Refresh, Renew, Refocus, and Re-evaluate

It’s Spring time!  Finally!  Green is sprouting from the earth, bushes, and trees.  Beautiful blooms are popping forth.  Time to Refresh, Renew, Refocus, and Re-evaluate.  I saw a post on one of the social media sites that asked the question, ‘It’s the end of the first quarter, what have you accomplished?’   Hmmm….how many of your New Year’s resolutions have already gone by the wayside?  What about those goals you set at the first of the year?  

No worries.  Don’t beat yourself up.  Take a deep breath and get out your list.  Do some accessing and refocus.   Sometimes we get over zealous when making our goals for the New Year.  Sometimes life happens and throws us a curve ball.  Instead of just throwing the list away, now is a good time to take another look and re-evaluate our priorities.

Here are some tips to get back on track.

·         Self Renew - Self-renewing people seem to get a lot done, and still not act harried or talk irrationally.

·         Pace yourself - There are only so many hours in a day to accomplish things, so focus on the main thing.  Don’t burn the candle at both ends.  Don't sweat the small stuff.

·         Keeping the first things first – Be value-driven, and determine what is important.   

·         Single Task – Give your undivided attention to the priorities first.  Trying to multi-task takes the focus off what is truly important.

·         Get support – Focus on what you do best and delegate or hire someone else to do the rest.  Re-evaluate and cull out those tasks that are no longer helping you reach your goals.  Remember the definition of insanity, ‘Doing the same things over and over again and expecting different results.’

·         Seek advice – Find the expertise from those who are successful in your field and find out what works for them.  Good networking opportunity.

·         Pause – Take some time away from it all.  The time could be to think about what are your priorities, to reflect on all for which you have to be grateful.   Sometimes we are so busy that we get side tracked from what our real priorities are/were.  Pausing is important, and if you need a weekly reminder, sign up at www.pauseworks.com for Pat Katz’s pause e-zine. We are all just one heart attack away from a disaster, so let’s learn to refresh and renew .

·         Find time to be playful and creative – We all know the saying, ‘All work and no play…..’   Stepping away from it all can often times provide that renewal we need to get back on track with our goals again.  Often times it can also bring forth new fresh ideas.

·         Keep in touch – Take time to spend quality time with family and friends.  This time can also provide a new and perhaps a different perspective on our priorities.  We certainly don’t want to get a call one day and then beat ourselves up because we didn’t take the time to go have lunch with an old acquaintance. 

"Common sense is uncommon practice.” Many of these tips are not new.  We all need a reminder.  Sometimes when we stop to reflect we realize that we are not as off track as we thought we were.  Refocusing can get us excited again so we can make those small steps towards those big goals that initially looked so huge.  How do you eat an elephant? – One small bite at a time!

For April’s Holidays and Celebrations, check out these websites.  

Holiday Insights
Brownie Locks
Web Holidays
Earth Calendar
Wellcat - Quirky Holidays

Celebrate the lives of those you love Everyday! Show them you care. Send them a
H.U. G. - A Heartfelt Greeting.

Also check out the Fan Page on Facebook ‘We Have a Card for That.’

In gratitude,

Annette

Painted Lady Enterprises

“Helping You and Your Business Look Good”

*The inspiration for this blog came from www.ElaineFroese.com who is a catalyst for courageous conversations and intentional life design.

Reflections and Resolutions

I have spent this morning catching up on the other blogs that I follow. It being the end of the year many are writing about the past year and the new year approaching. One of the best blog posts, 'Are You Ready for 2010?,' was from Bonnie Ross Parker, CEO and Founder of The Joy of Connecting. I think she put into words most of what I was thinking.

We are not only embarking on a new year, but on a new decade! Do you remember all the hype about the new millennium? Y2K? Seems like yesterday. My how 10 years has flown by. What did you accomplish in the past ten years? What do you think the next 10 years will bring?

With a new year comes new resolutions for changes. What are your New Year's resolutions, goals, aspirations? Whatever they are, write them down and review them often. Wikipedia states Goal Setting involves establishing specific, measurable and time-targeted objectives.

We all need to be reminded to use the SMART method in goal setting:

S = Specific
M = Measurable
A = Attainable
R = Realistic
T = Timely

Goals should be straightforward and emphasize what you want to happen. Specifics help us to focus our efforts and clearly define what we are going to do.

Another highly successful method to achieving success is to activate your Reticular Activating System - or RAS. Your RAS plays a vital part in your ability to achieve goals. Your reticular activating system is like a filter between your conscious mind and your subconscious mind. It takes instructions from your conscious mind and passes them on to your subconscious. First, you can deliberately program the reticular activating system by choosing the exact messages you send from your conscious mind. For example, you can set goals, or say affirmations, or visualize your goals. I recently heard a personal trainer state not to let the bad weather keep you from your daily exercise routine. He said to exercise in your mind. Close your eyes and go on that walk in our mind. That we can visualize our daily walk and get the same effects because our body will react to our thoughts.

Another good blog I read was about 'Change Mastery' by Tracy Brinkmann. Resolutions are all about change and I think Tracy's advice about change goes hand in hand with our making our goals and resolutions for the new year. If after a few weeks you're not getting the change and results you want, don't give up and quit, review and tweak. Don't be to hard on yourself. You didn't get this way overnight. Make changes. Adjust your sails. Rome wasn't built in a day. How do you eat an elephant.....one small bite at a time.

I remember hearing Zip Ziglar speak many years ago about his starting his exercise routine. On his first day, he walked to his mailbox and back. The next day to the neighbor's mailbox. Each day he would walk a little further until he had increased his daily walk to several miles.

Think about the things you want to accomplish. Write them down. Develop an action plan. Translate your goals into affirmations that have already been accomplished. Read them often. Everyday is best. Have visual reminders. Send yourself reminders in the way of emails or cards. Set a specific time to review what's working, what's not, and make the necessary changes to get back on course.

We would love to hear what works for you with achieving your goals.

Wishing You a Very Happy and Prosperous 2010 and Beyond!

In gratitude,
Annette
Painted Lady Enterprises
"Helping You and Your Business Look Good"

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New Year Resolutions - Getting Organized

Did you procrastinate?

Didn’t send Holiday Cards? Need to send Thank You cards? Actually, sending cards now can get you noticed (and in a positive way). Instead of your card getting lost in the shuffle of the busy Holiday season, sending a heartfelt personal card for the New Year is surely to make your greeting ‘stand out from the rest.’

Are you making your resolutions for the New Year? Is getting organized and simplifying your life at the top of your list?  Getting Organized seems to make my Resolution List every year. What I find with organizing that has helped me the most over time, is putting systems and tools in place that not only remind me but help make the task easier and saves time and money. Here are two testimonials from two professional organizers who endorse as well as uses such a system.

Sending Christmas cards to all my clients was a breeze, using Send Out Cards with “custom shared” greeting cards. Send Out Cards saved me lots of time this holiday season: my client list is already loaded so I was able to hand-select who to send cards to, I had the cards “done” in November but had the campaign sent in December, and, of course, I didn’t have to address envelopes or slap on stamps – what a time-saving service!

Dawn McCloskey
Ultra Organized, LLC
Member: National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) and the NAPO Georgia Chapter
"From chaos comes order"

Send Out Cards is the perfect service to help any company or individual stay organized. I consider Send Out Cards essential when organizing a client’s home or office. I organize both residentially and commercially and Send Out Cards is perfect for families and businesses alike. With Send Out Cards you can easily upload all your contacts, set reminders, even make cards ahead of time and set them to send on a certain date. With a feature like this, even the busiest of clients can find the time to sit down once a month and send cards for all birthdays, anniversaries and other needs. Send Out Cards also allows you to create your own handwriting font so your cards even have your personal touch. Businesses can upload logos and other marketing pieces, making it the perfect tool to promote your business in a cost effective manner. Save time and money and become more organized in 2009 by using Send Out Cards.

Sharon L. Hess
Mommy Management, Inc.
2260 Rushmore Drive Suite P
Marietta, Ga. 30062
www.MommyManagementInc.com

So whether you want to send Happy New Year greetings or send Thank you cards or both, this greeting card system offers lots of great cards with New Year’s greetings and 1000s of great cards for every other occasion. Ring in 2009 with beautiful and thoughtful Happy New Year Cards for your family, friends, clients, and prospects. You can get very creative by customizing with colors, fonts, and images/photos to create wonderfully personalized cards that are unique and different. Wish your loved ones and clients joy and happiness in the coming year with an exceptional card from SendingCardsMadeEZ.com today!

Being one who has always been a card sender, this card system provided that system for me and so much more. It provides the tools within the system that helps me to save time all year long. No more driving to the store, post office, stocking cards, (not to mention still not having just the right card when I needed it) and then trying to remember to mail it at the appropriate time. This service has solved all these issues for me.

I invite you to try the system yourself. Experience a demonstration and send a couple of cards with my compliments. Log onto SendingCardsMadeEZ.com to register for a complimentary gift account.

I will be glad answer your questions and/or send you additional information. Get started today saving time and money. Find out how to set up your starter account.

Happy New Year and Happy Organizing!

In gratitude,
Annette

Resolve to Simplify Your Card Sending this year. Log on and find out how to create, personalize, and mail your cards with just a few mouse clicks. Send them a REAL greeting card with my compliments SendingCardsMadeEZ.com

www.PaintedLadyEnterprises.com
"Helping You and Your Business Look Good"

Whoosh.......

Whoosh…..

Did you hear it? It was the sound of the holidays coming and going or you could say the whole year. I thought it was just me, but I heard a number of people say that this year just flew by.

I love the holidays. I wish they didn’t come and go so fast. I spoke to a client the day after Christmas and asked her how she enjoyed her holidays and she said fine, but she was glad it was over. To me that is so sad. It is the one time of the year that I get to see most all of my children and family all at one time even if it is for only a couple of hours. Yes it’s a lot of work to get everything ready, the house cleaned, the decorations up, gifts bought, etc. etc., but to me it’s worth it. I just wish it lasted a little longer. It makes me want time to just stand still for a little while.

My oldest daughter stayed an extra day and we went to see a movie which was fun and relaxing. As I watch my grandchildren grow up so fast, I wish I lived closer to them so I could see and be with them more often. Maybe it wouldn’t seem like they grow several inches when I do see them.

Now it’s time to start making plans and goals for the New Year. To try and make each day count. To look back and reflect on last year and make plans to do better and keep the resolutions that didn’t quite see fruition this past year. To work smarter, not harder. To enjoy life…each and every minute. To make time for the important things so that this time next year we don’t hear that giant Whoosh and wonder what happened to the year.

This past year was a great year. I cannot complain. It was jammed packed and I have some great memories to cherish. Here’s to continuing to Thrive in 2009!

Happy New Year!

In gratitude,
Annette

Resolve to Simplify Your Card Sending this year. Log on and find out how to create, personalize, and mail your cards with just a few mouse clicks. Send them a REAL greeting card with my compliments Painted Lady Greeting Cards

Gifts, Greeting Cards, and Promotional Products

www.PaintedLadyEnterprises.com

"Helping You and Your Business Look Good"