We just need to be wary of our focus narrowing so much that the light at the end of the tunnel blinds us to other opportunities and solutions.

We are back from our summer break… Hope you didn’t miss us too much!

This past week I have been running through some different ideas of what to post here, and as work often goes… my work has gotten in the way of work and the blog ideas have been getting pushed further and further back.

Even when I finally do have a moment or two to sit and think, I suddenly find myself sitting in a black hole of creativity. I can’t seem to think of anything, and have nothing but my desk and a blank page staring up at me to keep me company.

Now, I am sure this never happens to you.

Okay maybe I may have some sarcasm there. We all have these moments. So how do we stay focused and creative at work?

Here are some thoughts I found, as well some of my personal favorites to get back on your feet when you have lost focus and are looking for that jump start to get going again.

Write a list: At the beginning of each day write down the tasks that you need to accomplish. There is something about taking the time to write a list and having it on your desk the rest of the day that can motivate focus. I personally write my tasks on a post- it note and place it on the side of my computer monitor. When I finish the task, I can throw away the post- it note. My goal each day is to start the morning with no post- it notes from the day before.

Do The Tough Stuff First: Mark Twain once said “If you eat a frog first thing in the morning that will probably be the worst thing you do all day.” Brian Tracy (TTN Speaker) has taken this quote and transformed it into a way of completing your daily tasks. Once I make my list I look for the thing I want to do least… and do it! That way I don’t have it hanging over my head, and dragging my attention away from other projects.

Close Your Email: I cannot tell you how many times I have been in the middle of a big project, only to be sidetracked by an email I thought might be important…only to find it is Spam. For short periods of time I have started to close my email. It allows for un-interrupted work on projects, and I have found that I am able to actually answer my emails on a timelier schedule.

Invest In A Pair Of Headphones: Very often when working on a project with a deadline I will start playing my favorite tunes, and put on my headphones. Doing so, I have found I can block outside distractions around me, as well as tap into a creative resource.

What New Years’ resolutions?

Remember?  New Years’ Day or slightly before or after, you set out some goals. Lose weight. Write a book. Learn karate.

Oh, yeah. Now I remember. But that was so long ago.

I know it seems like it, but… you still want to do those things, right?

I suppose so. But it’s another six months until next New Years’.

Why do you need to wait until next New Years’?

Well, because…they’re New Years’ resolutions. So, you know – I need to wait ‘til next January. Get psyched up for it.

But if you start now, you’ll get a six-month head start!

Doesn’t that defeat the whole New Years’ resolution concept? Won’t that cause chaos in the streets? Won’t that poke a hole in the entire space-time continuum and life, as we know it –

Hold on there, pardner. Wasn’t one of your resolutions to cut down on caffeine?

Oh, I said that out loud?

Look – if you think about it, every day is the start of a new year. So any day is a good time to start a new years’ resolution. Or at least check on your progress; get you back on track – that sort of thing.

Okay. But you’re sure the space-time continuum will survive?

I would answer that, but I just made a new new years’ resolution not to respond to silly questions.

Whether you have a large or small goal you wish to accomplish, if you make it a point to do five things every day geared toward that goal, you’ll find yourself reaching the finish line faster than you could’ve imagined.

Change can be stressful. Sometimes the unfamiliar leaps at us from out of the blue, and can be a bit scary. But change, as they say, is inevitable. So how do we manage change? Or better yet, how do we embrace change and make it work for us? One of the best ways to embrace change is to be prepared.

Be constantly learning new things. Read voraciously. Take courses. Use strategic thinking to anticipate change.

Those who best anticipate change and welcome it are often best prepared to take advantage of it in a way that can put them ahead of the pack. Remember that change is how we grow, whether it is in our work or our personal lives.

So the next time you feel a change coming, instead of shrinking away, you can say, “Bring it on!”

So what turns a merely pleasant road trip into a super road trip? Planning!

Sure – it’s nice to come upon the unexpected. But when you take the time to do a little research – looking up restaurants, roadside curiosities and museums on the internet or in books – your experience will be that much more rewarding. Now you won’t miss the must-sees, the best burgers, the most awe-inspiring views. And the anticipation involved in the planning is nearly as much fun as the trip itself!

This type of planning – while perhaps not quite as much fun – can help make your workday a lot more pleasant and productive. By taking the time to plan out your day – making lists and prioritizing projects – you’ll be much less likely to miss those important tasks or run out of the time to accomplish them.

Brian Tracy offers a number of excellent time management courses on TTN’s LMS, which go into detail about effective ways to plan your day, whether it’s a workday, a weekend day, or a day for hitting the road!

A chapter in computer history has ended, and I am sure that many of you have both good, and bad memories of these devices. For myself, I can remember sitting in my dad’s office, and using his floppy disks as make shift building blocks, while the older kids got to play Kings Quest and Zelda.

Looking back on the floppy disk’s life, I can’t help but look at how much technology, and the way we do things changes.  A process or medium that is cutting edge one day, can become a child’s toy the next.

My question is, what are other “floppy disks” that are in our world? Do we too quickly get rid of the old in exchange for the shiny new and hip, or are we holding onto concepts a little too tightly for our own good?

What makes a customer loyal?  Some experts say that it is based on trust and others may say that it is the relationships that you build.  In my opinion, it is both.  Everyone has satisfied customers, but do we all have loyal customers?  Do you have customers that keep coming back to you for products that they could easily get from someone else?

The little things do count.  For instance, by smiling and addressing your customers by name you make them feel as if you are paying attention and that they are your only customer.  If you talk to customers on the phone, they can hear that you have a smile on in your voice.  With all of the technology that we have today, some of us may have fallen out of the habit of sending a hand written thank you note.  Start at the top of the list and take a few minutes each day to thank someone for their business.  Pay attention to what your customers tell you.  This is key.  Once you have built the relationship and your customer trusts you and your products, they will start to tell you things about themselves.  Things they like, dislike, experiences with previous vendors, their family…you name it.  By taking the time to make note of this, you have something to reference on your next call.

I could certainly keep the list going.  What small item could you incorporate in your day today that would make a big difference in the service that you deliver?

1. Knowing what information you need to have with you when you file your taxes can be a mystery.  H & R Block has a free tax checklist with 10 simple questions and based on your answers will produce a checklist of all the items that you need to gather.
2. Every year there are changes and updates to tax laws.  There are individual websites, blogs, and forums that are out there that are helpful to answer specific questions you may have.  If you don’t know which ones apply to you, the Internal Revenue Service website provides links that will help educate you on the federal changes.  You can also check out your state website for any changes that may apply to your state filings.
3. Anyone that knows me knows that I lack the technical gene, but I am slowly catching up.  In my extensive search for tax tools, I stumbled across Taxbrain. This site provides a list of tax tools and widgets that can help take some of the guessing out of tax preparation.  For example, you can use their refund calculator to see approximately how much you will be receiving back from the IRS.  They also have a W4 calculator, extension forms, and a tax tips blog that you can follow. Are you ready for the best part?  All of these widgets can be added to your social media sites like Twitter or Facebook.  Very cool!
4. Need help on the go?  Now there are tools made available that can be used on your mobile devise.  Here is a couple that I thought were great.
   1. TaxCaster Mobile from Turbo Tax is a tax calculator that will help you estimate what you may owe or receive in a refund.  This is an app made for iPhone and is free through Apple’s App Store.
   2. Tax Answers from H & R Block.  This free app allows you to submit tax questions right to a tax expert.  There is also a store locator and a tax term glossary built in.  This app is available through Apple’s App Store.
   3. BlackBerry offers an app called Tax Receipts Shoebox.  Keep your itemized receipts organized, generate customized reports and much more.  The cost is $2.99 and is available through BlackBerry’s App World.

Leave a comment with any resources that you may use that you would add to this list.

TTN will be hosting Hal Becker, an all around talented speaker, and great guy. I heard him speak last year, and was impressed by the amount of energy, humor, and teaching he brought up onstage with him… seriously you will not want to miss this guy!

To learn more about Hal, click here.

To learn more about our upcoming conference click here.