Recommended Reading: How to Master Your Muck

How to Master Your Muck - Get Organized. Add Space To Your Life. Live Your Purpose!

Here’s a great book for not only helping you manage your time, but also your office space, closets, garage and other numerous areas where stuff seems to accumulate! Kathi Burns, Certified Professional Organizer and Image Consultant, is a wonderful bright woman located right here in San Diego area who I’ve had the pleasure to know for several years. Order a copy today for yourself or a friend. What a great gift!

Tried & True Tips for Managing your Time

What a great time of year for some refreshers on that old favorite subject of Time Management, one I’ve not yet come close to mastering! End of year activities and deadlines, holiday gatherings and obligations, as well as New Year planning are filling the calendar, so you may find a few reminders helpful about now. Throughout the years, I’ve embraced as many tips as I have ignored others, and am aware of the many more I “should” implement. Below are some of my favorites, along with a few from my friends and colleagues. Enjoy!

Let’s start with one of my hotspots – Email! If your job allows it, check for new messages only 2 or 3 times per day and never first thing in the morning! Get your to-do list started, and then check messages mid-morning. Reply or take action as needed, and turn off your email program. Repeat mid afternoon or before leaving for the day. This lessens distractions immensely and you’ll feel that you had a very productive work day.

"Touching a paper (action) once". I read or heard this somewhere and I have applied this rule to my daily routine. As I get an action, I act on it right then and there OR I file it to follow up on it another day. That avoids unnecessarily shuffling of paper. It does not seem like much, but let me tell you ... it keeps you organized and focused on those actions you can take care of that day.
Maria, Contracts Administrator

My favorite time management technique is to create a “six most important list” the night before so I can walk into my office and get started right away. This is a staple Mary Kay training tool on time management.
Cynthia, Future Director, Mary Kay Cosmetics

My best time management tip is to be sure and schedule fun time for myself, just like I schedule doctor's appointments and meetings. I have started scheduling myself an entire fun day each week: no work, no chores, no tasks. Giving myself this time has enabled me to be much more focused and productive the other days of the week, and I don't feel so stressed out and frantic.
Sharon, Seminary Student

First, I use a timer (either a kitchen timer or a travel alarm clock by my desk). I allot myself a certain amount of time per project and setting the alarm helps me to stay focused on my task rather than any distractions. Second, I always calculate the time I need to leave to arrive at an appointment on time and place that into my calendar prior to my appt. time. I have less stress because I’m more aware of how much time I actually have for the day – and I’m not late for any appointments!
Suzan, Author and Coach

Other favorites from www.mayoclinic.com:
Say no to nonessential tasks. Consider your goals and schedule before agreeing to take on additional work.
Delegate. Take a look at your to-do list and consider what you can pass on to someone else.
Take the time you need to do a quality job. Doing work right the first time may take more time upfront, but errors usually result in time spent making corrections, which takes more time overall.
Break large, time-consuming tasks into smaller tasks. Work on them a few minutes at a time until you get them all done.
Practice the 10-minute rule. Work on a dreaded task for 10 minutes each day. Once you get started, you may find you can finish it.

By the way, my favorite time management tool for the past 3 years has been my Planner Pad, a spiral bound (also available in binder format) calendar/to-do list/appointment book all in one. I used a Palm PDA for many years after my trusty DayTimer no longer served me but now I’m back to a manual system and loving it. If you are so inclined, check them out here: www.plannerpads.com.

Job Security and Job Search - It Really Is About Who You Know

The single best thing you can do for yourself during times of uncertainty, especially if job security is in question, is to plug into your network. If you think you don't have one, yes, you really do. It starts with your family, friends, neighbors and colleagues. After you touch base with each of those people, you find out who they know that you should know and build from there. Many job seekers I've worked with discount this powerful tool, lose track of their past contacts, then find themselves at square one when they're jobless and desperate for help. It's important to keep your network active and stay in touch with those outside your day-to-day activities. You may find yourself in need of help one day and with an active network, you'll know just who to call. Another value to getting from behind the computer and out to meetings is that you'll find the support you need for solving business problems, finding employees, developing relationships, and even identifying your next job.

Harvey Mackay, inspirational business speaker and author of "Dig Your Well before you're Thirsty" says, "Networking is a lifelong practice that provides you with new knowledge and experiences, job security, expanded financial reach, and the strength of the group. The secret to maintaining a great network is, above all, knowing the value of the personal touch."

As for the virtual type of networking so popular today, if you have already or plan to join Linked In, Facebook or any of the numerous others, spend time learning about the site and maximize its benefits. Decide what you want from it and then diligently update your profile and respond to people and make connections regularly. And remember - if you should ever find yourself in the job market, recruiters and human resource folks are "googling" candidates. Make sure what they find online about you will help you get your next job or opportunity!

Do It Up Differently!

I love hearing about people who are doing things differently in the job market these days and business world – positive things that get them noticed and called in for interviews, hired, promoted, or launched into business. They are proactive and creative and unafraid to get out there and take a chance that just might bring great reward.

What prompts this sort of activity? Some people I know were tired of waiting on others for job offers, others wanted to demonstrate their talents and desire for a particular job, and still others sought to rise above the mainstream norm and make themselves known. Read below for some ideas on doing it up differently!

With competition for jobs at high levels and job security still in question in many places, it’s crucial that you, too rise above it all and take a stand for what you want. Consider some of these real-life examples and then design your own:

If your department or position is being eliminated, proactively hand deliver resumes to other department heads, in addition to working with Human Resources, to let them know of your company experience and qualifications.

Have pre-addressed, stamped thank you cards in your car ready to mail immediately after interviews.

Personally deliver resumes to your target companies and ask to speak to the hiring manager.

When given a choice on how to respond to a job opening, do all of them – fax, phone, and email.

Put together a creative follow-up package with references and testimonials as to why you are the best person for the job.

Deliver cookies or snacks with your thank you note after interviews or informational meetings.

Turn your favorite past-time into a part-time business to ease full-time job uncertainty.

If a position you applied for continues to show up online as open, inquire about being a temporary fill-in while they are still looking for the right person.

Own up to mistakes or challenges you know will surface during your performance reviews anyway and show your enthusiasm for overcoming them and moving forward in your career.

After surviving a layoff, ask for a meeting with your manager to find out what you can do to help the company while making yourself a more valuable employee.

Send handwritten thank you notes to recruiters you meet at job fairs.

Bring interview or review conversations back around to where you can accentuate your strengths and talents.

Ask the next question that many are afraid to – “Why was I not your top choice for the job?”, “Do you have any suggestions for me as I continue my job search?”, “How can I improve my performance and contribute more to the company’s success?”


Anyone can send an email, post their resume online, wait to see what will happen or hear what the boss’ or client’s decision will be. Take back control of your job search or career path and decide what your own positive steps will be to get what you want.

Ask, “How do I want this to turn out?” and aim for that end result. Or as my husband frequently reminds me when pondering a decision, “What do you have to lose?” You and I have the power to create the life of our dreams. Let’s go for it!