Miscellany

Input Wanted: What Type of Planner Do You Prefer

October 31, 2012

Recently, a group of about 40 of us completed the rise365 Productivity Experiment. It was a great group of folks sharing ideas and keeping each other accountable with being more productive.

photo by ex.libris

One of the conversations centered around planners and organization. This conversation peaked my interest as I’ve been reevaluating the type of planner I use since starting my business.

Having my life organized and efficient is critical to living my best life. It allows me to be focused and make consistent progress while working. Then, when I’m spending time with my family, I can be 100% present with them, knowing my work is taken care of.

In this conversation about planners, there were a number of different preferences when it came to keeping appointments and to-do’s in order. Some liked digital planners, others a physical planner.

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Personal Growth

The Tweak

October 30, 2012

Michael and I sat quietly perched on stools in our kitchen. The lights were dim and Jude was asleep. It was a moment of resounding silence. A moment of reflection.

We wandered down the path of conversation staying along a certain trail which seemed to be pulling us rather than our own feet taking steps. The conversation, a certain decision which needed to be made felt important, bold, and weighty as if this one decision was setting the course for the rest of our lives.

I recently heard a story of a man who was putting his young son to bed.  While tucking him under the covers he said, “Son, what do you think would happen, if while traveling, you landed in the middle of a desert. And, while in that desert, you used a pair of tweezers to pick up one single grain of sand, and move it one millimeter to the left? What would happen?”

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Miscellany

Please Take Our Reader Survey

October 29, 2012

We started this site one year ago as we embarked on a quest to live more purposeful, intentional, and exciting lives. A lot of amazing things have happened since we started with our first awkward video and marched forward.

We’ve connected with many great people through this site and have been truly encouraged and inspired!

Now that year one is coming to a close, we’d love to hear your thoughts about rise365. We created a short reader survey and would feel more than blessed to hear some of your thoughts. Any feedback, suggestions, or ideas you have are welcome.

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Miscellany

Video Sunday: Guys’ Night In, Girls’ Night Out

October 28, 2012

Jude and I are holding the fort down while Claudia hits the town with a friend to hear an author speak.

Also, we have only two month of 2012 left! Now’s the time to look ahead to next year and decide what you want it to look like.

[tentblogger-youtube nxf7ZdRAT94]

Question: Have you been thinking about what you want your 2013 to look like? 

 

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Personal Growth

The Lighter Side: Life Takes Time

October 27, 2012

Remember that life is a process. We can’t do everything at once. Let’s focus on one thing at a time and do it well before going on the next.

Question: Have you been spreading your efforts too thin? 

 

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Personal Growth

Don’t Do It!

October 26, 2012

What would you think of if I told you NOT to think about green sunglasses? Don’t do it; don’t think of green sunglasses!

photo by Nadar

Ok, so it doesn’t help I have a big picture of them glaring right into your eyes. Here is  another one just for kicks.

Don’t blink your eyes. Do. Not. Blink. Your. Eyes.

Did you blink?

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Personal Growth

3 Ways To Kick Age Excusitis

October 25, 2012

A common struggle for many people is thinking their best years are behind them. If you really believe that, than you can stop reading this post right now. If, however, you believe there just might be a chance that your best years are ahead of you, you must continue.

David Schwartz says the following in his book, The Magic Of Thinking Big:

Really, it’s surprising how few people think they are “just right” age-wise. And it’s unfortunate. This excuse has closed the door of real opportunity to thousands of individuals. They think their age is wrong, so they don’t even bother to try.

Here are three ways he gives to cure yourself of age excusitis. That’s right. Kick it right out the door along with every other excuse as to why you can’t start living your best life right now!

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Entrepreneurship

A Solopreneur’s Big Challenge

October 24, 2012

One of the challenges of starting your own business and being a solopreneur, is needing to decide on what to do and when to do it. I used to think this would never be a problem for me. Then, I stepped out on my own.

Group photo from an FAA event I attended

No one tells me when to take lunch, how much time to invest in social media, what my rates and policies should be, or how to deal with unhappy customers.

Before I quit my job to work fulltime in my business, I would scoff quietly when I heard others talk about this challenge. I thought, “for me, it’ll be a walk in the park.”

Well, not exactly.

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Personal Growth

4 Success Traits I Learned While Shoveling Manure

October 23, 2012

If you had met me 5 years ago I would have probably shook your hand from high on the back of a sweaty horse. Or, greeted you while emptying a wheelbarrow of horse manure.

Me and Goose

My daily attire consisted of Carhartt overalls or riding breeches.  My life was horses. I eat, slept and breathed them.

I loved their passion, their wild need for life. The way they would shake off the halter when let out to pasture and run, kicking and squealing towards the freedom the open fields offered them.

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Personal Growth

The #1 Key to Getting the Most Out of a Book

October 22, 2012

Claudia and I read a lot of books and listen to a lot of audio programs and podcasts. On a recent trip to the library, we checked out fifteen books. I’ll admit, we went a little overboard. We didn’t quite get through all of them before they became due.

Our fifteen books

But, we do read a lot of books! The other night we were talking about how we get the most out of the books we read. We came up with things such as taking notes, underlining and highlighting, and rereading an interesting or complicated section.

However, it dawned on us there was one thing beyond the shadow of a doubt that made the biggest difference in getting the most out of a book. That one thing was:

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