Posts Tagged ‘a new leaf’
Kind Words From Our Client Lois R!
“Congratulations once again for your terrific organizing seminar! Such helpful information and such a great experience for everyone! Thanks so much for putting that together, everyone I talked to was really pleased to have been there.” – Lois R.
Thanks for reading…
P.S. CLICK HERE to read more testimonials!
Create Your Own Checklist…Or Use One of Ours!
Do you find yourself forgetting to do something when working on a project or routine task? When tasks occur on a regular basis—whether daily, weekly, monthly or annually—a checklist can be a useful tool to help get your work done.
It’s easy to create your own checklist. Pick one of your projects. Start by jotting down as many points as you can. And remember, it doesn’t have to be perfect!
“It’s never too late—in fiction or in life—to revise.”
– Nancy Thayer, American Writer
Watch for the introduction of more handy checklists in upcoming editions! Don’t forget to check out all of our handy CHECKLISTS!
Freedom By Process–from Carol Glover!
FREEDOM BY PROCESS
Stuck in a rut? Can’t seem to focus or get productive? Or do you have so much to do you don’t know where to start – so you don’t start. Do any of these scenarios sound familiar?
Let’s get back to basics: Process. Checklists, plans and templates are what you build when you want to organize your thoughts and your time to be sure you focus your attention on your high value actions. I focus on these tools because many people have no structure to the way they work; they live and work daily in a state of chaos; in reaction mode. This causes everyone to work longer and at more stressful levels than necessary. Tools such as plans, templates and processes allow you the freedom to logically get work done and to have time to look ahead and enjoy the ride.
Here’s an easy way to build a process to form some structure to your time:
1. You must have at least an idea as to what you need to accomplish. Write it down in as few words as possible.
2. Start brainstorming all the things you need to do to accomplish your objective.
3. Put the tasks in a logical order making sure each action is truly necessary.
4. If the tasks are complex you may want to take an extra step and make note of the things you have to do to accomplish each task.
That’s it! Building a process really is that easy. The results happen when you build a process into your schedule: does this process have to be repeated daily, weekly, or monthly? Make time for it. Remember, even though you’ve built a process, it can – and likely will – change. That’s okay. New information comes to light and obstacles are put in the way. Don’t let speed bumps sabotage your whole structure. Being sure of what needs to be done 70% of the time is better than feeling like you’re always fighting fires.
Even the most creative people need structure and direction to accomplish their objectives; it doesn’t have to be complicated.
At FireHorse Consulting, we pride ourselves on providing accessible (and affordable!) business consulting to small businesses and professionals. To do this, we offer personal coaching, workshops, and e-Coaching. This way – you can choose what works best for you and start working to better yourself and your business . . . fast!
Be it developing or editing your business plan, creating a strategic marketing plan or helping you to establish small business management skills to create life-work-balance; we will help you decide what you need, and support you every step of the way.
Carol Glover
Eat That Frog Part 1
Have you heard the expression “Eat That Frog” before? It’s the phrase that Brian Tracy uses “as a metaphor for tackling the most challenging task of your day.”
Many of us procrastinate when it comes getting started on tasks we don’t really want to do. I’d like to share some information from EAT THAT FROG! 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time (ISBN 978-1-57675-422-1)–one of my favourite productivity books.
Here are Brian’s first 7 ways to stop procrastinating and get more things done faster.
1. “Set the table: Decide exactly what you want. Clarity is essential. Write out your … objectives before you begin.
2. Plan every day in advance: Think on paper. Every minute [spent planning can reduce your actual time spent on action by five or ten minutes].
3. Apply the 80/20 Rule to everything: Twenty percent of your activities will account for 80 percent of your results. Always concentrate your efforts on that top 20 percent.
4. Consider the consequences: Your most important tasks and priorities are those that can have the most serious consequences, positive or negative, on your life or work. Focus on these above all else.
5. Practice creative procrastination: Since you can’t do everything, you must learn to deliberately put off those tasks that are of low value so that you have enough time to do the few things that really count.
6. Use the ABCDE Method continually: Before you begin work on a list of tasks, take a few moments to organize them by value and priority so you can be sure of working on your most important activities.
7. Focus on key result areas: Identify and determine those results that you absolutely, positively have to get to do your [work] well, and work on them all day long.”
Stay tuned to the next edition for more tips!
Take action and EAT THAT FROG!
Wise Words from Aristotle!
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit.” – Aristotle
Best Berries recipe!
Best Berries
3/4 cup (175 ml) – pineapple juice
2 tbsp (25 ml) – lemon juice
3 tbsp (45 ml) – plain or frozen yogurt
12 strawberries (hulled and halved if fresh)
1 ripe banana, peeled and chopped
In blender, combine pineapple juice, lemon juice, yogurt, strawberries and banana. Process as directed until smooth.
Serves 3
You can use any berry – raspberry, strawberry, blueberry, or blackberry – in this sweet summer drink.
The Smoothies Bible, Pat Crocker, 2003
Homework and Study Checklist!
It’s BACK TO SCHOOL time…and it’s time to introduce you to a new checklist!
CLICK HERE to view our newest checklist. It’s all about HOW TO SET UP A HOMEWORK or STUDY AREA!
The Bank Account of Life–from Michael Fletcher of Neworld Coaching!
As published in the Shameless Blog from Neworld Coaching
The Bank Account of Life
A 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud man, moved into a nursing home today. He is fully dressed each morning by eight o’clock, with his hair fashionably coifed and shaved perfectly, even though he is legally blind. His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary.
After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, he smiled sweetly when told his room was ready. As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of his tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on his window.
“I love it!” he stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy. “Mr. Jones, you haven’t seen the room yet; just wait.” “That doesn’t have anything to do with it,” he replied. “Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn’t depend on how the furniture is arranged … it’s how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it.”
“It’s a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can stay in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do. Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I’ll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I’ve stored away. Just for this time in my life. Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from what you’ve put in.”
When you put this in business terms … you can worry all day about the business dealings that you are involved in, or be negative about the potential clients that have fallen by the wayside, or you can choose to be positive and focus on the things that are going right in your business. My advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of life! I am still depositing, and I make a conscious effort each and every day to remember the “goodness” of people.
Remember the five simple rules to be happy:
1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.
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