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Submitted by GOAdmin on 08-29-2008 10:59AM
 LOOK DEEPER TO FIND NEW FRONTIERS
In this, her latest book, best-selling author and time management expert Julie Morgenstern explores a deeper approach to life management in order to help you revamp your career, jump-start relationships, and open up to new possibilities. She encourages you to commit to purge your life of the clutter that holds you back. Then by so doing, you will be able to look beyond the de-cluttering process and enjoy a greater emotional self-discovery.
SHED Away When Organizing Isn't Enough (For September, this book is 30% off.) Don't forget to come back at the end of the month and discuss with GO Readers what you learned about becoming a leader. See the discussion for August's pick here.
Submitted by GOAdmin on 08-29-2008 10:35AM
By Miranda Frazier When my son was a toddler, I had to redefine green vegetables so he would be intrigued enough to eat them. Peas became little green balls, broccoli was tiny trees. For some reason, eating green balls and tiny trees was much more exciting than eating peas and broccoli. Getting organized can be the same way. For some people, getting organized is exciting, even a passion, but for some of us it can be an unpleasant chore. It’s like vegetables—even though we know we need it, we don’t want to do it. Organizing extras that are fun to look at as well as quick and easy to use can provide that little extra nudge we need to get our world under control. Many a good disguise has led to a valuable result. I was particularly intrigued with this Calendar Tin. It has three rotating cylinders that keep track of the day, month, and date. Each cylinder separates to become a container for elastic bands, pushpins, and paper clips to help me keep my desk organized. It’s clever, fun, and doesn’t take much space. I can organize my details with very little effort. I like that. 
Another brand new favorite is this Reciept.catcher from Buttoned Up. Alicia and Sarah are very clever girls. They knew that what I needed was a fast way to stash my receipts but still be able to find exactly what I was looking for should the need arise—like at tax time. It’s a handy little box that opens up to an accordion file with everyday labels like groceries, clothes, gifts, work, etc. Simple and fast. Works for me.
Submitted by GOAdmin on 08-29-2008 10:00AM
September 5: This Sunday is another national holiday: Grandparent’s Day. First celebrated in 1978, Grandparent’s Day is a day to honor grandparents and to teach children of the important experience that grandparents have to offer. Do you have a grandmother or grandfather that is still alive? Show your appreciation to him or her by stopping by for a visit. Ask questions about their life and see what kind of insight you can gain.
Submitted by GOAdmin on 08-29-2008 9:59AM
September 4: Whether it’s a career change, selling your house, or any other big decision that you face, make sure that your thoughts are organized before you leap into action. Sit down and make a list of the pros and cons of all of your options. This way, you’ll get to the heart of the matter and be able to make a more personal, informed decision.
Submitted by GOAdmin on 08-29-2008 9:58AM
September 3: If your refrigerator is starting to smell, today is a great day to clean it out! Remember; don’t be afraid to throw things away. In fact, get a big black garbage bag—one of those 10 gallon trash liners—and start chucking anything that’s expired, has miniscule amounts of content, or is from dinner 2 days ago. Wipe it down, and you’ll be amazed at how much space you have, and how clean it looks.
Submitted by GOAdmin on 08-29-2008 9:57AM
September 2: Having trouble controlling your e-mail inbox? Take some advice from time management expert, Julie Morgenstern. “Check e-mail at designated times of day—e.g., 10 a.m., 2 p.m., 5 p.m. If an issue is that critical or urgent, someone will call you. Ninety percent of the time, things can wait.” —Never Check E-mail in the Morning, Julie Morgenstern, p. 100
Submitted by GOAdmin on 08-29-2008 9:06AM
August 29: It’s junk drawer day. Whether at your home or the office, clean out that irritating junk drawer today—you know, the one that you can’t open half of the time because of all the stuff inside. Try getting a tray that fits inside the drawer, where you can organize all the small things. Don’t hesitate to throw away things in the drawer that are no longer usable or relevant to you (i.e., an old greeting card, a pen that doesn’t write, etc.).
Submitted by GOAdmin on 08-28-2008 3:23PM
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Submitted by GOAdmin on 08-28-2008 8:50AM
One of our recent GO Polls suggested that 34% of GO Readers' biggest disruption in a work day is distracting co-workers. Read Julie's great tips below to learn how to manage this interruption effectively.
By Julie Morgenstern
Nothing will derail your best-laid plans for the day than a barrage of unwelcome interruptions. Of course, some interruptions are necessary (your boss, your child, your spouse)—but what about the ones you know you shouldn’t take? With a few simple strategies, you will be able to manage almost all interruptions and thereby create more time to get things done!
Tip #1- Ask how long it will take.
Every time you’re interrupted, ask how long the person needs (fifteen minutes? forty-five?). Tell them you want to know so that you can clear your schedule to give them the focus and attention they really need. If you can’t swing twenty minutes now, reschedule for later when you have more time. Holding people accountable to the time they ask for helps them be more efficient, too.
Tip #2- Begin the conversation with "What can I do for you?" not "How are you?"
“How are you?” is an open invitation to start a lengthy and casual conversation. “What can I do for you?” immediately focuses your interrupter on getting straight to the point. It can be delivered in a friendly tone, and yet, gets you both down to business. This enables you to handle the interruption in the least amount of time possible.
Tip #3- Rehearse a few, comfortable catchphrases
Not all interruptions are the same. Likewise, not all interrupters are the same. Be prepared for those few people who are hardest to say no to with some well-rehearsed lines.
+ “I’m in the middle of finishing a project, can we talk this afternoon?”
+ “I’m on a really tight deadline, can we catch up before the staff meeting?”
+ “Gosh, I’d love to help you out...but this week is impossible.”
Practice your automatic response until it becomes natural, and you’ll be delighted to discover how easily people will accommodate you.
Submitted by GOAdmin on 08-26-2008 4:57PM
Well... it's your last chance to take advantage of the August Bag Month. As it goes, I've saved the best for last to highlight one of my favorite August Bag Month specials. If you haven't yet checked out the Sonoma Collection, I highly recommend you do. The mix of materials on the bag are a perfect mix, and the colors are so fashion forward. Here's how we describe it: With its silky satin exterior and built-in water bottle pocket, the Sonoma Business Tote lets you hydrate on the go so you don't lose momentum. What's more, it boasts an exceptionally spacious interior and it's surprisingly lightweight and easy on your shoulder. The bag comes in a Raspberry (my favorite), Black, and Chocolate. (The interior lining is also very cute.) Remember, you'll receive a free reusable tote with this purchase. Check out the Sonoma here, and all of the other August Bag Month specials here.
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