Last month, my article was about
commitment to goals. Today’s article is about when commitment and all our wonderful strengths and skills just aren’t enough. It happens to all of us at times.
In “The Village You Choose,” you’ll read about
life preservers. When you have a looming and large new challenge or life change, these people, these life preservers, will support you, educate and encourage you as you take steps into your next chapter.
These friends, colleagues and professionals are those who respect you and believe in you, perhaps more than you believe in yourself, at that time of change. They do not step in and save you. They buoy you up when you need it and for as long as you do. Read about how to create your own team or village in my article and related blog articles below.
As the Northeast U.S. moves towards the end of one of our longest, most snow-filled winters on record, many of us are sharing flower photos on
Facebook. The “flower power” photos throughout this issue are my own, taken on a photo shoot recently, with someone from my village. She pulls me out every few weeks, finds a place for photos or a MeetUp and off we go to develop skills, learn, socialize and have fun.
To Your Organized Life (and village!)
Sue@OrganizeNH.com
cell 603-765-9267
office 603-554-1948
Quotable
“What I like most about change is that it's a synonym for 'hope.' ”If you are taking a risk, what you are really saying is, 'I believe in tomorrow and I will be part of it.'"
Linda Ellerbee
Upcoming Classes & Events
The Village You Choose
I was quite shy, as a child, young adult and even beyond. I relied
only on myself. I was proud of that, for awhile. I was my own island, doing it all.
In my first career, working in high tech, I took on roles which taught me how to work on a team and eventually I led and built teams. I now work with clients as part of their team or supporting/coaching on building their life’s team because I believe in this so strongly as a way to create a life that fits us well.
My biggest life tests about reaching out came due to several, big, pretty scary and riskier-than-usual life changes I went through, all at once, about ten years ago. With so much change, I just could not figure it out all my own, not only the practical, but what was happening to me and the person I was becoming. Lost, shaky, and unsure of what was next, I needed friends and professionals to work with on creating my next chapter. I had made great strides from being just an island to supporting my village!
As life gets busier, more complex and our time gets splintered, it becomes, well, almost necessary to have a team or a village. Are you at mid-life, with business, children, and parents to manage? Do you have ADHD or think you do? Are you single or caregiving and needing to manage everything pretty much on your own?
Working with “life preservers” is a smart choice. “Life preservers” don’t do
for you; they work
with you.
How and why: create your own village or team
Are you stronger at
dreaming or implementing? Creating or managing, operationalizing, systematizing in business? Find the one you’re not as keen on and work together.
Are you the person who
easily dives into a new project? And then gets stuck, bored or tired of it, before finishing? Work with someone – partner, spouse, coach, buddy – to bring you to the finish line. Get them involved and you’ll have better staying power.
What are you
afraid of or procrastinating about? Pay attention to these feelings. Whether nervous or procrastinating, you can talk it through with someone to figure out a solution, or you could read, consult, or hire an expert to bolster your team. Don’t know much about financial planning, taxes, travel plans? Add this person to your team for just one test project. Consistent, underlying demons: find a therapist you can be comfortable talking with. See how it goes and then decide if this is a permanent role you need or just for a season.
Hunter or farmer? Big picture or details? We have both in our home and work lives and sometimes we have to do both. Work on the tedious tasks, while someone else comes to your office or home (e.g., bookkeeper, cleaning service, assistant). Use their presence to focus. Or socialize to make it go faster (call a friend while you’re both picking up around the house or clearing your desk for the day).
Deadlines: A deadline or commitment you make to another person is frequently more powerful in terms of completion than a deadline to yourself. First, set up a meeting with your tax accountant, your virtual administrative assistant, or your coach and
then start the work to you must complete by your meeting. Reverse the typical process and you’ll create a fire to get it done.
Never been through this sort of change before? Go to a class to educate yourself or go online. Attend a support group about caregiving or your own challenge and learn from others who have been through it. Hire an expert, a therapist, a coach. Bolster your confidence, find your strengths again, and stay curious.
So open yourself up to others by asking about their experience. Ask friends and colleagues about their experience, pay an expert or exchange services.
And then learn to choose what works for you and what does not,
even when the advice is given with all the best intentions. You are the expert on you.
A village can help you get started! If you’d like “20 Strategies to Get Started,” please email me for my tip sheet. Hit “reply” and just say “tip sheet please.”
Related Articles
Organize for a Fresh Start:
Embrace Your Next Chapter in Life
Reader's Review:
This book is not just about organization, but it's about getting a fresh start, beginning a new chapter, for example if you're expecting a baby, or if you're getting, or recently got divorced.
I really appreciated this because I was divorced a couple years ago and I was starting over. This book is not only about removing physical clutter from your life, but emotional clutter as well.
There are motivational exercises to help you organize, like filling in blanks, creating goals, visualization. There is no one fix for everyone regarding organization. It's about finding out what works for you.
I do like the organization tips in the book. The author goes from room to room giving practical advice. She's a professional organizer herself and knows her stuff.
