The Best of Barbara

Posted on December 17, 2011 by teresa

The Best of Barbara

Barbara Vojtech

Every month, I receive a special envelope in the mail from my Aunt Barbara.  It is a thick and bulky business envelope with a stamped, “happy smiley face” under the return address.  The envelope almost always arrives full of wrinkles and creases due to the changes in the thickness from one area to another within the envelope.

When the letter arrives, I eagerly rip it open.  This special letter is not just a typical letter to keep me informed of family news.  No….it is more important than that.  It is filled with treasure….faith, hope, dreams, love, comfort, and peace.   It will take away my worries and put a smile on my face.  It will give me the secret to success and provide a path to overcome disappointment.  It will put a value on my time and help me to take action.  In this envelope, I hold the secret to life itself, and the pathway to God.  Yes, it is a treasure that my Aunt Barbara has sent to me.  A treasure that money can’t buy.

The contents within the envelope are nothing more than little scraps of paper.  Lots of scraps of paper!  The bits of paper come in all different sizes.  Some are small pages, while others are just a very narrow strip of paper.  No two are cut into the same shape.  Some are rectangular, while others are cut with little notches, jogs, and curves. 

 So what is this precious treasure from Aunt Barbara?  I pick up the first piece of paper and read the following poem:

Let Them Know

Let somebody know you’re caring
Take the time to listen to
What they want so much to tell you
For the gentle folks are few
You are not so high and mighty
That you cannot spare a smile
For you never know when you might
Need somebody after-while.

Let somebody know they matter
Do not turn and look away
You will someday have to answer
For the things you do today
Never be in such a hurry
That you have no time to do
A kindly deed, else someday God
Might not have time for you!

The next piece of paper I pick up is a long strip that Barbara has handwritten:

Teamwork divides the task and multiplies the success.

One by one, I continue reading:

Oh Father,  remind me that working together out of love can bring healing.  Let me walk a path that always leads to love. ~Oscar Green

Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.

Act as if it were impossible to fail. ~Dorthea Brande

Never underestimate the power of a kind word or deed.

Kindness in words creates confidence.
Kindness in thinking creates profoundness.
Kindness in giving creates love.

I pick up another piece of paper hastily cut into a shape resembling a house:

RULE FOUR
for a Better Way to Live

Always reward your long hours of labor and toil in the bery best way, surrounded by your family.  Nurture their love carefully remembering that your children need models, not critics, and your own progress will hasten when you constantly strive to present your best side to your children.  And even if you have failed at all else in the eyes of the world, if you have a loving family, you are a success.

 

When I am done reading the thick stack of quotes, poems, and meditations that Aunt Barbara has sent, I realize that she has sent me the Best of Barbara.  She has sent her heart and loving spirit in each envelope.  She has offered me the tools to build a better life and the ideas to make me reach for the stars.

Years ago, Aunt Barbara received an inheritance.  There was a condition placed on the trust she inherited….the funds could only be used for something she loves to do without spending it on her family.  The monthly envelopes she mails to people all over the United States was how she chose to spend her inheritance. 

Uncle Walter and Aunt Barbara Vojtech

Aunt Barbara has been faithful in sending her inspiratonal envelopes every month, even when she is not feeling well.  She has had about nine surgeries on her knee replacements.  The bone which her knee replacement is attached to is crumbling.  She will have another major surgery on her knee to replace the bone to which her knee replacement attaches.  Please lift her up in your prayers as she has lifted up so many people with her devotion to inspiring others.

During this Christmas Season, we are all reminded to offer gifts to others.  When the holiday is over, we have a tendancy to go back to our daily lives until the next Christmas when we start thinking about what to give our friends and family again.  Barbara has found a way to keep the Spirit of Giving alive every month of every year.  There are many ways you can take this same Spirit of Giving and apply it to your life in your own unique way.  For some, it may be volunteering.  Others may bring the Spirit of Giving by helping the sick or comforting those who are grieving.  I have chosen to help people improve their lives through the tools offered by Make Today Matter, my website, and social media.

What avenue will you take to fuel the Spirit of Giving and show you care? 
Are you giving the Best of You?

   

Teresa Douglas is a consultant with Make Today Matter and specializes in life management and balance for today’s busy woman. After years in the corporate world of laboratory sales, Teresa decided to start a business which offered women something of value to make a real difference in the lives of those around her.
Make Today Matter is based on the book by Brook Noel, “The Change Your Life Challenge”.  I am so excited to be able to offer other women the same system that helped me out so much”.
Teresa was raised in Northern Wisconsin and moved to St. Louis in 1990. She has three grown children and two lively grandsons. She ran a successful small business for ten years. She is also a musician and makes all-natural soap and skincare products.
 
Posted in Giving | 6 Comments

1000 Facebook Fans

Posted on December 7, 2011 by teresa

THANK YOU!  THANK YOU!  THANK YOU!  THANK YOU!

Oh Happy Day!!! 

Thank You for being a Fan!
Make Today Matter has reached
1000 Facebook Fans!!!

Thank you for your interest, dedication, and participation on my Facebook page.  If you are not currently a Facebook Fan, please stop by, and hit “Like” to join the fun.  I post items that will uplift and encourage you to make each day better and improve your life.  Please go to my fan page at:

https://www.facebook.com/teresa.mtmdirect.

In celebration of the 1000 Fan milestone, I am offering a free Mini-Makeover from Make Today Matter.  Each month, our members can choose up to three mini-makeovers.  They range from subjects about improving our time management, getting rid of clutter, self discovery, to money saving techniques like selling on Ebay and couponing.  We currently offer 154 mini-makeovers with more topics being added each month.

The Free Mini-Makeover Gift to all of my Facebook Fans is:

 #139  Principles for Peace of Mind

I chose this as your gift because as we come into the holiday season, it is easy to get lost in the hustle bustle.  We all worry about getting everything accomplished with limited time.  Some people may have feelings of depression and disappointment at this time of year.  This mini-makeover is a 25 minute audio by Brook Noel who presents techniques to eliminante worry and bring peace and calmness to your life. 

Principles for Peace has two files: 1) a 25 minute audio and 2) Affirmation Cards
You can access them by clicking on the following links.  Right click and choose “Save as” to save the file to your computer. 

Audio by Brook Noel:  139 Principles for Peace of Mind

Affirmation Cards:  PeaceofMindAffirmationCards

Mini #139 Course Description:

As we strive to make the best of weeks, months, and years, it is important to remember how much our attitude and thought patterns influence each day. When we work to build better days, the weeks and months take care of themselves. In this Mini we will review principles that can help you attain peace of mind, release worry and anxiety. These positive principles will not only help you with self-esteem, they will help you move toward your goals and improve relationships with others.

I printed the affirmation cards on cardstock and then put a clear “Contact paper” vinyl sheet over the page.  Next, I cut out the individual cards with my paper cutter.  I carry these affirmation cards in my Catch All Notebook or tuck them into cards and letters to bless my friends and family.  I also put them around my house in strategic locations, like the bathroom mirror, to start my day with positive thoughts.

 

Thank you for being a fan!  I hope you enjoy the Mini-Makeover for a calmer and more peaceful Holiday Season. 

 You can take advantage of  our other Mini-Makeovers by becoming a member of Make Today Matter.  For information on our membership program go here.

 

Teresa Douglas is a consultant with Make Today Matter and specializes in life management and balance for today’s busy woman. After years in the corporate world of laboratory sales, Teresa decided to start a business which offered women something of value to make a real difference in the lives of those around her.  Make Today Matter is based on the book by Brook Noel, “The Change Your Life Challenge”. Teresa was raised in Northern Wisconsin and moved to St. Louis in 1990. She has three grown children and two lively grandsons. She ran a successful small business for ten years. She is also a musician and makes all-natural soap and skincare products. 

Posted in Gratitude and Thankfulness | Leave a comment

Think Outside The Litter Box

Posted on August 16, 2011 by teresa

Think Outside The Litter Box

Several years ago, we built a patio in our backyard. Mark and I love to sit on the patio and watch the birds at our feeders. Many times I will see a new bird and quickly grab my bird identification guides, so I know what name to call my new feathered visitor.

We have a pair of squirrels that live in the big silver maple that provides all of our shade. They are fun to watch as they scurry around the yard and play on the neighbors chain link fence. They also love to sit under our bird feeders and eat the seeds the birds spilled to the ground. I love to watch these cute and adorable little creatures. We have had a complete and balanced ecosystem until this year.

Our pleasant ecosystem has been terrorized by a multitude of baby squirrels that were born this year. Our nice little squirrel family had a population explosion the likes of which, I have never seen before. The adults are well behaved, but the babies are acting like delinquent teenagers. They have been digging holes all over my yard. They chase each other relentlessly in their play making quite a loud racket in my formerly serene oasis.

This squirrel invasion reaches the height of criminality when I go to my garden and find that they will not leave me even one tomato! They have eaten every one of them! The same holds true with my zucchini and butternut squash. As soon as any vegetable is about 1 inch in length, the little bandits eat them. They are even eating my cayenne peppers! Actually, they take one bite of each pepper and leave them on the ground. Can’t they leave me anything? Do they really have to take it all?

Recently, my father was in St. Louis and I took him to the Bass Pro Shop. The huge store has everything any sportsman would love, including a huge fish tank and beautiful taxidermy trophies that hunter’s love to drool over. We were discussing my squirrel problem when a man peaked out from one of the aisles saying he overheard us and he had the same problem. Soon, we had a group of people all complaining about the squirrel infestation.

The aisle we were standing in was stocked with air guns and several people bought them to eradicate the pests. That is not an option for me in my city abode. I do not want the police knocking on my door!

The first man said he tried using an air gun and it didn’t work because it was too time consuming due to the large numbers of the squirrel population. He suggested we build an electric fence around the garden. He built one with a car battery, wire, and insulators. He put foil pie tins all around it to chase the birds away from the electrically charged wire. He claimed this was the only solution he has found to get rid to the little vermin. I am sure his solution works great, but it seems a bit extreme to me. First, I would feel bad if one of the birds I love to watch decided to perch on that electric fence. Secondly, I don’t want to electrocute my cat!

Setting out rat poison for them isn’t a good idea for the same reasons. I would not want to accidentally poison the wrong animals.

I suggested to Mark that we set some live traps and then release the captive squirrels at one of the local parks where they won’t disturb any gardens. That conversation never materialized into Mark actually making the purchase of the trap. I believe that the first time you mention something, they might not hear or understand you. The second time you mention something is a reminder. And the third time you mention something, you become a nag! Alas, without a live trap, I am still trying to solve my squirrel problem.

One friend suggested the squirrels are destroying my garden because they are hungry and dehydrated from the exceptionally hot summer this year. I don’t think my squirrels have that problem. They are fat from all the birdseed that falls to the ground and they get into the birdbath for water.

At this point, my attitude about squirrels is not very good! I have lost all the good feelings I used to get from watching them. I once thought were cute little backyard friends and now I feel like shooting every one of them! I know I can’t do that, but I am not ready to give up yet.

My grandson’s paternal grandmother, Angie, is a professional gardener. She has a business selling plants and has set up a roadside stand to sell her tomatoes and other vegetables. Ethan, my five year old grandson, has become an accomplished tomato salesman at the roadside stand.

Recently, I described my squirrel problem and asked Angie for advice. She told me that squirrels hate cats and I should turn my cat loose on them and the squirrels will scatter.

That is a wonderful solution! That is, unless, you have a cat like my Tally. He gets scared and runs away from squirrels. I have even seen him run away from a little sparrow when it chirped! I love Tally…he is a wonderful house cat, but he does not know how to be a hunter. He was a stray that I rescued from euthanasia at the animal shelter. He was a beautiful kitten, but unfortunately, he was separated from his mother too young to learn the lessons a mother cat usually teaches her babies. Hunting squirrels (or any other critter) was not one of the things he learned from his mother. My backyard birds have nothing to fear from Tally.

Angie agreed that Tally was not going to scare the squirrels. Next, she had a unique solution. She told me to take some used kitty litter and sprinkle it around the garden. I must admit, I thought this is a little drastic. However, I am getting desperate to get the squirrels out of my garden and agreed to try the unconventional solution.

The next day, I cleaned the litter box and put the used litter into a double layer of plastic grocery bags. I took the bag of nasty, used, kitty litter outside to the garden. I tried not to inhale the acrid aroma of ammonia while I daintily shoveled clumps of litter out of the bag and sprinkled it all around the perimeter of my garden. I was thinking that I will feel really foolish for playing with kitty litter if this doesn’t work.

A week later I inspected my garden. I felt like a detective trying to solve a a crime. Did the little bandits continue their looting spree in my garden? Did my unconventional use of kitty litter protect my garden from the squirrels? First, I looked at my tomato plants. I had two small tomatoes about 1 or 2 inches in diameter which were high up on the vine. It is possible the tomatoes survived because they were not within reach of the fluffy-tailed rodents. Then, I turned my attention to the squash. I breathlessly lifted a leaf of my zucchini and saw a small squash forming. I moved a few more leaves and found a few more small zucchini squash about 2 inches long. Until now, the squirrels ate them when the reached about 1 inch in length. I looked at my huge butternut squash vine. There, hiding under the leaves, were six butternut squash about 4 inches long.

I was thrilled at the prospect that I may still be able to have a harvest from my garden. I immediately went to Tally’s litter box and filled another bag with used kitty litter, which I sprinkled around the garden perimeter again.

This whole experience taught me to think outside of the (litter) box. I had a whole new attitude about taking cat litter out to my garden this time. The aroma and the nastiness of spreading the litter didn’t seem so bad. In fact, I was happy to spread the kitty litter this time! I wasn’t so angry at the squirrels anymore and felt content to let them live in peace as long as the stayed out of my garden.

I realized that my attitude was bad because I was using one-sided thinking. My only thought was focused on getting rid of the squirrels that were terrorizing my backyard. I learned that instead of one-sided thinking, I needed to think outside of my own wants and look at what was going on in the mind of the squirrels. In my one track mind, I didn’t even consider what would make the squirrels want to leave my garden alone. I was intent on blaming the squirrels for the problems in my garden. If I had taken their natural behavior into account, I would have lots of tomatoes by now. I really only have my own bad attitude to blame.

We all encounter situations that could result in anger, worry, despair, and many other negative emotions. The problem is never the event, but rather, our thinking about the situation. The ability to recognize bad thought patterns is imperative to understanding how we can change to a more positive response. You don’t have to hold on to your worry, anxiety, anger, low self esteem, or negative thoughts.

The next time you feel trapped by your current thinking, take a moment and begin to think about changing your thought process. You can do what I did with my squirrel problem…think outside the litter box!

Our 10 Day Attitude Makeover class will provide helpful techniques to change negative thinking and create more joy in your life. You don’t have to settle for feeling drained, anxious, irritable, or moody. Click the link below to learn more about the class.

 Click on image for information

Current class enrollment starts August 15 until August 21, 2011

Teresa Douglas is a consultant with Make Today Matter and specializes in life management and balance for today’s busy woman. After years in the corporate world of laboratory sales, Teresa decided to start a business which offered women something of value to make a real difference in the lives of those around her.

Make Today Matter is based on the book by Brook Noel, “The Change Your Life Challenge”. Teresa was skeptical at first because she had a whole bookcase of self-help books filled with lots of failed promises. Teresa said, “After using the program, I was able to accomplish so much more than I did before. I was enjoying my life and finding all the little miracles that make each day special. I am so excited to be able to offer other women the same system that helped me out so much”.

Teresa was raised in Northern Wisconsin and moved to St. Louis in 1990. She has three grown children and two lively grandsons. She ran a successful small business for ten years. She is also a musician and makes all-natural soap and skincare products.

Posted in Classes, Uncategorized | 16 Comments

An Invitation to Lady Gaga

Posted on August 8, 2011 by teresa

 

 Dear Lady Gaga,

 I am from the “getting older” generation. When I was young we had no celebrities that compared to you, especially not any female performers. We had Janis Joplin, but I think the closest comparison to you would be Alice Cooper or Ozzie and Black Sabbath.  How I loved those bands because they were so shocking.  While Ozzie bit off bats heads, you bite Barbie’s head.  You have that same ability to shock your fans. I think that is what makes you so endearing to them.

 I would like to offer you and Justin Timberlake congratulations for topping Vanity Fairs 2011 “International Best Dressed List” as the most stylish celebrities. I am always amazed at how easily you seem to change your entire image from outrageous and sexy to conservative with flair.

But I am not writing because of your celebrity, or even to tell you I love your music. Frankly, I like some of your songs…but, (pardon me for saying this, and I don’t want to offend your fans) I don’t usually “Go Gaga” for your music. However, I really enjoyed your recent performance of “You and I” on The View. You were able to infuse classic style and sophistication with an “in-your-face” overkill of hounds-tooth. I loved the entire presentation, including the song!

The real reason I am writing to you is to ask for your help with a problem I have at my home.  My problem is my inability to get rid of the piles of paper in my house. Periodically, I go through and cull out the piles and before I know it, the piles grow back again. I have a stack of bills which I try to pretend doesn’t exist until it overflows the letter bin. The junk mail keeps pouring in, so I don’t bother to open it anymore. I have a bad habit of printing too much stuff off the internet that quickly accumulates. I have tried to eliminate my magazine subscriptions, but still have a pile of magazines ready to fall over near my couch. I just don’t know what to do with all of this paper!

I watched you on the David Letterman Show and a light bulb went off in my head. You presented a new solution I had not previously considered. I have a few questions about your Letterman interview that you could help me with. I have embedded it below to make sure you know the program I am talking about.

First, I would like to ask if you would be willing to come to my house and help me get rid of some of this paper. Please bring a big appetite because I have a lot of it! You said it was delicious, and I would like you to have as much as you like.

Now, I understand that you are a big celebrity. You are probably way too busy to waste your time on the likes of an insignificant, small business woman with a blog.  So, if you can’t schedule me in, I will reluctantly accept that.

However, you could still help me solve my problem.  You could teach me how to fix a meal of paper and how to eat it. I have never eaten paper before, so I could really use your advice on this. It looks like the meal preparation consists of taking a sheet of paper and tearing it in half. Then you took one torn halve of paper, wadded it up, and put it in your mouth. Is that all there is to fixing it? Does it come in different flavors? or do you use any special sauce or recipe to change the menu? It didn’t look like you eat it with any beverage. Isn’t it a little “dry” to eat that way? How are you able to swallow it? Do you have a paper cookbook available for sale? If you do, I would like to purchase a copy.

Lady Gaga, I really appreciate any help or advice you give me on this mountain of paper. My invitation stands, if you can make it to my home. I can work my schedule around yours. Thank you in advance for your consideration in this matter.

Sincerely,
Teresa

I hope you enjoyed my tongue-in-cheek letter to Lady Gaga.  Really, the point I am trying to make is that we cannot allow paper to take over our homes.  If you have a problem with mountains of paper in your home, we have a solution for you. 

No!  It does not involve eating paper for lunch!

Click here to learn about a system you can create to put an end to your paper piles once and for all.   You don’t need to invest a lot of money into complicated filing systems to get rid of your paper problems.  

Click on the Paper Piles image 

 

Posted in Paper Piles | Leave a comment

Poky Little Puppy – The Perfect Procrastinator

Posted on August 4, 2011 by teresa

“Dear me” said his mother.  “What a pity you are so poky!  The strawberry shortcake is all gone!”  So the Poky Little Puppy had to go to bed without a single bite of shortcake, and he felt very sorry for himself.    ~The Poky Little Puppy by Jeanette Sebring Lowery

 

 When I was a little girl I used to love to read Little Golden Books. I had a bookcase full of them. I loved to look at the colorful illustrations and was always trying to read them all by myself. I would underline any words that I didn’t know how and bring the book to my mother to expose all of the secret words I had underlined and would be so proud that I could now read those underlined gems.

My favorite Little Golden Book was the classic, Poky Little Puppy because I was just like that little puppy. He was slow and poky, he was always late, and he received lots of attention. There must be a lot of children like me because, as of 2001, The Poky Little Puppy (Golden,1942) is the single all-time best-selling children’s book in the US, with over 15 million copies sold.

This is the hero that I loved in my childhood. I even had a Little Golden 78 rpm record with The Poky Little Puppy Song. Back then, the record sold for 29 cents! I would play it on an old phonograph that had a unique mirrored carousel that set on top of the record.  I would watch the cartoon characters skip and dance in the mirror as the record would spin.

In the story, the Poky Little Puppy never kept up with his four brothers because he was always wandering around looking at things. His brothers would have to search for him because he was continually falling behind to explore and sniff things. At first, he was rewarded for his tardiness. The puppies all dug a hole under the fence and his brothers were caught and punished. Pokey Little Puppy came home after his siblings were sent to bed with no rice pudding, so he avoided the punishment. In fact, he got to eat the rice pudding that was withheld from his brothers. The next day, the same thing happened, except he was rewarded with chocolate custard, instead of the rice pudding. The third night, his brothers sneaked out of bed and filled in the hole under the fence. Their mother saw them filling in the hole and rewarded them with strawberry shortcake. Finally, Pokey Little Puppy arrived to find the hole filled in, and he barely squeezed through the fence. He tried to find the strawberry shortcake, but it was all gone. He went to bed hungry and was feeling very sorry for himself.

For everyone who has not heard the story lately and need someone to read them their bedtime story, here is the Fairy Godmother to read it for you.

 

The Poky Little Puppy read by Fairy Godmother

 

When I was five, I used to giggle when he got rewarded. It always seemed to me that he outfoxed his brothers. I somehow overlooked the lesson of his going hungry and feeling sorry for himself. I don’t believe I had any concept of what feeling sorry for myself meant.

The Poky Little Puppy demonstrated many symptoms of a procrastinator. Let me name a few symptoms he exhibits:

Independent – He was definitely not a team player. He is seeking his own unique trail. When his brothers would go out to play, he would start doing something different and was not going to join his brothers unless it was something that he wanted to do.
Resistant to control by others – The little pooch seemed oblivious to the inconvenience and hardship he placed on his brothers by not being where he should be. They were continually searching for him. No where in the story does he show any remorse for this inconsideration. He was not about to be controlled by his brother’s desires!
Lack of focus – He seemed to wander aimlessly and poked around at the first thing that caught his attention. He totally forgot that his plan was to go play with his brothers.
Perfectionism – When something caught his attention, he studied it very closely. He wanted to know every minute detail about what he was looking at. If he didn’t pay close attention, he might miss something.
Avoidance – He learned that he could avoid having to fill the hole they dug under the fence by not coming home in a timely fashion. Not only did he avoid the work, he also avoided the punishment his brothers received.
Pleasure seeking – He quickly learned that if he came home late, he could sneak in and get all of the dessert for himself, without having to work for it.
Dreaming – He obsessively dreamed about the things he found in his explorations.

The Poky Little Puppy is an example of a blend of several personality types. He is a Control Seeker because of his independent nature and resistance to control by others. He also has a some Pleasure Seeker and the Avoidant Procrastinator in his personality.

The Poky Little Puppy started out trying to participate in his brother’s activities. His intentions were good. But then he started to get distracted and wandered off the path. I am sure he must have told himself that he was learning about everything he was sniffing. He still had tomorrow to go play with his brothers. He knew his tardiness got him into trouble when he came home late and found the hole under the fence filled in. Then his struggle began, as he had to wiggle his way through the fence. At this point in the cycle, he would be asking “What is wrong with me? Why didn’t I come home on time?” As he moved further into crisis thinking, he started to feel sorry for himself because he wasn’t doing what he should and now he was missing out on the pleasure he was seeking. The last cycle of procrastination was missed in the classic tale. Now is the time he should have vowed to change his ways and repent of his dawdling. And then the cycle would repeat itself.

As I learned about the cycles of procrastination and the emotional components that play a part in creating the crisis, I couldn’t help but notice an eerie familiarity to the emotional cycle of addiction. Breaking the habit requires a constant awareness and vigilance. The first step is to recognize that you have a problem that is robbing you of your potential and success in life. Unlike other addictions, you don’t have to give anything up, like food, drugs, cigarettes, or gambling. Instead, on the contrary, the prescription needs to include specific action steps. Action is the best antidote to procrastination. First, determine what will trigger the “P Monster” to come to life. Then, look at your emotional response and prepare your preventative course of action.  And lastly, TAKE ACTION!  Procrastinators will let important things slip away without any completion or accomplishment. 

Make Today Matter offers a 4-week class on Overcoming Procrastination that will help you defeat procrastination.  Don’t continue to live with emotional ups and downs that come with procrastination in your life. You will learn about the types of procrastinators and the emotional cycles they go through.  You will also develope a personalized perscription to overcome the types of procrastination you are most prone to do.  Our class offers online support to answer your questions and guide you each step of the way. 

Current enrollment in Overcoming Procrastination is open through August 7, 2011.  Click here for more information on the class.       

Don’t Procrastinate!
Don’t delay! 
Take action today!

Register here

If you prefer to study independently, we also have the course avaliable as an E-Workbook (for immediate download) and CD-Rom (by mail). 

Overcoming Procrastination E-Workbook and CD-ROM – $39

Posted in Overcoming Procrastination, Procrastination | 12 Comments

Simplify Your Life

Posted on May 3, 2011 by teresa

Class: Simplify Your Life
5 weeks – $39 – Click here to register
2011 Class Start Date:  May 2 

Simplify Your Life“Simplicity is about spending less time chasing and more time enjoying. It is about spending less time acquiring and more time experiencing. Simplicity is about spending less time managing life and more time living it.” ~Brook Noel

$39

When the simplicity movement burst on the scene a decade or so ago, I’ll be honest—I laughed. I thought simplicity was for people who “couldn’t keep up with life.” I didn’t realize then, as I do now, that simplicity was for people who wanted a better way to live. I, like many of us, had bought into the hype that the more I had, the more I did, the more I squeezed into a day – the richer my life would be.

As I looked deeper and confronted my own fears about the simple life, I realized simplicity didn’t require living in a teepee, getting rid of electricity and eating food I had grown and cultivated by hand (although for some people simplicity might involve those things) … simplicity meant deciding that I would run my life, getting off the treadmill, living consciously and deliberately—making decisions that brought joy. Simplicity means trading in “busyness” for meaning, trading in confusion for clarity, and personal peace.

Instead of “buying-in” to our commercial culture, we “opt-out” and forge our own path. The reward for those who accept the challenge is great. Instead of living a life on auto-pilot, you live a life designed by clear decisions that align with what brings you and those important to you, true joy.

In this class I share the steps I took to simplify my life.

  • Recognizing what complicates our life
  • Use values as a lens to simplify life
  • Question “Life Clutter”
  • Taking Action against “Little Stuff”
  • Learn to live in the moment
  • Contemplate how our decisions define our days
  • Streamline errands and finances
  • Evaluate how we spend time
  • Nurture gratitude
  • Scale back
  • Simplify entertainment, wardrobe, meal planning and more
  • Learn to say “no”
  • Evaluate life commitments

$39

Class F.A.Q.

How Do These Classes Work? Our classes feature a very easy to navigate portal you will login at to access your course. You do not need to be a tech-guru to take our classes. Our classes do not require you to be present at a specific time of day. We use downloadable lessons, message boards, and an online event room to allow you to work through each lesson whenever it fits into your day. The weekend before class begins you will be sent your system user ID and password to login to our community support and learning system.

On the class portal page you will be able to:

  • Share on our class message boards and receive step-by-step guidance for any questions during your journey.
  • Access and print (or save) your lessons.
  • Network with other class members through the message board or instant messaging system.
  • Access any class links and worksheets. This portal is extremely easy to use, no internet or message board finesse required.

How much time does this class require? There is no mandatory homework or mandatory sharing so you are free to work at your own pace although you will need to download all lessons during the class period – we do leave classes open for 1 week beyond the scheduled end date, to allow you to retrieve any outstanding information. Since we run so many classes, we are unable to send lessons manually or to make them available once the class has closed. By completing an action plan and downloading the lessons you can continue to work on your new system at any pace comfortable to you.

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Extreme Home Makeover Starts January 17

Posted on January 14, 2011 by teresa

10 Weeks to the Home You Want

Join us for our most popular class – Only $49

2011 Class Start Dates:  January 17, April 11, July 4, September 26Extreme Home Makeover Class

Have you ever found yourself saying any of the following…

  • “I need a personal organizer!”
  • “If I could just get a system to keep my house clean…”
  • “My house is so cluttered… it needs an overhaul!”

Or have you ever felt that…

… you’ll never get control of the chaos and clutter?
… your family is working against your goal of creating an organized home?
… you won’t have the organized home of your dreams until your children are grown and gone?

Help is here!

$49 – Less than $1/day!

Or, Get all 4 for $149 USD – Save 25%!

Not only will you have a clean and organized home at the end of this 10 week course, you’ll have fun in the process. (Yes, cleaning can be fun.) The before and after contest is always a big hit and the group camaraderie has made this one of our most successful offerings!

This class also includes many bonuses like a free pass to our Housework Helpers sprints. You will have over 60 hours a week where you can join other women online and do “timed cleaning sprints.” See the left panel for more details on bonuses.

Over the course of the ten weeks you will work step-by-step through new challenges each week to not only get control of your home–but create a plan to keep it that way! Over the course of this class your workbook will become an action plan of success, filled with tips and tools to take control of your home.

Here is a summary of the lessons:

Week One: During Week One you will learn about the 10 weeks to come and learn how to use all the features within the class. You will also complete a “home goals” worksheet–the first step in strategizing your success. You’ll also get your “mop wet” with our first exercises. The introductory podcast will also be ready for your listening pleasure.

Week Two: In Week Two a Room Ranker Tool will help you break your home into stations that can be tackled in manageable steps. We also take “before” photos this week. Lastly, we create a timeline for the remaining 8 weeks of this challenge and our first Weekly Tracking Sheet. You can share your action plan on our class message board for additional cheerleading if you like.

Week Three: In Week Three you will learn the cornerstone-rules of successful organizing. We also create our routine-notebooks which will be used to build your maintenance plan at the end of the course. We also have our first contest for clearing clutter!

Week Four: This week, Brook Noel walks you through two different approaches for dealing with closets. She will also share tips for managing laundry. We continue our action plans by generating and following additional Weekly Tracking Worksheets.

Week Five: This week we continue working through our action plan and sharing our progress via the message board. In addition, your lesson includes step-by-step ideas for kitchen and bathroom maintenance and cleaning.

Week Six: This week we look at what to do when life interrupts our plans and how to get “back on track.” We will also explore effective delegation and how to manage delegated tasks. (Delegation is also the subject of the third podcast.) This week’s lesson contains a delegation checklist. Brook’s lessons also cover approaches for tacking a child’s room, along with creative ideas for organizing kids’ artwork and papers. Lastly, we kick off our week-long “Sprint Challenge.” Complete rules are announced at the start of Week Six.

Weeks Seven: We announce the winner of our clutter contest this week. Brook’s lesson for the week focuses on “hidden clutter.” Two areas that often need desperate organizational help are purses and cosmetics. You’ll receive a step-by-step plan for tackling both.

Week Eight: This week we keep the lesson short with tips to maximize cleaning time. Why? The “after” pictures are due at the start of Week 9! It is time to hustle and complete any submitted stations.

Week Nine: During Week 9 we continue to move forward on our action plan. You’ll also learn about a new way to think about “clutter,” to avoid cluttering up in the future!

Week Ten: In this week you’ll learn what to do after this class, and how to create a Master Task List to stay on top of your goals. You will receive the new Routine System Brook created in 2008 and instructions on how to customize to the system to meet your own needs.

$49 USD

(Season Pass Option – all 4 classes for $149)

Class F.A.Q.

How Do These Classes Work? Our classes feature a very easy to navigate portal you will login at to access your course. You do not need to be a tech-guru to take our classes. Our classes do not require you to be present at a specific time of day. We use downloadable lessons, message boards, and an online event room to allow you to work through each lesson whenever it fits into your day. The weekend before class begins you will be sent your system user ID and password to login to our community support and learning system.

On the class portal page you will be able to:

  • Share on our class message boards and receive step-by-step guidance for any questions during your journey.
  • Access and print (or save) your lessons.
  • Network with other class members through the message board or instant messaging system.
  • Access any class links and worksheets. This portal is extremely easy to use, no internet or message board finesse required.

How much time does this class require? There is no mandatory homework or mandatory sharing so you are free to work at your own pace although you will need to download all lessons during the class period – we do leave classes open for 1 week beyond the scheduled end date, to allow you to retrieve any outstanding information. Since we run so many classes, we are unable to send lessons manually or to make them available once the class has closed. By completing an action plan and downloading the lessons you can continue to work on your new system at any pace comfortable to you.

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Goals Workshop starts January 3, 2011

Posted on December 15, 2010 by teresa

A 5-Week Journey to Clarify, Plan, Prioritize and Achieve Your Personal and Professional Goals

  • Do you shoot out of the goal-starting gate but lose steam within a few weeks?
  • Have you ever put off a goal because you are waiting for a “better day?”
  • Like the majority of American’s, did you set New Year’s goals only to “fall off the wagon?”
  • Have you ever let a goal go because life is just too hectic, or said “I’ll wait until next year” or __ (fill in the blank with date of choice) ___.

I T  H A S  B E E N  S A I D the best way to predict the future is to create it. Every December 31st a special midnight passes, marking a new slate of 365 days. During these once-a-year happenings millions of people set their intentions and goals for the new year. Most of these people will abandon their goals by February or lose steam. Why? Choosing a goal is only the first step. Reaching a goal requires planning, a goal map, action, attitude, energy and accountability.

With a new year upon us, now is the perfect time to plan for success, achieve realistic goals and grab a fresh start. This online workshop takes you step-by-step through the breakdown Brook uses for setting and achieving goals in her own life. You’ll learn:

  • What makes a successful goal
  • Why you need a VISION and a MISSION and the difference between them
  • Your Personal G.Q. (Goal Quotient–not the magazine)
  • Your goal strengths and weaknesses
  • Why most goals fail, and how to prevent your goal from doing so
  • How to turn dreams into reality with discipline
  • How to make sure a goal is S.M.A.R.T.
  • How energy and attitude play key factors in success
  • How to break through barriers, get started and overcome obstacles
  • How to identify key milestones and create a detailed road map
  • The importance of a Vision Map
  • How to reprogram your mind and attitude for success
  • How to put your goal through a CRASH-test for reality, resources and success
  • Action steps to support your goal

Clearly defined goals identify a starting point and the most efficient path to a desired point. In this course you’ll learn how to build a personal goal map with S.M.A.R.T. goals for the new year ahead. Creating a clear goal map is the first step—but far from the only one. Written goals that are set aside are as useful as putting a map in your glove box, yet expecting to know which road to take without ever looking at it. Goal plans need to be consulted regularly, just like a map, and if you get off course, you need to take the shortest route to get back on track. You’ll learn how to break down your goal map into milestones, benchmarks and action steps to create a checklist for success.

Attitude and Energy are two of the six areas explored in Brook’s goal formula, along with Planning, Action, Support and Vision.

If you are ready to quit talking about what you would like to achieve in your life, and ready to begin achieving it, join us for this 5 Week Goal Workshop and begin transforming your resolutions into reality.

$39 sku:5075031

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Getting Things Done Starts November 15

Posted on November 15, 2010 by teresa

In this class,  you will learn how to manage your time effectively and achieve more in fewer hours.  At the end of the class, you will have your own master schedule that incorporates moods, interruptions, energy peaks, and reality. 

Join Us for THE Last Class of 2010
Open Enrollment all this Week

Click here to go to a detailed description 

Only $39

 

 

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30 Day Health Jumpstart starts Nov. 8

Posted on November 8, 2010 by teresa

 

It’s that time of year to think about your health before you load up on all the wonderful Holiday treats. I always regret it later and when January comes, I am feeling pretty disappointed in myself.  Get a headstart on your health now by taking our 30 Day Health Jumpstart Class.  Enrollment will be open for the next few days.

Order Today 
 

 

Order Today

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