Michael Levitt's Blog, page 145

Top 10 Stress Relieving Tips Via @MayoClinic

Top 10 Stress Relieving Tips, which will come in handy this Holiday season.

Have something that's moved in their belongings on the To Do list?  Here's some tips to actually quit procrastination and get that thing done.  

The Holidays (aka holidaze) are upon us.  Some tips on how to handle holiday stress can be found here.

I cannot stand clutter.  Apparently there's a scientific reason why.

Here's some more stress-busting tips (are you noticing that I'm focusing on stress management in this post?  Good.)  

Take 6:12 to listen to this grounding exercise, when you're feeling stressed or anxious.

 

WANT BETTER DAYS?

Do you want a better start to your day? I have a free e-book on six easy steps to a better day, that I personally follow after I experienced a significant health scare. If you would like this free e-book, please click the link below.

SIX STEPS TO A GREAT MORNING (BESIDES COFFEE)

How To Figure Out What To Do With Your Life

Patience is a virtue.  Here's how being impatient can impact your career.

What do you want to do with your life?  Here's some help to figure that out.

Small talk can be boring, but it can also open up some amazing doors.

I love being a mentor, and being mentored.  It's propelled my career to levels beyond my expectations.  Here's a HBR post on what mentors wished their mentees would know.

 WANT BETTER DAYS?

Do you want a better start to your day? I have a free e-book on six easy steps to a better day, that I personally follow after I experienced a significant health scare. If you would like this free e-book, please click the link below.

SIX STEPS TO A GREAT MORNING (BESIDES COFFEE)

 

How To Delegate, for Those Of Us That Don't Know How

One of the many challenges I had that led to my Year of Worst-Case Scenarios was the inability to delegate tasks to others.

I wanted to do it all, because I didn't want anything to fall through the cracks, and create problems.  Let's say I'm a big fan of preventing conflict.

Doing this basically made me the mule.  I carried EVERYTHING.   I cannot do everything, nor can you.  

After my 369 Days, I knew I had to change how I conducted my work and personal life.  Delegation was something I need to learn more about, and learn how to implement in my life.

I started by hiring smarter people, that could take on the tasks that I suck at.  I'm awesome in a lot of things, but there are things that I absolutely should not be doing.  

Scheduling others is one area that I should avoid.  I drains my will to live, when trying to schedule staff members.  Myself?  I love controlling my calendars (Day Job and BreakfastLeadership.com), so that is something that I still control.

My assistant at my Day Job has reminded me (more than once) that they should manage my work e-mail, and just have me look at email for a specific email.  I've resisted this because I'm really good at getting to "Inbox Zero" mode.  It's almost a game to me.

But checking emails constantly is one of the areas that got me into trouble, and let to my 369 Days.  

So this afternoon, I came to a handshake agreement with my assistant that I would no longer be responsible for my Day Job emails.  It's all on her.  I've delegated email.

Finally cleared the Day Job email hurdle.  November 14, 2017.

Now I can focus more time on the Day Job work that only I can work on, and after hours my BreakfastLeadership.com work, that will serve my clients.

What's a hurdle you're struggling with?  Reach out to me on Twitter or Facebook, and let me know, so we can figure out how to get you past that hurdle for good!

WANT BETTER DAYS?

Do you want a better start to your day? I have a free e-book on six easy steps to a better day, that I personally follow after I experienced a significant health scare. If you would like this free e-book, please click the link below.

SIX STEPS TO A GREAT MORNING (BESIDES COFFEE)

 

How To Play Office Politics, and Win

Playing Office Politics can have its pitfalls, but if you know how to play the game, you'll end up further along in your career, assuming you're at the right kind of organization.

Motivation can only go so far.  Be genuine and take interest in your people and you'll see improvements in what they accomplish.

It's approaching the end of the year, so it's a good time to update Resume.Doc.  Here's a good list of keywords to add.

Again, in the spirit of year-end planning, here's 7 questions to ask if you want (and you should) to improve yourself for the coming year.

 

WANT BETTER DAYS?

Do you want a better start to your day? I have a free e-book on six easy steps to a better day, that I personally follow after I experienced a significant health scare. If you would like this free e-book, please click the link below.

SIX STEPS TO A GREAT MORNING (BESIDES COFFEE)

How to Understand Getting Things Done by @shivororke

David Allen's Getting Things Done(GTD) was released in 2001.  That's a long time ago, but it still is a great guide to accomplish what you need to do.  This post is By Siobhan O'Rorke probably the best summaries I've read on the process.

How's that monkey mind of yours?  Interruptions take you off of your focus, and will impact your ability to get things done.  Here's reasons why you need to tame those interruptions.

I'm not a fan of Daylight Savings Time.  I think it's something that should be eliminated.  Until that happens (if ever), here's how to be productive after 4pm when the sun starts to set.

WANT BETTER MORNINGS?

Do you want a better start to your day? I have a free e-book on six easy steps to a better day, that I personally follow after I experienced a significant health scare. If you would like this free e-book, please click the link below.

SIX STEPS TO A GREAT MORNING (BESIDES COFFEE)

Top 7 Signs You're In A Rut and How Evernote Can Help

You might be in a rut, or even worse rapidly approaching burnout.  Here's 7 signs to look out for, when you feel out of it.

Never let anyone (besides you) dictate your schedule.

One way to prevent burnout is to be better organized in your life.  Here's an awesome post from Evernote, on how to do just that.

Speaking of Evernote, click here for a free month of their Premium service.  Well worth the investment.

WANT BETTER MORNINGS?

Do you want a better start to your day? I have a free e-book on six easy steps to a better day, that I personally follow after I experienced a significant health scare. If you would like this free e-book, please click the link below.

Six Steps to a great Morning (Besides coffee)

 

Why It's Important To Celebrate Your Victories

Years ago I was working for a large, multi-site non-profit community services organization.  We offered a variety of services for a community that had a variety of needs (new immigrants, low income, single parent homes, you name it, this community has it.)

The organization was funded by a variety of government and charitable agencies, and we were able to string together those funds to provide the services to thousands of community members.

A couple services that I'm particularly proud we offered was a food bank and a furniture bank.  Whether you're getting back on your feet, or your income doesn't allow you to properly furnish your home, it was rewarding that our organization helped match people with needed food and furnishings.

A challenge we had was with rental trucks to pick up and deliver food and furniture.  We had to rent trucks at least 2 times per week, to pick up food donations and furniture.  These trucks would frequently breakdown (not going to mention the name of the rental truck organization, but they're well known.)

Through collaboration and the hard work of one of our directors, the organization was able to secure donations from the United Way and the City of Toronto to purchase a gently-used delivery truck.  The director that was able to negotiate the funding found a truck in Kentucky.  So her husband and her went on a little vacation, and drove back the truck to Toronto.

This was HUGE for the organization.  Owning our own truck immediately allowed for daily pick ups of food donations and increased furniture bank activities.

I remember the meeting where we announced it.  The celebration lasted 30 seconds.

Organizations, and all of us, do not take enough time to celebrate our wins.  We move on to the next challenge.  No wonder we burn out and create our own year of worst-case scenarios.

As part of the author group I belong to (whom thankfully published my book), they have a weekly  "Mission Monday" Facebook post, where they ask fellow authors what successes they've had in the past week.  It serves as a reminder for us to reflect on what we accomplished in the past week.

What did you accomplish in the past week?  Tweet me or write on our Facebook wall what went well for you.

My current notebook

I'm a big fan of journals.  I've documented my daily activities for a long time, as it helps me keep track of my accomplishments, as well as track busy seasons and when I'm doing too much #AvoidBurnout.

While journalling full time might not be right for you at this point, my hope is that at least you will start documenting your victories.

To help you with this, I've created a one-page sheet for you to write down your daily victories.  If that's too much, at minimum write down your weekly wins.  Keep these and look back at them on a monthly or quarterly basis.  Then at the end of your year, look at everything you've accomplished.  You'll be amazed.

Click here for the link to the free download of the Celebrate Your Wins Journal

WANT BETTER MORNINGS?

Do you want a better start to your day? I have a free e-book on six easy steps to a better day, that I personally follow after I experienced a significant health scare. If you would like this free e-book, please click the link below.

Six Steps to a great Morning (Besides coffee)

How To Say NO, so You Can Say Yes To Your Side Gig

So simple, but powerful.  How to make difficult decisions and sleep well at night.

Before saying Yes to that new project, do some internal homework first.

Or, you can learn the power of NO, when working on your side gig.

The fictional work-life balance can become closer to reality, with these tips.

WANT BETTER MORNINGS?

Do you want a better start to your day? I have a free e-book on six easy steps to a better day, that I personally follow after I experienced a significant health scare. If you would like this free e-book, please click the link below.

Six Steps to a great Morning (Besides coffee)

How To Work Hard Without Killing Yourself

Source:  Tiny Buddha

Many of you know that I gave my all before my cardiac event.  Here's how to make large contributions without killing yourself.

Society is dealing with the aftermath of helicopter parenting.  Click here for tips to help prevent it from happening.

Diabetes is increasing at a rapid rate.  Here's some foods that will curb the sugar cravings.

You know I'm all about Breakfast (BreakfastLeadership.com, hello!) These tips help you have a proper start to your day.

Speaking of waking up, here's a question to ask yourself every morning.

WANT BETTER MORNINGS?

Do you want a better start to your day? I have a free e-book on six easy steps to a better day, that I personally follow after I experienced a significant health scare. If you would like this free e-book, please click the link below.

Six Steps to a great Morning (Besides coffee)

How to Journal, Coffee, and a Bob Seger Song reference

Source:  Success Magazine

I'm a big fan of journaling.  I've burned through 2 notebooks this year (so far.)  Here's 73 reasons why you should journal.

Speaking of journaling, I've discovered a new tool to help me get my thoughts and ideas organized.

Join me and 2 million other people using WorkFlowy to get organized. 

Please accept my invitation (and get us both free space!) using this invite link 

Feeling drained at work?  Coffee not kicking in hard enough?  Try these tips.

Tired of feeling like a number?  (ode to Bob Seger), Here's 3 reasons to consider the Non Profit world.

Team communications are crucial for your company to go from good to great.  Here's a great list

WANT BETTER MORNINGS?

Do you want a better start to your day? I have a free e-book on six easy steps to a better day, that I personally follow after I experienced a significant health scare. If you would like this free e-book, please click the link below.

Six Steps to a great Morning (Besides coffee)