Archive for April, 2010

Apr 22

organizing to improve productivity

Update 5.20.2010: I just struck out the last item, learning new website tips. I recently found a new thumbnail creation site that I like. And I’ve been actively using Headspace2 and Keyword Statistics plugins for my work blog.

Update 5.15.2010: I just struck out the business cards from the list below. Actually I finished them last weekend. And these are the cards for my writing.

Why Organizing topped my Prep List

Next month, my certification training begins, and I’m all set—except, I need to improve my organization to increase my productivity. Organizing my workspace. It’s the most important part. And with that almost completed, I will be able to coast through the next few weeks.

It matters so much because knowing where things are is critical for me. Two reasons are: I’m forgetful, and easily distracted between multiple tasks. Organization adds a strong measure of sanity to the mania of busy-ness.

Things get really out of hand here, since I choose to divide my attentions between what I’m doing and what’s asked of me, by my family and others. Usually, it doesn’t get me off task by too much—usually.

Still, pulling different files, books and such, for different projects, often means things don’t get put away immediately. And the piles, eventually looking like my prison, must be dismantled. Besides, searching for things that could be right at hand really slows me down.

Getting Things Done

I’m off to a good start with tearing down the stacks of books and papers, returning them to their places, or better organized positions. And there were a few background things that needed doing before training. These are things that come to mind and get dismissed for other more urgent things.

Recently, I decided to start knocking them out as they recurred to me. As you can see several are already completed. The rest are well underway. Being organized will make it easier to finish as I make ready for big fun beginning next month.

  1. Clean up my Gmail account for contacts
  2. Design new business/networking cards
  3. Post about Read Write Poem’s closing
  4. Add link to my Amazon aStore, The Blog About It Store, I’ve been sitting on this for quite a while now and time was a-wasting
  5. Add a page for The Blog About It Store
  6. Finish my last 9 poems in 9 days for NaPoWriMo on Telling Stories
  7. Write posts for my very quiet work blog
  8. Update account information on different sites; it’s nice to have money going to the right places
  9. Learn some new and needed website tips

This week has been about updating and knocking things out that are due or long over due. Operating from an organized workspace is a great way to move through things efficiently and quickly. What’s on your plate right now? How does organization improve your productivity? What else do you do to boost your productivity?

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Posted in Producitivity

Apr 22

my bookstore is present

I just wanted to post a quick note to say that my aStore, The Blog About It Store, is live. Actually, it’s been live, it’s just that now it’s attached to the site—again. I’ve had access to it for quite a long time, but I always put it on the back burner to set it up through my site. I was waiting to find a way to do the fancy stuff.

Then I realized how much time had passed, and it was just unacceptable. If you look at the software versions I’ve included, you’ll begin to get the picture, too. And so, looking ahead to all that I want to do, it occurred to me that this would be an easy thing to get up and running and out of the way. A few days ago I got going and haven’t stopped yet.

I updated the links and changed the colors just a bit. For now there’s a link on my left sidebar to get you to the store. And when I remember how, I’ll include it in the tabs. I want it to be accessible. And that’s why there are links on the page that return you to my blog.

About the Items Included

  • The books I’ve chosen are books that I’ve read, mostly. Some are of interest to me and I have yet to read them.
  • The applications I’ve chosen are those that I use and like.

So far, I’ve only included books and software applications. If you’re curious about one in particular, please feel free to ask me.

I’ll tell you know, I’ve read everything by Kirk Byron Jones. And I’m still working on the magnificent writings of Erwin Raphael McManus.

I hope you visit my bookstore and find something that interests you. My library is full of books that inspire me throughout my life. When you find something that does the same for you, please drop me a line letting me know.

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Posted in Business

Apr 11

submitting and self-publishing

So, it’s been anything but quiet since last I was here. Since then, I’ve secured my place for A+ certification training; the training begins next month, May 2010. And, I managed to keep up with a poem a day, so far. I don’t know about the day until I get to it, because my verses don’t come together until the night, when home is more quiet. It just got quiet here today. So, we’ll see what I can manage.

With a vote of confidence from my comrades in the project, and reading their inspired words, I will continue to write. If not on prompt at least I’ll write a poem a day for the rest of National Poetry Month. I’ll have to make the choice predicated on whether or not work has to be sacrificed. I want to write the poems no matter what. But, I have to move business forward too. Work MUST go on!

( Read more )

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Posted in Business