As the sweet days of summer begin to turn a corner toward cooler fall weather, I find myself taking a deep breath and swinging my legs off the proverbial hammock to get focused on projects for the remainder of 2011. Compared to the spring and early summer of this year, August has been a much slower month for me as far as events and activities go, and I sure did need the break!
Though I have been taking it easy, it hasn’t been all R&R ’round here. I’ve taken up membership to the gym and started a new fitness routine that keeps me burning calories almost every day of the week, in addition to cutting calories and being more conscious overall of my health. I’ve also achieved some Feng Shui in my home office area by rearranging my file cabinets and desk area to create more balance and functionality in getting things done. It’s all about streamlining and improvement, which is a fantastic direction to head in for finishing up a successful year. I’m looking for even more ways to make my life easier, better, and more efficient.
As I reflect on these ideas, I can’t help but be appreciative for having such smart and forward-thinking clients to work with, like Tom Cox, who provides consulting to businesses who want to improve their processes and systems, as well as their management techniques. My work for Tom includes some PR, some audio work, and some support for the book he’s writing about how CEO’s should praise their employees. I appreciate Tom’s mission to provide positive support for business owners who now have higher profits and happier employees.
Tom’s recent blog contribution to Oregon Business online was published earlier this month and immediately got very supportive responses because it addresses an issue that staff at every level of a business can relate to: “How to get the most out of meetings (by Tom Cox)“. Tom included a quote by genius Albert Einstein at the very end of his article that I absolutely enjoy: “If I had one hour to save the world, I would spend 55 minutes defining the problem.” I encourage you to read the whole article and reap the benefits of his wisdom.
Another great client I recently picked up is Lisa Zaslow of Gotham Organizers who was named one of New York’s top professional organizers by The New York Sun newspaper, and is regularly featured in magazines such as Real Simple and Good Housekeeping. I was fortunate to connect with Lisa when I heard that she needed some quick help cleaning up an audio file recorded from one of her lectures, and I was happy to oblige her request. She’s now able to offer the lecture as an MP3 file to her clients. Lisa’s keen insight into organizing any kind of space, from kitchens and living rooms, to desks and office spaces, has helped hundreds of individuals and businesses save time, space, money and effort.
While others pay hundreds of dollars for her services, you can download her e-book, “Can’t I Just Shred It All? 101 Quick Tips to File—and Find—Your Important Papers” for just $27.00 (for a limited time) through the website 101filingtips.com. “Whether I’m working with someone in their home or office, papers are the hardest thing for people to deal with, so I wrote that e-book to walk people through the process of organizing papers and give them all my best tips,” said Lisa.
I’ve certainly been putting her tips and tricks to good use as I continue streamlining my own filing system in my home office. Purging unnecessary papers and, let’s face it, CRAP, is an ongoing process, but feels so good to whittle down to what’s actually utilized and needed. Lisa also shared her favorite quote by Steven Wright with me which puts it perfectly and simply: “You can’t have everything. Where would you put it?” Be sure to connect with Gotham Organizers on Facebook!
I was also able to work with my friend Tyler Bel and her newly-launched lifestyle consulting business: There Is No Sky. I gladly helped her create her company’s business plan, which is an incredibly useful document for her and her partner as they expand to include more clients and investors. A business plan is a solid foundation for any business, whether you’re still in the planning phase of your business, or if you’ve just recently launched and want a definitive document to keep you on-track and focused on heading in the right direction as you go forward.
Her business, based here in Portland, Oregon, is designed to assist clients with needs ranging from social connections and networking, to publicity and marketing. If you need someone to help you “connect the dots” in your world, Tyler and her team will help you realize your dreams.
As the month of August wraps up, I look forward to a productive and organized fall season, which will likely bring on many changes and challenges. Having solid systems and methods in place for keeping on track will certainly reduce my stress levels and increase productivity. I have quite a few personal projects on my plate that I look forward to completing, including two books of poetry and a fiction novel, even as I plan my return to the world of non-profit communications and project management in my job search.
Many thanks to all of my friends, clients, and readers out there who support and believe in the work being done here to not only make the world a “better place”, but also a more efficient and productive place to learn and grow.
Many Blessings,
Bethany
Great to hear all the steps you are taking to get ready for all that the new season will bring!