“The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” - Benjamin Franklin
Have you changed your beliefs and/or behaviors wanting different results and not getting them? Let's chat; I have a way to change all of that.
Avoid late fees when paying bills electronically by setting up an "auto pay" or "auto withdrawal" for the minimum amount due. That way your bill is always paid ON TIME! Most companies will allow you to adjust the amount at any time and/or make an additional payment 24 hours later.
January is National Get Organized Month.
If you have ever thought about getting organized there is no better time than the present.
Go to http://www.napo.net/get_organized/chap_go_month/index.html for a list of events for NAPO's Get Organized Month presented by local NAPO chapters and members.
Let me know if you'd like to get organized, this month or any time.
‘Tis the season for Mistletoe.
‘Tis also the season for stress, depression, and unrealistic expectations.
So, pop in a breath mint and pucker up for this special KISS.
KEEP IT SUPER SIMPLE!
q Keep in mind what is really important to you.
q Imagine what a stress free… looks like to you.
q Sing, smile, take in the scents, and
q Simplify to achieve your image.
Strive to be effective, not perfect. Do it anyway.
I have a dear friend who calls herself a recovering perfectionist. I love that because I too suffer from the same unrealistic expectations I place on myself. For example, this tip of the month... Here it is already November 14th and I'm just posting this month's tip. I've been procrastinating because I wanted to make sure I was providing the perfect tip for my viewers. Since I can't control the date - only my reaction to it - I decided to change my idea for this month's tip and fess up to my own shortcomings... and do it anyway.
I have a "sticky" note above my workspace that says, "Do it Anyway!" It's been hard, but the outcome has always been positive. I do what ever the "thing" is, send it out into the world, and wait for it to come back and bit me in the butt. It hasn't yet. 99.9% of the time no one even knew I or the "thing" was late, had coffee stains (I'll share that story another time), contained a type-o, or was NOT perfect.
So, here's my Tip of the Month: Strive to be effective, not perfect. Do it anyway. I hope it helps you, because it's helped me - especially today.
If you have any examples of overcoming perfectionism or "doing it anyway" that you'd like to share, please feel free to attach a comment to this post. I believe the more we see each other being "human" (striving for being effective) the less we'll feel the need to be perfect.
I am forgoing my Tip of the Month to request your help.
Please visit The Breast Cancer Site at http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/home once per day and click on the pink "Fund Free Mammograms" button to help fund free mammograms for homeless, low-income women. EVERY CLICK IS TRIPLED IN OCTOBER!
It costs you nothing to help make early detection and survival possible. Funding is paid by site sponsors and goes to the nonprofit National Breast Cancer Foundation, who uses it to grant access to mammography to women in need.
In loving memory of Marilyn Jean Derksen, Louise Strain, and Vinita Hagerman with continued best wishes to Joni Strain, Ruthanne Kastner, Mary Hemman and all of the other women and men we know and love.
Thank you!
Start Today, Continue Tomorrow, Integrate Yesterday
When you have a task that is so overwhelming that you don't even know where to start (e.g., processing mail, posting data or receipts, dealing with email or voicemail, to do lists, etc.) don't worry about the past - just focus on today, every day. If you start the day with yesterday's task you will always be behind. Yesterday's tasks are already late, so make sure that today's aren't. Once you're consistent with dealing with the information daily then you can go back and start dealing with the past.
First Example: I had a client who hadn't yet posted any of her business receipts for the year even though it was already August. I advised her to “Start Today” with today's receipts, then going forward to post each day’s receipts every day. Once she was completing that task daily as part of her routine, she could start “Integrating Yesterday” by posting the past receipts. By February she was current with her data entry and had posted all of the receipts from the prior year. If she had started in August with the January receipts she would have become frustrated, continued to fall behind, and wouldn't have completed the task.
Second Example: A client returned from a business trip to find over 45 new email messages and 7 new voicemail messages on top of the more than 300 that he hadn't had time to review let alone respond to before he left. Needless to say he was completely overwhelmed. At my suggestion he began by dealing with that day’s emails and voicemails (which took all day). By doing this he was actually able to delete many of old items since the newer ones were from people following up on the old messages. Most of the items on his To Do List became obsolete or unimportant enabling him to start making fresh and current lists that he completed every day.
I’ve said it before, but after talking recently with family, friends, and clients who are still over committed I realize I need to say it again, “NO is a complete sentence." You don’t have to explain, justify, or apologize.
If you use a hanging file system, put the plastic file tab at the front of the hanging file. This will let you read the label no matter how tall or thick the folder becomes.
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