• Yeah, but I can’t ignore the rest of my emails

    This is Part 2 of a post about inbox zero. Be sure to check out Part 1: Why inbox zero is the wrong measuring stick I typically get pushback at this point about the argument against inbox zero. The “Yeah, but…” begins. Yeah, but I can’t ignore the rest of my emails. Yeah, but I […]

  • Why inbox zero is the wrong measuring stick

    Recently the topic of inbox zero came up with a couple clients. One was discouraged that her attempts at inbox zero had failed. She consistently ended the day with multiple emails remaining in her inbox. Another client was ending each day with zero emails in her inbox, but this wasn’t making her feel more organized […]

  • No, Pokemon GO wasn’t one of the apps I deleted

    The other day I deleted over two dozen apps from my iPhone. No, not Pokemon GO (haven’t yet caught the craze). These apps were mostly to help me be more productive and informed. So, am I opting out of productivity? No longer interested in what’s going on in the world? No on both counts. Here’s […]

  • We all have the same 24 hours in a day

    I’m so busy. There aren’t enough hours in the day. It’s a familiar refrain I hear a dozen times a week. I overhear it standing in line at the bank and from the next table over at lunch. I hear it from clients, friends, and the barista at my favorite cafe. And it makes me […]

  • A daily dose of saying no will make you happier

    Have you said no today? If not, why not? We have to start saying no if we want to be intentional about our lives. Let’s unpack that statement because “intentional about our lives” might sound vague or New Agey. Not that there’s anything wrong with New Agey. But I know phrases like living intentionally and living […]

  • Warning: Your serenity and sanity are at risk

    Are you so overwhelmed that you don’t have the time or energy to do anything about why you’re overwhelmed to begin with? It’s a maddening conundrum, isn’t it? Your To Do list is mostly undone, work has reached its tentacles way beyond an 8-hour day, and life keeps presenting you with unexpected hurdles. Most days […]

  • Please stop making excuses and do these 3 things

    I’m a total geek when it comes to thinking about systems and streamlining. Which is probably why I return time and again to this Timothy Ferris quote from The 4-Hour Workweek: Never automate something that can be eliminated, and never delegate something that can be automated or streamlined. Otherwise, you waste someone else’s time instead of […]

  • Making things complicated is (really) bad for business

    Deadline-driven projects and pressing problems. Client demands and cash flow worries. Trying to keep up with paperwork and show up on social media. Interruptions and other peoples’ agendas. The hustle has you overworked, overwhelmed…and exhausted. You’re struggling every day in your business. To keep up. To catch your breath. To get ahead. To stop putting […]

  • I walk into a room and see a To Do list

    The other day a friend said, I can’t walk into any room in my house without seeing a To Do list. She went on to describe what she sees: CDs in piles, dust, unfinished craft projects, carpet that needs to be cleaned, stacks of photos waiting to be put in albums, an item to be […]

  • How can I pursue my dream when my plate is already full?

    Here’s an email I received this week. I get some variation of this question frequently, so thought I’d share my perspective. Q: I work full-time for a company, but dream about starting my own business. I’m afraid it would be impossible to juggle with all my other responsibilities, including a husband and two kids. I […]