I Love Blogger

Yesterday when I was working on my last post, my computer decided that it didn't like me any more and all my screens were freezing up. My only option seemed to be shutting down and restarting.

Well, I loved how the post was coming along but when all of this happened I realized that I hadn't clicked on 'Save' before I hit 'Preview'. Yikes! To my surprise my post was saved as a draft ~ Woo Hoo! Thank you Blogger ~ you saved me xOxO

MACs Girls Night Out ~ Save the Date!

I just heard about an event that sounds great thanks to my friend Brooke. Thank you Brooke! This is a Girls Night Out for those in the NY tri-state area. The group pulling the event together is MACs(Motivators And Creators Women's Group out of Westchester, NY)  and below is their About Us and Vision Statement:

About us

Through empowering meetings, educational resources and celebrative social networking events, MACs Women’s Group, the global online community for progressive women entrepreneurs, provides a productive home for aspiring and professional women business owners with an innate focus on creating supportive and nurturing alliances with other women. As the most progressive women in business group in the New York and tri-state area, MACs Women's Group, is an innovative resource offering a wide range of programs tailored to fit your needs. Here at Motivators and Creators (MACs) Women's Group we work to provide women business owners with the resources and tools they need to run and grow their business. Most importantly, we provide a supportive community where we foster creativity over competition. We are a family that grows together.
 

Vision Statement:

CREATING A VIRTUOUS CIRCLE OF INSPIRATION AND GROWTH

 FOR WOMEN BUSINESS OWNERS GLOBALLY

 

Being the road warrior that I am ~ probably see you there!

More Time Management Techniques

So moving along with Dan Kennedy's list of the Ten Time Management Techniques Really Worth Using from his book No B.S. (that's the series name) Time Management for Entrepreneurs ~ The Ultimate No Holds Barred, Kick Butt, Take no Prisoners, Guide to Time Productivity & Sanity! How's that for a title? If you missed Technique #1 it's in my last post. Here we go with #2 ~ #10:

Technique #2: Minimize Meetings

Kennedy states that 'most meetings end where they begin' and that you need a strategy to avoid them. He offers the suggestion that if you have an off site meeting, still meet the person at you office so you can work if the person runs late...

Technique #3: Practice Absolute Punctuality

Chapter 4 in this book is all about that topic. The title of the chapter is 'The Number One Most Powerful Personal Discipline in All the World'. He states that 'Punctuality provides personal power' and that most successful people make a point of having an "instant reject criteria," if people aren't punctual. I wonder if this goes for both people you're giving money to as well as getting money from??? He also talks about how foolish it is with people who are deliberately late as a means of trying to be & seem important. I agree, that is foolish!

Technique #4: Make and Use Lists

Kennedy states that there is not a single time management discipline or system that doesn't revolve around making and using lists and that you need to find the system that works best for you.

 

Technique #5: Fight to Link Everything to your Goals

"If you're going to achieve peak personal productivity, you've got to define peak personal productivity". Kennedy then states "Productivity is the deliberate , strategic investment of your time, talent, intelligence, energy, resources and opportunities in a manner calculated to move your measurably closer to meaningful goals". Think about it ~ so true!

Technique #6: Tickle the Memory with Tickler Files

The suggestion is to use numbered file folders that you can physically place items in, including notes of what actions to take on that day. I haven't had luck with this type of system but might give it another try or check out electronic versions....

Technique #7: Block Your Time

This I do and strongly recommend it. It's basically about making (and keeping!) appointments with yourself,  just like you would put an appointment with any other person on your calendar. You track everything to avoid losing time and getting important (read goal and income related!) tasks done in a timely, consistent manner. Checking the clock I'm 21 minutes over on my scheduled time for this blog post!!! I would highly recommend setting a timer and I usually do.

You can do this everyday in one hour or half-hour increments for each task or project. My younger daughter had her 1st day of 7th grade today at a new school (busy week ~ my older daughter is leaving for college on Saturday) so today is the first day of a newly revised time block calender for myself. Don't feel trapped by your calendar ~ make it a business tool you use and love.

 

Technique #8: Minimize Unplanned Activity

Using Technique #7 will reduce wasted time since you have your entire schedule blocked by hour or half-hour increments. You can block personal and family time but there's no 'spare' time to waste. Kennedy has this to say:

Just as the person who cannot tell you where the money goes is forever destined to be poor, the person who cannot tell you where his time goes is forever destined to be unproductive and often poor....

Technique #9: Profit from "Odd-Lot" Time

This is one of my favorites too. Kennedy suggests that when you're stuck in traffic (I would suggest on long rides too) turn your car into a class room. With all of the great electronic devices on the market you can turn any downtime (keep this in mind for flights and waiting in an airport ~ sorry Angry Birds) into learning time. He also suggests, as do I, having a notepad and something to write with even though you could use your electronic device for that too. Some of the best doodling leads to brainstorming and vice versa!

Technique #10: Live Off Peak

Last but not least and yet another that I try to live by. Always avoid going to the bank, supermarket, post office and even diving during peak times. I'll leave the post office if the line is too long and go to another post office that's in my travels or come back another time or day if at all possible. This may sound crazy but the post office near my home sets people up with Passports and if you get behind someone doing that ~ not good. And yes, I have been the person getting a Passport! Keeping things like this in mind will save you a lot of time and frustration.

Hope you've enjoyed reading these 'low tech' techniques and found the summary helpful even if they aren't all of interest or pertain to you.

Time Management Techniques

When I was at the Dan Kennedy event in NYC earlier this month I bought his book 'No B.S. Time Management for Entrepreneurs ~ The Ultimate No Holds Barred, Kick Butt, Take no Prisoners, Guide to Time Productivity & Sanity'. There were three or four piles of books on the Barnes & Noble table and thinking the word 'sanity' on this book is what caught my attention! Remaining relatively sane is always a good thing and I also wanted a signed copy of a book and my picture with Dan Kennedy. I love this picture of us! Did you know his wife (who he's married twice..) is also named Carla?

Anyway ~ I believe Dan Kennedy does what he tells other people to do and that's the key to his extraordinary success. Chapter 6 in the book is titled 'The Ten Time Management Techniques Really Worth Using'. I'm still reading but these look good to me so I want to share the information with others. Here we go with the first one  and please note that is book 8 years old and it's still great info! 

Technique #1: Tame the Phone

Dan Kennedy is big on not letting the phone put you and your business on a time management roller coaster. He extends this philosophy to email too and always mentions fax. Remember this is the guy who had an overhead projector (not PowerPoint) at the NYC event. He believes tending to these on demand is the number one source of disruption and distraction for most people and I agree!

Beautiful Bridges & Crazy Gas Prices

This week I did one of my favorite things. I combined business (thank you Megan!) with pleasure when I went out to Montrose, NY. On Wednesday we stopped at Dave & Buster's in the Palisades Parkway Center in West Nyak. If you like Dave and Buster's hope you're taking advantage of 1/2 price Wednesday. It's never that crowded and you get to play twice as long!

 

 

 We stayed in Fort Montgomery/West Point and the ride out to my event in Montrose was interesting to say the least. Here's a picture of the Bear Mountain Bridge that I had to go over. I'm not one for bridges but putting that aside ~ it was spectacular.

Then, when I got over this bridge, you're on this curvy road, barely wide enough for two cars. This trek was on a beautiful summer day but I can't imagine this with with rain or snow or ice. Here's a view from the scenic overlook:

 

You would think that I would be use to this since my new way into NY (when I'm not going into the city) is over the Tappen Zee Bridge. Again ~ I appreciate the beauty but I'm not a bridge person.

 

Tappen Zee is one long bridge!!!

 

OK - so enough with these truly beautiful bridges. What really freaked me out were the gas prices! When I left Western Massachusetts I paid $3.93 a gallon to fill the tank in my car. When we were leaving our Holiday Inn Express, the Mobil station at the exit to the hotel had gas for $4.55. What the heck? Oh well, I fill the tank and about a half hour later we end up at Playland in Rye, NY. This is the first stop since we filled the tank and now gas is $4.63 here! Hello ~ we're moving in the wrong direction with all of this...

 

 

Playland was fun. They have a pool and it's right on the Long Island Sound with a beach area. The rides in the amusement park weren't too crazy, so perfect for my 13 year old. We had lunch at the  Pier Restaurant & Tiki Bar. I thought the view was better than the food (maybe it was just what we ordered...) but I loved the location and would check it out as a venue for a summer event in the area.

The view from the Playland Pier Restaurant

 

This was a great two days!!! I love mixing business with pleasure...

Pink Party ~ Save the Date!

I love going to events and this looks like a really good one.

 This was in The Hartford Courant yesterday:

 Blue Back Square on Thursday, October 4th * 5:30-7:30pm

This is to kick off breast cancer awareness month with the first Annual Party with a Purpose.

The event is benefitting Komen Connecticut.

I'm planning to attend and hope to see you there!

Here's the link if you need it; http://hartfordmag.com/pinkparty

Me and Dan Kennedy in NYC

So Thursday was my big day with Dan Kennedy in New York City. What a great day! This was an event sponsored by Infusionsoft (thank you Infusionsoft!) a company that DK works with. If you've not familiar with them, they offer all-in-one sales and marketing automation software for small businesses. The event was filled with wonderful information and was held at the Westin Times Square. The hotel was beautiful and an easy to get to venue. It was a 'cooler' summer day on Thursday so  I walked from Grand Central Station and it only took me about 15 minutes.

 Me and Dan Kennedy in NYC Thursday, August 16th, 2012

The WestinTimes Square was a fabulous venue for this event!

Dan Kennedy is an interesting (read funny and very sarcastic) guy and the information that he shared was wonderful. Some new ideas (I've read lots of his stuff and still new to me!) and lots of 'yeah I should be doing that' reminders too. Infusionsoft is the company that can help you with the 'yeah I should be doing that' end of things if you don't have the time. Lots of interesting people at the event too!

I have a very special thanks to the two women from the Greenwich Village  Barnes & Noble that were at the book table, at the event, who helped me get the great picture of me and Dan. Thanks again ladies!

Dan Kennedy in NYC

I don't have much of a 'Bucket List' but seeing marketing guru Dan Kennedy speak is on it. This happened really fast and I'm attending an event he's at in New York City next Thursday! Someone sent me the info about this (thank you Lisa!) about a week ago and I just had a chance to look at that this week & signed up last night.

If you're not familiar with Dan Kennedy, he's a bestselling author and an hugely popular speaker who has written more than 20 books during his 30+ year career, many of which have appeared on INC. Magazine's '100 Best Business Books' List, Business Week Magazine's Bestseller list, in Forbes, Entrepreneur and Success.

Dan Kennedy has worked with tens of thousands of small businesses and has shared the stage with entrepreneurs like Donald Trump, lvanka Trump, George Foreman, four former U.S. Presidents and world leaders, and top business speakers Zig Ziglar, Brian Tracy, and Tom Hopkins.

This should be a great event!

2012 - 2013 Women to Watch

Western Mass Women Magazine's current issue has a ballot that people can fill out to nominate the 2012 - 2013 "Women to Watch" in Western Massachusetts. With my new self-published book now on Amazon, I have people who have nominated me for 'Publishing'! This is a wonderful way to get the word out about Extreme Hosting since there will be an award dinner and press party conference for the winners. All winners will also have their photo and short bio listed in the August/September issue of Western Mass Women Magazine.

If you would like to nominate me or any other woman in Western Massachusetts (there are 25 categories to choose from!) you can go to the magazine's website and almost at the bottom of the 'Segments' list you can click on the 'Women to Watch Ballot' or click here for the link to the Official Electronic Ballot. You'll need to enter your name, phone number and email address then the name of the person and 'company' for the nomination. For me it's:

Publishing - Carla Judith Syrek - Extreme Hosting

Be sure to enter the black letters in the security box and then click 'Submit Ballot'. It's that easy! Thanks to those of you who choose to support me with this. Although I believe Extreme Hosting is a great niche resource for people who like to have home parties or direct sales consultants who do the parties, this nomination is for completing a book that is now available on Amazon. All ballots must be received no later then 5pm on August 8th, 2012.

Extreme Hosting is on Amazon.com!

To me, it's always nice when something you're working on happens faster than you thought it would. Last Friday I posted that Extreme Hosting would be on Amazon next/this week. I was getting ready to head out for a long weekend and I thought that would help the 4/5 day lead time go by faster but the book went up the same day as the post July 27th! WOW - it so cool to make this happen and click here if you want to take a look. This has been a goal for so long and I want to be sure to thank everyone who has helped me with this!