There are lots of tools and ideas to help you organize your life and your day. Lots of great resources to help you prioritie your work and make sure you are taking action on the most important items first.

I read about this from Nicole Bickett, an author and organizing expert. Rather than me talking about her idea, I'll let you read it for yourself.

It is a simple idea, yet often it is in the simple that we will have the greatest success.

For more great ideas, I urge you to check out Nicole's book, Organize Your Office for Life.

Also posted in Learning and Training.

Labels: organization, priorities, time management

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Earlier this week there was a tragedy in Blacksburg, VA that all of us have heard about, read about, talked about and thought about. My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone involved in this horrible situation. Lives were lost, families torn apart and people have experienced things that will be with them for the rest of their lives. All of this is true.

But unless you are a university official, law enforcement officer or are personally involved in this event, I urge you to stop.

Stop watching.
Stop listening.
Stop reading.
and stop thinking about the event.

I urge you to do this not because I am cold or unfeeling. In fact, my motive is quite the opposite.

The more you watch it, the more you will be demotivated by it, the more it will cloud your vision of what is good about the world, the more it will make you wonder about "all those crazy people out there", and the less it will allow you to trust humanity.

Plus, think about what you could have done with all of the time you've been glued to CNN, reading the news stories or talking about it with friends.

You could have worked on a goal, read a book, or hugged a child (build your own list here).

Are there great storites that are starting to be told? Stories of heroism and bravery? I'm sure there are, but I haven't heard them, because once I learned the basics of the story, I have chosen not to watch for all the reasons why I've urged you to stop.

Stop watching.
Stop listening.
Stop reading.

Start working.
Start moving towards your goals.

and keep praying for all of those involved.

Also posted in Leadership and Learning.

Labels: attitude, goals, Virginia Tech

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I am a customer of PhotoReading - a product of Learning Strategies. You can check out my reviews of both the book and the full system as written about in my newsletter, Unleash Your Potential.

I also recently, partnered with Learning Strategies to promote this product to our Powerquotes list . . . which is why I write this post.

A couple of my readers emailed me expressing concern about me "hawking" this product to my list. I replied to these readers with my thanks for their notes and I addressed their concerns.

I wasn't hawking a product, but promoting something I feel is of great value. I wasn't selling it to make a commission, though I will make one. I was sharing the opportunity with people because I see the value and benefits to them. If you are interested in learning more, you can go here.

The lesson for all of us is that it is important that we make our true intentions clear. When we are transparent and truly working from a position of providing value and benefit to the other person, we can't just assume the other person will see this perspective.

As you communicate with others make sure you message and your intent is clear, and you will have much greater success in the communication process and in building the relationship.

Also posted in Customer Service, Leadership, Learning and Training.

Labels: accelerated learning, communication, intention, PhotoReading, selling, speed reading, trust

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