It’s time to celebrate!  Celebrations shouldn’t just be for the big wins. The little victories deserve attention, too. Add more meaning to your workday with these simple steps: Choosing your weekly victory—a smaller goal. Creating a plan of action. Celebrating when you make it happen! Enjoy the increased motivation; rinse and repeat. Do this consistently … Continue reading “Celebrating your weekly victories increases motivation”

Being busy and being productive are not the same thing. People often brag about being busy. Yet, most of the time, it’s more like rowing a boat with one oar. You keep spinning in circles with nothing but tired arms to show for it. Focus on accomplishments instead of your level of activity. You’ll reach … Continue reading “Why being busy is not the same as being productive”

What makes you valuable? We all have one or two activities that are more valuable than the rest. If you’re not sure what your MVAs are, here’s a quick method to uncover them: 1. Write down all of your responsibilities. 2. Give each one an hourly value if you were to hire someone else to … Continue reading “Productivity is about focusing on what is most valuable”

“If you chase two rabbits, you will not catch either one.” The old Russian proverb is a favorite of mine. Why? It teaches the important value of staying focused on one goal or task at a time. During a recent interview on the Free Time podcast show with Jenny Blake, we discussed the cost of switchtasking … Continue reading “How to stay focused and consistently reach your goals”

“I need this fixed ASAP.” Embarrassingly, I found myself saying this exact phrase to my project manager once. I cringed the moment after I hit “send” on the email. Why is that a problem? Well, “ASAP” means as soon as possible, right? This vague, easily misinterpreted phrase leads to confusion and frustration for everyone involved. … Continue reading “Why the popular acronym ASAP creates confusion and frustration”