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Stop Drifting Start Producing

April 1, 2026

🛤️ Which way is your business heading this week?

Stop the spinning -We all want to be on the “Spring Forward” path full of energy, new ideas, and growth. But without systems, it’s way too easy to drift to the “Fall Back Side”. Don’t let a temporary obstacle lead to permanent procrastination. The difference between these two paths isn’t luck—it’s Systems.

Systems: The Secret to Moving from “Fall Back” Frustration to “Spring Forward” Success

Systems are crucial. When you “change your habits, you change your life”, (from my book, Get Organized Quick, and my TV interview with KOBI 5) and to change habits you need to change the systems supporting the habits. Basically, that means setting yourself up for success to implement a new habit of:

  • Planning time in your schedule for what’s important
  • Revisiting your vision often to make sure you’re on track
  • Setting aside time for marketing each week
  • Following up after networking events
  • Making warm or cold calls to prospects
  • Taking time to plan a strategy instead of inconsistent, scattered efforts (for whatever)

Client Testimonies

“I’ve improved a lot. Coaching has definitely helped me with structure and a lot of other areas. Before, I was just taking a handful of these tasks and responsibilities and just throwing them at the wall to see where they stick and where they drop, but now I feel like having this structure on my calendar, it has helped immensely. I realized—I like structure . . . I like to have a guide. That’s what I do best with. I feel I’ve improved, and my team has felt that too. Now I’m more organized and not dropping the ball as much. I feel good!”

~Peggy Blair Maxwell, Executive Services Manager, Rogue Credit Union

 

“Jenny gives a great lecture on how to streamline your life in relation to your business. Practical tips on how to work more effectively and stop wasting time in areas that aren’t paying off. I look forward to attending another one of her sessions!”

Rebecca Zolkoske 

You now have the chance to master the art of overcoming obstacles and building the structure your new habits need to thrive. I’ll show you how to dodge those common time-management "traps" that pull you away from your big-picture vision.

And I’m sharing it all for free.

Every month at my Get in the Zone of Genius workshop at BBSI, I dive deep into these strategies. Why give this knowledge away? Because my mission is to see you take action. When you have a clear roadmap, the momentum follows—more clients, higher profits, and a business that finally feels like it’s “rolling.”

This is your first step towards:

  • Scalable growth and financial independence.
  • Reclaiming time to actually enjoy what you’ve built.
  • Achieving success beyond your wildest dreams.
  • Systems-Driven
  • Operational Structure
  • Strategic Planning
  • Financial Independence
  • Momentum
  • Unlocking Potential
  • Roadmap to Success
  • Habit Transformation
  • Problem-Solving
  • Overcoming Obstacles
  • Ditching Frustration
  • Streamlined Workflow
  • Eliminating “Scattered” Efforts
  • Practical Implementation
  • Professional Coaching

Join me at my next monthly class: Get in the Zone: The Secret to Unlocking Your Business Growth BBSI Medford is hosting me Wednesday, April 8 from 9:30-11:30 am Sign up Here ]

 

 

 

by Glenda Mull

Is Your Business Ready to Navigate Change?

February 14, 2025
Is your business ready to navigate change?

In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, the ability to manage organizational change isn’t just an asset—it’s a necessity for maintaining a competitive edge. As an entrepreneur, you’re not just a business owner; you’re a leader tasked with guiding your company through transitions with foresight and precision.

Successfully navigating these shifts demands a deep understanding of your team’s potential and a strategic roadmap to chart your progress.

The goal? To empower your workforce for the challenges ahead through targeted support, training, and resources.

Analyze Your Team’s Strengths and Weaknesses

Effective change management starts with a clear-eyed assessment of your team’s unique strengths and areas for development. By pinpointing each employee’s abilities, you can strategically align roles with skill sets, driving productivity and fostering a sense of value. Is someone on your team a natural problem-solver? Position them where their innovative thinking can shine. For those who may find change more challenging, targeted support and training will equip them to thrive in an evolving environment.

Chart Your Course with a Clear Timeline

A well-defined timeline is the backbone of any successful change initiative. By setting realistic expectations and milestones, you keep everyone on track and focused on the end goal. Remember, flexibility is key. Unexpected hurdles are inevitable, so build in room to adapt. Regular updates and checkpoints will maintain momentum and ensure that no aspect of your plan falls behind. This structured approach not only drives results but also reduces stress by providing clarity and direction.

Celebrate Milestones

Don’t forget to celebrate progress! Acknowledging milestones and rewarding your team’s achievements is a powerful way to boost morale and sustain enthusiasm throughout the change process. These celebrations can be a great way to keep morale high and remind everyone of the progress that is being made.

Empower Your Team with Training and Support

Investing in effective training and support is critical for ensuring a smooth transition and maintaining productivity. Jenny offers Make Time Your Ally, a dynamic time management workshop, which addresses your company’s specific challenges to turn them into strengths. Prioritization, procrastination, more time to focus on important tasks, and email strategies are just a few of the topics.

Clear communication, interactive training sessions, and ongoing support empower employees to embrace new processes and systems with confidence.

Having a point of contact available to answer questions as they arise is also helpful. Schedule regular training sessions to educate teams about the changes, address concerns, and provide opportunities to learn new skills.

Leverage the Power of Coaching

In times of uncertainty, coaching can be an invaluable resource. Individual or team coaching provides leaders with the guidance and support they need to champion the vision of change, overcome obstacles, and communicate effectively. Anyone who has experienced coaching will tell you it has accelerated their development.

Teams can also benefit from coaching, by creating a more cohesive unit and motivating and inspiring individual members. A skilled team coach can help resolve conflicts, address resistance, and foster a collaborative environment where everyone feels empowered to contribute.

Jenny offers executive coaching for all levels of business to support them through a changing landscape and motivate them to achieve their goals. She will work as a success partner, strategist, and personal advocate. She partners with businesses every step of the way so they grow and thrive.

Anticipate and Mitigate Roadblocks

Change is rarely without its challenges. By anticipating potential roadblocks, you can proactively develop solutions and minimize disruptions. Whether it’s technological glitches, market shifts, or internal resistance, having a contingency plan in place will keep you on track and maintain morale.

Engage with different departments to identify potential issues and develop tailored solutions. Addressing concerns proactively not only keeps the change process on track but also reinforces confidence in your leadership and direction.

Address Employee Pushback with Empathy and Transparency

Resistance from employees is a common challenge and is a natural part of any change process. Addressing employee concerns directly and fostering open communication is essential for building trust and buy-in. Encourage your team to voice their fears and frustrations, and respond with honesty and empathy.

Ensure that every employee understands the ‘why’ behind the changes and how it benefits both the team and the organization as a whole. This preparedness will not only keep the change process on track but also help maintain staff morale and confidence in the company’s leadership and direction.

 By demonstrating empathy and providing clear, transparent communication, you can significantly reduce resistance and foster a more cohesive and committed workforce.

Create a Comprehensive Change Management Plan

Finally, synthesize all of these elements into  a comprehensive change management plan. This plan should clearly articulate the goals of the change, the steps required to achieve them, the roles and responsibilities of team members, and the timelines for each phase.

Provide easy access to the plan or a concise summary to ensure clarity and foster a sense of ownership. Regularly review and adjust the plan as needed to accommodate new insights and emerging circumstances.

A dynamic plan, combined with a robust strategy for communication and employee engagement, will serve as your roadmap for navigating organizational change successfully.

Transform Change into Opportunity

Effective management of change hinges on a clear vision, meticulous planning, and a deep understanding of your team’s capabilities and areas for improvement. By proactively supporting your employees throughout this transition, you create a resilient foundation for your business to not only withstand change but to thrive in the face of it. Embrace change as an opportunity for growth, innovation, and new achievements. With these strategies in place, you’ll position your business to adapt, flourish, and stand out in today’s competitive marketplace.

Transform your productivity and organize your life with executive coaching and workshops from Efficient Spaces.

Book a discovery call today to unlock your team’s potential!

Resources:

Time Seminar

https://ideascale.com/blog/5-tech-issues-that-can-slow-down-innovation

by Jennifer Morin

Why You Need a Coach for Professional and Personal Success

January 13, 2025
Coach and client meet one on one in an office setting.

A coach serves as a valuable ally in the pursuit of personal and professional development. Through a structured approach and tailored guidance, they provide the support needed to help individuals overcome challenges, refine their strengths, and achieve their goals. With a focus on clarity, accountability, and skill-building, a coach can empower you to unlock your full potential and create a path to sustained growth. Efficient Spaces offers this helpful insight.

“In fact, if a business owner had to choose between getting a master’s in business from a prestigious university or hiring a coach, I’d counsel them to hire the coach. A coach has the power to help their client make millions–and not only that, to stay sane while doing so.” – Donald Miller, from his bestselling book Coach Builder

Clarifying Goals for Focused Progress

A coach helps define clear, actionable goals. Many individuals have broad aspirations but struggle to translate them into practical steps. Coaches break down vague ideas into specific, measurable objectives aligned with your vision. By creating structured milestones, coaches provide a roadmap that keeps you focused. This clarity fosters confidence, as you know each step brings you closer to achieving your aspirations. With well-defined goals, you can prioritize effectively and channel your energy into meaningful actions.

Personalized Guidance Tailored to You

Growth strategies are not one-size-fits-all. A coach customizes their guidance to suit your unique circumstances, strengths, and challenges. They take the time to understand your needs and craft a plan that resonates with you. Whether it’s improving time management, refining leadership skills, or enhancing communication, a coach ensures the advice and tools provided are both practical and relevant to your goals. This individualized approach helps you navigate complex situations with strategies that align with your personal values.

Accountability That Drives Action

Accountability is key to progress, and a coach helps ensure you stay on track. Regular check-ins create a framework where achievements are reviewed, and plans are adjusted as necessary. Knowing someone is invested in your journey fosters commitment and motivation. This partnership encourages you to overcome challenges and maintain momentum toward your objectives. The structure provided by coaching sessions ensures consistent progress, even when obstacles arise.

Awareness of Blind Spots

Everyone has blind spots—behaviors or obstacles they can’t see on their own. A coach offers an impartial perspective, helping identify these areas and providing constructive feedback. By addressing blind spots such as procrastination, ineffective communication, or self-doubt, a coach empowers you to overcome barriers and unlock greater potential. This newfound awareness often leads to breakthroughs that might not have been possible without a coach. A coach also can challenge some long-held beliefs or limiting beliefs which are holding you back.

Defining and Working Toward Your Overarching Goal

When we start meeting, we establish an overarching purpose or vision for our coaching together. Each session is working toward that overarching accomplishment. As part of that, maintaining a clear list of objectives is an effective way to stay on track during coaching sessions and independently. Include both immediate and future goals, breaking them down into actionable tasks to ensure steady progress. Your coach tracks your progress, and you can track it as well. Keeping track of where you are in relation to your overarching goal ensures you stay aligned with your original purpose. And, if you decide that ultimate goal needs to shift and change, your coach will help you define and clarify the new direction.

Building Essential Skills

Growth often requires acquiring new skills or building on your natural strengths. Coaches partner with you to improve communication, problem-solving, or time management. These skills not only address current needs but also support long-term success. Practical exercises or examples from real life shared by a coach ensure you master these strategies, building both confidence and competence. The skills you acquire through coaching become part of a toolkit you can rely on throughout your journey. A coach is a cheerleader for you as you build up your strengths or improve in some key areas.

Creating a Safe Space for Reflection

A coach provides a judgment-free zone where you can explore thoughts, fears, and aspirations openly. Trust and safety are integral to a healthy coaching relationship. This safe space fosters deeper self-awareness and insight into your motivations and behaviors. Guided reflection helps you make informed decisions that align with your values and goals, contributing to meaningful growth. This supportive dynamic allows you to process challenges and celebrate progress without fear of judgment.

Nurturing a Long-Term Vision

While short-term achievements are important, sustainable growth requires a broader perspective. A coach helps you focus on the bigger picture, aligning your efforts with core values and long-term aspirations. This approach ensures your growth efforts are adaptable and resilient, preparing you to navigate changes with purpose and clarity. With this forward-thinking guidance, you build a foundation for consistent progress and fulfillment.

Partnering with a coach can be a transformative step toward achieving meaningful growth and development. Their insights, strategies, and encouragement offer the tools needed to move forward with confidence and purpose. Whether seeking personal fulfillment or professional advancement, the right coach provides the guidance and support to enable you to thrive!

For office & home organizing and business coaching, contact Jenny Morin @ Efficient Spaces today!

by Jennifer Morin
Woman working on computer with work life balance and happy

From Stressed to Best: How Work-Life Balance Can Boost Your Health and Happiness

November 13, 2024

In today’s fast-paced world, having a solid work-life balance isn’t just nice—it’s essential. Striking that balance helps you do well at work, grow personally, and keep your health in check. Managing your time wisely makes you more productive and leaves you with enough energy to enjoy life outside the office. Not sure how to achieve more balance? Here are some ideas.

Coaching is a great way to achieve better balance. As a coach, Jenny serves as a success partner, strategist, and personal advocate. We focus on YOU and on being proactive.

Woman working on computer with work life balance and happy
Image by Freepik

How Balance Improves Your Work Quality

Creating balance isn’t only about cutting back on work hours; it’s about using your time off in a way that keeps you feeling refreshed. By setting manageable hours and making room for downtime, you can avoid burnout and stay mentally sharp. This extra mental clarity lets you tackle work with a fresh perspective and makes problem-solving and creativity a lot easier—skills that are valuable in any career.

You may have noticed a renewed energy and motivation after a weekend. We aren’t machines; we need downtime!

Coaching is a great way to impact your work-life balance. It brings clarity, vision, and prevents burnout. As a coach, Jenny serves as a success partner, strategist, and personal advocate. She focuses on YOU and on being proactive.

Thriving Through Free Time

More free time opens doors to personal growth you might miss with a packed work schedule. Picking up a hobby, learning something new, or even just catching up on reading can have a big impact. These activities provide a refreshing counterbalance to work. They can actually make you better at your job by boosting your mental health and giving you a broader perspective.

Being well-rounded isn’t just rewarding; it also makes you better equipped to handle challenges in both work and life. It enriches your life. Especially hobbies you can share with others like music, art and dance.

work life balance
WhatsApp photo

Boosting Career Prospects through Education

Earning a degree can be a game-changer for your career, leading to a less stressful, more fulfilling work life. Online degrees give you the flexibility to continue your education while balancing work and family.

Specializations like managerial accounting or learning a computer programming language offer skills that are in demand, equipping you for roles in structured, intellectually engaging fields. Continuing your education doesn’t just elevate your qualifications; it also helps you maintain a healthy balance between career and personal life.

Time Management: The Key to Balance

Good time management is a huge part of work-life balance. By organizing your tasks and setting priorities, you can keep work from creeping into your personal time. Setting realistic goals, focusing on priorities, and delegating where possible are all time-savers.

Mastering these skills means less wasted time and more productive work hours, leaving room for the rest and relaxation you need for a balanced life. Trainings like Jenny’s Make Time Your Ally workshop will help you sharpen these skills.

Avoiding Burnout to Boost Health

Keeping a work-life balance can reduce the risk of burnout, which is physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion from prolonged stress. Setting boundaries between work and personal time protects your health, allowing you to handle responsibilities on both fronts with a clear mind. Reducing burnout isn’t just about feeling better; it also boosts your productivity and helps you stay engaged with your work over the long haul.

Stay Focused with Regular Breaks

Regular breaks are essential to staying focused. When you balance work with downtime, you give your brain the rest it needs to recharge, which helps you stay sharp during work hours. This improved focus translates to higher productivity and better work quality, linking a balanced lifestyle directly to career success.

Work-life balance is the key to a happy and successful life. By making it a priority, you’ll boost your productivity, improve your health, and create time for personal growth. Recognize the benefits of a well-rounded lifestyle to avoid burnout and bring out your best in all areas. Managing your time effectively is what allows you to succeed both at work and at home.

Jenny completes her executive coaching ACC accreditation in January 2025. She is currently accepting clients who want to thrive!

by Jennifer Morin

Spruce Up Your Home: A Guide to Budget-Friendly Decorating

February 7, 2024

by Jenny Morin and Sharon Wagner

attractive living room sofa with cushions

Spruce up Your Home: A Guide to Budget-friendly Decluttering & Decorating

Is your space lacking that spark? The atmosphere might need a spruce up, and the good news is it won’t break your budget.

We will dive into uncomplicated, effective ways to invigorate and energize your home.

Give Old Furniture a New Lease on Life

Before you discard that aging sofa or dining table, think about giving it a second life. By sanding down rough edges, applying a fresh coat of paint, or reupholstering the cushions, you not only save money, but also create a piece that’s uniquely yours.

This form of recycling is also environmentally friendly. Plus, the satisfaction of reviving something old can be deeply rewarding.

Delegate the Fix-it Jobs With a Home Maintenance App

Problems like a leaky faucet or a drafty window need attention but can often be time consuming. By outsourcing these tasks to a skilled handyman or repair service, you can free up your own time for activities that you enjoy.

See Jenny’s blog about outsourcing here. https://efficientspaces.org/how-much-does-a-professional-organizer-cost-anyway/

If you are a DIYer, utilizing a home repair app to is convenient, and can help eliminate repair-related stress. You can fix a problem while a trained professional skilled in general repairs walks you through the entire process.

Hire a Professional Organizer

A professional organizer can transform and declutter your space into an efficient, well-ordered home, making your life more productive and stress-free.

In her book, Get Organized Quick, Jenny talks about how to set up a mail zone that will eliminate the piles of unopened mail. Avoid late fees and the overwhelm created by visual clutter when you follow her tips!

Other areas that easily turn into dump zones are the kitchen counters and dining table. When you declutter your space, you’ll be able to invite people over without stress.

When you have clear kitchen surfaces, (and a home for food & tools) everything is faster. Meal preparation and sitting down to eat at a table together are important daily activities!

If you haven’t received Jenny’s Give it a home: 111 Ideas to find homes for your Stuff please check it out. Anyone who signs up for my blog gets it free!  

Play with Textiles and Materials

Having a singular texture or material throughout your home can make it look and feel bland. To spruce up your rooms, consider adding a blend of textiles and materials.

For example, a metal coffee table might pair well with a wooden bookshelf, while a velvet sofa can be spruced up with contrasting silk throw pillows. This creates tactile as well as visual richness.

Scan Papers to Declutter

Decluttering your space by digitizing papers not only saves physical space but also makes document management more efficient. Using a mobile scanning app to quickly scan a document, you can easily convert all your important documents into digital formats, making them accessible anytime, anywhere.

Scanning eliminates a huge amount of paper clutter. Jenny approves of scanning; just make sure to store any documents you’ve scanned in assigned folders so you can find them later!

Scanning paper with your phone camera is easy, and you can create folders in your phone’s digital ‘photo album’.

You can store them in the cloud as well, on Google drive, Box or Dropbox, for example, which is a huge step to declutter your space.

Some documents you do need to keep (deeds, titles, legal documents and other signed documents). However, most tax preparers accept and encourage digital supporting documents and expense receipts now.

Boost Comfort with Cushions

Boost Comfort with Cushions

A straightforward way to amplify both the comfort and appearance of your living room is through accent cushions. Bamboo fiber pillows are not just comfortable, but also have the added advantage of being durable. As for maintenance, it’s advisable to fluff them regularly and use washable pillowcases that can be easily cleaned.

If your furniture is neutral colors, choose cushions & accents with bold colors like reds and yellows to brighten up your living room. This will punch up the color & add variety.

Switch Up Window Dressings

The drapery or window blinds you choose can dramatically change the mood of a room. The right choice will serve as a beautiful backdrop, subtly elevating the entire space. Whether you opt for something light and airy, like sheers, or a solid color for privacy, make sure it meshes well with the existing color palette.

Streamline Your Living Areas

High-traffic areas in your home, like the kitchen and restroom, often end up being cluttered. Investing in some nifty organizational solutions such as spice racks, drawer dividers, or vanity trays can make a world of difference.

With everything in its designated place, your daily tasks become a breeze. Your quality of life is enhanced when we declutter your space.

Finding homes or enclosed spaces for the types of things that clutter up your surfaces is a key to living an uncluttered life. Things like keys, glasses, remotes, purses, wallets, etc. need a place to ‘live’.

Why Everything Needs a Home

  1. So you can find items when needed
  2. So clutter doesn’t take over your desk or dining table

I found a solution for my teenager leaving his wallet and keys scattered around the house. I gave him a 10-inch wide basket to hold his personal stuff and put it on a corner of the counter. (I don’t let people put their stuff on my kitchen desk.) This works great for him—as long as he puts his stuff there when he gets home, that is!

Conclusion

Ready to declutter your life and boost your productivity? Visit Efficient Spaces now and transform your space today!

You don’t have to go through a major renovation to bring zest and flair back to your home.

With straightforward solutions like digitizing your documents and hiring a professional organizer to declutter your space, your home will be transformed into a place of beauty, comfort, and efficiency. Make just a few key changes, and you’ll see your place re-energized!

Resources:

Thank you to guest blogger Sharon Wagner for contributing to our article!

Invite a friend to check out this great resource with pictures & links:

Find Homes for All Your Stuff: 111 Ideas

Jenny’s book Get Organized Quick: 15 Minutes a Day to Organize Your Life

by Jennifer Morin
vintage drawing of girl wrapping holiday presents

Cherished Holiday Traditions: 10 Fun Ideas to Bring Joy

December 5, 2023

Tradition is how the vitality of the past

enriches the life of the present.”

T.S. Eliot

I look forward to our Thanksgiving and Christmas traditions every year. I reminisce about childhood Christmases when my mother created a magical Christmas out of thin air.

            What family traditions do you look forward to for the holidays? What brings you the most joy? Is it the food, the fun, the family time, the parties, or the music?

“I love to experience the smells, sights and sounds of Christmas,” said Pat Berg, a grandmother of 19 from Grants Pass.

P.S. I saved my favorite family tradition for #10, in case you’re wondering.

10 Ideas to Bring More Fun to Your Holidays

One: Ask Grown Children what their family would like.

“What I don’t like is the stress of trying figure out what to buy. Did they already have that Lego set, is this the right size, will they like this? That’s what takes the joy out of Christmas giving for me,” Pat said.

Two: Bring Happiness to Others

Book "Christmas Jars" by Jason Wright

Reach out to someone lonely. Call them, take them to a Christmas bazaar or concert, invite them to dinner, or visit and sing them carols.

My friend Lynn Hopson invites friends to a cookie bazaar every year. Some of our friends bring food to the homeless. As a family, we put money in a Christmas jar all year, then anonymously give the money to someone.

The book Christmas Jars gave us this idea!

family decorating Christmas tree

This is my family in 2011 decorating our tree. We had such a great time! One of our fun traditions is a different child gets to put the angel on the tree each year.

Another fun holiday tradition is having one person play “Santa” each year and hand out presents.

Three. Stick to Your Budget

My friend Pat has a budget for each family. I do too. Going into debt for Christmas presents doesn’t make anyone happier. It just causes unnecessary stress.

This year, she told me, one of her sons asked for museum passes as their family gift. A simple, stress-free present to bring Christmas joy!

Four: Recreate Your Parents Traditions With Your Family

I loved putting on puppet shows with my brothers and sister as a kid. One year, my Mom made a puppet theater out of plywood, then sewed Muppet-like puppets for us to play with. I started writing plays and the 4 of us would perform them for our parents. I continued the tradition when my children were young.

Another fun tradition I’ve continued is to make a new ornament for the tree each year. Crafts are a great way to bond as a family and make memories.

Other Fun Holiday Traditions

Many families have the fun tradition of giving out matching PJ’s. My friends Donna and Mike Staker started this tradition when their kids were small. It sure produces cute pictures!

Taking a drive to look at the lights near your house is a great break. It’s always fun. On my street in Grants Pass, two houses have a running competition to see who can fit the most lights on their house each year. It’s pretty comical to see. Now they’ve added inflatables, so their lawns are even more crowded!

Remember this? My 2018 blog contained some creative family traditions. Click here for ‘Keep Calm & Prepare Early for the Holidays.’

Five: Cultivate Joy by Doing Activities that Make You Happy.

Does baking make you happy? When I called, my friend Pat was making rolls for Thanksgiving and listening to Christmas music. How inspiring!

Other holiday traditions for fun times:

  • Attending concerts
  • Watching Hallmark movies
  • Surprising a child and watching their face light up with joy
  • Call an old friend to catch up
Mother baking Christmas cookies with her two daughters.

Six: Focus on the Spiritual

Take time to read scripture, pray, sing and meditate. Spirit-filled Christmas activities help us all feel peace and more joy at this hectic time of year. For me personally, music brings Christmas joy.

I love the carols, cantatas, the Messiah, and other inspiring music that makes my heart light. When I sing, I get wrapped up in the music and feel joy.

Seven: Give experiences or time, not things.

Write a story, make some music together, give tickets to a show.

My friend Lynn wrote a story and gave it to her grandkids one Christmas. “When my daughter told me (grandson) Peyton fell asleep with it under his pillow, I just cried.” Tears of joy, she means!

Eight: Read a Christmas Book

One of my favorite holiday traditions is to read a short Christmas book. My favorite author is Debbie Macomber, who seems to come out with a charming, nostalgic story every year. Everyone has their favorite! If you think you don’t have time to read, then the answer is simple: listen to the book instead. It’s a great way to do something for yourself while doing dishes, making cookies, food shopping, etc. I know it makes me more cheerful!

Nine: Get Outside.

Another fun tradition I had as a child was going to cut the Christmas tree down with my Dad, a forester. (We lived in Maine.) Now, if we can, we get out into the mountains or woods of Oregon to find a tree. The tree permit is only $5.

It’s a lot of fun even if there isn’t snow. You get to see sweeping vistas on your way to the hills, and smell the wonderful forest. Just don’t do what we did one year. . . we walked downhill to find a tree and had to pull the heavy tree uphill to the truck.

Studies have shown that being in green spaces reduces stress and helps us to be happier!

Now, what you’ve all been waiting for. . . . Drumroll, please!

Ten

My all-time favorite tradition is the family treasure hunt!

When we still lived in Vermont and the kids were small, my husband Frank started writing riddles for the kids, then hiding them.

We turned to this after Frank’s sewing debut had disastrous results.

Frank has a great time giving clues when he stumps the kids with his riddles. The cool thing is, even if you’re not good at writing riddles, you can find some pretty funny Christmas verse online, which he uses to make the treasure hunt more fun.

And at the end of the treasure hunt the kids collect their prize. Usually, it is four pomegranates. The joy is not in the prize, but in the challenge of the hunt!

Remembering childhood Christmases through a haze of nostalgia brings joy to me, as does continuing the traditions I’ve started with my family. What brings me the most joy is sharing experiences and traditions with the people I care about. I have to be careful, as we all do, not to overspend on massive amounts of presents in an attempt to re-create the holiday magic.

I have learned it’s truly not about the stuff.

Christmas nativity statue
by Jennifer Morin
team, long-term projects, celebrate success, teamwork

Maintain Momentum for Big Projects

November 8, 2023

Long-term projects. Could you use some tips to help finish that project you started with gusto, which is currently lagging?
If you hit a roadblock (or two, or three) what are they—and does your team have ideas for overcoming those hurdles? Decide ahead of time how you will handle issues when they come up. Planning will prevent panic and help people stay on track.

by Jennifer Morin
Fall leaves and road

What’s Your Plan for the Rest of the Year?

October 20, 2023

Do you like to revisit your goals in the fall? I do! Fall is a perfect time to recommit to your goals for the year.

It’s a great time for renewal. The heat dissipates and fades into crisp fall weather, giving me a burst of energy.

When my main job was a work-at-home Mom, I had more leisure time. I often would watch Anne of Green Gables in September with my children.

I agree with her sentiment:

“Tomorrow is always fresh, with no mistakes in it yet.”
~L.M. Montgomery.

Do you feel the same way about fall and revisiting goals left unfinished?

I’ll help you out with those goals. Today I’ll share best practices for getting back on track with your goals—business or personal ones.

In January, I posted about SMART goals. Following the SMART formula works for many people like you and me.

Renewing Commitment to Goals

First: Remind and reconnect with the goals from the beginning of the year.

I like to read over my goals at the beginning of each month and track my progress in each. Sometimes I am doing great, and other times I have dropped the ball or abandoned a goal or two.

I want to notice my gut reaction as I read through my goals. What ones am I most excited about? What ones cause an apathetic (lukewarm or tepid) or even guilty response?  To try this yourself, look at your goals and jot down your primary response to each one.

Now is a great time to follow my call to action: take time to revisit your goals and recommit!

Second: Reprioritize your goals.

Which goal will you focus on first? This would be the one you’re most excited about at this time. Which goal is second priority, third priority, and so on.

When you set out on this yearly journey and created these goals, your mindset and ambitions may have been different. Also, some things may have changed at work or in your personal life. Consequently, you may decide to pick a different priority one goal.

For example, if you received a well-deserved promotion to a different position with more responsibility, the goals you had for your former post would be obsolete. You would need to create a new set of goals that correspond to your new job.

And personal goals would alter if a major change like having a baby or becoming empty nesters is your new normal. If you had a baby, (or are a new dad), the goal of blogging or writing 1 hour a day is unrealistic. For empty nesters, the goal of traveling once a month is now totally possible.

Third: Note which milestone you’re currently working on.

If you broke it into milestones, are you at milestone 3, for example?

Note how many milestones or steps you have left in your goal. It’s time to plan.

Then, take a few minutes to look at the next steps for your goals. When could you reasonably accomplish each step? If you are fond of a structured approach, you could even sketch out a timeline at this point.

Take into account how long each step would take, the time you have to work on your goal, and any resources you’ll need. Other people may be willing to help you, but they may not be available right away, for example. Factor that in when you create your timeline.

Say you are working on some professional development classes to further your career. When will you finish your current class? Also, do you need a break between classes? Be aware that in college programs, some classes are only available either fall or winter semester. It’s wise to check on class availability.

Fourth: Revisit your motivation to achieve the goal.

What motivated you to create that goal or objective in the first place? Better pay, more recognition, a promotion, personal peace of mind, or health?

What drives you now? Which goal are you most excited about?

I firmly believe that each of us will be more successful when we focus on some goal or objective we are passionate about. I don’t believe in forcing myself to accomplish something I’m no longer motivated to do.

That being said, I am my own boss and I set the direction for my company. When you have a manager or boss running the show, you do need to accomplish the tasks and projects they set out for you. In a perfect world, your passion and your profession intersect.

Fifth: List the resources needed for success.

This is related to point #3. What resources do you need? Education, money, a mentor, experts within your company, time, and passion may play a part in reaching the objectives you’ve set.

Planning the steps in detail takes some time and thought. In fact, I’ve found it’s best, if your company permits it, to go off-site, turn off your phone and email notifications, and do a planning deep dive.

I know one company where the top admins go offsite for a planning session once a quarter. They see a huge benefit from this. (Company leaders are often the people who get interrupted the most onsite.)

The GM and her leadership team return with renewed enthusiasm for their projects and plans.

Sixth: Remember to celebrate your success!

This is something I don’t always do. I just smile, give myself a nod, and fall into an exhausted heap. Just kidding!

When I finish something big, I do celebrate. I did a happy dance the moment I opened that cardboard box and gazed on my book Get Organized Quick!

It’s healthy to celebrate your achievements; when you work hard, you deserve it!

Each of us have individual ways we celebrate; choose the reward that appeals to you. 😉

Remember my call to action? I’ll add one thing to it.

Take time to revisit your goals and attack the ones that excite you with renewed vigor.

What did you learn from this blog? I’d love to hear your comments here or on Facebook or LinkedIn.

by Jennifer Morin
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