Category Archives: Productivity

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Behind the Scenes with My Virtual Assistant

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I started working with Tricia Welte, my virtual executive assistant (VEA), about fifteen months ago. She works for eaHELP. She has become an integral part of my team. So much so, that I don’t even think of her as “virtual.”

A Blue Curtain with a Gap - Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/wildpixel, Image #21964859

Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/wildpixel

I thought it might be interesting to give you a “behind-the-scenes” look and interview her here on my blog. I started with the basics and then moved onto the deeper questions. If you are considering hiring a VEA, this might help you see how it works for me and how it might work for you.

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#028: Become More Productive by Reengineering Your Morning Ritual [Podcast]

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In this episode, I talk about early morning rituals and how they can set you up to be more productive, more successful, and more healthy. They might even enable you to make more money!

Someone on an Early Morning Run - Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/warrengoldswain, Image #20364208

Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/warrengoldswain

According to a 2007 poll conducted by Gallup:

  • 55 percent of U.S. adults consider themselves “morning people.”
  • 15 percent consider themselves “afternoon people.”
  • 20 percent consider themselves “evening people.”
  • 6 percent consider themselves “late night people.”

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#027: How to Say No Without Feeling Guilty [Podcast]

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If you’re like me, you have a tough time saying, “No.” As a recovering people-pleaser, I want to be helpful to people. I just hate disappointing them.

NO Painted on the Floor - Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/mattjeacock, Image #11710641

Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/mattjeacock

In this episode, I share some practical strategies I’ve learned—and am learning—for saying, “No,” in away that honors the person making the request and keeps me free to focus on what matters most.

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5 Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get Things Done

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This is a guest post by Allen Schowengerdt. He is a writer for YourLocalSecurity.com and is an avid sports fan and marketing enthusiast.

We all do it. We put off that dreaded task for five more minutes, then for thirty minutes, then for another hour, until it doesn’t get done at all. And the worst part is we still weren’t able to enjoy our day. We spend so much time stressing over that looming task that it deprives us from actually being able to focus on other tasks.

A Man Looking at a Watch on a Table - Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/Cimmerian, Image #1205738

Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/Cimmerian

Why do we do it? We know it never ends well. The problem is that the cycle can feel nearly impossible to break. We get so caught up in the cycle of procrastination that we almost forget how to effectively tackle hard tasks.

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How to Organize Evernote for Maximum Efficiency

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I have been using Evernote for months. However, I have not really taken time to explore the depth of this incredible program until just recently. I have mainly just used it for a place to store meeting notes and an occasional web clipping.

Files in a Horizontal Filing Cabinet - Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/STEVECOLEccs, Image #11346887

Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/STEVECOLEccs

However, thanks to Brett Kelly’s very helpful e-book, Evernote Essentials, the Evernote user forum, and a little experimentation, I have begun to see the incredible power of this digital repository. So much so, then I am committed to going paperless in my new office setup.

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Yes, You Can Stay on Top of E-mail

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A while back, one of my friends asked, “How do you get through all of your email. It’s killing me. I just can’t seem to get on top of it.” I know the feeling.

Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/eyeidea, Image #3691219

Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/eyeidea

Actually, I get asked this question a lot. Despite all the current technology and software tools available, many people are falling further behind with each passing day. They just can’t seem to keep up with the avalanche of digital messages hitting their inbox.

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How to Speed Up Your iPhone If It Starts Slowing Down

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Is your iPhone starting to bog down? Is it running slower and slower. Is this an Apple conspiracy to get you to buy their next phone?

A Stethascope on an iPhone - Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/MacXever, Image #19604763

Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/MacXever

Probably not.

This morning, my wife Gail complained to me that her iPhone seemed to be getting slow. She asked if I was experiencing the same thing.

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10 Strategies for Getting a Faster Response to Your Email

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Responsiveness is a critical life skill. In fact, I think it may be the single most important factor to your success. People who are not responsive miss out on many opportunities. Why? Because others get tired of waiting on them.

Woman Asleep at Her Computer - Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/bookwyrmm, Image #11268589

Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/bookwyrmm

But, let’s be honest—not everyone you or I deal with shares this value. Or, even if they give lip service to it, they don’t practice it in daily life. And so, you wait. And wait. Meanwhile, your own work stacks up and you look unresponsive to your constituents.

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How to Create More Margin in Your Life

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The last five weeks have been incredibly busy for me. My new book, Platform, launched on May 22. My daughter Madeline got married the next weekend.

Businessman in a Meadow - Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/toshimself, Image #6378441

Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/toshimself

Since then, I have done seventy-three radio, podcast, magazine, and newspaper interviews. I have also had eight speaking engagements.

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How to Say No When You Feel Pressured to Say Yes

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Do you have a difficult time saying no? I do. At heart, I am a people-pleaser. I hate disappointing people.

Judges Holding Up a No Sign - Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/OrangeDukeProductions, Image #17072506

Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/OrangeDukeProductions

But at some point, you realize that you can’t say yes to everyone else. Attempting to do so puts at risk your own agenda and the things that matter most.

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The Fine Line Between Working Hard and Letting Go

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Some of my favorite memories of growing up are building model airplanes with my dad. I remember him showing me how to assemble, sand, and paint them. I think back on how proud I always was when we finished a project together.

Young Boy Building a Model Airplane - Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/eriktham, Image #18115686

Photo courtesy of ©iStockphoto.com/eriktham

On one occasion, I remember struggling to get two parts to fit together. I tried several different angles. Nothing seemed to work. I grew increasingly frustrated.