by Erin Owen | Oct 29, 2012 | Ezine
While I’m in Bali, I have invited LJ Earnest of SimpleProductivityBlog.com to share of her wisdom with you. Take a look and let me know what you think!
Harnessing Ripples To Get Things Done Easily
Imagine a still body of water, its surface glassy and reflecting of sky above you. Now imagine yourself throwing a rock into that water. Do you see the ripples radiate out from where the rock broke the surface? The ripples disturb the otherwise calm water in an orderly fashion until the energy from the initial event disappears.
We can harness that natural phenomenon to help us do things in our everyday lives. All we have to do is choose the right-sized rock and the body of water to disturb.
The Ripple Effect In Everyday Life
We can apply the effect by starting a small action and watching it ripple through our lives. How? Start small and watch the ripples spread.
Organizing A Bedroom
You want to organize your bedroom, but it is too overwhelming. So you organize the top of the bedside table. From there you see that it was easy, so you organize the dresser top. Then perhaps the dresser drawers, one at a time. Then the closet. And before you know it, the room is organized.
Clean A Kitchen
You’ve cooked a huge meal, and now there are dirty dishes, spills and food crumbs everywhere. Rather than deciding to move, you start by cleaning out the sink. From there, you stack all the dirty dishes. Then you load the dishwasher. Then you clean off the stove top. Then the counters. And wind up by sweeping the floor.
Meditation
You want to meditate. You know it is good for you. But the thought of sitting for 30 minutes with a blank mind seems impossible. So you start by taking 30 seconds before you walk into work. Then perhaps 5 minutes while you are waiting for something to print. Then 10 minutes walking at lunch. Before you know it, you have worked in 30 minutes of meditation.
Dealing With Insurance Papers
You have a pile of doctor bills and papers from insurance to deal with. It has been building for months as you wait for the final payments to be made. But now is the time to move, although you would rather keep ignoring them. So you pull out all the papers and sort them into piles by doctor. That wasn’t so bad, so you put them in order. Next you figure out what the balance is for each doctor. Then you make notes of calls to make, with the phone number from the bill. Then you write out the checks. And you’re done.
Seem made up? I hope not. I have done every single one of these items in the last week.
The Right Size Rock
The bigger rock you throw, the bigger the ripples. Throw too big of a rock, and you will end up sloshing the water out of the edges of the pond, or the waves come back and interfere with the original waves. Throw too little of a rock, and you barely get any waves.
When we are looking to harness the ripple effect, we must consider what the right-sized rock is. It can’t be too big to disrupt what we are trying to accomplish; but neither too small that we cannot see the effects.
If you are looking to organize a bedroom, you don’t take everything off every flat surface, every item in the drawers and closet, and dump them in the middle of the room. That would overwhelm every attempt to make the room organized, and would probably take longer because you would have to sort through everything all at once. The rock would be too large.
On the other hand, if you walked into the room and decided to throw out one piece of paper from a pile of papers towering on the dresser, you wouldn’t see the effect of your action. The rock would be too small.
It is important to consider what will give you the feeling of making a difference, without overwhelming yourself.
Choosing The Water
The ripple effect will only work with water — throwing a rock at concrete doesn’t produce ripples. So we have to be mindful of what we choose to disturb, and make sure it is appropriate.
For example, if you have an important letter to write, deciding to clean your bedroom is not going to get the letter written. Or if you have to shovel snow from the sidewalks, cleaning the piles on the desk won’t get it done.
We must choose the water that will allow us to accomplish the important task before us, and make sure our goal can be reached directly. Inspiring yourself to work in general is not enough. You must work on the right thing.
The ripple effect allows us to work away little by little, using our successes to build on so that we can move forward. By taking on manageable actions, we get started. By reflecting on our completed actions, we get inspired to do a bit more. And surely as the ripple spreads out, the task gets accomplished with less effort and work than we had thought.
By putting ripples to work for us, and choosing the right size rock and appropriate water, we can sit back and harness the movement to get our tasks done.
LJ Earnest is a computer programmer by day, productivity geek all the time. Using the principles of productivity and simplicity at SimpleProductivityBlog.com, she helps people get through the stuff they have to do so they can get to the stuff they want to do. She can also be found at Twitter (@LJEarnest) and Facebook. Remember, a productive life doesn’t have to be complicated.
by Erin Owen | Oct 25, 2012 | General, Local News, Media
Check out my story profile on The Story Exchange, a global video project empowering women to achieve economic independence through entrepreneurship.
You may have seen The Story Exchange featured on CNBC.
If you know a woman entrepreneur form anywhere in the world that you’d like to see profiled, email Christina.
by Erin Owen | Oct 22, 2012 | Ezine, General
When you rise above the distractions and stresses of daily life, you realize there are precious moments of life happening NOW that are worth celebrating. And being present to these moments translates to better performance in all areas of life.
Two of those moments are happening for me now.
First, my younger son Miles turns two years old today. He’s two! Can you believe it? All those years of wanting another child, suffering through miscarriages and self-doubt, all washed away.
He is here now and he is an incredible source of joy, laughter, mischievousness, and curiosity in our lives. Thank god for Miles!
Second, I leave for Bali tomorrow. I’m going back to Bali, ya’all! Even though I’ll miss my family terribly, I know I’ll come back with a renewed sense of presence and grounding, as well as an incredible boost of energy and passion for my life and my business.
This year’s performance breakthrough retreat is based in two wonderful locations in the gorgeous Indonesian island paradise that is Bali. We’ll spend most of our time in the cultural center of Ubud, and our final days on the more remote northern coast where we’ll stay at a resort on the black volcanic sand beaches. How cool is that?
Even though most of you will not be joining us in Bali this time, I invite you to embrace the spirit of Bali while I’m away. To find your own precious moments amidst the intensity of modern life. To benefit from focusing your mind on what matters most.
How?
First, take a few moments to close your eyes and imagine yourself in a beautiful, natural paradise of your choosing. Maybe your mind takes you to the mountains or the desert, or to the beach or beside a lake. Feel in your body how it feels to be there, without a care in the world. Relaxing, breathing, enjoying just being alive, connected to nature.
Take this feeling with you—imagine you could bottle it up and open it at any moment in the day to return you to that joyous state of being. Allow it to shift your energy so you can be present to the magic of the daily miracles unfolding before you.
Second, do your own little ceremony around the time of the full moon on October 29th.
While in Bali, we’ll be visiting temples for purification and cleansing rituals, and doing our own ceremony to let go of the old and welcome in the new. I hope you’ll join us in spirit by doing your own at-home or in-office ceremony!
Take some time that day to set an intention for (1) What you’d like to let go of – something that no longer serves you in your life, and (2) What you’d like to welcome in – something you’ve been longing for in recent days, weeks, maybe even months.
By releasing negative feelings and letting go of obligations that you dread, you’ll be reducing your stress level and positively re-directing your energy to what you want more of in your life. That translates to being more present in your daily interactions, experiencing more joy, and performing better at work and in life. Sounds great, doesn’t it?
Third, mark your calendar. I’ll be hosting a free call about this year’s Bali retreat on Wednesday, November 14 at 12 noon Eastern time. I’ll send out another email closer to the date with details on how to register for the call.
Lastly, if you have not yet picked up a copy of my new book, check it out while I’m away! You can order a paperback version from my website or Amazon.com and have it delivered by snail mail to your preferred address. Or, you can go the green route and download a Kindle version from Amazon.com.
Either way, I know you’ll be inspired by the simple, Eastern-inspired ideas and the additional online audio and video resources that are a part of Recharge, Refuel, and Re-energize: Your Guide to Taking Back Control of Your Time and Energy.
In between temple visits and massages, visits to healers and yoga & meditation, I’ll be checking my email and would love to hear from you! Contact me by email and share your thoughts on my new book!
And remember…
I want you to be successful, so you can make a positive impact on the world. And I want you to be able to do this with a sense of ease, joy, and steady focus. (Because when you feel good, that translates to better performance and better results!)
by Erin Owen | Oct 15, 2012 | Ezine, General
When was the last time you had your alignment checked?
No – not your car’s alignment. YOUR alignment.
You probably know when your car needs an alignment:
- The tires are wearing unevenly
- Your car pulls significantly to one side rather than driving relatively straight
- Perhaps the steering wheel even vibrates against your hand when driving
But, what are the 4 signs that YOU need an alignment?
Well, pretty similar.
- You’re feeling the wear and tear physically, emotionally—and often in more than one area of your life
- You feel exhausted from trying so hard—and not seeing the results you desire
- There’s a lot of push back in your life—those key people in your life are complaining about your lack of follow through, not being present enough (physically or emotionally), your poor performance (at work and, dare I say—ahem—maybe even in the bedroom)
- You generally feel as though you’re off-course—you took a wrong turn (or several) somewhere “back there” and you haven’t felt right since
Okay. If you’re still with me, then you have a pretty clear idea if I’m talking about you. So, stick with me and let’s go back to the car analogy for a moment…
What if you wait and see how long you can get away with taking your car in for an alignment?
When you ignore the signs, you end up needing to buy tires sooner—costing you hundreds of dollars. Rather than the $50 or $75 for the alignment itself.
You also put yourself at risk for running either off the road or into oncoming traffic.
And this affects not only you, but other drivers, cyclists who share the road, potentially even pedestrians, and property that you might crash into. Ouch!
No question that translates into a whole long list of physical, emotional, financial and legal troubles.
You and I both know you don’t want any of these pains or expenses in your life. You more than likely don’t have the time, let alone the resources to manage.
Back to YOU now.
What about you? What if you put off a personal and professional alignment?
When you ignore the signs of being out of alignment with what you truly want in your life, you:
- Put your health and well-being at risk from the stress and mental anguish you experience
- Risk losing the opportunity to make your dreams a reality
- You actually start to believe the naysayers and negative self-talk
The longer you wait, the worse things can get.
And this doesn’t just impact you. By you being out of alignment and not generating the kind of results you want in your life and in your work, the fact is you’re also hurting me and all the other people out here.
When you are a mission-driven, conscious individual, the work you do in the world has the potential to positively change the outcomes of peoples’ lives, the health of the planet, and more. Not to mention the colleagues, employees, customers, clients, and others in your network that depend on you.
We need you. The world needs you. The REAL you inside you. (Not the you that is out of alignment, sitting by the roadside, waiting for a tow truck and a lawyer.)
How to know for sure if you’re out of alignment?
Here are some important questions to ask yourself:
- Are you making choices that support what you truly want in your life?
- Are you directing your attention toward what you want more of?
- Are you only saying yes to what supports your vision?
- Are you investing in yourself and spending money in support of your dreams, values and principles?
- Are you spending time with those people who believe in you and support what you truly want for yourself and the world?
- Are you giving yourself permission to shift your priorities and dedicate some time to what makes you happy, rekindles that spark inside of you, and brings more joy to the world?
If you answered NO to two or more of the questions above, then it’s time for an alignment. A personal and professional alignment.
And it just so happens that I’m an alignment specialist. With expertise in change management, business, alternative health and nutrition, Eastern philosophy, and much more. The kinds of things you need for getting yourself on track—or back on track—toward living your life with zest and impact.
I assess your alignment during an initial breakthrough coaching session. (Or a tune-up session, if we’ve worked together in the past.)
And, deep down inside, you know it’s time. For you. And for the planet. We need you.
Here’s how I’ll help you get back in alignment.
You share your background and what’s been going on with you, while I give you my full and undivided attention for 45 minutes. I then share my observations and insights on what is out of alignment. Then, together we lay out the specific steps you need to take to get you back in alignment.
Those next steps might involve things you can do on your own—with or without the support of friends, family, colleagues. Those next steps might involve continuing to receive my support in one of my coaching programs.
Either way, you’ll have the CLARITY and the CONFIDENCE to begin taking SPECIFIC and POSITIVE steps forward to get back on track.
Doesn’t that sound good? If so, use the discount code word “Breakthrough” when you click on this link to make your payment. You’ll then get an email to your In Box with a link to scheduling our coaching session in my online calendar. It’s that simple.
And if you’re inspired to take action NOW, then I encourage you to do so right away. (I only have a few openings left this week before I leave next Tuesday the 23rd for my annual retreat in Bali.) Otherwise, we can do it after I get back.
Here’s a virtual toast to YOU performing at your OPTIMUM level, so you can make an incredibly POSITIVE mark on our world—all while enjoying your life and having a good time doing it. Amen!
by Erin Owen | Oct 9, 2012 | Ezine
First, let me extend a warm welcome to everyone I met at Bracket a few weeks ago and at this past Saturday’s Collingswood Book Festival! So glad to know you and have you as part of my community!
I’ve been hearing from you. Lots of you.
If I had to sum it up, I would say that you are…
- Excited about your future, but anxious about how it will all unfold
- Feeling rich in spirit, but desiring more cash flow
- Exhausted and feeling heavy, and eager to re-kindle your spark and have more energy
- Desiring support to “make it all better”
I want you to be successful, so you can make a positive impact on the world even sooner and in an even bigger way. And I want you to be able to do this with a sense of ease, joy, and steady focus. (Because they lead to better results!)
So, here are some free, portable tips that helped me this past week, easing back into “normal life” after my friend Pat’s funeral and my trip back home. Call them the 3 C’s for Ease, Joy, and Focus!
CLARITY
Sit down and write out what is most important to you in the big picture.
Write on an envelope, the back of a napkin, in a notebook, or journal, anywhere.
This will help you have some perspective, and make it easier to let go of the small stuff.
COMMUNITY
Get thee some support! Don’t go it alone.
Reach out to friends, colleagues, healers, therapists, etc.
More often than not, they too are experiencing similar challenges and welcome the opportunity to connect more deeply with you and support you.
CONNECT
If you’re not spiritual or religious, you probably have your own version of quieting your mind to connect to what’s deep inside you—that place where peace and steady calm reside.
Maybe you run. Maybe you golf.
Maybe you journal, or walk in nature, or play with your dog or kids or grandkids.
If you are spiritual or religious, get back on track with the practices that support your connection to spirit, Source, God, Universe, the Divine. Maybe it’s prayer.
Maybe you practice yoga or meditate. Maybe you do something in service to others.
Cultivate and nourish your connection to the source of your divine spark of life and creativity. Daily, if possible.
SPECIAL OFFER for GROUP INSPIRATION AND SUPPORT
If you’d like to invite me to lead a workshop or talk at your place of work— or even spend an evening with a group of friends in your home (call in a “girls night in” sort of thing!), I’ll share Eastern-inspired practices guaranteed to melt stress, refocus energy, and refuel spirit.
We can even incorporate a book signing for my new book, Recharge, Refuel, and Re-energize: Your Guide to Taking Back Control of Your Time and Energy, or perhaps Reiki attunements for those interested.
I’ll customize the event just for you.
Contact me by email for more details.
NOTE: I leave on October 23 to lead this Fall’s Bali Retreat, and would love to hear from you before then so we can schedule something for the months of November through February. 😎
