A SURPRISING WAY TO BE PRODUCTIVE
It is Monday after the conference. I got back two days ago. One would think that it’s enough time to recuperate. I was 100% confident, I would be back into the groove of things by Friday afternoon.
Ha! Not so fast. I am not totally sure what’s contributing to such a lethargic state of mind. Is it because:
- I had to fly for 6 hours there and back within three days?
- Of the time zone change?
- There was so much great information, that brain went into overload?
- Adrenaline rush?
- Red-eye flights are never fun
- Lack of sleep?
- The body is exhausted, while the mind is racing
- The new possibilities
- New connections
- Overwhelm with what the next steps are?
- Overwhelm with what was left undone while I was away?
- The realization that I have to overcome certain fears and uncertainties in order to move forward?
Interestingly, making this list was quite therapeutic. I believe it’s because it’s part of the diagnostic process that we must go through, in order to figure out what’s happening. Before we move forward, we first have to identify where we are, what brought us here, what’s holding us back. (it’s just another good reason it’s step #1 in my productivity system).
What this weekend also taught me is that it’s important to build-in some recuperating time after a conference (or a meeting, or an appointment – anything where you’ve expanded a lot of your energy and yourself). In order to get my energy back, I learned that I have to just take it easy and not do anything.
This sounds like such a simple concept, but anyone who knows me, also knows that it’s the hardest thing for me. As a productivity expert, I always encourage my clients (and push myself) to act, act, act. Interestingly, in this case, the most productive thing is to do nothing. Let myself absorb what I’ve experienced. Stay in the conscious place, but active place. Just be.
3 More Ways To Increase Productivity In Your Home Office So You Can Get More Done In Less Time
Eliminate post-it notes. Although they are a great invention and I use them every day in the course of my work, I resist the urge of using them to post reminders around the office. Why? Because, they collect dust, they curl, they fall off, and ultimately add to the clutter. If I need a reminder, I set my outlook. If I must make a note for later, I write it down on my ‘to-do’ list, because effectively it becomes a to-do item.
A while ago, I wrote down my assistant’s fax number on a post-it note and attached it to the fax machine. “It’s just temporary”, I said to myself. Months later, the darn thing was still there, curling up and falling off. Every morning I would find it on the floor, grind my teeth, slap it back on, just to repeat the process the next morning. After months of frustration, I finally decided to take my own advice. I found 2 minutes (big deal, right?), got an adhesive label, wrote down the number, and pasted it neatly on the fax machine. I was very proud of myself. Small thing, I know, but it made me feel so good.
Place a coaster by your computer. It sounds silly at first, but believe it or not, it can play a part in healthier you this year. The coaster is in effect a reminder that a glass of water needs to be placed on top of it.
It’s no surprise that most of us don’t drink enough water. As decorators, we are always “on the road”, between clients, and on appointments, which makes it particularly hard. But when we are in our office, there should be no excuse. Water cleanses your body, makes you feel better, and ultimately increases your productivity. Although we know all the benefits, it is still very easy to forget it, while getting wrapped up in the office-day catch-up. The coaster is your reminder: if it’s empty, it’s time to get your water!
Go full circle. This is like saying: “Everything that goes up, must go down”. In the life of a designer (decorator, window treatment specialist, workroom, or installer) it’s about putting things back where their “home” is. But it doesn’t mean putting it back some day, tomorrow, or later – it means putting it back right away.
So if you’ve pulled out several trim books to match with the fabric, put them back right after you’ve found the right trim. If you’ve taken out a price book for a hardware order you’re working on, put it back as soon as you’ve completed that proposal.
In my GET IT DONE Mentoring Program, my clients particularly like this rule, because it’s so simple and they can easily implement it. Just remembering about it and catching yourself when you’re tempted to put something aside until later, is all it takes to make it work. Just remember, all your tools, reference materials, supplies, and files must go back full circle to where their designated home is.
FREE open line coaching calls
How to Achieve an Amazing Year – by Neen James
To make the most of this year, make an appointment with yourself to review these 10 tips and find out what you can implement to make this year amazing for you.
Set Realistic Goals
Everyone says to set goals but I recommend you write down your goals and then decide you will achieve them. Many of us write down our goals but don’t commit to achieving them – make this year different. Make your goals realistic and put them on your fridge where you can see them everyday.
Focus on your health
This can be your greatest asset or your greatest liability. Get a check up with your doctor, implement an exercise program if you don’t have one, take vitamins if you need to and discover what will help boost your health this year.
Invest in your personal development
I recently read those who spend a thousand dollars or more on their personal development will increase their business by 20%. Read books, attend workshops, find a new network, listen to tapes or CDs in your car, do on-line courses or enroll at Tafe or university. Keep your brain active.
Know your priorities
Once you have set you goals you can focus on what is important to you this year i.e. family, self development, profitability, building your profile, health, gaining new clients or more relaxation time. Whatever you deem most important will help keep your focus on how you spend your time.
Eliminate Time Robbers
Make a list of the things that rob you of your time i.e. TV, running many errands, checking your email too often, long phone calls, waiting times and sometimes it might be other people. Focus on controlling your time and get rid of the things in your life that are not a high priority.
Surround yourself with VIPs and eliminate VDPs
Find very inspiring people (VIP) you can learn from, bounce ideas with and enjoy their company. Minimize your time with the very draining people (VDP) in your life. Be strict with yourself and you will feel more positive when VIPs surround you.
Plan your next holiday
Yes that is right! Allocate time in your calendar for your next holiday to give you something to look forward to and also to prevent your diary filling up before you have time to plan.
Make time for those you care for
Balancing work and home is a challenge for most people. Choose to spend this year more focused on those you love and don’t forget to remind them how much they mean to you, promise yourself you won’t take anyone for granted this year. I try to tell one person per day they are special, maybe you could try this too.
Create a daily ‘Attitude’ to do list
Many of you make ‘to do’ lists for work but consider creating an ‘Attitude’ to do list you can use everyday. My list includes things like; tell someone they are special, send a thank you note, sit in the sun for 15 minutes, find something funny, exercise and choose to be positive. What will your list say?
Choose to be amazing
Make a commitment to yourself each morning that you will have an amazing day. This might include trying some of these tips like read your ‘Attitude’ to do list, focus on your health, eliminate time robbers or find more VIPs in your life. Remember life is not a dress rehearsal – we only get one performance so let’s give it our best.
Neen James is an International Productivity Expert. She demonstrates how boosting your productivity can help you achieve amazing results. She is a dynamic keynote speaker, author and executive coach and business mentor with a unique voice, high energy, sense of fun and uncommon common-sense. Find out more at www.neenjames.com – P.O. Box 1764 • Doylestown, PA 18901 • 215-230-0835
IWCE 2010 Awards Ceremony
Window treatment and productivity expert, Vitalia Vygovska, receives her award from the president of McNamara Inc, Grace McNamara at the IWCE Vision 10 Awards Ceremony. The award is the 1st place win in the whole room integration category. For picture of Vita’s work, check out this post.
Do you know this man?
The man that I’m talking about is David Shepherd.
A very accomplished entrepreneur, he is also the founder of Business of Design Conference – THE place for serious designers to get best business advice and latest strategies.
I am embarrassed to admit that until a few months ago, I had never heard of David Shepherd or his conference. And you know me – I am ALL about business of design. It’s shocking that such a charismatic figure in our industry and such a powerful event, escaped my radar.
So, it occurred to me that if it escaped me, perhaps it’s escaping you as well. And I just couldn’t let that happen.
I am very excited to be attending the conference this year. You know that I always talk about continuing education, self-improvement, and betterment of your business skills. Well, if you are a serious designer, there is no better place this year to further your business, your confidence, and your bank account, than by attending The Business of Design Conference, September 2-3, in NYC.
I’d like you to experience it so much, that, as a preferred partner of DPI, I’ve been able to negotiate something very special for you (I still can’t believe David agreed to this).
Officially, the ‘early bird’ special ended on June 1st but David is extending it for you through July 6th! Only through July 6th, you can save $500 off the regular price admission ticket of $1995. So your price for this premier two-day event is $1495! Your special code is 74Z4G. (this offer is not valid for those who have already purchased their tickets)
Be sure to check out the particulars at The Business of Design Conference and register today. Can’t wait to meet you in NYC!
A Lesson in Productivity – the LOA Style
Just came off of a 3-day seminar, as part of my year-long Quantum Leap mastermind program. If you’ve ever attended anything worthwhile, you will probably sympathize with what I’m about to say.
I feel excited, overwhelmed, and numb all at the same time. Excited by the prospect of what’s to come. Overwhelmed by the possibilities. Numb from the amount of information. Phew!
Now I have to sort through all the notes and handouts and decide what to do next. It’s interesting how I have to remind myself to take my own advice: list, prioritize, act, I wrote more about it here.
The last day of the seminar was led by Jack Canfield – the co-author and best seller of Chicken Soup for the Soul. What an experience it was! Here’s me, holding an autographed copy of his book and getting close to Jack at a photo op.
As I am trying to work through the numbness and emerge with clarity, one lesson keeps coming up to the surface for me. It has to do with the law of attraction and it’s super old and super obvious. Listening to all the information, I kept thinking: “this is going to be so hard, how am I ever going to get it all done”. This idea of it being hard is really something I need to work on. It became very clear to me that until I get rid of this limiting belief, everything I do will be hard. It will feel hard. It will never be easy, b/c I concentrate on the ‘hardness’. Since I keep thinking about it, I keep attracting it. It’s a vicious circle and only I can stop it.
I’ll let you know how it goes…
After the moment is gone, all we have are pictures!
It takes a village – 1st stop – nails!
It takes a village (con’t) – next stop – hair!
It takes a village (con’t) – final stop – make-up!
Voila!
In some countries, it’s illegal to let nursing mothers out in dresses like this.
This is such a lame angle, but it had to be done – had to capture the hair!
My supportive husband Vitali!
