Just Say No

I know it's cliche, but it's a good one! There really is freedom in saying "no." The best reason to say no is for the purpose of avoiding stress. If you have too much on your plate already, it's better to not commit to anything more. But saying No isn't just good for new commitments. It's also good for helping you keep the commitment you already have.

This morning I had already planned out all of the things that I wanted to accomplish today. I was just getting into the swing of things when a friend called. A bunch of them were all going shopping and wanted to know if I wanted to go. Did I? Yes. But I said no thanks. I quickly thought of the stress added to tomorrow if I went shopping and left all of my other activities undone. I would have enjoyed today a lot had I gone out with the girls, but I'll enjoy tomorrow a lot more because I didn't. And actually, I'm very happy today with all of the things I've accomplished and proud of myself for making the right choice!

Accountabliity Is Key

I live my life by lists. I write a list almost everyday. Whether it's a To-Do list, a grocery list, or an events list, I usually have a list going somewhere for something.

My lists usually serve as reminders. There are so many things that I have to do, places to go, and things to get, that I'd never be able to keep them straight without writing them down on paper. I've realized though, that even though it's on paper, it still may not get done. No one sees my lists but me. So if I want to push something off until tomorrow or until next week, I can justify it because I'm the only one expecting it to get done. I'm a closet procrastinator.

2010 Progress is all about change. Changing who we are and how we see ourselves, and achieving our dreams. 2010 Progress is also about accountability. When Row and I had our New Year's Eve chat, we agreed to keep each other accountable through the year. There is something about this site, that when I type a list for each week, I find myself coming here daily to check my list. I have to find out what I have left to do because a week is only 7 days, so I have to stay diligent.

This site isn't really meant for anyone but Row and myself, but that's enough. Because if one of us blows our list off, it gives justification to the other to do the same. Accountability will guide us through this year to success!

Progress Report 3

The end of January is fast approaching. While some have already experienced personal failure this year, I am getting more and more optimistic about what this year has in store for me. I honestly feel like the windows of heaven are about to bust open and rain down blessings on my family.

This week, though it felt rushed, I accomplished many things. Some were on my list, others not. I did finish the bedroom/ bathroom project and I am loving the results. I wrote a second article for my affiliate site and published it. I took in my brand name clothes to be appraised and sold. I didn't quite start exercising again, unless you count shoveling snow as real exercise. :)

On top of those things, I lost another 2 lbs. I put $200 towards the fixing of my car. (I seem to be paying for it twice.) We were able to set some money aside towards our flight to the west coast. And finally, I signed the kids up for a 4-H home-school group. I'm excited at the prospect of meeting new people and doing some productive activities with my kids outside the home!

This week I want to:

1. Write an article for the affiliate site
   
   
2. Send a car payment
   
   
3. Put more money towards the fixing of my car
   
   
4. Set some money aside for vacation
   
   
5. Start exercising :)
   
   
6. Attend first 4-H meeting
   
   
7. Clean my bedroom

This list may be a bit ambitious considering I've only completed 3 items on each list I've posted thus far. But, I'm still being optimistic!

Progress Report 3

I can't believe we are already through the third week of 2010. It seems like I barely had time to get the last report up and this one is due. I have been keeping on the course, though, my list seems to change often. I was pretty successful in completing last weeks' list. I finished one assignment in the Understanding Computers course I'm taking. I can now spell Cafe in binary code. :-) I have almost completed another article; needs some proofing before sending it out for publication. J put mouse bait in the shop, so the results of that should be seen soon. Yuck. I read some more in Business Plans for Dummies, but that is now on hold. I have signed up for a three session workshop that will give me hands on information for creating my business plan. The first class was today. It has my head reeling with ideas and things to add to my list. The only thing I didn't get to was watching the next set of MMO videos. However, I did use the KeyWord Blueprint tool. (Really great stuff.)

So for week 4 of 2010 I will:

1. Finish up the article I'm working on.
2. Complete one assignment in Understanding Computers
3. Do the "homework" for the next session of the business workshop, which includes a personal budget, business goals and research on three competitors. If I have time, create some sort of selling tool for DbR to show at the next session, as it will be focused on marketing and image.
   
4. Watch Module 2 of MMO.
5. Update my website.

Picture Perfect

It's easy to blurt out, "I'd be happy if I had a million dollars."

"I'd be happy if I were my own boss."

"I'd be happy if I were debt free."

"I'd be happy if I didn't have to work."

"I'd be happy if I had more time."

"I'd be happy if...." But would you? If you had $100,000 a month at your disposal, what would you do? My first thought was that I'd sleep in. But then I got to thinking about it. I'd probably get up earlier because there would be so many things that I'd want to do. So put some thought into it.

Picture yourself in a perfect place.

• Where are you?
  
  
• What's around you?
  
  
• What are you wearing?
  
  
• What do you hear?
  
  
• Who is with you?

What does your perfect place look like? And what are you doing to get there?

Getting Out Of The Zone

Most of us strive for that perfect zone. The place of heightened concentration where we accomplish extraordinary things at blazing speeds. There are so many things that we want to do, but are we taking the best steps toward reaching our goals. How badly do we want some things? Enough that we are willing to get out of our comfort zone?

We've all grown accustomed to certain things and have our own idiosyncrasies; good or bad. Some things we just do because we've always done them. Does that make them right? Human nature balks at change. We are also very codependent. It takes a lot of conditioning of the mind and practice to step outside of our comfort zone.

• Are you willing to walk out on a steady job to pursue your dream?
  
  
• Are you willing to introduce yourself to a perfect stranger to offer a service?
  
  
• Are you willing to get training in a field that you know nothing about?
  
  
• Are you willing to spend money to make money?

Where are the lines drawn in your own life? Can you push your personal limits and broaden your horizons? Find something small that you're not necessarily comfortable with and try it out. It may be something as simple as maintaining eye contact for more than 4 seconds with a stranger, or smiling at everyone you see in a day. Practicing with little steps makes it easier to take the big step out of the comfort zone.

Progress Report 2

Week two of 2010 was extremely hectic. I listed five things that I wanted to accomplish this week. I did not get to them all, but feel as though I made progress just the same. What I did accomplish:

1. I ripped out the last bench in the shop and pulled down almost all of the remaining sheet rock, until I ran into a "friend."
2. Completed one assignment for my new class.
3. Wrote and published an article on business cards on Ezine@rticles.
4. Started the MMO program and watched the videos in Module One.
5. Met with Eric and got some great direction on how to use the marketing tools I am learning to implement for DbR.
6. Plus, the 40th Anniversary Party was a great success.

I had a great time with Miranda and her family, plus all of the other family and friends that showed up to the party. As crazy as the week was, it was all worth it to see Mom and Dad so happy and surprised. It was wonderful. I do wish Miranda and I lived closer together, but that just makes our visits that much more special. I'll have to plan a weekend trip south soon.

So, for this week, I will do the following:

1. Write another article for publication.
2. Complete another assignment in my class.
3. Extricate mice from the shop.
4. Continue reading Business Plans for Dummies
5. Start watching Module 2 in MMO and work with the tools associated with IM Advantage.

I think that is plenty for a short week, as it is already Tuesday. It seems as though time is speeding up, but I will keep things in perspective and work towards each objective individually. Together, the little steps will culminate in the achievement of my yearly goals.

Progress Report 2

This past week was definitely a busy one. Last week I listed 5 things that I wanted to do this week. I accomplished 3 of the 5. I finished watching the MMO training videos, read some more of "The 4-Hour Work Week," and checked into selling my name brand clothes. On top of those three, I also started my first affiliate website to start bringing in money online and I traveled to Row's part of the country for our parent's 40th wedding anniversary party that we planned, coordinated and executed.


This week I plan to:

1. Finish my bathroom/bedroom project
   
   
2. Write another post on my affiliate site
   
   
3. Sell my clothes
   
   
4. Start exercising again

I have several special services at my church this weekend. So I'll have to be diligent during the first part of the week.

I had a fabulous time visiting with Row this weekend! I don't get to see her near as often as I'd like. We were able to talk about our future plans and she showed me the shop that she's transforming into her studio. I'm so excited for her! We also had fun coordinating the 40th anniversary party. It shows how hard work and determination can pay off in so many satisfying ways! Thanks for a great weekend, Row!

What Do You Want To Be When You Grow Up?

When I was real little, I wanted to be one of Bob Barker's Beauties on The Price Is Right show. They had it all, beauty, fame, and a cushy job. Everyone loved the Beauties. I even used to practice showing off "prizes" in the mirror in my bedroom. I hear Bob Barker is retired now. I probably wouldn't have had a chance anyway.

Then as I got a little older, I decided that I wanted to be a psychologist. The profession seemed to come to me naturally. From a young age, I was the friend that kept secrets, that could be confided in, and who gave sound advice. Emotional struggles always fascinated me. Finding the root of the conflict came easily to me as I could look at a problem in an unbiased light. Then I realized that the best way to help people was not to be shrink, but to just be a friend. So that's what I try to be.

Then I became a wife, and a mother. It's a full time job. And in the beginning it consumes every minute of everyday. But my kids are beyond the infant stage now, and can manage a lot on their own. So, I'm facing the question again. What do I want to be when I grow up?

Actually, I'm posing a new question. Who do I want to be when I grow up? I don't think that we should be labeled by our position in life. Our job description is not necessarily who we are. There are so many things that I want to do and places I want to see. I don't think I ever want to be tied down to a 9-5 job. Thankfully, I've avoided it thus far. It doesn't seem very appealing.

My birthday is coming up soon. I've been working on a list of 30 Things I want to do before I'm 30. That's 3 more years. While some of them do involve making money. None of them involve a 9-5 job. I'm outside the box now. And I'm staying there!

Don't Do Everything. Just Do Enough.

Miranda and I were chatting last night, well, I was venting. My plate has been exceedingly full this week and I was on the verge of becoming overwhelmed. In desperation I typed, "I don't know how I will do everything." Mandy quickly came back with "Don't do everything. Just do enough." My first thought was that it sounded like a cop-out. Do just enough to get by and nothing more? But, that's not it at all.

Life is so hectic. We get pulled in a hundred different directions all at once with work, school, kids, home, husband, laundry, cheering, groceries; "where's my socks?" and "what's for dinner?" Then throw in planning a special occasion and extended family visiting and the amount of time in the day seems to shrink. And, guess what? There is still only one of you.

Don't do everything.

It is like the lists that Mandy and I have come up with for the year. Some of them are rather monstrous goals. But we have broken them down into smaller bites. We can't do it all at once. It would become overwhelming and then there would be a good chance of just giving up.

So, just do enough.

Make mini goals, a list of things that will get you to the end you're shooting for; break it down. In my current situation, I can delegate. I have to remember there are other people who are available and willing to help. I can make a list of the phone calls I need to make, and make them, one at a time. I can do enough. I don't have to do everything.

Paralysis By Analysis

Paralysis by analysis is a term that in its simplest definition means you spend so much time analyzing the situation to determine how best to make a decision that a decision never actually gets made. It's common, and we all struggle with it in some area of our lives.

Progress cannot be made until you can take a decisive action. As long as there are still variables you can't take action. That's why it is often pushed that we set small, short-term goals that will eventually lead us to accomplishing our long-term goals.

Row and I created our List of 10 Things; these are long term goals. Even though a year is just a drop in the bucket in a lifetime, our 10 goals can be broken down to even smaller goals. Until we break these down into smaller, decisive actions, we still will not make progress.

For instance, I want to paint my house this year. That sounds easy. But let's look at some of the variables.

• Will I paint it myself, or hire it out?
• What color will I paint it?
• What brand of paint should I use?
• How much paint will I need?
• How much money will it cost?
• What tools do I need to get first?
• What time of year should I start?
• Will I need help?

I could spend a lot of time analyzing these questions and never actually make a decision or take a step in the direction of progress. Each of these questions then needs to be broken down into its variables. These variables should be fewer and easier to decide a coarse of action in a timely manner. But as long as there is still a question to be answered or a decision to make, you will not get any closer to accomplishing your goal. That is paralysis by analysis.

2010 Progress Report

By this time most New Year's resolutions have waxed cold and dropped from the forefront of the mind and off the top of the priority list. That's why 2010 Progress is not a New Year's resolution. To stay focused on our new lives, Row and I have purposed to post Progress Reports regularly. Not only does this keep us accountable to ourselves and each other, but it gives a very telling visual of how we are changing and getting closer to our goals.

This week I have:

1. Made a double payment on my car.

2. Started watching MMO training videos

3. Continued to read "The 4-Hour Work Week."

4. Lost 3 lbs.

Beyond that I have also created a new closet for myself. Though it was not on my list, was a much needed project. This project has also ballooned into a major bedroom/ bathroom overhaul which I will see through to completion.

Next week I will:

1. Finish watching MMO training videos.

2. Continue to read "The 4-Hour Work Week."

3. Investigate selling name brand clothes from my closet.

4. Finish the bedroom/ bathroom project.

5. Write an article for marketing.

They may be little steps, but they are little steps forward. Here's to 2010 Progress!

P.S. Here's the Before and After of my closet project.

Just one question: Where am I going to put the rest of my shoes??

2010 Progress Report

So, we are now a full week and a day into the new year. What have I accomplished towards my goals thus far?

1. As earlier posted, I worked on my Studio renovations January 1 and 2 and made great progress.
2. I took a test in the courses I am taking, receiving a score of 100 and completing another class.
3. I have secured a proctor for my finals to finish out my first semester.
4. I have begun reading Business Plans for Dummies.

My plans for week 2 of 2010:

1. Finish ripping out the sheet rock on the last wall at the shop.
   
2. Complete two lessons in the new class I am starting.
3. Write three new articles for marketing DbR.
4. Continue reading Business Plans for Dummies.
5. Start roughing out my mission statement and goals and objectives for DbR.

Along with planning and prepping for our parents 40th anniversary party and having family staying with us next weekend, my second week may not be quite as productive I have laid out; however, I don't think this list is out of reach. I will simply use my time wisely and push ahead.

I have to thank my sis for starting this blog. It has kept our goals and new way of thinking at the forefront of my mind. Life is what we make of it and progress is the name of the game.

Money Is Time

In the corporate world the phrase, "Time is money," is often thrown around to remind employees and employers to waste no time. Considering that most people are paid a certain amount of money per hour, any time not working is time not making money.

Everyone wishes they had more time. "If only I had more time I could... (fill in the blank.)" Well, I have the answer. If time = money and money = work than time = work. Which means (drum roll, please) that in order to have more time you must work more!

Wait a minute... that sounds a little contradictory.

Now let's think outside the box.

Why do we work? To make money. Why do we want money? To provide for ourselves and our families. To be able to enjoy certain comforts and have enjoyable experiences. How is it possible to enjoy these comforts when earning the money leaves no time to attain them?

The key is to make more money in less time. There are two ways to accomplish this.

1. Make money more effectively.

2. Make money more efficiently.

Effective means: producing a decided, decisive, or desired effect.

Efficient means: productive without waste.

First, you need to know the best way that you can make money and work diligently towards it. Then make sure that you are wasting no effort or time in making that money. If you find where there is waste, eliminate it! When you make more money is less time, you free up more time for the things that you really want to do. So, yes, time is money. But money is time.

My Car Can Turn Around. Can Yours?

I've been absolutely terrified every moment of my life - and I've never let it keep me from doing a single thing I wanted to do.

~ Georgia O'Keeffe

I think I have spent my whole life living in fear; fear of being teased, of not fitting in; fear of losing those I love and of not being loved; fear of not having a family; of not doing something "big" in my life; the fear of not being remembered when I'm gone from this world. It used to be the boogieman, in the dark, and now it is making sure my family has a warm home and food for the mind, body and soul.
I miss the boogieman.

Fear is built into our genetic make-up as part of our fight or flight response. It was meant to keep us safe from harm. When fear begins to encompass life, it ceases to function as intended. It may still keep a body safe, but it begins to prevent us from experiencing the positive as well. The walls begin to go up. So, we stay home, only travel the roads we know, work the same unfulfilling job for 40 years, all because it is safe.

I admit, I am terrified of driving anywhere unfamiliar, especially if it includes city or rush-hour highway driving. My mind begins reeling. What if I take the wrong turn, miss my exit, get in the wrong lane?! The panic, the fear rises.

A couple of years ago, J bought me a TomTom for my birthday. Last spring I used it for a solo trip to southern NH. Scared? Yes, terrified. I had an epiphany while fighting my way through rush-hour traffic, though. (No, it wasn't like NYC traffic, but it was a lot more than this county girl was used to.) My moment of clarity was simply that my car could turn around. If I made a wrong turn, well, I could just turn around. TomTom taught me a lesson as well. Sometimes those wrong turns can still lead you to your destination, only with better scenery than the original route. The rest of my trip was liberating.

That little excursion to NH didn't cure my fear, but it was an eye-opener and a motivator. Life isn't always as easy as turning around, but I think it's worth getting in the car and driving some unfamiliar roads.

Idleness Breeds Discontent

WARNING: This post gets a little preachy. I even quote scripture. But, hey, even if you don't subscribe to Christianity, the Bible is definitely full of pertinent philosophies.

I work part time cleaning large houses for wealthy people. Usually I like my job and am thankful that I have the opportunity to work. But now and then, especially when I see the newest and greatest showing up in their houses, I get to feeling a little discontented with my status quo lifestyle.

"Thou shalt not covet." It is the last of the 10 Commandments given to Moses. It was probably given last so that it would make a lasting impression. I mean, after all, the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years after that with nothing but what they could carry looking for a Promised Land. But being human, as we all are, I find myself sometimes comparing my blessings with those of others.

Today I thought about it long and hard. Did I really want those things that these other people have?? Not really. So what was the real cause of that feeling of discontent? I realized that I was not discontent with my surroundings but with myself. There is nothing standing in the way of my progress but myself. I need to stop being the person that sits back and lets opportunities pass and complains that exciting things only happen to those around her! "Idleness breeds discontent." As long as I'm working toward the goals of those things that I really want to achieve, I am content.

Row's List for 2010

Miranda posted her list for 2010 and, to keep me honest, I must post mine as well. As excited and energized as I am about this list and the potential 2010 holds, I am hesitant to put my list out there. To be truthful with myself, I think it is because I am afraid that I won't actually complete any of them. Come year end I will look back and see all of the wasted time. Aah, but there is the rub; I am thinking in terms of the boxed in life, of which I no longer subscribe. So, here is my list for 2010, in no particular order at this time:

1. Write a business plan for Designed by Row
2. Plan a trip to Scotland for spring 2011
3. Complete 2 semesters of classes
4. Complete renovations of studio and move in
5. Pay off my computer
6. Pay off my credit card
7. Take a family vacation
8. Plant cedar hedges
9. Bring in regular freelance or web income
10. Wainscoting and new paint for my kitchen

I will take some time and arrange my list in a way that makes sense and include sub-lists, or steps, to aid in accomplishing each goal. Looking over these 10 things, as I sit here now, I feel pretty good that a few of them can be accomplished with just some time and research, no money. I think I may attack those first.

A Year is a Year, Right?

A minute will take 60 seconds to pass. No less, no more. But our perception of time seems to be relative when we consider the events taking place during that duration. For instance, how long does 5 seconds feel like when you're car is careening off the road? Or how long does a week feel like when you're on vacation? "Time flies when you're having fun." There is more truth to that statement than we think.

Several things led me to this thought process today. First was my list of 10 things for 2010. I decided that I'd sort them by which items required money to accomplish and which ones didn't. I was a little downhearted when I realized that at least 70% (and maybe more) require cash. How can I possibly spend money on these things when I have so many other obligations? That's conventional thought.

Okay, so my goal is to break out of the box of conventional thought. Just because it takes money to accomplish some things doesn't mean that it has to be expensive. So, instead of thinking of it in terms of money, I broke out my list in terms of time.

A year can seem like a long time. Especially when you're looking from January first to December 31st. 12 long months. Not so. Thinking that you have a whole year to accomplish 10 things lends itself to procrastination. So I looked at my list again from the perspective of which items on my list can I accomplish in the next 6 months? Happily, at least half of them! I'll aim for those first while taking steps to also accomplish the other 5 in the latter part of the year. Shorter deadlines make us work harder. And the adrenaline from that deadline often makes us work better.

Being efficient and being effective are not always the same thing.

A Great Start to 2010!

New Year's resolutions seldom work, that has been proven. So, I don't make them. I usually look at the new year a bit disheartened by the thought that I will be in the same job, doing the same things I have been doing for years. This year, this decade, will be different. Chatting with Miranda on the last day of 2009 was simply inspirational. Who holds us in these boxes we create for ourselves? Why can't I be one of those people who explores my potential, my country or the world? Well, I can be that person. I can be the person I want to be and do the things I want to do. I have found a powerhouse of energy and support in my sister and best friend. Together we will conquer our walls and move forward. Progress is the name of the game and our mantra for 2010 and beyond.

Days one and two of 2010 were extremely productive for me. Miranda posted pics from January 1, but I was right back at it on January 2. My husband, J, and I pulled down the sheet rock and removed the shelves and benches from three of the walls. Well, J did most of the demolition, but I was right there filling trash bags and sweeping. When we called it a day, one wall remained to be pulled down. Unfortunately, it has three thrash cans full of debris and most of the odds and ends that need to be saved piled in front of it. Our next step will be to remove these things, place them in the shed for temporary storage or find them a permanent home. This will have to wait until next weekend as I have other items that need to be attended to today.

Together, Miranda and I will continue to reach for the perfectly attainable goals we have set for ourselves in 2010. Again, these are not New Year's resolutions, but small steps to opening our lives up to the experiences we want to enjoy. Watch out world, here we come!

The First Day of the Rest of Our Lives

As Row and I chatted on FB about our goals and aspirations for the new year and the rest of our lives, I became very excited. I wanted something exciting to do for the first day of the new year! The day I think of as "the first day of the rest of my life." I settled on painting my cabinets in my kitchen. I've been meaning to do it for a long time. I had even bought the paint about 6 months ago. It was a project that I could start and finish in one day. Perfect!

Row is a graphic designer. She's been slowly transitioning into working full time at home for a little while. For now, she still works a day job, but plugs away at breaking into a business of her own. She lives in rural northern Maine but the specifications of her work doesn't require a physical populace. The joys of working online! Anyway, she was given a workshop that sits on the edge of her property that used to belong to our grandfather. He used it for wood working, Row will be transforming it into a studio. In it's current state, the shop sits as an eerie mausoleum of sawdust and bits of wood. But Row will breathe new life into it and again it will produce creative art, just using a different medium. Our grandfather would approve.

Row decided to spend the first day of 2010 working to clean out and transform her new studio. Then we agreed to send a Progress report with pictures at the end of the day to see our accomplishments. Here are the results:

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

Yay for 2010!

And good riddance to 2009! Last year was the hardest year I can remember. I looked forward to the New Year with anticipation. This year is going to be different for many reasons. One being that my husband has a good job working from home now instead of making minimum wage at McDonald's. Second, is that we're homeschooling our kids which gives us tons of freedom coupled with Eric's work at home.

Thursday, December 31, I was chatting with my sister via Facebook. (She's 150 miles away.) We were discussing how we'd like to break out of the box of conventional thinking. I'd posted Einstein's quote, "Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one." Each person's reality is only what they make it. The biggest problem is that most of us don't believe we will ever be more than what we are now.

Anyway, I don't really believe in New Year's Resolutions. They don't work. But I posed the question to my sister, Row, "What are 10 things you want to do in 2010?" It took some time but she punched out 10 things that she'd like to do. Some very vague, but at least giving it some thought. I wrote out my list... a little more specifically.

1. See Pacific ocean

2. Fly

3. Quit my job

4. Make $50/day online

5. Lose 15 lbs

6. Paint my house

7. Pay off my car

8. Hike the Ecotat gardens

9. Shop in Freeport, ME

10. Start an IRA or get $1000 in savings

Row decided to revise her list to make the goals a little more attainable. Then we made an oath that we would try, in the New Year, to keep each other accountable pertaining to our 2010 list. "Progress is the name of the game," Row typed. And so it is.

2010 Progress:

How two sisters broke out of the box of conventional thinking

and became what they always wanted to be!