TQ asks "Are you Just Not An Organizer?"

"You are what you think. You are what you go for. You are what you do!"
~ Bob Richards

Your TQ Training Challenge for Wednesday, April 29, 2009:

Make Paper Work Productive Work...

Are You Just Not An Organizer?

Being disorganized is not merely a physical condition. It's a state of mind -- a decision you make about how you want to live and work. It doesn't take any more time to stay current with your paperwork then it does to do it later.

Staying up-to-date with your paperwork is a state of mind first and a system second.

"If at first you don't succeed; you are running about average."~ M. H. Alderson

Visitor's Bar

I just added the Visitor's Bar recently so please don't look at it and think that my blog isn't interesting. I post the most interesting stuff I read.

Do Just A Little More

"Do a little more each day than you think you possibly can."
~ Lowell Thomas

Your TQ Training Challenge for Tuesday, April 28, 2009:

Continuously Reinvent Your Life -- Pursue Only That Which is MOST Important...

Are You Happy?

Make certain that what you value really brings you what you want. If happiness and satisfaction don't grow out of your list of values, it's time for you to make a new list.

If your life isn't producing the results you want, change the values you live by.

"You will be as much value to others as you have been to yourself."~ Marcus T. Cicero

About Copying

"To copy oneself is more dangerous than to copy others. It leads to sterility." (Pablo Picasso)

You Can Get It If You Really Want

"If you really want something, you can figure out how to make it happen." - Cher

Cut Out the Waste

"Pray that your loneliness may spur you into finding something to live for, great enough to die for." ~ Dag Hammarskjold

Your TQ Training Challenge for Saturday, April 25, 2009:
Make Every Minute Matter...

Do You Need To Filet Your Day?

Time wasters...avoid 'em like the plague. Slash 'em. Burn 'em. Trash'em. Spurn'em.

Take some time at the end of the day to identify and purge anything that will waste your time tomorrow.

"Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it."~ Lou Holtz

Coach Sherrie says: Does that mean quitting Facebook? ;-)

TQ says "Focus on Your Top Priorities FIRST!"

"There is some place where your specialties can shine. Somewhere that difference can be expressed. It's up to you to find it, and you can." ~ David Viscott

Your TQ Training Challenge for Thursday, April 23, 2009:

Focus on Your Top Priorities -- First...
Where's The Starting Line?

Rule # 1: Focus on # 1 first.

Concentrate on your most important task first today, then move on to the next.

"The reality of life is that your perceptions -- right or wrong -- influence everything else you do. When you get a proper perspective of your perceptions, you may be surprised how many other things fall into place."~ Roger Birkman

Dream Catching

Mitch Ditkoff sent a message to the members of Create! Innovate! Get Out of the
Cave!
--------------------
Subject: DREAM CATCHING

Many breakthrough ideas and discoveries have come to people in dreams.

Rene Descartes got the concept for the Scientific Method in a dream. Elias Howe
came up with the final design for the lock stitch sewing machine in a dream.
August Kekule arrived at the formulation of the Benzene molecule in a dream.

In the dream state, our subconscious mind arrives at solutions that our
conscious mind is unlikely to discover no matter how much it obsesses during the
waking hours.

That’s why Thomas Edison and Salvadore Dali took naps during the day. They
understood the power of dreaming and realized it made perfect sense to wake up
MORE than once a day.

WHAT TO DO:
a. Before you go to bed tonight, bring to mind a project, question or challenge
you are working on.
b. As you fall asleep, stay focused on the topic.
c. When you wake up, write down your dream even if the dream makes no sense.
Don't interpret, just record the images.
d. When you're done writing, reflect on the elements/images of your dream and
see if they spark any clues about proceeding.

Who Can Help You?

"Ability will never catch up with the demand for it."
~ Malcolm S. Forbes

Your TQ Training Challenge for Saturday, April 18, 2009:

Actively Recruit Others to Help...

Who Else Can Help You With This Right Now?

Stop the insanity of trying to do everything yourself!

Ask for help!

"Successful people are successful because they form the habits of doing those things that failures don't like to do."~ Albert Gray

Schedule Your Worries

"The greater the difficulty the more glory in surmounting it. Skillful pilots gain their reputation from storms and tempests."
~ Epictetus

Your TQ Training Challenge for Sunday, April 19, 2009:

Move Preoccupations to a More Appropriate Time...

Are You Taking Time To Think?

Concentrate on one thing at a time. The key is to remove any concerns, ideas or competing thoughts by promising them their own scheduled time.

Clear your "mental table." Create highly focused time blocks for all of today's tasks.

"Win as if you were used to it, lose as if you enjoyed it for a change."
~ Golnik Eric

Spring Clean Your Home AND Your Spirit

Move your energy around
by A.K. Boyle

There's more to Spring cleaning than a clean closet and a sparkling bathroom. If you're looking for a spiritual pick-me-up, invest some energy in your living space. You may never look at a vacuum and a scrub brush the same way again. Not only is a clean house a good thing, but a clean mind and soul also have as much value - if not more!

Try our 3-step plan to make the most of spring and set your intentions and engery for a happy, healthy life.

It's all about balance

1. Flush out negatives
Defy those packrat tendencies! Tear down and toss out those negative ideas, self-criticisms and regrets. Annihilate words like "can't," "didn't" and "wish I had" from your vocabulary. While you're at it, dispose of remnants of unhealthy relationships, and let go of anything that might be holding you back. Limit your time with naysayers and skeptics. It's a season of new beginnings and fresh perspective. When you purge the negatives cluttering your outlook, you make way for a life in which anything is possible!

2. Unclutter
Becoming uncluttered is hardly a metaphor. When you eliminate disorder in your space, you are clearing your mind for new direction. Clutter is a negative influence on the way we see ourselves and our work, and the way others see us. Conversely, organization leaves room for empowerment, peace and inspiration. Put up a shelf for those treasured books, and keep your work space pristine. Alphabetize your DVDs, and finish re-organizing your kitchen. Keep a calendar of attainable goals that will constantly leave you feeling accomplished and in control. You might be surprised at how effective you can be when the space you see every day is open and ready for progress.

3. Redecorate with words
Once you've dusted your goals and ironed out your ideals, it's time for the finishing touches! Fill your home with positives. Invest in a new journal and fill it with nurturing words for yourself. Jot down the uplifting encounters you have each day - they'll be there if you look for them! Collect inspiring stories and let them proudly adorn your bookshelves and refrigerator. In addition to words, decorate with pictures of people who love you as well as those who inspire you. Your home should reflect the colors, images and ideas that make you happy.

Spring cleaning should never be a chore. It's just the opposite - a joyful, affirming experience. So perk up, clean up your mind, soul and space then enjoy a new happier you!

Coach Sherrie says: I posted this in my weight loss blog, then realized it needed to go here too. As I mentioned there, I need to do Spring Cleaning after I turn in my thesis copies to the binder.

What Would You Do?

"What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?"
- Robert Schuller

Coach Sherrie says: I would do exactly what I'm doing, but with much more vigor!

TQ says "Commit to It; then Do It!"

Commit to Actually DOING Whatever It Takes -- Then DO It...
Remember The Little Engine That Could?

Self-confidence is directly affected by what you say to yourself. Get into the habit of telling yourself you can succeed and you'll develop the confidence to take the action necessary to make that happen.

"I know I can; I know I can." When you say, "I know I can," you're giving yourself permission to succeed.

"Nature arms each man with some faculty which enables him to do easily some feat impossible to any other."~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

TQ says "See It Clearly!"

"We cannot always control our thoughts, but we can control our words, and repetition impresses the subconscious, and we are then master of the situation." ~ Florence Scovel Shinn

Your TQ Training Challenge for Thursday, April 16, 2009:

Stop and Think Things Through --
BEFORE Taking Action...

How Clearly Are You Focusing On Your Future?

Start with a clear mental image -- a vivid picture -- of what you want to do. The more precise and vivid the picture, the greater your chance of achieving it. You can't make detailed plans based on a fuzzy picture.

Make your new outcome as specific as possible. The more detailed your plan, the better chance it has of becoming a reality.

"The beginning is the most important part of the work."~ Plato

TQ says "Chase Your Passions!"

"Chase your passion, not your pension." ~ Denis Waitley

Your TQ Training Challenge:

Live Each of Your Top 10 Core
Personal Values -- All Day Long...

Would You Like To Have Passion
And Progress In Your Life?

Look to see if your actions are aligned with your highest priorities. Where there's harmony, you'll find passion and progress; where they differ, you'll find only frustration.

Devotion to your values transforms effort into pleasure.

"People wait for opportunity to come along...yet it is there every morning."~ Dennis the Menace

Failure Is Not So Bad!

"If you're not failing now and again, it's a sign you're playing it safe."
- Woody Allen

Take One Step Each Day

Take at Least One Step Towards Accomplishing Each Goal -- Daily...

Are You Keeping Your Eyes On The Prize?

Keep track of your goals at all times. If they don't get constant attention, the natural tendency of goals is to slowly, quietly wither away.

Never let a day go by without giving some attention to your goals.

"What is the recipe for successful achievement? To my mind there are just four essential ingredients: Choose a career you love, give it the best there is in you, seize your opportunities, and be a member of the team."~ Benjamin F. Fairless

Apply New Ideas Immediately

"What is passion? It is surely the becoming of a person. Are we not, for most of our lives, marking time? Most of our being is at rest, unlived. In passion, the body and the spirit seek expression outside of self. The more extreme and the more expressed that passion is, the more unbearable does life seem without it. It reminds us that if passion dies or is denied, we are partly dead and that soon, come what may, we will be wholly so."
~ John Boorman

Your TQ Training Challenge for Monday, April 13, 2009:

Immediately Apply New Ideas and Practice Until Mastered...

So If You KNOW Better, Why Don't You DO Better?

Whenever you hear a good idea, ask yourself, "Where can I use this in my life right now?"

Great ideas are good to know, but only by using them will they ever make a difference in your life.

"Motivation is like food for the brain. You cannot get enough in one sitting. It needs continual and regular top up's."~ Peter Davies

TQ says "Let Your Options Run Wild!"

"The country needs and, unless I mistake its temper, the country demands bold, persistent, experimentation. It is common sense to take a method and try it, if it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something."
~ Theodore Roosevelt

Your TQ Training Challenge

Search Beyond Acceptable -- Find the BEST Alternatives...

Do You Need Rocket Fuel For Your Imagination?

Creative imagination can be applied to any plan or decision by letting your options run wild. Afterwards, apply the best and disregard the rest!

To arrive at a new decision review multiple perspectives. Give your creative imagination the room to explore new possibilities before reaching an immediate conclusion.

Where Are You Going With This?

Speak Clearly -- Listen Carefully --
Confirm Messages...

Do You Know Where You're Going With This?

Before you start writing, make an outline to identify the key points you want to make with your writing.

An outline for your next letter is as valuable as a blueprint. You can't install the windows before you build the walls!

TQ says Automate!"

Automate ALL Repetitive Procedures...

If There Was A Better Way, What Would It Be?

The greater the number of results you achieve in a period of time, the more productive you are. You'll get more done in less time.

Your productivity increases when you complete more of the right things, automatically.

"There are no menial jobs, only menial attitudes."~ William John Bennett

TQ asks "What is your vision?"

"Just do what you do best." ~ Red Auerbach

Your TQ Training Challenge for Wednesday, April 8, 2009:


Create Highly Compelling Visions. Clarify. Evaluate. Commit...

Have You Seen You-Topia Yet?

Your VISION is a mental picture of exactly how your world would look if everything in it were perfect. It is a direct reflection of how your values would be expressed in your perfect world.

Your VISION provides the big picture for the series of individual goals required to build your picture-perfect world.

"If, before going to bed every night, you will tear a page from the calendar, and remark, "there goes another day of my life, never to return," you will become time conscious."~ A. B. Zu Tavern

Coach Sherrie says: Now make a collage of your vision. Don't forget to include KEY words. (For me that would be words like: acclaimed author and loving life!)

TQ says "Take A Break!"

"To get what you want, STOP doing what isn't working."
~ Dennis Weaver

Your TQ Training Challenge for Tuesday, April 7, 2009:

Take Frequent Breaks to Stretch, Breathe, Walk Around & Snack...

Breaks Never Accomplish Anything, Right?

Redefine the concept of "break." A break is not a waste of time if it increases your overall productivity.

Schedule breaks just like any other activities you plan to achieve your daily goals.

"Lost wealth may be replaced by industry, lost knowledge by study, lost health by temperance or medicine, but lost time is gone forever."~ Samuel Smiles

Failure Is NOT A Monster!

"If you see failure as a monster stalking you, or one that has already ruined your life, take another look. That monster can become a benevolent teacher, opening your mind to successes you cannot now imagine."

—Martha Beck

Coach Sherrie says: I try to NEVER have regrets and believe me that's no easy feat for someone who has had 2 failed marriages and more than fifty jobs. Now that I am writing, I see that ALL those experiences are important to my writing and my teaching.
Remember: "The lesson will repeat until it is learned. Learn the lesson." (unknown author)

the art of innovation, from Robert Genn

When the stock market, home values and car sales tank, innovation soars. "Innovation," says W. Chan Kim of the World Economic Forum, "goes up when the economy goes down." Not just for now, but always.

In 1969 when the economy dropped 1.9 percent, the number of patents granted jumped 14 percent. Previous recessions have spawned Hybrid technology, the Internet, the Blackberry, the iPod, and fresh light on DNA. Recessions bring new materials, new products, new ideals and new ways of working.

"Necessity," says a Latin proverb, "is the mother of invention." As well as inventing and reinventing new ways of marketing and distribution, artists need, more than anything, to be sensitized to their own actions in the general vicinity of the easel--tools, paints, supports, ideas. Filling needs is part of the game, but it also means picking up a permit for creative play. A little stress lights the bulb. Here are a few ideas:

Be surprised by happenstance combinations.
Be prepared to overhaul your attitudes.
Be steady, be thorough, be nimble.
Be fresh, be rested, pace yourself.
Be aware that good stuff also comes when you're tired.
Be open to collaborations and partnerships.
Be an eager student of your own processes.
Become a specialist and demand new quality.
Fall in love with your muse and serve her.
Remember, the best second opinion comes from you.
And by all means spread the "What could be?" religion, and start by converting yourself.

Be on the lookout for subtle nuances or the effects of minor touches. Further, be aware of the passage of time. Time is the stealthy ghost that hides the wisps of change. While epiphanies are worth watching for, slow and steady works as well. In the words of photographer Walter Hawn, "I'm an experimental innovator. I'm a tortoise with no hair."

Things are going to get better. The innovators among us will not only notice it first, they'll lead.

Best regards,

Robert

PS: "He who will not apply new remedies must expect new evils; for time is the greatest innovator." (Sir Francis Bacon)

Esoterica: An essential of innovation is the tendency to err. Cherish your ability to make errors. A skill above all others is the appreciation and adoption of certain errors and the condemnation of others. This talent, whether intuitive or learned, is the key to rugged individualism, human uniqueness, personal style and creative progress. "Sometimes when you innovate, you make mistakes," says Steve Jobs. "It is best to admit them quickly, and get on with improving your other innovations."

Finish What You Start

"I'd rather be a failure at something I love than a success at something I hate."
~ George Burns

Your TQ Training Challenge for Monday, April 6, 2009:

Seek Some Form of Completion Before Moving On...

You May Be Finished, But Is It Complete?

Don't leave tasks incomplete. If you can't finish them, always reach some stage of completion before moving on.

Tie up all of your loose ends as you go. Whenever possible, complete a task before starting another.

"Delegating work works, provided the one delegating works, too."~ Robert Half

Coach Sherrie says: Unfortunately, one can't really delegate creative work IF ONE WANTS IT TO BE THEIR OWN. That's o.k., when it's finished I can say I did it all myself!

TQ says "Picture Tremendous Success"

"One we discover how to appreciate the timeless values in our daily experiences, we can enjoy the best things in life." ~ Harry Hepner

Your TQ Training Challenge for Sunday, April 5, 2009:

Stop Picturing Failure. Instead, Visualize Tremendous Success...

Won't It Be Great When You Have?

You automatically increase your motivation to act when you imagine how great it will feel when you succeed.

You instantly become more motivated to take every step to advance your task, project or mission when you stop wishing and start anticipating!

"There is great treasure there behind our skull and this is true about all of us. This little treasure has great, great powers, and I would say we only have learnt a very, very small part of what it can do."~ Isaac Bashevis Singer

Coach Sherrie says: "You have to see it to BE it!" ~Author Unknown

Sadness = An Opportunity to Create

Is Being Sad Really Bad?
Make your dark side work for you
by Jen Tartaglione
The dark side. It's not just the negative side of the Force or a catchy John Cafferty song (performed best by Eddie and the Cruisers). For many, it's a state of mind. Everything going on in your world is pain. You are sad, alone and stuck in the throes of despair. What's worse, everyone around you is smiling, happy and completely unaffected by the suffocating force that is bringing you down. Boy, do you hate those guys.

Bookstores are littered with self-help books, doctor's hand out Prozac and Xanex like candy and then there's the most annoying thing in the world… people like Dr. Phil and Tony Robbins telling you there is hope, that you too can be happy. Yeah, like they know what sadness is with their millions of dollars!

Relationships That Work
The art of communication Well you know what, Tony Robbins? (Say it loud) "I am sad and dammit! I am going to wallow!"

Sadness, loneliness and despair are all a part of the human condition. But for some strange reason, there is a new epidemic where people seem to think that they need to strive to be happy all the time. They think that sadness is wrong. Not so!

Don't take this the wrong way, and certainly don't let sadness rule your life, but don't rule it out either! If you don't sort through the feelings of pain, they're just going to linger and may even get worse. Read these helpful tips on working through and utilizing your sadness (as opposed to stuffing or medicating it!):

You are a slave to the media
Yes, it's true. A slave to the media. Don't fight it, you know it's true. Why make such a bold claim? Think about it, baby boomers and all following generations have always had constant bombardment by Hollywood and Hallmark channel notions of fairy tale endings. The protagonists always end up together, and that's what we want to see because deep down we wish for that to happen in our own lives. But ultimately when they find each other, the movie ends - they don't show the subsequent ups and downs. Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks are NOT married in real life! The abandonment issues Juno's child will face later in life, were not addressed in the movie. When you find yourself all in a tiff over a fantasy, remember that's what it is - a fantasy - and move on.

Who loves ya?
You are not alone and someone out there does love you. That's your mantra - now use it! Sure you're going through a rough time - anxiety over a job, divorce, loss of a loved one - but no matter how much you try to convince yourself that you are alone and unloved…you aren't! That's what family and friends are for. Give someone a call, just talking about your problems will make you feel better. There's like 9 billion people on the planet, if you don't feel you have a real connection with someone, get out there and make one!

History repeating itself
Every other human being in existence and throughout history has been there. Sorry to make you feel unoriginal, but most likely the things that are bugging you have affected other people too. A lot of other people. Infidelity, disease, war etc. It happens and it is not fun, but instead of fighting it, just go with the flow and know that this too will pass, and you'll be all the stronger once it does.

You've heard it before
If you don't feel the lows, you won't feel the highs - no matter what. It's true. Think of your emotions as a pendulum. The higher they go in one direction, the higher they will go back in another. The trick is, when you feel negative emotions, try and train yourself not to react immediately. Instead, channel your feelings (and the energy you feel from anger) into something that will ultimately benefit you or make you feel better - paint a picture, write in your journal, take a hike, go to the gym, clean the house... you get it!

So when you're down, think about these things. No matter how hard you try to keep a smile on your face, you're always going to have ups and downs. If you don't embrace the hurt, it's impossible to learn anything new or to fully appreciate happiness when it does come along. Feeling sad is something everyone goes through, so instead of numbing yourself take a moment to cherish the feeling - if it weren't for sadness we wouldn't have priceless works of art, beloved poetry or awesome music. Being sad is cool, people will think you're mysterious.

Align Goals With Values

"It's the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief. And once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen."
~ Claude M. Bristol

Your TQ Training Challenge for Saturday, April 4, 2009:

Keep Goals Aligned with Your Top 10 Core Personal Values...

Feeling Productive And On Purpose Today?

When you set specific goals directly aligned with your mission and your vision, you automatically give yourself a higher purpose and a positive direction for all your activities.

You waste virtually no time when you're working toward a specific, mission-based goal with the diligence and follow-through it deserves.

"Your goals, minus your doubts, equal your reality."~ Ralph Marston

TQ.com says: "Write Your Mission Statement"

"Man is only truly great when he acts from his passions."
~ Benjamin Disraeli

Your TQ Training Challenge for Friday, April 3, 2009:

Remain Constantly Connected to Your Mission...

So, Okay, A Mission Statement Sounds Like A Good Idea, But How Do I Go About It?

To begin writing your personal mission statement, identify the most ideal values that you wish to experience in life. Then decide who you will be and what you will do to exemplify and manifest these values in your life.

Take out a piece of paper. Listen to your heart, and let your values guide you. Then begin writing out your personal mission statement. Today is not too soon.

"A test of what is real is that it is hard and rough. Joys are found in it, not pleasure. What is pleasant belongs to dreams."~ Simone Weil

TQ.com says: "Go For the Gold!"

"The ones who want to achieve and win championships motivate themselves."~ Mike Ditka

Your TQ Training Challenge for Wednesday, April 1, 2009:

Do More of What You Love...

Do You Know The Power Of A Mission Statement?

Setting and proceeding toward a heartfelt, personal mission is guaranteed to make you focused, powerful and productive.

It's simple. Discover the qualities, characteristics and/or ideals that are the most important to you, and then make a heartfelt promise to portray those values in everything you do. Life's too short to be spent doing anything less.

"Whatever you do, don't do it halfway."~ Bob Beamon