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Posts Tagged ‘Cathy Mendler’
The Yearly Self-Evaluation–from Neworld Coaching!
While it’s not the beginning of a new year, it is the start of the second half of 2012. Even if you reviewed 2011 in December or early January, it’s always a good idea to review your progress every quarter. If you’ve gotten derailed, take stock and make the necessary adjustments to get back on track.
The Yearly Self-Evaluation
From our colleagues at Neworld Coaching…
For years now, I have designated a couple of hours of time during the first two weeks of December to complete a Yearly Self-Assessment document. Although it may sound like a simple undertaking, it really isn’t. Reflection, soul searching and decision making can be arduous tasks to say the least. Although I always look forward to this exercise, I still find it difficult to analyze my failures and make realistic plans for the future.
Taking into account the five areas in the “Wheel of Life” (Business, Financial, Personal Relationships, Health/Fitness and Self Mastery)…
The first thing I do is reflect. I look back at the past year and ask myself a few of the “hard” questions. What were my successes and how did I celebrate or reward myself? What were my failures and how did I deal with them? Did I listen to feedback from my associates, clients & family? I ask myself these questions (and several more) in order to gain perspective and “keep it real”. The important thing to remember is not to be too hard on yourself. If you learn from your mistakes and growth occurs… then nothing was in vain!
“The true measure of a man is not how he behaves in moments of comfort and convenience but how he stands at times of controversy and challenges.” ~Martin Luther King Jr.
The next step is to “dream” of the future. A future where all of my goals are met or within reach. To accomplish this step I must do some sincere soul searching with regard to everything in my life. And because everything always takes three times longer than you expect… I call these my “three year intentions”. Writing quickly, using bullet points and spilling my dreams onto paper is quite liberating. I dream big! Intentions are like magnets, the bigger they are, the more they pull you forward! By redefining everything that I want to be… do… and have… over the next 3 years… I am analyzing my dreams and turning them into tangible goals!
The [last] part of my Self-Assessment is to create a plan for the coming year. I divide the year into four (quarters) and then set goals (usually a few large and a few smaller) to accomplish in each of the five areas. After choosing these goals and specifying when I want to achieve them, I have completed the Self-Assessment and I will be prepared at the beginning of the year to plan my first Quarter. At the beginning of each week I will use a Weekly Planner to set specific goals and I even assign points to myself when I complete a task! The process is a bit more involved than I let on here but suffice it to say that filling in my planner each week is a useful and tangible method for measuring my results and holding myself accountable.
Strategically planning, goal setting and accountability is the foundation of the Neworld Coaching Succe$$ System. Using a series of Planners similar to those mentioned above, along with a specific Weekly Planner and even a ‘Personal Board [Chart]’ we encourage our clients to take the steps necessary to meet their goals. Whatever they may be! As I mentioned, I have been doing this Self-Assessment for many years and I am pleased to share it with you…just click here to view the form. Print it and fill it out! I do… EVERY YEAR. Dawn even does it too and we compare our ideas. It is a great exercise! I hope you find it fruitful for you as well!
~Michael Fletcher
If you liked this article, check out more articles in Neworld’s Shameless Blog.
Technology and Time Management!
Summer is usually the time of year to take a well-deserved break. Like many of us, you’ve been eagerly awaiting some time off from your busy schedule.
While your business may slow down during the summer months, it shouldn’t grind to a halt.
Did you know “it is a fact that creativity often flows more readily when you are out[side]—especially if you are near water”? In Write It Down, Make It Happen, Henriette Anne Klauser tells us that “Being near water, especially moving water, gets ideas to flow.”
I attended a POC conference session a couple of years ago on “The Impact of Technology on Time Management” and learned a new word – “Thinksomnia.” While Harold Taylor (a Canadian time management expert) did not create this word, he has “adopted it and use(s) it in the context of our extreme busyness and resultant lack of creativity.” The definition for this made-up word is: “An idea that pops into your head just before you fall asleep, which is so big and brilliant, or else so dark and scary, that it keeps you awake all night long”.
For Harold, “it fit perfectly with [his] belief that because we are so busy and preoccupied all day, the only time we get to really think about anything new is at night just before we fall asleep. That’s when the ideas pop into our minds, and we start thinking about them to the point that we can’t get to sleep.” “I recommend to my clients that at least 10 percent of their work day should be left [available] for planning and thinking. Because our success and the success of our companies depend on it. Everything except creativity is being outsourced to other countries…We can’t afford to short-change our creativity – which we’re doing in this age of speed.”
Keep the above points in mind as you think ahead and set personal or business goals for the remainder of 2012. You may come up with your most brilliant ideas yet. Remember to keep a notepad handy to jot ideas down, so that you can put them into action!
Wise Words from Paul J. Meyer
“Productivity is never an accident. It is always the result of a commitment to excellence, intelligent planning, and focused effort.”
-Paul J. Meyer
Organizing Your Garage!
Summer is here—with lots of sunshine, heat and humidity! It’s time to take a well-deserved break.
Let’s get started and turn over another leaf!
Organizing Your Garage
“I had more clothes than I had closets, more cars than garage space, but no money.” Sammy Davis, Jr.
Are you able to park your car(s) in your garage? If you can’t, do you keep your garage door closed to hide the clutter? Many people say that their garage is their most disorganized space.
The same principles used to organize the inside of your house can also be applied to the garage.
Planning
When you live in our region of the country, organizing the garage has to be done when the weather permits. Choose a date and time as well as an alternate date in case of extremely hot or poor weather. Check with your neighbours. You may not want to clear out your garage when they’re planning a yard sale. Their customers will assume you’re having a yard sale too!
The size of your garage and the amount of clutter will determine how much time you will need. Remember to set a realistic goal for the amount of time you have set aside. Decide if this will be a project for the whole family.
Supplies
Stock up ahead of time–garbage bags, recycle bin, empty boxes, broom, dust pan, gloves, etc. Have cold drinks and snacks readily available.
Get Started
Dress comfortably. Put on your favourite tunes.
Designate areas: Keep, Sell, Donate, Garbage and Recycling. Have the children label areas on the driveway with coloured sidewalk chalk.
Start by removing everything from the garage onto your driveway and/or lawn. If that’s too overwhelming, work on one area at a time. As you empty the garage, sort items into categories—toys, sporting equipment, bikes, tools, car cleaning supplies, outdoor decorations, gardening items, etc. Ensure that all items you keep are in good, working condition. Place items to donate or sell into boxes or bags. Recycling and garbage should be placed in their designated area.
The most important thing is to stay focused on the project at hand. Take short breaks to keep up your energy—especially if your children are helping. Visualize the end result; it will help keep you on track.
Questions to Ask when Sorting
Do I need more than one of an item? How often do I use it? Borrowing or renting an item may be a better option—especially if it takes up a lot of space.
Be realistic about how much your garage will hold.
Organizing Your Possessions
Gather together everything you want to store in an area before you start organizing that space. Designate a different zone for each activity–toys, sporting equipment, bikes, tools, gardening items, garbage and recycling, etc.
Plastic containers are ideal for garage storage because they keep items clean and the bugs away. The garage is not a good place to store photos and heirlooms because of extreme temperature differences.
Use storage containers that you already own. It’s important to measure before you buy any new containers; only buy containers if you need a different size or style. Clear storage containers are best—especially if containers will be stacked. Try to avoid rows of containers; if you have to move a lot of containers, an item is less likely to be put back. Remember to label all containers.
Make use of vertical space as much as possible. Adjust shelves or add extra ones.
Hang tools on pegboards. Draw an outline of the tool, so everyone knows where it belongs.
Stacking recycle bins are available to conserve space.
Create parking spaces for your children’s bikes with paint or tape lines on the garage floor.
Deck boxes are great for storing cushions and other outdoor items.
A cabinet just inside the garage close to the deck can store plastic dishes, glasses and other serving items–making table setting easier.
Garage storage cabinets are available in various price ranges at home building and hardware stores. Cabinets look tidier because items are out of sight. Ceiling-mounted racks can store less frequently used items. There are numerous garage organizing companies who will create the garage of your dreams.
Make sure that paint, gardening chemicals and cleaning supplies are stored safely and out of reach of young children. Dispose of them safely at a household hazardous waste location.
Consider installing a shed to store items such as lawn mowers, lawn furniture, etc., if you don’t have a garage.
Recycling
You’ll feel like you’ve really completed your project if you can dispose of any donations, recycling and garbage right away.
Reward Yourself
Plan a fun activity for the whole family to enjoy after all your hard work!
Eat Right Ontario!
Was one of your 2012 resolutions to eat healthier? Spring is almost over, so don’t procrastinate. EatRight Ontario can help you improve your health and well-being through healthy eating.
The website provides nutrition tips and easy-to-use tools to make healthier food choices. You can call or email a dietitian for no charge if you are an Ontario resident.
It’s never too late to improve your eating habits!
Kind Words from Our Client Linda Fergus!
“A New Leaf helped me to purge and organize my cluttered house so we could put it on the market and downsize. For days after we worked on our previously overstuffed linen closet, I would look in there to see what was possible, it was amazing! We got help prioritizing which space to tackle first and choosing where things that we decided were no longer needed would go: donation, consignment or trash/recycling. That was important to me as I don’t like things to go to waste if they are still usable. Another hugely helpful thing they did for us was to take our extra stuff away at the end of the session so we would not have to see it or think about it any more!
“I would recommend A New Leaf for any organizing or de-cluttering project that seems too big to tackle alone.
“Thank you Cathy!”
Linda, Fergus, ON
Thanks for reading…
P.S. To read more testimonials, please Click Here
The Myth of Time Management–Deborah Plouffe from rewriter.ca!”
The Myth of Time Management
by Deborah Plouffe
Here’s the myth: there is no such thing as time management. Time is a constant; it doesn’t change. We can’t manage time any more than we can change the direction of the tide. No, we can’t manage time.
We can only manage ourselves and plan to use our time effectively. When it comes to our professional success, the most important asset that we can allocate is our time. Even if it seems that the more successful we become, the less time we seem to have, the #1 key to efficiency is planning, scheduling and prioritizing our tasks effectively.
Take the time to consider these top three most important Time Tips:
1) Take time to write it down. If your prefer to keep track of your schedule and task lists in your head, give writing it all down a try for a specified amount of time and see for yourself how your efficiency will improve. Try the system that you think will work best for you. Carry a notebook, digital recorder or electronic aid to add to and keep track of your schedule.
2) Take time to plan. Take a least 30 minutes each week to plan out your weekly tasks and appointments. Remember to work toward aligning these tasks with your written goals, and don’t forget to set aside time to improve yourself. Evaluate and review past schedules to identify the time stealers and work to eliminate them. Remember that the best way to squelch a bad habit is to replace it with a good one.
3) Take time to prioritize. Learn to say “no” to low priority requests and don’t over commit yourself. Think before you leap into a new committment that is not in line with your written goals.
The way that you approach planning your time can make a more profound difference in your results than anything else that you do…and don’t forget the old adage that for every moment spent in planning an hour is gained.
Deborah Plouffe is a Canadian business writer and the owner of rewriter.ca
Procrastinating and Perfection!
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“Someday is NOT a day of the week!”
Do you procrastinate because you’re a perfectionist or you’re afraid of failing? Twice in the past week, I’ve seen the quote—“If you fall on your face, at least you’re falling forward.” So really, what’s the worst that can happen?
Harold Taylor, a Canadian time management expert, tells us that “Perfectionism is not attempting to be perfect when performing a task; it is the act of spending more time on a task, activity or decision than the results justify. … The opposite of perfectionism is not sloppiness. An e-mail message may not be that important for instance. But a hasty reply filled with typos and fractured sentences will waste more time than you saved by generating a chain of messages attempting to clarify the communication.”
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