|
Blog: Paper And Information Management
 Even When It Is Quiet. . . We Should Listen
 It is about midnight here and I am inspired! How well do you listen? I mean, REALLY listen? To yourself, your surroundings, others... Maybe you should try the test my son and I did tonight. It has given me some new insights I'll share now.
Went for a walk
Ever since my little guy was old enough to walk on his own, we have had a spring/summer tradition. We wait until it is quite dark and then he and I will take a walk, just the two of us, around what ever neighborhood we are in. Once we got Danny (our Havanese puppy) he came along too.
There is something about walking at night (especially if only lit by the stars and moon) that makes me more receptive to new ideas, so it is a fabulous time to talk with my son (who is also a night owl.) He is 7 and is already getting into that phase of adolescence where he does not talk about much when he comes home other than "fine" or "OK" or "what's for dinner I'm hungry." When we go for our walks though.... things are different. He really opens up and we talk about all kinds of things. I learn and so does he.
Sat and Listened
Tonight, we came upon a park bench and decided to sit down for a rest before heading back. It is a BEAUTIFUL night. The air was a perfect 73 degrees with a slight breeze and NO humidity.
When we first sat down, we chatted for a moment and then it got quiet -- or did it? I asked my son to name all of the things he heard. At first he said "Nothing." I encouraged him to pause and really listen.
We heard
- The wind blowing past our ears
- The rustling of the leaves in the branches above us
- A train whistle in the distance listen
- Cars in the distance on both sides of us (east and west, but at different distances) listen
- Crickets chirping listen
- The puppy sniffing
- The rope from the American Flag across the street banging up against it's metal pole
- A dog barking in the distance to the east listen
- A car driving by listen
- Mom kissing son on cheek listen
"Wow! for a quiet night, it sure is noisy!" he said.
Uh... Steph? How Does This Relate to Productivity & Organizing?
Great question! The noise of our lives will frequently drown out other "sounds" that our environment is trying to tell us.
Your surroundings have an impact on you even if you think they don't.
The sounds we heard on tonight's "quiet" night were relaxing and calming to us. So much so that when they combined, our mind ruled them out and all of the sudden we did not hear. They were there. They were impacting us, but until we made a conscious effort to focus, we did not even know they existed.
Your physical space has the same impact on you. It can be good, or it can be devastating. What does your surrounding space do to you? When you really listen, do you come to the same conclusion?
 |
 |
WJBC's Colleen Reynolds did not realize how much her environment was impacting her, but she never went into the room... To see and learn more click here. |
What do you hear when you "listen"
Share your stories and thoughts! Comment in the comment section at the bottom of this posting on my blog.
To your success!
P.S. For my parent readers.... during the school year we have a strict 8:30 pm bed time. During non-school weeks, Mom lets it slide as long as his attitude stays in check the following day. Besides, as he went off to bed he said "Mom, thanks. I am glad that I spent time with you. That was fun." In a few more years, he won't want to take that time! (reference recent articles I have written about focusing on your priorities...)
posted on: 8/2/2008 10:30:00 AM by Stephanie Calahan
category: Paper
Paper And Information Management: < Previous Post - Next Post >
Blog Central: < Previous Post - Next Post >
 Discuss This Post
There are no comments.
|
|
Paper And Information Management
by Stephanie Calahan
View This Blog
 Subscribe To This Blog
About Stephanie:
Stephanie L. H. Calahan is a Productivity and Organization Consultant, Coach, Speaker, Author. She is also the founder of Calahan Solutions, Inc. – Productive & Organized, We'll Help You Find Your Way a premier productivity consulting firm, serving a national and local clients in corporate settings, home-based businesses, and residential environments. Her organizing expertise, Computer Science and HR backgrounds give her a unique perspective on what works at work.
Stephanie's Website:
www.findinfiveseconds.com
My Favorite Websites for Business & Office
- The Publicity Hound
Are you new to the business world and don't know where to start to get your business the recognition it needs and deserves? Then this site is for you! Joan Stewart aka the Publicity Hound shares all kinds of fabulous information about getting free publicity. Sign up for her free tutorial and learn ways to get noticed now!
- Paper Tiger Productivity Institute
Get resources for organizing your business!
- The Definitive Guide to Google AdWords
Google has a system that makes it possible, for the first time in the history of the world, to deposit five bucks, write a couple of ads, and instantly get access to over 100 million people - in less than 10 minutes. It's called Google AdWords and it's hot. In fact it may be the first and best thing to do to get traffic to your site. But it's not always as easy as I just made it sound - AdWords has some nuances, and most people have a rough time at first. Well my colleague Perry Marshall has written a very helpful e-course called "5 days to success with Google AdWords" and there's no charge for it.
- The Definitive Guide to Writing & Promoting White Papers
If you sell any kind of complex service, technology or sophisticated product, a White Paper is the best way to educate your customers about that technology. You can use a white paper to build your credibility, get free exposure in the press, attract new customers, and drive new technology into change-resistant, conservative markets. Most white papers are either too technical (boring) or too commercial (thin and cheesy) - but Perry Marshall has written a guide that shows you how to strike the perfect balance. But what's most important of all, though, is promoting and publicizing your white paper - because the best white paper in the world is no good unless somebody reads it!
- Guerilla Marketing
Most sales people spend all day dialing for dollars, chasing prospects who are mentally if not physically backing away from them, and they waste most of their time chasing deals instead of closing them. At the same time, most companies spend all kinds of money on advertising and don't get nearly enough bang for their buck. Perry Marshall's "Guerilla Marketing for Hi-Tech Sales People" is an information-packed audio CD that discusses 21 principles that you can use to eliminate cold prospecting and wasted advertising dollars in today's fiercely competitive B2B marketplace.
My Favorite Organizing Tools
- EasyReach Find & Workspace - ask for a 30 day free trial
EasyReach Find & Workspace are the ultimate in digital organization. Spend less time looking for information and more time working with it.
- Paper Tiger Software
The Paper Tiger software is a powerful filing system that uses the power of your computer to help you get organized and stay organized. Find anything in 5 seconds! We use it both at home and at work.
- NeatReceipts Scanalizer
I LOVE this paper organizer! Get control over your loose receipts, business cards, personal taxes, home office taxes, expense reports, business documents and personal documents. It is amazing how it can read off of the papers it scans.
- SwiftFile
Get control of your desk with the SwiftFile Desktop filling system. They can be ordered with or without the matching file box. This is the Best Action Filing System I have seen.
- Send Out Cards - Try their free guest account
This is one of the best tools I have ever used for contacts, reminders and physical cards too! Go to the site and check out their free guest account. Better to see it for yourself than for me to try to tell you.
My Favorite Websites for the Home
- Mrs. A's Coupon Organizer
Mrs. A's has done it again. They developed a great coupon organizer that allows you to find things quickly and actually USE the coupons you cut out.
- Box4Blox
Introducing BOX4BLOX ™... the Simple Toy Storage Organizer for LEGO ® That Gets Rid of That "Lego Disaster Zone" From the Floor ONCE AND FOR ALL!
- Send Out Cards - try their free guest account!
This system lets you type a message then they print it in your handwriting, stuff it, stamp it and mail it when you tell them to. All for LESS than what you would pay to buy a card at a store.
- www.OnlineOrganizing.com!
My Favorite Goal Setting Tools
- My Goal Manager
MyGoalManager.com's Online System takes Goal Setting to whole new level! If you like online tools, this one is fantastic.
- My Motivator
My Motivator is a great online service that helps you identify your goals and then stay on track with those goals with audio to learn from and reminders that are sent to you.
My Favorite Books on Paper & Information
- Taming the Paper Tiger at Home
Strange as it may sound, having the right information at the right time can help you save money or have a good time. Barbara Hemphill tells you how to tame the "paper tiger" with quick, practical solutions to managing every piece of paper that comes into your house. She'll show you how to decide what to keep, what to toss, where to keep it—and most important—how to find it exactly when you need it, so you make room for your life!
- Taming the Paper Tiger at Work
Despite the promise of the paperless office, most of us are mired in the stuff—and deluged with electronic information as well. The use of computers, e-mail, the Internet, and faxes probably forces you to contend with more paper than ever. But setting up and efficient system to organize all the information is easier than you might think. Barbara Hemphill will show you how.
My Favorite Books on Time & Productivity Management
- 30 Hours A Day - Ultimate Time Management Program
How Much More Money Would You Make With An Extra 6 Extra Hours Of Productivity Every Day? Drop-dead Simple Tutoring Of Rapid Results Coach Dave Navarro Makes It Easier Than You Ever Thought It Could Be.
- Outsource And Delegate
How To Work Less And Make A Lot More Money!
- Successful Time Management
Successful Time Management. An Easy-to-read, Ebook That Will Have You Getting More Done, In Less Time, Than Ever Before. It Just Takes A Few Minutes Each Day To Put These Time Management Systems In To Place.
Our Web Sites
- Steph's Blog - ProductiveAndOrganized.net
- Company Site - CalahanSolutions.com
- Company Media Room
- Follow me on Twitter!
- Connect w/ me on LinkedIn
- Friend me on Facebook!
- Friend me on MySpace
- Connect w/ me on Plaxo
- Stephanie's Bio
|
www.OnlineOrganizing.com is a service mark of Bradford, LLC.
