|
About This Blog
|
| I know your time is valuable and I hope to make each of your visits here meaningful. I’ve been in the organizing business for a decade and people everywhere tell me they feel utterly overwhelmed. What’s the solution? Quick tips and tricks are so appealing in the moment, but they leave us disillusioned and just as disorganized as ever. That’s why you won’t find them on my blog…instead I want to bring you inspiration to take back your life. Life is short, let's strive together to reclaim the things that really matter.
|
|
|
| |
Monday, January 4th, 2010
|
| Be Urgent for the Right Things |
I admit. I'm a driven person. My Strengths Finder assessment (you should try it at www.StrengthsFinder.com) says I'm an "Achiever". That means I have to get something done every day. And something significant. And by "every day" that means every week day, weekend, evening, holiday, vacation, etc. I feel lousy if I don't have anything to show for my day.
Despite the fact that I have an inborn sense of urgency to accomplish, I want to be sure that I'm urgent for the RIGHT things.
I've been thinking about how ironic it is that people will spend hours planning and strategizing for their business, home improvement projects, finances, hobbies, vacations, etc, but not spend ANY time investing to that level in their marriage or parenting - two of the greatest blessings and resources a person can have. And then we wonder why things are stale or frustrating.
So this year I want to practice the discipline (I'm saying "practice" because I don't FEEL it yet, but I know I will once I practice it) of applying my urgency strength to the things that really matter to me.
I want to practice a sense of urgency about investing in my marriage. That means re-instituting our date night. That means finishing a chapter in a book we're reading together. That means putting him ahead of my work and other plans.
I also want to practice urgency for investing in my children. So often, I find myself just doing my own thing while they are doing theirs, rather than interacting in a quality way. (After all, dishes and laundry and work has to be done!) I want to be instructing them and training them and being conscious of what I am inputting into them, rather than just focusing on behavior.
Practicing urgency for the things that matter is going to be a new skill for me. I want to focus this year on getting the LITTLE things right in my life so that I can be prepared for the BIG things ahead. Perhaps we miss opportunities in life because we haven't cultivated the discipline or perspective to be ready for them.
When I look back on my life I want to be glad that I was more URGENT for a quality life and interaction with my husband and children than my to-do list.
Have you been urgent for the wrong things? Bigger bank accounts? Promotions, projects, or plans or anything that is less important in the eternal scheme of things than your TRUE VALUES? I invite you to join me in practicing urgency for the things that really matter this year. Here's to a blessed 2010!
~Vicki Norris
|
|
|
Tuesday, December 15th, 2009
|
| Dumpster Diving |
Tonight I went dumpster diving.
In the Goodwill truck.
Earlier today my dad inadvertently donated my mom's old (and treasured) Christmas decorations. Even the hand-made ones from me and my brother. Yarn candy canes my Granny made. Wooden ornaments hand-painted by my Grandfather. A picture of me circa 1979 surrounded by pipe cleaners and glitter. All gone.
I was there when my mom found out over dinner. Her eyes welled up with tears, and I couldn't believe what I was hearing when she sighed with resignment, "what's done is done."
I wanted to know where he had dropped them off. I couldn't get out the door fast enough - at 7:45 pm. I told my husband he'd have to put the kids to bed as I raced off to the Goodwill trailer.
As I pulled up the Goodwill guy was in his car keeping warm. The big truck was closed up but the sign said they were open till 8 and I had 5 minutes to spare. Bawling, I told him the story. My husband had told me that they never let people in the truck. They never let you take anything once it has been dropped off, he said. It's against the rules. I guess it's a good thing that I never really think rules apply to me. If they were open, I would get in.
Well, prayer works. He opened the doors and I was in the trailer digging through humongous cardboard boxes looking desperately by lantern light for the treasured decorations.
The man said that at 10 am they got a fresh trailer and anything dropped off before then would be gone. I was about to conclude that our stuff was in the first trailer when I saw it. That shag needlepoint rug my grandfather made. I guess that was in the mistaken pile, too. I had to find the decorations, too. At last, I found the two precious boxes buried in another box filled with lights. I trembled and bawled and hugged Goodwill Guy and thanked him over and over.
I showed up at my mom's door in the rain holding the boxes and she was incredulous. Through our tears I said, "there's ALWAYS a way."
This Christmas season, may you remember that it's the simple pipe cleaners and glitter, the love for your mother, the sentimental memories - not expensive presents, endless commitments, and commercial myths - that are worth going after with all your heart. I'm reminded on this winter night that the best Gift of all time came hidden in rags. And when we look for it, we WILL find it!
Yours,
Vicki Norris
|
|
|
Tuesday, November 24th, 2009
|
| Little Things Make a Big Difference |
Recently I had two speaking engagements back-to-back. Both groups had outstanding feedback on their response forms. But I noticed something very interesting....
When the first engagement was over I had a Q & A time with the audience. During the questions, the sponsor asked me in front of everyone "Vicki, how can people learn more from you? Where can they go for more resources?" I smiled with gratitude and shared my website and blog and how soon I'll be launching an Inner Circle - a membership community that will have access to all my content 24-7.
When the second engagement was over, I took questions, but none were from the person who introduced me or from that event's sponsor. And no request for more info....
I didn't think about it, really. Until I counted up the responses I got from each engagement. Forty three people from the first engagement opted to get more information from me and only eleven did so from the second event. Ironically, both groups reported that they were inspired by what I shared and loved the engagements. But the first group took action.
It occurred to me what a big difference it made to the audience to have someone they know verbally "put their arm around" me. It was as if the first sponsor was saying "Hey, I like Vicki, and I know you like what you just heard, so let's support her!" I felt like an insider.
As I've reflected on that feeling - sharing what I have to offer and being brought "into the fold" - I've looked for opportunities to do that for others...
Who can you "put your arm around" in business or in your personal life? If you appreciate what someone has contributed to your life, how can you open doors for them?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Get Inspired!
|
| Laundry Breakthrough |
 |
Is your laundry system as frustrating as mine?
I have tried hampers with one section, two sections, three sections; woven, metal, and wood. I've tried small, short, tall, and even the A framed wooden version with canvas hamper. I've tried nesting, un-nesting, shuffling, and giving up on laundry. No avail.
Finally. I've figured out what you need to fix a common laundry problem: GET TWO SETS OF BASKETS. Duh and brilliant all at the same time.
Have you been (like me) frustrated by 3 week-old clean laundry that sits in "you-know-who's" basket and does not get put away, thus rendering the basket un-usable and backing up laundry? Have you tired of navigating piles on the floor during the laundry process?
I am now using 4 hampers pictured here (whites, lights, darks & husband's dirty work clothes) to capture clothes when they come off bodies in the master bedroom. Kids' laundry is carried here by yours truly. This morning, I simply carried these lovely (light) hampers downstairs and have almost finished the laundry, no piles, no mess. My nesting white plastic bins are in a row - one for each family member and two for towels and linens, receiving their folded laundry with a smile.
Voila. Now the only frustrated ones in the house are the dogs. They miss sleeping in the laundry piles.
|
|
|
|
Recent Articles
|
|
|
|
|
Past Blog Entries
|
|
|
|