Elephant Bites: January 2014

14 Ways to be More Productive in 2014!

1) PRIORITIZE

Lists, lists and more lists…Love them or hate them, lists are the #1 way to prioritize what is most important in our daily lives.

So sit down, take the time and make a list. Heck, make two! But whatever you do, make sure you keep those items most important to you at the very top. Also be sure to include things that can be more easily acheived so you can savor the small victory of checking them off ;)

MyOwnMolly "Stress Less” Recommended App: Wunderlist

2) FOCUS

Try to tackle to-do items one at a time. I’m the first person to encourage multi-tasking and batching

(#3 on this list in fact!), however, focus is key in order to achieve maximum results. Create environments where you are least likely to be distracted by people, things, or goings-on. And if you don’t have an environment in which you can do this, then set aside 1 day or several consecutive “focus" hours a week where you can concentrate solely on your own personal goals and endeavors. And honor this alone time by freeing up everything in your calendar on this particular day, on a regular basis. You will be amazed at how much you can accomplish during this time!

3) MULTI-TASK & BATCH

When you don’t have the luxury of time to handle each to-do one by one, look ahead at every week and see how best you will be able to batch items on your list. Try to run personal errands only on Thursday afternoons when the kids are at gymnastics class. Use this time to go get your haircut. And then furthermore, only go to a salon with wifi, so you can sit and work quietly in the stylist chair. Think of unique ways to accomplish more in less time. A ton of great minds have been quoted as saying, “I work when others are sleeping.” Find the best times to do what you do when nothing and no one is going to distract you.

4) DELEGATE!

It breaks my heart when I see people with resources available to them trying to go at everything on their own! I firmly believe that delegating is a fine art form. You must truly train your mind and practice giving control to others who can help your cause. Sure, someone else’s method is most likely nothing like your own. But perhaps they have a faster method of doing something than you’ve yet imagined. Give others the opportunity to impress you. Consider hiring a company like My Own Molly that offers on-demand assistant services to help manage your busy life. Delegating priorities will free up more time for you to handle the things that only you can do. And that is important.

5) GET ORGANIZED

Buy some pretty new file folders (I personally love the Martha Stewart line at Staples), or if you’re tech-y, finally upgrade to a new phone. There’s literally a million different ways to get organized in the new year. But be aggressive in this approach. Don’t just improvise and think that things are going to organize themselves. You have to make a steadfast commitment to streamline and organize every aspect of your life. Whatever it takes!

MyOwnMolly "Stress Less” Recommended App: Google Drive

6) JUST SAY NO

I know what you’re thinking. “I say no all the time.” Really think about it though. Do you? When was the last time you slaved over a project you knew you shouldn’t have agreed to in the first place? Balance and maximum productivity comes from setting boundaries and saying no to the things that don’t serve to benefit your highest good. Think of it like an equation. 1 No = 2 Yes’s. Think about the two things you “get” to do for having only to say no once. The joy is in the trade-off.

7) MAKE A DEAL

Join forces with another company or organization to create something big together. Joint ventures are what define some of the best marketing we see out there. Leverage your relationships, skill set, and know-how to garner favor with someone you’ve been itching to work with. The added advantage is that the weight of the project does not lie solely

on one person’s shoulders. It’s great to have the balance of someone

working just as hard, whose strengths nicely contrast your own.

8) BE ACTIVE. BE INVOLVED.

Take an active role in some capacity…in your community, at your kids’ school, with your favorite charity. Whatever tickles your fancy! Carve out time to do for others. It will repay you tenfold in your renewed energy to tackle more things…not to mention the warm fuzzies. Those are just extra.

9) KNOW YOUR TECHNOLOGY

Learn a new application or software. There are dozens of ways to save time and be more productive by using technology to your advantage.

If you’re in the middle of a time consuming task, stop and do yourself a favor by searching to see if there’s an application or software to help you expedite the process! I’d bet you a silver dollar that there is :)

MyOwnMolly "Stress Less” Recommended App: Freshbooks

10) GET CONNECTED

Make new connections this year! Accept those 127 pending LinkedIn connections, chat with a new co-worker in the break room, and actually GO to a networking event. Don’t just add things to your calendar and dismiss them when you’re comfortable at home eating take-out on a Tuesday night. Your life and career will flourish the moment you step outside yourself and become vulnerable to situations not in your comfort zone. You are bound to create new relationships that will propel you forward.

11) HAVE FUN. BE POSITIVE.

The key to any successful venture in life is having fun along the way. In everything you do, find an element of fun and I promise you, productivity will ensue. Positivity expedites every project or process.

I take five minute dance breaks in my office to keep myself motivated.

Try Robyn or Pharrell...100% guaranteed to get you moving! (doing this now even as I write!)

12) PREPARE

Make sure you enter every new project with the know-how to follow through on your intentions. Set aside time to research weekly; new prospects, potential joint ventures, current projects, etc.

It will save you time and money in the long haul if you have already covered your bases and prepped yourself for potential opportunities.

13) ASK QUESTIONS

In everything you do, be willing to ask questions…for help, for guidance, to learn, to grow. It’s good to be curious, but take it even further. Be willing to do whatever it takes to find the answers. No one is productive by consoling their own pride and refusing to seek help when it is necessary. Swallow your ego and ask. You may be surprised by the answer!

14) BE FEARLESS

Take chances. Learn something new. Be bold and make only those decisions which you are willing to standby relentlessly. Be unwavering in your resolve and stick to your guns no matter what.

To your success,

In the spirit of new beginnings, there's never a better time to reflect on the past than in the new year. It's healthy to look back at things that "were" so you can prepare for things to come.

So here is my 2013 Year-In-Review:

To start, I lost my very best friend and my greatest companion in the world. To those who knew her best, we think back and laugh at the wonderful memories and love shared for Tori. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't miss her or wish she were still here with me being a pain in the rear and giving me love-on-demand whenever I requested. But I'm so glad she got one last Christmas with the family and stayed strong for me through to the very end.

Rest in peace my angel...

And just as 2013 was a year of loss, it was also a year of love...(swoon).

I celebrated the 1 year anniversary of my first date with my sweetheart, the love of my life, John.

I was even invited to the family beach house on the Jersey shore where I tried my best to be as "salty" as I could be. (Inside thing...I'd tell ya but I was sworn to protect family secrecy...no seriously.)

We also took the plunge and moved in together!

We love our new town home, the scenic views and all the nice amenities. We're settling in but won't soon forget our first meal eaten on the dining room floor! That's new-couple-moving-into-new home tradition, right?

I said goodbye to ol Nancy Nissan and got a new ride!

And for the biggest milestone of 2013, I started my own business. As my mentor Ali Brown says, "There's no better self development tool

than starting your own business."

Boy was she right! In the half a year that I've been at it, I've experienced every emotion under the moon. For those that say business isn't personal, I challenge you to start a business of your own. The biggest challenge is distinguishing that "you" are not your business. Your successes or failures in your business are not a reflection of you personally. For better or for worse, your business is its own representation of something new...created by you, developed by you, curated by you...but not "you."
You are SO much more. And that gives me peace...and hope for things to come.

Also in my first six months in business, I attended some fantastic events where I had the opportunity to meet great new colleagues, learn from leading business women, and mingle with old friends.

I attended the "Today's Innovative Woman" Success Summit in Redondo Beach, CA.

I am pictured here with Melissa Lanz of The Fresh 20.

A brilliantly DRIVEN business woman, loving mother, and amazing spirit.

Here I am with Joy Chudacoff, of Smart Women Smart Solutions, a mentor and friend who challenges me to always be better than I think I am capable. And then push myself more...

And this is my newest friend and ally, Ms Nicole Teves McDowell from Get The Sale Now.

Not only is she the smartest sales-minded person I've met, but she is so kind and generous.

I can't tell you how good it feels to have strong independent women

vying for you in your corner

and encouraging you every step of the way.

I also had the incredible chance to attend the Behind Every Leader conference in Newark, NJ hosted by Executive Assistants Organization.

Here I got to meet hundreds of success minded assistants from around the world all doing impressive, ground breaking work for the companies they work for.

Among the several people who spoke, I got to meet Google CEO Eric Schmidt's Executive Assistant, Ann Hiatt who spoke of her decade of experience working for high level CEO's and executives.

Impressive does not even begin to describe this woman's credentials or vigor as a leader in this industry.

And to wrap an already eventful year, I also celebrated a milestone birthday as I turned the Big 3-0.

John took me to San Francisco to celebrate with a few of my favorite landmarks!