five Things" system that works for some younger kids: "If children always have five things they are supposed to bring home, they count the items and verify there are five packed up. Like if they have a reading book (1), lunch box (2), notebook (3), homework folder (4), sweatshirt (5). " She finds even young kids can get into the habit of remembering without needing lists.

Watch for meltdowns! Younger children often have just a little homework, but it needs to get done early before they get too tired to think and get stressed. And some kids have no sense of time and believe you're going to make them do homework forever. Key Biscayne, Florida organizer Rivka Caroline (www.sobeorganized.blogspot.com) finds a timer helps to convince worried children that homework time will end and fun will follow--provided they use the time to do their work.

Give kids choices. When given the chance, Caroline finds that some elementary school-aged children can make their own after-school schedules. She suggests presenting them with categories of work that have to get done--such as homework, book report, review for test work, supper and free time--and ask them how to arrange them. "Kids can get really creative," she says. "Once one junior client of mine realized that he could get more play time decided on his own to begin flashcard review work in the car. He gained 10 extra minutes a night on his DS and was thrilled."

Get ready for tomorrow. Before evening free time begins, everyone should get his or her bags ready for the next day. That's another time when you can discover permission slips to sign or books needed for the next day. Then pick a location by the front door or mudroom where backpacks, briefcases and purses -- yes, you can model good behavior by getting your bags ready -- are stored.

Stand back. Organizing can just be a matter of good habits, so give your children the chance to learn them. As your children get older, that means you can remind them less. They need to learn from their mistakes, Gray says, or they will have a hard time being self sufficient in college. Gray tells her kids to always put things back where they came from to help them from forgetting where they put stuff. They learn something when they forget. "My son recently switched where he put his protractor and thought he left it at school," says Gray. "It turns out he put it in a different pocket than usual, and found it the next morning when putting his lunch in his backpack. He learned that if he keeps it in one spot, he would be able to find it every time!"

Spring Cleaning 2010

2010-03-11T05:00:00.000-08:00

Spring cleaning used to be about performing an annual scrubbing down of the home. Nowadays thanks to the proliferation of clearance items and low price bargains our primary job is to regain that feeling of an organized home once again.

Image by Nationaal Archief via Flickr

Here are the key steps to follow :

Find a charity of choice that has a pick up service or a drop off near you.
Get some big boxes from a local store
Whether you choose to spring clean for a full day or in little chunks simply divide your time between cleaning and organizing.
Start the process of going through your home and look at all you own.
Every item you own should be highly useful or be an item that you LOVE.
Start with the area that you see when you first enter the home. Be brutal. Keep those give away boxes and a big garbage can near you.
Organizing a home may take longer than spring cleaning, don't be disheartened.
Every 5 minutes you spend decluttering will be time invested in your sense of empowerment in your home.

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