If you’re ready to get back in gear, here’s a few resources you can use to get moving!

31 Days of Home Office Organizing Tips
Take the next month and get your office under control.

Keep track of your projects with Todoodlist
I found this great ebook, and it’s made a huge difference for me in keeping track of what I’m working on.

Spruce up your home office
Making your office a place you like to be

Organize your business cards
Need a place to keep the business cards you accumulated over the summer?  Here’s a quick project to help.

Listen to my podcast, The O Myth
We have got a HUGE lineup of LIVE shows in September.  Come hear some fantastic moms share with us how we can get it all done!

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Sparkplugging is starting a new tradition called ?Spark an Idea Thursday?. Each week we?ll be sharing some great ideas for a topic of interest to our readers. We invite you to?grab our image and carry the tradition through to your own blog! If you do, please link back to this post so we know where you were inspired!

I’m incurably curious.  Maybe it’s a sickness, maybe I’m a little “off” or maybe it helps me learn something new almost everyday.

Ok, ok, I did love school.

I loved it!  I loved learning, being in class and expanding my mind.  I also loved being an exchange student my entire senior year in high school.  I spent the year abroad in a remote small town in Japan.  Talk about expanding this small town girl’s mind!  I also think it’s what helped me want to learn more about the world around me.

How can you become a life-long learner?

Read like there’s no tomorrow.
There is so much information out there to learn and enjoy between the first and last pages of a book -  and I don’t just mean business-related books!  Have you read “Pride & Prejudice”?  “Anna Karenina”?  Oscar Wilde?  Thoreau?  “Memoirs of a Geisha”?
Over the past year, I decided I needed to expand my reading outside of business books into fiction and the classics.  I am so glad I did!  Give it a try and get reading or listening to audiobooks.  You’ll never be able to read all the great literature out there in a lifetime, but you can sure give it your best shot!

Satisfy your curiousity.
Want to learn how to knit?  Buy a book or join a knitting group.  Never made a killer homemade chocolate cake before? Try this recipe.  If you’re curious about something and want to learn more, ask questions.  Don’t worry about feeling foolish because you don’t know the answer.  You might be surprised what you learn when you’re curious about the world around you.

Listen more, talk less.
A person I admire once said to me, “Wise people talk very little.”  Think of someone you know who has an incredible amount of knowledge and wisdom.  Are they talkers or listeners?  I’ve found them to be listeners.

Learning is stretching.
There’s so much to learn in our world, and with the universal body of knowledge multiplying every second there’s no way to learn it all!  A good place to start is an area in your life or business you feel unsure about.  Gain a skill in that area, even if it’s a stretch.  Go beyond your comfort level and expand your mind.   Think of it like stretching: the more you do it, the easier it becomes.  (Trust me, learning Japanese was, and is, a real mind bender.  It was also well worth it.)

Are you a life-long learner?  What do you want to know more about?

]]> http://www.sparkplugging.com/home-office-organizer/be-a-life-long-student-4-tips/feed/ 0 http://www.sparkplugging.com/home-office-organizer/show-a-little-appreciation-notes-phone-calls/ http://www.sparkplugging.com/home-office-organizer/show-a-little-appreciation-notes-phone-calls/#comments Thu, 04 Jun 2009 09:00:02 +0000 Brandie Kajino, The Home Office Organizer http://www.sparkplugging.com/home-office-organizer/?p=474 Sparkplugging is starting a new tradition called ‘Spark an Idea Thursday’.  Each week we’ll be sharing some great ideas for a topic of interest to our readers.  We invite you to grab our image and carry the tradition through to your own blog!  If you do, please link back to this post so we know where you were inspired!

The theme of this week’s Spark an Idea Thursday is:
Spark an Idea That Shows Appreciation

How do you show appreciation?

When was the last time you picked up the phone or wrote an actual hand written note?   Recently I went to hear a friend speak at a local chamber meeting.  Her presentation was about networking and connecting with people.  When she began talking about handwritten notes, it made me think.

When you get your mail, and there is a handwritten addressed envelope in the mix, what do you open first?

I bet you’d open the handwritten envelope first.  Right?  In this world of email and virtual conversations, it’s nice to get something more personal once in a while.  What about sending a handwritten note to some of your best clients, business colleagues or mentors?  It doesn’t have to be a long note, but maybe just a thank you or a note to say you were thinking about them.

Make it personal.

Don’t feel like writing a note?  How about a quick phone call?  Even if it’s just a 60 second voice mail to let someone know you were thinking of them.  It’s small gesture that can really make someone’s day.  Wouldn’t you like to get a voice mail like that?

How can you get personal and show some appreciation this week?

The theme of this week’s Spark an Idea Thursday is Spark an Idea to Stay Motivated

Do you have to FEEL motivated to get or STAY motivated?

I know I’m guilty of staring down a task and saying to myself, “I don’t feel like it right now…”  Know what I mean?   There are a wide array of excuses I could use:

• not feeling well
• my child is ill
• my laptop is on the fritz (this is a really good one)
• I haven’t had coffee
• my mojo is down
• it’s that time of the month
• _____________  insert your favorite here*

So, do I have to feel motivated?  Uh, no.  Feeling has nothing to do with motivation, it’s got much more to do with action.   There have been times I have a speaking engagement and I’m not even close to feeling like I’m ready to take the platform.  I’m not feelin’ it.  Do you think that client or room of people really care?  Uh, no.  So, I load up my gear, get in the car and head on over.  I do it anyway, I put myself into action.  You know the funny thing?  My best workshops & presentations are usually on the days when I don’t “feel” like doing them.  I just do it anyway, and before I even get to the door of my gig to start, I’m ready to rock and roll.   Weird, huh?

Feeling, shmeeling.  Just start doing.

Let’s all just get over what we “feel” like doing and just get doing.  It’s like priming the pump, and motivation will flow soon after. So…
Get the article started.
Get a pen and paper out and start planning that next big adventure.
Pick up the phone and start that conversation.
Solve a problem.

Put something on paper, make a plan and then work your plan.  You won’t always feel like it, but I’ll bet you’ll be more motivated once you get going.  Go ahead, start moving…and you might even start with the thing you’re not “feeling” like doing today.

What are you going to do?

Sparkplugging is starting a new tradition called ‘Spark an Idea Thursday’.  Each week we’ll be sharing some great ideas for a topic of interest to our readers.  We invite you to grab our image and carry the tradition through to your own blog!  If you do, please link back to this post so we know where you were inspired!

The theme of this week’s Spark an Idea Thursday is Spark an Idea to Make a New Business Ally

“12 oz. soy caramel cafe au lait…”

“16 oz. green tea…”

This is the beginning of a business meeting in a coffee shop.  Although these days it’s not too unusual for this to happen, did you know that conversations over coffee can help you gain new business allies?  I’ve used conversations like this to build some really fantastic partnerships.  You can do the same.

Who do you know?

Look through your business card file.  Is there someone you would like to get to know?  Is there someone you have never followed up with?  Is there someone you admire and have a common acquaintance with who could introduce you?

How can you work together?

Think about how each business or person relates to you and your business.  Do you share a common choice client?  What other things do you have in common?  How could your businesses or services compliment each other?

How can you help each other?

Can you refer to one another?  Can you articulate what this person or business does, and pass that along when you see a need for their product or service?  What do you have to offer them?

Now, pick up the phone.

Call one of these people this week.  Get the ball rolling!  Pick a place and talk with them.  30 minutes is a great amount of time.  It’s not too long, and yet long enough to get a good conversation going.  Have some good questions to ask them.  (Here’s a good place to start if you’re stuck.)

Most importantly, don’t be self-serving when seeking out new business alliances.  Nobody likes a snake oil salesman, right?  An alliance should be mutually beneficial to both sides.  When approaching someone, keep in your mind how you can help them.  If they are a worthy alliance partner, they will be thinking the same thing. 

What connection will you make over coffee next week?

I got myself a schedule to follow, so I had a roadmap to follow.  Now the confession: I haven’t done every training day.  I have every training walk details entered on my daily calendar, so I know exactly what to do.  But, I have fallen off the bandwagon a couple times.  So, what did I do?  I got up the next morning and recommitted myself to the process.

Have you ever fallen off the bandwagon in your home office?

Oh sure, it happens now and again – you fall off the bandwagon.  The mail doesn’t get sorted, your email inbox is out of control, the filing cabinet has taken on a life of its own and you can’t remember the last time you saw your desktop.  So, what do you do?

Get back up & start again.

If this is you, recommit to getting your home office in shape again.  I’d even be willing to bet you know exactly where to start.  So, take 5 minutes and get started.  Get back on the bandwagon, and remember that next time you get a little behind, it’s ok.  There’s always tomorrow. 

Have you been in a similar situation when you’ve fallen out of your habits, or worse, fallen off the wagon all together?  Where do you start to put everything back together and get moving again?

If your home office has been neglected for a while, here’s some things you can do to get it going again.

Start with what’s bothering you the most.

Papers everywhere, mail unsorted or pens in every direction.  Whatever it is, start there, and move to the next project.

Revisit your routines.

This is assuming you have them already, and if you don’t, it’s a glorious time to make some.  Take a look at your week, and determine what tasks need to be done throughout the week.  Make a list, assign days to do things and get them done.

Go easy on yourself.

Sometimes we all need a break.  Don’t be too hard on yourself for taking some time off.  A little break can invigorate and inspire, just remember a break should also have an end.

May this be your best year yet!

Alrighty, we’re into Day 5 of the 7 Day Home Office Challenge, and my desktop has been cleared!  Here’s my progress so far.

In Progress:

• Package that is WAY overdue to ship.  
• “Action” folder 

Done: 

• Sort thru conference materials and paper. 
• Business cards to enter into contact management. 
• Stuff that doesn’t belong in my office. (It’s outta here!)
• Those little desktop stragglers. They are wandering no more.  Done, gone, vaya con dios.

My home office desk is a disaster right now. Yeah, you heard right. *sigh* There are a few contributing factors: I was travelling last week to a conference, had a busy schedule this week and wasn’t in the office much. Now when I walk in there, I know it’s time to do something. How do I know that? I don’t want to go in or stay in there!

What am I going to do about it? Get it back under control!  Here’s a little overview and what I will do about it this coming week. Can you relate?

• Package that is WAY overdue to ship. I will ship this box next week. It’s time to go!
• “Action” folder that’s out of control. This file isn’t urgent things, but they are all little nit-picky tasks that need to be done. I will cull and sort it out, and get those tasks done!
• Sort thru conference materials and paper. Notes will be filed, action plans made and receipts entered.
• Business cards to enter into contact management. New friends, contacts and one prospect. This will be a snap with my Neat Receipts scanner!
• Stuff that doesn’t belong in my office. This stuff has migrated while I was away, and it’s time to migrate back to its home. Get along lil’ doggy!
• Those little desktop stragglers. They are wanderers, no home and in limbo. And they are on the desktop, and it’s time for them to GO. I haven’t made a decision, and they are outta there.

The other reason I’m fired up? There are changes afoot for me, and I’m ready to streamline. I know this extra stuff is weighing on my mind and it just needs to be dealt with. I’ve got more important things to do, and creative energies that can be better served elsewhere. What about you?

Ready to take the challenge? Let’s take the next seven days and get our desks under control, by next Friday at noon. I’d love to hear about what you’re doing, so do share what you’re going to work on this week. Need some help? Leave a question. Have an answer to someone else’s question? Leave that too.

Now, let’s get goin’!

Have you ever tried to organize your home office in a weekend, only to find three months later you had the same piles, chaos and overwhelm?  Crash and burn organizing is pretty common, and unfortunately rarely works.  It takes time to train your mind how to handle the flow of a space for long term maintenance.  It is possible, and there are some things to consider.

A few years ago I (race) walked a half marathon.  It was by far one of the most physically & mentally challenging things I’ve ever done (outside childbirth).  It is also one of my proudest achievements.  I still have the shirt and put it on every once in a while.  I am astounded at the mental and physical strength of those who complete a full marathon whether walking, running or otherwise.  It’s quite a feat, and I only had a taste with a half!

This Olympic season, I’ve taken notice of this event: the marathon.  Did you know that the men’s marathon is traditionally the last event of the modern Olympics?  No doubt it is a brutal contest and not for the weak or unprepared.  So, what does competing in a marathon teach about organizing?  Here’s the stages I remember and how I feel they apply to organizing…

1.  The start. At the start of any race, you’re in a sea of other people.  All walks of life, training, different strategies and own perspectives.  Surrounded by all kinds of different thoughts and personal truths, it’s important to remain true to who you are and run your own race.  Don’t be put off or influence by how you “should” be, keep your eye on the road and listen for the gun.

2. Pick your pace. Once the race starts, it’s easy to see someone going ahead of you and try to match their pace.  The truth is that they may slow down in the end or even be at a pace that won’t work for you.  There’s lots of organizing myths out there so being true to who you are can be a challenge.  Trust your instincts, and when you think something will (or won’t) work, you just might be right.  Be true to yourself and nine times out of ten you’ll go far.

3. The Wall. Everyone hits it: The Wall.  For the half marathon, it was a pathetic 8 miles for me.  Could it have been that I had only gone that far in a race … ever?  Maybe.  But at that moment, I hated that race, I resented the heat, my legs hurt, I had righteous blisters on both heels, I was nauseated from the performance nutrition “goo” I ate and I was totally sure I was not going to make it the 5+ miles I still had to go.  Yeah, it sucked, but I kept going.  Sitting down and quitting was not an option.  If you’re an Olympic marathoner, where’s the wall?  Mile 20?  What if you’re organizing?  Where’s the wall?  Where do you want to quit?  The point is not where it is, but that you push through it.  Some might call it a “pain tunnel”, but no matter what you call it it’s there.  So know it, prepare to stick with it and get to the other side.

4. The Finish Line. When you’re ending the race you see the finish line coming, sometimes quite a ways in the distance.  It will take 80% of your strength and sheer will to get there!  Organizing is the same, and somehow those small details can get lost in the end.  Make a list and a plan so it all gets done in the end.  You’ll be happier for it.

5. Taking care after the finish line. It’s just as important to recover, if not more.  No plan can lead to a rash of bad, bad things so be prepared.  Once you’ve organized and put your room together, know what your next course of action is.  Use your systems, re-evaluate when needed (like that heavy feeling in your stomach), keep up with things and take time out when needed.  I go through times when I know things are out of whack, and that’s when it’s time to step out and take time to pull it all together again.  Pull it together, and charge full speed ahead again.

Maybe you don’t want to run a marathon… I’m not sure I even want to walk one.  Maybe you don’t want to overhaul your home office.  I’ll tell you, neither one are for those who will “try” it.  You have to commit to get it done.  I’m not saying you have to drink the koolaid, but you do have to commit in your heart and mind.  Then, follow through and get it done.

I hope you’ve enjoyed the “Olympic Wisdom” journey.  I’m fascinated by these outstanding athletes and what they accomplish.  There’s so much to learn and too many stories to tell in one breath (or blog post).  It’s like a collection of hope, dreams, drive and commitment in a smorgasbord of sporting events.  The human spirit, life and all its lessons played out on a world stage.  It takes courage to step out and live your dreams, and we can all learn something from those who do.

So, here’s to you Olympians of the world: may all your dreams be golden!

In the first “Olympic Wisdom” post, we took at look at lessons about goal setting from an Olympian.  In this post, it’s all about coaches and “cheerleaders”.   Are you looking to succeed or make a change in your life or home office?  Who is cheering you on and helping you move forward?

You might know some of these names: Mary Lou Retton, Kerry Walsh & Misty May, Michael Phelps, Michelle Kwan, Kerri Strug or Carl Lewis.  Know one thing they all have in common?  Someone who was in their corner coaching and cheering them on.   Michael Phelps’ mother recognized a need for her son to channel his boundless energy, and has been by his side cheering him on ever since.  Phelps’ coach knows what fuels the flames of his desire to win.  Kerry Strug was carried to the gold medal stand by her coach, Bela Karolyi, in a moment we’ll never forget. Kerri Walsh’s father is in the stands watching her every move, and giving constructive criticism to help her improve.   I’ve noticed and taken to heart that every champion has someone helping push them forward to be better, faster or sharper than they were yesterday.

Making the most of coaching.

Coaching (and cheerleading for that matter) isn’t just a sports phenomenon.  Business coaches, personal coaches, consultants and mentors are all committed to helping people move forward.  I’ve been working with a coach for well over a  year, and I can tell you its the best decision I ever made.  Are you ready to move forward?  Do you have a coach or someone in your corner?  How can you get the best out of what they are giving you?  Here’s a few tips:

1. Make sure there is trust. If you know that your coach has your best interest at heart, you are most likely to trust their advice and actually use it.  Check them out and make sure you are entrusting your success and growth to someone you know is worthy of it.
2. Really listen. Have you ever tried to give some advice to a friend or loved one, only to have them politely nod and completely ignore your words of wisdom?  Frustrating, right?  When your coach or cheerleader talks, at least listen and consider their advice.
3. Accept their help when they offer. A relationship with a coach is pointless if you don’t actually apply what they are offering.  Kerri Strug would have had a difficult time making it onto that medal stand without her coach carrying her there.
4. Ask questions, over and over and over… Maybe you just don’t “get” what they are saying the first time or what they asked you to do doesn’t make sense.  Ask them about it, and then trust their guidance.
5. They’ve been there. A coach usually has been where you are or has helped others through it.   Take their wisdom and lessons learned to decrease your learning curve.  What do you have to lose?

Having someone in your corner not only helps keep you mentally sharp, but can help far exceed your own abilities.  A good coach will test limits and push you farther than you’d ever go on your own.  Who knows?  You just might end up on a medal stand of your own. 

“So, can you tell me what products I should be using?”  This is a question I get a lot.  I’m no Olympic coach, but this question is like a fledgling athlete asking his new coach what swimsuit he should wear on the first day in the pool.  Um, learning how to swim might be the first thing he needs to worry about. 

Olympic fever has gripped many of us these past two weeks, causing many of us to lose sleep, stare in amazement and cheer for a realized dream.  How do these people run so far without collapsing, swim faster than some marine life and jump so darned high?  What does it take to be a champion?  We’ll take a look at the advice of a former Olympian, the merits of setting yourself up to win and the lessons that lie within the traditional grand finale of the Olympiad: the marathon.  There are many roads to the top, different passions we all carry and much to learn along the way.  No matter who you are or what you do, you can achieve greatness. Take a look at what these amazing athletes are doing, and hopefully you will find a piece of wisdom to carry toward your own goals.

First up is this video from Olympian and IOC Member, Rania Elwani:

Here’s what I’m taking away from this video:

1.  Visualize a dream:  Take small steps each day toward the goal, because nothing big is ever accomplished in a day.  It takes days, weeks, months and even years to train, work at and develop any path in work or life.  Take a small step today, keeping your dream in front of you.

2.  There’s always something to work on:  When my laptop nearly crashed the other day, I couldn’t work on some things I really needed to.  I started to get wildly irritated when I realized I wouldn’t have it for two days while it was being repaired.  Then, I took a deep breath and looked around my office, and spotted a book I’d put aside several weeks prior.  So, I took my son outside to play and dove into the book.  Guess what?  I picked up something that was so timely it gave me chills.  (Thanks evil blue error screen.)

3.  Focus on small steps: Ever looked at a goal and been gripped with fear?  Sometimes the sheer size of a goal can paralyze you, so take a step back.  I have experienced this many times with clients, where piles of paper have accumulated for many reasons like a fear of success or just making some scary decisions.  A plan breaks down the steps needed, and makes the end result seem much more reachable.  The next action is to take the first step.

What did you learn from this video?

Do you feel suffocated by the thought of organizing, well, anything?  What about changing the way you think about it?

I heard Peter Walsh give an outstanding keynote speech at the National Association of Professional Organizers‘ Conference in April of this year.  There was on visual that has stuck with me since that presentation.  Peter described how he works with his clients, changing their mindset about, and relationship with, their “stuff”.  Here’s how it goes:

Picture yourself in the room you are working on: In your mind’s eye, do you picture yourself surrounded by all the “stuff” in the room?

Now try this: Picture yourself on a road, and all of the stuff in your room next to you on either side.

How does that feel?

Here’s the point: we have our stuff, it doesn’t have us.  It travels with us, to serve and facilitate our life, business, relationships or you name it.  The things we own and buy don’t define us, because we can never be defined that way.  We choose to include things in our life, on this journey so anything we buy or spend money on joins us to the side, next to us.  We choose the routes, turns and pathways that we feel are right with our “stuff” next to us.

It might be a  cliche, but life is a journey.  Think about how you travel, and if your trip is easier with less or more stuff. 

Thinking of your stuff beside you, how can you lighten the load to make your journey more pleasurable?

Did you ever feel like you have no motivation?  You may be sitting down to write a blog post, work on a client project, clean the house or organize your home office.  But…. *nothing*….  You’d rather be doing, well, whatever.  Know that feeling?  So, what do you do if you have something that you really must do, but just don’t wanna?  Where do you find the motivation?

Do it anyway.

Dave Taylor had a great post about getting thru writer’s block.  One of the things he recommends is to just do “insert your task or chore here“ anyway, no matter how you may feel.  I use Morning Pages to get my creative and business juices flowing in the morning, and I always feel better when I do them.  Even when I feel like I have nothing worthwhile to write about (and then I write about how I don’t feel like doing Morning Pages). 

Get advice and a plan.

So maybe you want to organize your file drawer or your email inbox and you aren’t sure where to start.  Besides hiring a professional organizer to help you (I happen to know one *grin*), there are lots of resources out there.  Read a book by Julie Morgenstern, take a class or Google “organize my home office”.  Get advice from someone you know or admire who has a great spin on organizing email or productivity.  You don’t have to duplicate their systems, but you just might be inspired and find a better way to work with your own tasks.

Distract yourself for a while.

Sometimes lack of motivation is an indicator that you need a break.  Take the off for a day, week or an hour.  Do something you like – Julia Cameron calls these “artist dates”.  A friend of mine asked me how I have so much time to read (I’m a voracious bookworm).  I told her that I don’t, I make time.  It gets me out of my head and lets someone else “drive” for a while.  It’s like a mini-vacation or self-improvement retreat.

If you’re an entreprenuer or career-minded, it’s easy to be a workaholic – especially when you work from home (I get it, I really do!).  It’s also important to take a break so you can pour yourself into whatever it is you are doing.  “Doing more” doesn’t always mean quality or productivity.  Sometimes it means you’ve just got to much going on, so take a break now and then.  Remember to take care of you, or you won’t have much to give!

(photo by Mostafa Saeednejad on Flickr)