Stop Depending on Remembering... Document Everything

Keeping track of our ever-growing to-do lists, resource materials, checklists, websites to reference and shopping lists gets progressively more overwhelming every day. The amount of information to be remembered is constantly increasing. How can we possibly remember it all, let alone take the actions necessary to respond to each request for attention?!?

No matter how we attempt to keep track of everything, we must keep in mind that our brains are meant for strategic and creative thinking, not remembering things. Our brains are less than ideal tools for keeping track of anything, and the biggest lie we tell ourselves is "I don't need to write that down; I'll remember it." How often does that actually work?

Get what must be remembered out of your head and document everything. Whether you choose a paper or electronic solution, do a data dump and collect it all in something other than your brain.

While you probably use a calendar for dates to remember, an address book for contacts' information and a task management solution for your must-do items, where do you cull together everything else that is overflowing your brain? Do you prefer a paper notebook, a mobile app or something accessible everywhere?

If you prefer a paper solution, I suggest you look at the Arc notebook system from Staples®. Once you choose which notebook size, style and color you prefer, you customize it with the type of paper preferred; then, you can segment the content to be retained with tab dividers, adjust the amount of paper that can be retained with expansion discs and move pages around by simply lifting them out and pressing them back into the rings however preferred.

I prefer to document everything in Evernote since it allows easy reference as I live, work and play on-the-go. This suite of applications allows me to use one username and password for accessing my information synced across all my devices (smartphone, tablet, laptop, desktop as well as accessible via the Internet), it has unbelievable search capabilities to find exactly what I need when I need it, it allows for uploading an extensive amount of different content types in various ways, and it empowers me to easily share content with others to boost collaboration. Whether retaining typed text, web clippings, photos of handwritten notes, checklists, audio / video recordings, bills from service providers or files, I can easily add those to my Evernote database; plus, when adding content, there are so many ways to seamlessly accomplish it: manually, scanning from my phone or the Fujitsu ScanSnap, IFTTT, emailing, FileThis and many more options.

As an Evernote Certified Consultant, I often post about ways to implement Evernote for your greater success, how you can utilize Evernote to boost productivity and ways Evernote will help alleviate your stress as you achieve harmony through work-life integration. To find these many helpful hacks and tidbits, simply search Evernote in the top, left-hand corner of this blog.

Do you already have a tool you prefer using to remember everything? Are you trying to rely on your brain, do you rely on a paper solution or do you have an electronic option you prefer? Have you tried Evernote for culling it all together?

Top Ten Favorite Monthly Reading Materials

Organize for Success® Turns 10 

In honor of 10 years of business for Organize for Success®, I will be posting a "top 10" list to this blog each day through Wednesday, May 31st. Each Sunday, my team will randomly select from those who commented on the prior week's "top 10" blog posts for a gift card giveaway and free download of one eBook via OrganizeForSuccess.biz/shop The grand prize for celebrating Organize for Success, LLC's 10 years will be awarded on Thursday, June 1st, randomly selecting from all those who commented on any of the month's "top 10" blog posts as well as those who have subscribed to my eNewsletter for a winner to receive downloads of all 5 eBooks, a pass for my Stress and Time Management online video course as well as a 60-minute productivity consultation via video conference.

Today, it's my top 10 favorite monthly reading materials. Although I have the Texture app for saving content into my Evernote account and can upload individual pages immediately with my Scannable app, I prefer flipping through the printed pages to read these:

10. Fast Company

9. Inc

8. O, The Oprah Magazine

7. Real Simple

6. Southern Living

5. The Kappa Alpha Theta Magazine, which is produced quarterly

4. Wake Forest Magazine, the alumni magazine of Wake Forest University, which is technically a quarterly publication, not monthly

3. Wired

2. Woman's Day

1. Women's Health

What are your favorite magazines? How often do you read them? Are there any on this list you'd like to try? Do you prefer to read them in printed or electronic format?

Top Ten Favorite Animals

Organize for Success® Turns 10

In honor of 10 years of business for Organize for Success®, I will be posting a "top 10" list to this blog each day through Wednesday, May 31st. Each Sunday, my team will randomly select from those who commented on the prior week's "top 10" blog posts for a gift card giveaway and free download of one eBook from OrganizeForSuccess.biz/shop. The grand prize package for celebrating Organize for Success, LLC's 10 years in business will be awarded on Thursday, June 1st, randomly selecting from all those who commented on any of the month's "top 10" blog posts as well as those who have subscribed to my eNewsletter for a winner to receive downloads of all 5 eBooks, a pass for my Stress and Time Management online video course as well as a 60-minute productivity consultation via video conference.

As this is Be Kind to Animals Week, today, let's cover my top ten favorite animals:

10. Lions - These largest cats are keenly able to assert authority when needed, regularly proving how they are incredible fighters and super protective of the others in their family group or pride.

9. Bees - These insects are hard workers, highly protective and the ultimate team players, working together with their hive to produce one of my favorites, honey, the perfect addition to my hot tea.

8. Monkeys - These animals are quick learners, display high sociability and prove to be both clever as well as nimble.

7. Elephants - The largest living terrestrial animals, these are said to "remember everything", inspiring the logo for my favorite app (Evernote); they are strong, intelligent and unstoppable leaders.

6. Tigers - These mammals are believed to be very intelligent, which I'd consider street smart as they hold their own out in the wild; plus, they are the mascot for Clemson University, which is the reigning NCAA national champion for football and where my oldest sister (Sissy Parks) attended undergraduate and graduate school.

5. Horses - These very strong animals are able to function well alone as well as part of a team. Plus, they have been characterized as very productive in both scenarios, often pulling heavy objects or functioning as a much-needed mode of transportation.

4. Dolphins - Considered one of the smartest animals, dolphins move with beautiful fluidity, look out for those in their same group and like to have fun; additionally, they must be in the water, and I have great memories from my childhood of floating past where the breakers were in the ocean with my dad.

3. Butterflies - These insects feed on flower nectar, constantly moving through stages of development and continually becoming more breath-taking over time while exhibiting how we must all learn something new daily to constantly continue our own growth.

2. Dogs - While I prefer the smaller breeds, especially Cockapoo, Miniature Schnauzer and Cocker Spaniel, all dogs are loyal, friendly, protective and usually very active, helping their owners get additional exercise by regularly walking them or playing catch.

1. Eagles - These birds have vision with sharpness that is at least four times that of a person with perfect vision. Eagles are fearless animals with great tenaciousness and full of life. They nurture their youth while soaring to incredible heights, like reaching lofty goals.

Which are your favorite animals and why? Further, what steps will you take to "be kind to animals" this week?

Top Ten Favorite Apps

Organize for Success® Turns 10

In honor of 10 years of business for Organize for Success®, I will be posting a "top 10" list to this blog each day through Wednesday, May 31st. Each Sunday, my team will randomly select from those who commented on the prior week's "top 10" blog posts for a gift card giveaway and free download of one eBook from OrganizeForSuccess.biz/shop. The grand prize package for celebrating Organize for Success, LLC's 10 years in business will be awarded on Thursday, June 1st, randomly selecting from all those who commented on any of the month's "top 10" blog posts as well as those who have subscribed to my eNewsletter for a winner to receive downloads of all 5 eBooks, a pass for my Stress and Time Management online video course as well as a 60-minute productivity consultation via video conference.

As a bit of a techie, narrowing down my favorite tech tools to only 10 is quite a challenge, but, today, here are my top 10 apps:

10. AroundMe - With all my traveling locally or nationwide, this app helps me quickly locate the closest coffee shop, gas station, movie theatre, parking deck, restaurant, grocery store or bank, allows me to search for specific businesses by name and shows the local weather report for wherever I might be located. Although there are separate apps I use for finding hidden treasures while traveling (like Along The Way, CurEat, Detour, Field Trip, Find. Eat. Drink., Gas Buddy, iExit, Offline, Peek and Roots Rated), this tool helps me easily find what I'm seeking amidst my surroundings no matter where I might be when doing the searching.

9. Doodle - Committee meetings, client sessions with corporate teams, planning appointments with those supporting my business efforts, getting my friends together for a girls' night out... There are countless times I need to schedule face-to-face commitments with groups of people. With Doodle, folks vote for which suggested option works best, and we schedule the meeting for whatever time works best for most, eliminating all the back-and-forth emailing.

8. Dropbox - Whether it's a Word document, Excel spreadsheet, PowerPoint presentation or PDF image, when I'm on-the-go, I must be able to quickly and easily access from any of my devices what files are needed; plus, many files are too large to email while a growing number of recipients are frightful to open unexpected attachments. Dropbox solves each of those issues: I can store files in the cloud to share between devices and easily share links for others to download items I'm trying to share with them.

7. Evernote - Online research, articles to review, training notes, ideas for upcoming workshops, checklists, client session summaries and much, much more... There's simply too much for my little brain to track, particularly since "Our brains are meant for thinking, not remembering", which is why Evernote's ability to help me "remember everything" is vital. My information syncs real-time between all my devices, organization is streamlined through notebooks and tags, I can quickly locate what I need when I need it, and I can easily collaborate with others. Amazing tool!

6. Facebook / Instagram - I am a big fan of the visual impact from scrolling through my Instagram feed; however, it's super frustrating to not be able to hyperlink those images directly to their related content. Facebook answers that quandary by allowing links alongside images, but it can get a bit cluttered at times. Both of these apps are owned by Facebook and make it difficult to see all the content shared by those you are following due to using algorithms; still, they offer great ways to stay connected with my favorite sources for up-to-date information as well as my friends.

5. PaperKarma - Want to cut down on the mail coming into your home or business? No need to go through the hassle of Catalog Choice. With this app, scan your address on the mailing label of what snail mail you've received; it'll block those future mailings. Although this app is on a brief hiatus right now, click on over to its website to be notified when it relaunches soon.

4. Scannable - There are many times I need to convert paper to an electronic file; this app easily captures the paper in my life quickly and beautifully, turning one page or multiple pages into high-quality scans that I can save to the photos on my phone, add to my account in Evernote, put in an online file repository, email someone or include in a text message. A great example is with magazine articles because I prefer reading my magazines in their printed forms but like to retain articles for later reference in an electronic form. Plus, if I use Scannable to scan business cards, the images become rich contacts with LinkedIn details, photos and the ability to add them to my phone's contacts.

3. Venmo - I'm often meeting clients in their offices or out at a public location, making it imperative to have this tool for collecting payments while out and about. Additionally, it's great for repaying friends for ticket purchases or splitting meals at restaurants. It pulls funds from the payee's Venmo account, bank account or debit account, moves money directly to the destination bank account in as little as one business day and is free unless the payment comes from a credit card, when it adds the standard 3% fee to the person making the payment, not whoever receives the money.

2. WRAL's Sports Fan - As a fan of the David Glenn Radio Show, which broadcasts noon - 3pm weekdays statewide across North Carolina, I like to catch what portions I can between appointments or while working on my Mac. Sometimes, I'm not in a position to listen to it on the radio, and this app makes it possible to catch the broadcast from wherever I'm working.

1. Zoom - Meeting virtually with clients nationwide requires a tool for face-to-face connections without having to travel any further than the screen of my tech tool. For 1-to-1 meetings, Zoom is quick, easy and free to use for video conferencing or screen-sharing, which is an awesome combo; then, for events with multiple participants, there are tiered pricing options.

Bonus - MusicID - I enjoy many different kinds of music but often hear a tune I like and wonder about the title / artist. When in doubt, I open MusicID, tap the circle for "Identify" and hold the phone near my speakers. Very quickly, all my questions about the song are answered, and I can hop to iTunes if I want to buy it.

Which apps are your favorites and why? Are there any on this list you'd like to check into further? 

Top Ten Favorite Sources for Up-To-Date Information

Organize for Success® Turns 10

In honor of 10 years of business for Organize for Success®, I will be posting a "top 10" list to this blog each day through Wednesday, May 31st. Each Sunday, my team will randomly select from those who commented on the prior week's "top 10" blog posts for a gift card giveaway and free download of one eBook from OrganizeForSuccess.biz/shop. The grand prize package for celebrating Organize for Success, LLC's 10 years in business will be awarded on Thursday, June 1st, randomly selecting from all those who commented on any of the month's "top 10" blog posts as well as those who have subscribed to my eNewsletter for a winner to receive downloads of all 5 eBooks, a pass for my Stress and Time Management online video course as well as a 60-minute video productivity consultation.

Today, let's cover my favorite sources for up-to-date information:

10. Evernote's Blog - As an Evernote Certified Consultant, I like to keep up with what's happening with this amazing tool; however, its blog goes way beyond simply talking about product updates. Members of the Evernote community provide best practices for implementing this suite of applications as well as general productivity, organization and business tips.

9. Real Simple - This company's magazine, website and related products offer practical information and useful tidbits related to money, family, life strategies, technology, travel, etiquette, organizing, food, recipes, beauty, fashion, holidays, entertaining, weddings and health. I find both their lists of "clever items to simplify your life" to be particularly inspiring, and you can subscribe to receive via email a daily quote that can be uplifting while amusing. Click here for a sampling of Daily Finds to get an idea of what content Real Simple regularly offers.

8. Lifehacker - With updates throughout the day on its site and social media as well as annual lists to be downloaded, this source "curates tips, tricks and technology for living better in the digital age". Lifehacker offers plenty of personal productivity and software recommendations to help you work smarter and save time. Always looking for additional content from worldwide experts, Lifehacker is a strong resource for work-life integration; click here for its pertinent details and follow whichever of its blogs are most applicable to you for ways to accomplish your priorities.

7. Make Use Of - Whether you sort the content by topics like Android, Gaming, Hardware, the Internet, iOS, Mac OS X and Windows or you reference its "top lists" of apps, software, tools and websites, there is a wealth of technology-focused information on the websites and social feeds of Make Use Of's brand. Click here to learn more about this "leading destination for digital productivity tips and your guide to cool stuff on the Internet." This source helps in using technology to boost work and play.

6. Mashable - As described in its summary here, "Mashable is a leading source for news, information and resources for the Connected Generation. Mashable reports on the importance of digital innovation and how it empowers and inspires people around the world." Whether you are seeking better understanding of apps, how to be your most productive, ways to implement gadgets, mobile devices, social media and software or tips for running your business, Mashable offers helpful and insightful content.

5. mindbodygreen - With a mission to "revitalize the way people eat, move and live", mindbodygreen breaks its articles into groupings that help improve how its community eats, moves, lives, breathes and loves. In addition, there are classes that can be purchased on meditation, yoga, personal growth, relationships, nutrition, fitness, spirituality and home as well as videos to help revitalize. As described in its About Us section, "mindbodygreen is a lifestyle media brand dedicated to inspiring you to live your best life"; to that end, it gives research, best practices and easy-to-implement tips for holistically improving mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally and environmentally.

4. Entrepreneur - This magazine and website provide advice, understanding and news for established as well as aspiring entrepreneurs about entrepreneurialism, small business management and related tools. As stated in its terms of service, Entrepreneur works to inspire, inform and celebrate entrepreneurs, offering practical tips to start and grow your business.

3. Fast Company - Per its About Us page here, Fast Company offers "a unique editorial focus on innovation in technology, ethical economics, leadership and design" and works to inspire "innovative and creative thought leaders who are actively inventing the future of business". Fast Company sets out "to chronicle how changing companies create and compete, to highlight new business practices and to showcase the teams and individuals who are inventing the future and reinventing business." This is a great source for content regarding technology, business and design.

2. Huffington Post - Founded by conservative-turned-liveral Arianna Huffington, this online news aggregator is a destination for content regarding world news, U. S. politics, business, technology, entertainment, style, television, arts, books, food, recipes and comedy information. This site provides both reliable, breaking news as well as commentary and can catch you up on an expansive breadth and depth of what is happening across a wide array of topics. Click here to learn more about the community's code of conduct and how to comment on this site's conversations.

1. Inc - For tips, advice, tools and services to help you start, run and grow your business, Inc's printed publication, website and social media feeds are exceptional. As it describes itself, this is the only major publication designed exclusively to "guide CEOs and owners of small-to-midsize companies to success". While plenty of useful information is available on its homepage, I like to visit its Technology page and its Grow page. This is a great source for information about starting up, growing your company, leading, innovations, technology and money.

Bonus - PureWow - This website presents visually-appealing content on lifestyle, tech, fashion, beauty, family, money, food, recipes, wellness, home, books, entertainment, weddings, how-to instructions, trends and travel musts. I like how its About page says "PureWow elevates your everyday." Its team focuses on making "life more interesting, beautiful and manageable."

Which websites are your favorites and why? Are there any on this list you'd like to check into further? 

Top Ten Favorite Cities

Organize for Success® Turns 10

In honor of 10 years of business for Organize for Success®, I will be posting a "top 10" list to this blog each day through Wednesday, May 31st. Each Sunday, my team will randomly select from those who commented on the prior week's "top 10" blog posts for a gift card giveaway and free download of one eBook from OrganizeForSuccess.biz/shop. The grand prize package for celebrating Organize for Success, LLC's 10 years in business will be awarded on Thursday, June 1st, randomly selecting from all those who commented on any of the month's "top 10" blog posts as well as those who have subscribed to my eNewsletter for a winner to receive downloads of all 5 eBooks, a pass for my Stress and Time Management online video course as well as a 60-minute productivity consultation via video conference.

Today, let's cover my top ten favorite cities (or towns):

10. San Francisco, California - The Golden Gate Bridge isn't the only amazing view overlooking the Pacific Ocean and the San Francisco Bay. Add to those breath-taking visuals some of our country's greatest restaurants as well as the home of Ghirardelli Chocolate Company and Evernote, one of my favorite tech tools, and there are plenty of reasons to visit the San Francisco Bay area. As one of the last places to which I traveled with Dad, San Francisco will always hold a special place in my heart.

9. New Orleans, Louisiana - It's easy to customize your experience in New Orleans to exactly what you desire, making it a perfect city in the rotation of hosts for the National Automobile Dealers Association annual convention. For the party animals, there is always Mardi Gras. For the thrill seekers, you can get behind the wheel of a Ferrari and take a lap around the track at NOLA Motorsports Park with Xtreme Xperience. I like the jazz music around almost every corner, the many varied museum options and, of course, beignets from Cafe Du Monde. My mouth is watering!

8. St. Louis, Missouri - When my aunt and uncle lived in Ballwin and, then, St. Charles, both just outside of St. Louis, my mom, grandmother, younger brother and I took a road trip up to visit them. While I could write a book about the drive itself, it's the city of St. Louis that everyone can and should enjoy. Our fun-filled adventure included the Gateway Arch, the Saint Louis Zoo, delicious fudge boiled in copper kettles from The Fudgery at the depot in downtown and absolutely a tour of the Anheuser-Busch Brewery to meet the iconic Budweiser Clydesdales.

7. New York, New York - After graduating from Princeton University, one of my older brothers lived in Manhattan working as an architect for about 15 years, and I was blessed to be able to visit him at least once a year throughout that time period. We delighted in amazing theatrical productions, engaging museum exhibits (especially at my favorite museum, which is the Metropolitan Museum of Art) and more delicious meals than I could ever list out, including steak from Smith and Wollensky as well as Italian from Frutti Di Mare, which has since closed. After many a stay in the Waldorf Astoria New York, I cannot wait to see what it will be like following the renovation happening now.

6. San Antonio, Texas - I've been a San Antonio Spurs' fan since back when David Robinson was wearing jersey number 50; however, when the incredible Tim Duncan arrived there from my Wake Forest University, it simply cemented my fandom. Therefore, when I got the opportunity to attend an NBA Finals game in San Antonio on Sunday, July 21, 2013, I absolutely jumped at the chance to see my Spurs in person, especially in the AT&T Center. As getting to the game on time and cheering through every minute of the action was my only focus, I'm extremely grateful that I was traveling with my friend Heather Hooper, who made sure I enjoyed all the city had to offer: tasty treats along the river walk, Rio San Antonio Cruises, Market Square, shopping at Rivercenter and touring The Alamo. Did you know that current TSA rules prohibit taking hot sauce in your carry-on? For real!

5. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - Having recently been introduced to Pittsburgh, I can't believe I didn't make it there sooner. From Pirates baseball to Steelers football and all sorts of sports options from the University of Pittsburgh, entertainment abounds; then, there are the beautiful views from all the bridges and up the incline of Mt. Washington. Ranking well in Zagat's best US cities for food, Pittsburgh offers plenty of outstanding, locally-owned restaurants, like Butcher and the Rye, Morcilla, Sienna Mercato, Ten Penny and Vallozzi's. I enjoyed Market Square and how eco-friendly the convention center was with its green roof.

4. Nashville, Tennessee - This might be the most perfect mix of all my favorites in one city! There are musicians on almost every corner, and you can fully indulge in legendary country music at the Grand Ole Opry, the Bluebird Cafe as well as the Ryman Auditorium, learning even more than imaginable at the Country Music Hall of Fame. Sports are covered with the Tennessee Titans, the Nashville Predators and Vanderbilt University's many athletics teams. Plus, the tasty treats are endless at local restaurants, including ACME Feed and Seed, Adele's (which is built in what used to be a car dealership), Biscuit Love, Husk, Puckett's and The Southern. We enjoyed staying at the Gaylord Opryland, strolling through the farmers' market and views of the Cumberland River.

3. Winston-Salem, North Carolina - Growing up about 20 minutes from downtown Winston meant that we spent a good deal of time heading into this city for everything from movies to restaurants to the mall, even attending Centenary United Methodist Church. I'm a proud Demon Deacon graduate of Wake Forest University, which is located in Winston, and I'm amazed at how this city continues to grow at such a rapid rate. Must-try restaurants here now include Crafted: The Art of the Taco, Fabian's Restaurant, Fratelli's Italian Steakhouse, Meridian Restaurant, Milner's American Southern Cuisine and Cocktails, Mozelle's Fresh Southern Bistro, Paul's Fine Italian Dining, Rooster's Wood-Fired Kitchen, Ryan's Restaurant, Spring House Restaurant and Village Tavern. For a great jolt of caffeine, I highly recommend Camino Bakery. From the bar scene, you might want to consider Burke Street Pub, Foothills Brewing, Tavern in Old Salem, Tate's Craft Cocktails and Wise Man Brewing. Finally, for attractions, make time for Historic Bethabara Park, Old Salem, Reynolda House Museum of American Art and Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art.

2. Kernersville, North Carolina - I truly appreciate having been born and raised in this town that is smack-dab in the middle of our great state. With equally easy drives from this town to the beach or the mountains, it is one of the few places that actually experiences all 4 seasons (winter, spring, summer and fall). There are great parks, charming boutiques and plenty of options for supporting local restaurants, like Giada's Trattoria, J Pepper's, Outwest Steakhouse, Plaza Restaurant, Prissy Polly's Pig Pickin' BBQ as well as Sixty Six Pizzeria Grill and Bar; however, it's the annual events that really make this town special and memorable: Spring Folly is coming up this weekend, Oktoberfest at Historic Korner's Folly and The Honeybee Festival each August.

1. Raleigh, North Carolina - My home is Raleigh, where we are blessed with something happening all the time, from the Carolina Ballet to Broadway shows at Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts. I absolutely love attending concerts in Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek Amphitheatre, but it's also only a short drive to the Durham Performing Arts Center or Cary's Koka Booth Amphitheatre. Raleigh is part of the Triangle region in North Carolina, where college sports are plentiful with the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, Duke University and North Carolina State University; yet, there are plenty of professional sports' options, too, including the Carolina Hurricanes, the Durham Bulls, the Carolina Mudcats and a reasonable drive to the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte. Plus, Raleigh is definitely one of the best cities for food, including an abundance of locally-owned and -operated restaurants (Beasley's Chicken + Honey, Cafe Carolina, Cafe Luna, Cave 1912, Chuck's, Coquette, Death and Taxes, Driftwood Southern Kitchen, Irregardless Cafe, Nantucket Grill, NOFO at the Pig, Poole's Diner, Relish Craft Restaurant and Bourbon Bar, The Pit Authentic Barbecue, Village Grill, Winston's Grille and Zest Cafe) as well as coffee shops (42 and Lawrence, Benelux Coffee, Bittersweet, Brew Coffee Bar, Jubala Village Coffee, Liquid State Coffee + Wine + Beer, Lucette Grace, Sir Walter Coffee, Sola Coffee Cafe, Videri Chocolate Factory and Yellow Dog Bread Company). If you'd like to be a little more active, Raleigh offers plenty of parks for outdoor adventures, the Triangle Rock Club and museums for growth or learning. Don't forget Raleigh's craft beer industry, spotlighted in the Brewgaloo festival.

Bonus - Chattanooga, Tennessee - Back when my nephew graduated from The McCallie School, all my siblings and parents trekked up to this fair city; luckily, I was in the half of us that flew there instead of the half that apparently almost drove off the side of the mountain, but I digress. Chattanooga offers simply magnificent mountainside views from atop Lookout Mountain, Rembrandt's Coffee has the most delicious dessert options, and there's plenty to do or see along its revitalized riverwalk.

Which locations have been your favorites to live in or visit? Are there any on your bucket list that you have yet to go see? Boston is still on my list, and I'm always searching for additional suggestions of ideal destinations. Looks like I need a warm, tropical city on this list, right?!?

Top Ten Favorite Mantras

Organize for Success® Turns 10

In honor of 10 years of business for Organize for Success®, I will be posting a "top 10" list to this blog each day from Monday, May 1st through Wednesday, May 31st. Each Sunday, my team will randomly select from those who commented on the prior week's "top 10" blog posts for a gift card giveaway and free download of one eBook from OrganizeForSuccess.biz/shop. The grand prize package for celebrating Organize for Success, LLC's 10 years in business will be awarded on Thursday, June 1st, randomly selecting from all those who commented on any of the month's "top 10" blog posts as well as those who have subscribed to my eNewsletter for a winner to receive downloads of all 5 eBooks, a pass for my Stress and Time Management online video course as well as a 60-minute productivity consultation via video conference.

To kick things off, let's start with 10 of my favorite mantras:

10. You are in business to make a living AND to make a difference. While I've always felt the power of this sentiment in creating my work-life integration principles, I credit the talented Olalah Njenga with giving me the right words to verbalize my belief. Only when we honor what really matters in all elements of life (work, home, community and ourselves) can we truly feel fulfilled, making a living while making a difference, and owning my own business better enables success with that.

9. Never underestimate your influence on others. As Maya Angelou is famous for sharing, "People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." When what you say and what you do makes another person feel good, it's amazing what action that will fuel.

8. Practice the power of one. Although Three Dog Night might've wanted folks to believe one is the loneliest number, I believe wholeheartedly that one is the most powerful number for productivity. When each of us has one calendar for personal and professional, one running data dump of all tasks that funnels into our daily to-do list, one address book for all contacts' information, one set of naming conventions for all files, one place for all the information to be remembered, one weekly strategy session and one daily wrap-up, we are more likely to keep our information up-to-date, access what's needed efficiently when needed, not double-book ourselves and ensure things don't fall through the cracks.

7. A place for everything, and everything in its place. Once something has a designated home, it is more likely to return there after being used, each and every time; plus, when you need it, you can more quickly locate exactly what you need. Piles often arise from not knowing what to do with what is being accumulated; when everything has a home, it limits delays from decision-making.

6. Keep like with like. When similar or related items are grouped near each other, it makes finding items much simpler for yourself as well as others using the same place. For example, store the tape, scissors and stapler in one drawer together. However, don't stop there; group together similar or related actions to more efficiently power through getting things done.

5. Done is better than perfect so focus on good enough. Perfectionism is frequently the cause of procrastination as the completion of tasks is delayed for "the right time" or projects drag on endlessly as we aim to get them done "just right". Often, others' expectations of the finished product are not at the level of our own, which is particularly important when preparing projects for our committees, clients, bosses and households. It can be difficult to manage our time investments so we don't care more about a project that those for whom we are doing the work.

4. Don't prioritize your schedule; schedule your priorities. Over time, priorities will shift, which makes it imperative to know what are our highest priorities from day to day or moment to moment; then, once we are clear on what matters most, it is up to each of us to shuffle our commitments around so that our calendars reflect what is most important. Each day, we have 1,440 minutes, and we must manage how we invest our limited time so each top priority earns a portion of our available time.

3. Burnout results from a misalignment between your goals and your daily actions. According to Dictionary.com, burnout is "fatigue, frustration or apathy resulting from prolonged stress, overwork or intense activity". Although the emphasis we place on each area will fluctuate, we all have goals in the areas of work, home, community and ourselves; investing our time in actions that don't reflect our current priorities or drive us toward achieving today's goals will be felt as stress and overwork. When something must be done but not necessarily by me, it is my responsibility to find someone or something to whom I can delegate its completion; when something needs to be done later or not at all, I must consider delaying or deleting it. We all must do what we can to keep our daily actions aligned with what will fuel desired results.

2. Each day is a new beginning; end each day with the next in mind. If I get off track investing my time in what matters most, it's okay; I can start anew the next day. Still, whatever I can do at the end of each day to properly prepare for investing the next day's time in what matters most will make my success much easier. At the end of each day, I make sure I review the current day's successes, documenting that for which I'm grateful as well as fine-tuning the next day's game plan for time commitments, tasks needing attention, what I'll wear and what I'll eat.

1. Our brains are meant for thinking, not remembering, so document what you need to recall. Whether that thinking is strategic or creative, it requires full commitment from all my brain cells. Therefore, anything I must remember (to-do lists, reference materials, checklists, research) needs to be dumped out of my brain and culled together in some solution, whether paper or electronic. Personally, I like culling all the information together in my Evernote account, but finding whichever solution works best for your unique personality and work style matters most.

Bonus - A day in which I didn't learn something new is a wasted day. My goal in life is to leave the world a better place than I found it, but that's not possible without continual learning. No matter how big or small the lesson of the day, there's always something more I can learn. There are many sources for growth and learning: conversations with others, watching how people respond to what's happening around us, reading and so much more. Innovation surrounds us, but we must pay attention to it all.

What sorts of mantras do you have regularly floating through your thoughts? Are there any new mantras you can adopt to better achieve your desired results?