Come on!
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Sunday, June 7, 2009
A start....
Like I said, I'm starting small. I've spent entirely too much time figuring out WordPress (which is awesome!), worrying about site layout and logos and all that. I've decided that I can change things as I go along so even though I don't feel like I have it quite "right", I'm getting started anyway. So click on the image below and let's get this party started.... 
Monday, June 1, 2009
Big Changes Get Small
My big, exciting changes and huge, world-changing ideas....they were taking over my brain. I'm not giving up, but since my entire concept revolves around making life easier, it was time to do some adjusting.
I came up with a huge plan to launch a big website project and save all the overwhelmed working mothers of the world. The only problem is that as an overwhelmed working mother myself, I might be a natural expert on the subject, but I just don't have the time right now for something so big unless I sell a kid or two and hire someone to pay attention to my husband.
The real truth is that my husband told me in no uncertain terms that I was completely insane. Devastated as I am that he does not think I can do something huge, he's also at least partly right. My brain goes at 200 mph almost always and my sense overwhelm just might be due to me consistently taking on entirely too much (duh).
So I will start smaller and I will ease into it. And I mean really small! I have my new site almost set up, but it will be more of a blog than anything else for a while. Maybe a long while. But it will be a blog that is more focused on one particular subject as opposed to my usually hyperactive jumping around from topic to topic. Just being focused is a big step for me...committing to one thing.
And it will be transparent...in the sense that if someone I know in my real life reads it, that will be OK. If I ever want to be a real-live writer, I'm going to have to go public sometime. Now is good.
I'll post the link to the new site very soon....
Monday, May 25, 2009
Exciting Changes in the Works
Big changes coming very soon.... I've purchased my domain name, I'm fine-tuning my concept and it's all coming together very nicely. I wake up in the middle of the night with ideas...I get ideas while doing other things...and I don't forget them because they make sense.
The funny thing is that the training I need, the info I need....it's just showing up. I am currently working with a big fancy web design company on a new website for my employer. The things I'm learning...from real live experts...are excellent preparation for launching my own site (which will be considerably less complicated) and I'm being paid to do this.
On another note, I've been waiting, waiting, waiting for this book to coming out In Pursuit of Elegance. It was released last week, but the audio version is still not available. I found the book's website and shot off a quick email...got a prompt personal reply from Matt May himself (he'll let me know when the audio version is available). The reason I mention this is that we live on a GIANT planet and there are a gazillion people living on this planet. But how cool is it that I can connect with someone I've never met, about his product, with very little effort. I didn't have to go through a publisher, an assistant or the U.S. mail. I typed a couple of sentences, hit send and that was that.
It's all about connections people. And it's getting easier than ever to connect.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Employee Benefits
It happens to be Snack Time right about now.
We have these in our office fridge.
Free.
Yum!
* * * * * * * *
See my post below. I'm looking for feedback! And Janel...I was not referring to you when I talked about all-nighters. You probably have some most excellent tricks up your sleeve so I expect to hear about them! I'll be sharing some of my own very soon.
Monday, May 18, 2009
The Other Mothers
I'm not doing a bang-up job of focusing at work today. It's quiet - bosses are not around - and even though I have plenty to do, none of it is on fire. Why does it take a scary deadline to get us moving sometimes?
Speaking of things on fire, I'm currently cooking ideas in my head for starting a new website/community. I've been reading Seth Godin's marketing books and have all sorts of ideas. I want to help, I want to provide a service and ways for people to make their lives better. First of all though, I need to clearly define my niche.
A few weeks ago, a friend that I co-chair a school committee with told me about the person who would be taking our place on the committee next year. She described the woman as "one of those"...you know, someone who seems to have it all together and outdoes all the other mothers at school.
Then yesterday, at a birthday party, I whipped out my computerized grocery list so I could plan my shopping trip while I waited. There were "OOooohhs" and "Aaahhhs." Moms were impressed.
It's hardly an original idea; however it is extremely helpful. While I am almost certain that I will never get it together until the time when I no longer have children living in my home, I do have a few good tricks up my sleeve and would love to hear about other mom's tricks. (Not the moms who don't sleep in order to get it all done, because that's just cheating.)
So maybe I have my niche right there. The rest of us mothers. Those of us who are most definitely not "one of those" mothers. Those of us who love our children, but don't necessarily love the work of motherhood, who try to get it together, but usually feel like we're falling short and just can't keep up. Those of us looking for clever, and perhaps offbeat hacks for getting through the day....
What do you think?
And what sort of things would you like to see?
**** p.s. I totally left out that this would be a website! But it would be something totally different. How? I don't know yet!!!
****** p.p.s. I don't get a lot of blog traffic these days...so would you guys please send your friends over here to give me some feedback? Many thanks!
And non-mothers...feel free to chime in as well...I'll bet you have some awesome ideas!
Speaking of things on fire, I'm currently cooking ideas in my head for starting a new website/community. I've been reading Seth Godin's marketing books and have all sorts of ideas. I want to help, I want to provide a service and ways for people to make their lives better. First of all though, I need to clearly define my niche.
A few weeks ago, a friend that I co-chair a school committee with told me about the person who would be taking our place on the committee next year. She described the woman as "one of those"...you know, someone who seems to have it all together and outdoes all the other mothers at school.
Then yesterday, at a birthday party, I whipped out my computerized grocery list so I could plan my shopping trip while I waited. There were "OOooohhs" and "Aaahhhs." Moms were impressed.
It's hardly an original idea; however it is extremely helpful. While I am almost certain that I will never get it together until the time when I no longer have children living in my home, I do have a few good tricks up my sleeve and would love to hear about other mom's tricks. (Not the moms who don't sleep in order to get it all done, because that's just cheating.)
So maybe I have my niche right there. The rest of us mothers. Those of us who are most definitely not "one of those" mothers. Those of us who love our children, but don't necessarily love the work of motherhood, who try to get it together, but usually feel like we're falling short and just can't keep up. Those of us looking for clever, and perhaps offbeat hacks for getting through the day....
What do you think?
And what sort of things would you like to see?
**** p.s. I totally left out that this would be a website! But it would be something totally different. How? I don't know yet!!!
****** p.p.s. I don't get a lot of blog traffic these days...so would you guys please send your friends over here to give me some feedback? Many thanks!
And non-mothers...feel free to chime in as well...I'll bet you have some awesome ideas!
Friday, May 15, 2009
Great Work
About a year ago, I got into GTD and have found it to be unbelievably helpful. Even though I'm not a 100% GTD-er, it has proven to be an invaluable approach to getting a whole lot of things accomplished without going completely insane. I'll write more about that at a later date -- I still consider myself very much a Newbie-GTD-er.
David Allen, the author of Getting Things Done and Making it All Work, is a brilliant man who considers himself quite lazy. I've read both books--well, I've listened to both audiobooks and I love the way he thinks. I've listened to every podcast I can find featuring David Allen, and in that process, I stumbled across a series of interviews by Michael Bungay Stanier, one of which featured David Allen.
Michael Bungay Stanier wrote his own book called Find Your Great Work and has a website by the same name. It's not about finding a job, but instead about finding that sweet spot between what they want you to do and what you love doing. This can certainly relate to your career yet it's totally applicable to family life as well. I've not read his book (though I will!) but I have read everything on his website (there's tons of great free stuff). Also I have listened to all of the interviews (he interviews amazing, smart people) and each interview is outstanding.
I can honestly say that listening to these interviews has catapulted me into the zone of doing some Great Work myself. It's what helped me go from a job I literally hated to one that has become pretty darned exciting -- without changing jobs. And it's what inspired me to get back to blogging. Because I have always though my own Great Work would somehow involve writing -- and what better way to practice, practice, practice?
The simplicity with which Stanier delivers so much useful content is mind-boggling. And inspiring. I highly recommend that you check it out and start finding some Great Work yourself.
*****
Super-Cool Update: Read the comments below. Michael Bungay Stanier himself somehow happened across my post. How cool is that?
David Allen, the author of Getting Things Done and Making it All Work, is a brilliant man who considers himself quite lazy. I've read both books--well, I've listened to both audiobooks and I love the way he thinks. I've listened to every podcast I can find featuring David Allen, and in that process, I stumbled across a series of interviews by Michael Bungay Stanier, one of which featured David Allen.
Michael Bungay Stanier wrote his own book called Find Your Great Work and has a website by the same name. It's not about finding a job, but instead about finding that sweet spot between what they want you to do and what you love doing. This can certainly relate to your career yet it's totally applicable to family life as well. I've not read his book (though I will!) but I have read everything on his website (there's tons of great free stuff). Also I have listened to all of the interviews (he interviews amazing, smart people) and each interview is outstanding.
I can honestly say that listening to these interviews has catapulted me into the zone of doing some Great Work myself. It's what helped me go from a job I literally hated to one that has become pretty darned exciting -- without changing jobs. And it's what inspired me to get back to blogging. Because I have always though my own Great Work would somehow involve writing -- and what better way to practice, practice, practice?
The simplicity with which Stanier delivers so much useful content is mind-boggling. And inspiring. I highly recommend that you check it out and start finding some Great Work yourself.
*****
Super-Cool Update: Read the comments below. Michael Bungay Stanier himself somehow happened across my post. How cool is that?
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