“First comes the thought;
then organization of that thought into ideas and plans; then transformation of those plans into reality.
The beginning, as you will observe, is in your imagination”

~Napolean Hill

As entrepreneurs we are full of ideas! Our thoughts are often free-flowing and mind-blowing!!! Most of us also struggle with getting these ideas firmed out and completed.  If you  are like me, you have several brilliant ideas in various forms of completion.  You also then suffer with the disappointment of  not completing your idea or seeing someone else act on a similar idea first.

What I have found to be useful is keeping a “Project List” or “Pending List” in Excel. (Yes, Marian’s dreaded “Pending List” for those that have ever worked on a project with me!) I have found this list to be a great time and energy saver.

I create a list in a spreadsheet.  I simply list the project and then keep track of the various tasks that need to be done. I make notes of dates, delegations and progress on each task or step if I have broken it down. This keeps notes and progress neatly in one place and easy for reference.  I then add my specific tasks to my daily “To Do” list and then move on. (I can also share the sheet with my team members so they can track progress or note their parts in a project.)

For example, if you want to create a newsletter for your team, you could quickly use the spreadsheet to organize your thoughts and the tasks involved in this.  By outlining what needs to be done, you can break it up into smaller, daily tasks and have a completed newsletter ready to send within your deadline. By letting the idea fly around in your head, chances are your newsletter will never get sent.

Using the spreadsheet also allows me to prioritize tasks and ideas using the A, B, C, D method of Steven Covey – The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.

Take the time to organize and prioritize your thoughts and work. Your success depends on it!

Love Books? Must-Have App That Can Save You Time & Money!

I love books! I love “e-books” and print books.  You can never have enough books.  But, many times I  purchase a book and never read it. Or, get started and find it isn’t what I need or want at the time. I was just introduced to my new favorite app (website also) called Blinkist.

Photo courtesty of publicdomainpictures.net

Blinkist provides a very cool service — 15 minute or so overviews of books.  Cliff notes for the electronic age! Blinkist provides the summary in both a printed and audible option.  You can even do both — read along!

It is available for computer and as an app – making it very convenient to use.

Convenience is great and Blinkist is upfront noting that the summary does not replace reading the entire book. I completely agree, however, I felt like George in Phenomenon being able to review three books before going to work this morning!

What I am finding Blinkist most useful for is to help me determine which books are a fit for me and my current needs. This morning before work, I was able to listen to three books.  Of the three, The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod, one was on my shelf, not yet read.  It is now at the top of my “To Read” list.  Another on my shelf, borrowed from a friend, is being returned. It just wasn’t a fit for me. And, the third, Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less  by Greg McKeown is on my Amazon wish list for purchasing.

The books are non-fiction and cover a vast array of subjects including business, health and fitness and personal finance. Blinkist boosts a booklist of over 1500 titles. Categories include:

• Entrepreneurship and Small Business
• Personal Growth and Self-Improvement
• Biography and History
• Health and Fitness
• Relationships and Parenting

Blinkist offers a free three-day trial and then an annual subscription service for a very reasonable $79.99. I found this very reasonable when I calculate the number of books I purchase each year…and the number that I never read or regret purchasing.

Also, with the short summaries as audios, I was able to listen to a “book” while walking my dog!

If you haven’t checked out this service, give it try for 3 days – FREE!  Hear the summary of the books sitting on your shelf or wish list, you never know what you might learn!

"Flip It Friday" - Getting Email Under Control

I was on a great webinar  hosted by "GetControl" focusing on getting control of your email. Some of you may be familiar with one of my favorite books -- "The Hamster Revolution" by Mike Song. This webinar, hosted by his company, covered tips from this book as well as a few others.

One of the tips that I want to share with you today is "Flip it Friday." It is a great concept and a perfect Friday project.

Many of us view email with the most recent listed on top and then work our way down the list. Well, on Friday, "Flip It" -- view the oldest email on top and work your way down the list. It is amazing how many "old" emails are still in the Inbox. These emails have either past date due, are handled or are no longer relevant. As you work your way down, these "old" emails can be deleted or filed.

As you go through this list you can quickly get your Inbox under control and have only those emails that are still relevant and needing a reply left.

It is true that the "clutter" in your inbox also clutters your thinking. By clearing the clutter, you will free your thoughts to the more productive projects at hand. It will also making starting Monday a little friendlier!

So, "Flip It Friday" and have a great weekend!

2 Powerful Words - I AM

Two of the most powerful words we use are — “I Am”.  

Whether we say them out loud or in our self talk, we use them thousands of times each day.  We can use them negatively… “I am broke,”  “I am too fat, ” I am too slow,”  ” I am not good enough”  or we use them positively “I am powerful”, “I am confident” , “I am a business builder” or “I am a successful leader”….these “I am” statements become our reality.

How do these thoughts manifest themselves? The subconscious mind works to make your thoughts your reality! It does not want to live in untruth. It works to bring harmony between our thoughts and our being.  Change your thoughts and change your reality! This can be done with mantras, self-talk and vision boards! Below is an example of a video focusing on the power of the “I AM”.

As you watch the video, feel the power it creates…the self-confidence you feel inside, the peace in your heart.

What words capture your attention? What words are you drawn to? What do you remember most about the words and phrases?  Let your sub-conscience mind open up and embrace the message.

Starting your day with positive “I Am” statements and mantras will make a difference in how you perceive situations. Obstacles will become challenges and opportunities. You will be able to see the solutions instead of problems.

Spend just 3-5 minutes each morning in positive energy and see what a difference it can make for you!