by Debbie Rodrigues | May 28, 2018 | Challenge, Productivity
It’s possible to be more successful without losing your soul. Learn these realistic tips that will blow your mind and help you change your approach.
We all want to be successful in our own way. Whether it’s financial freedom, retirement at a certain age, or a particular lifestyle, we have a vision of what we want for ourselves.
All too often people attribute their lack of success to there not being enough hours in a day.
We believe the only way to achieve our dreams is to work around the clock.
There’s no denying it – every goal worth achieving takes hard work, dedication, and patience. But self-actualization should not come at the cost of who you are.
How many people gave up their dreams because they feared they couldn’t combine them with raising a family?
It may not be obvious, but I’m here to tell you that it is possible to be more successful without losing your soul.
And I’ll show you exactly what you need to do to get started.
Finding balance for success
We’ve already talked about the relationship between goals and success.
Unless we know where we’re going, we can’t get anywhere.
So if you haven’t done it yet, set meaningful goals for yourself before taking any other step.
Once you have mindfully chosen your goals, you’ll have to leave your comfort zone to get things done.
But how can you balance your current responsibilities with the new ones AND still have a life you enjoy living?
It makes no sense to work your back off to achieve something but not be able to enjoy it afterward.
The solution is to balance. To live a meaningful and driven life, you must manage your time and investments to avoid unnecessary frustrations as you progress.
Success without losing your soul
A job position, a house, or a car don’t make someone successful.
It’s the feeling of accomplishment and the lifestyle they provide.
That’s why it makes no sense to “kill” yourself achieving them. You want to be able to enjoy them fully once they become yours.
For that you need to:
- have a plan
- be prepared
- be flexible
Have a plan
With your goal in mind, define your next steps:
- What’s the due date?
- What needs to happen?
- How you’ll make it happen?
- What do you have to do?
- Who will be with you?
- What are your milestones?
Choose a tool to keep track of your progress.
My favorite ones are:
Pick one, create your plan, and got for it.
Be prepared
I don’t want to be a party-pooper, but things won’t always go according to plan.
My last vacation was a great example of that.
Yet, it doesn’t mean you can’t make it.
Have a “contingency” plan if things go wrong.
It doesn’t matter if it’s a plan B, C, or any other letter of the alphabet.
You may never need your spare tire, but you still keep it in the trunk of your car, don’t you?
By being prepared, you give yourself room to adapt your original plan whenever necessary without the cost of your success.
Which leads us to our next step…
Be flexible
Stubbornness can get in the way of achieving your goal and makes you less adaptable when there are setbacks.
Your plan is a means. What truly matters is the end result.
Don’t get so stuck with the form that you forget the content.
Both, together, are going to guide you to the desired outcome.
If you feel that a different approach can help you out, why not giving it a try?
There’s absolutely no need to sweat about that.
Flexibility is also great to boost your productivity.
Take it as a win-win situation.
Feeling successful
Your soul is the essence of who you are. It’s your values and everything else that matters the most to you.
Success at the compromise of your soul isn’t worth it.
What’s the fun of:
- having a top job when it doesn’t allow you to spend time with your family?
- having a huge house if you lost contact with your friends and those you’d like to invite over?
- driving a supercar out of boredom because you don’t know what else to do with your time?
Dream big! Work to achieve the success you deserve for your work and dedication. But prioritize your soul and your success.
By using the steps of this post, you will avoid losing your soul in the process of attaining success.
For more tips on how to create space in your schedule for the things you love, join the 52-Week Challenge For A More Productive You.
Get all the information, support, and motivation you need to become a better version of yourself one day at a time.
Before you go
Can you answer the following question in the comments below, please?
Do you feel overwhelmed by the idea of working extra to achieve your goals?
*Some links are affiliates. If you choose to buy anything from them, I’ll make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Read full disclaimer here. Thank you for your support!
by Debbie Rodrigues | Dec 28, 2017 | Challenge, Productivity
After its success, I’m super excited to introduce the 52-week productivity challenge 2019 version. Read all about the update of the only roadmap you need to be more successful.
Welcome to the 52-week productivity challenge 2019!
Almost 2 years ago, I created the 52-Week Challenge For A More Productive You.
It was my very first project of that magnitude.
A ONE-YEAR CHALLENGE?!?
It sounded scary and overwhelming even to me.
Many times I wondered how I was going to pull it all together on my own.
Some of the many what-ifs that crossed my mind were, what if:
- no one is interested?
- nobody joins?
- people don’t like it?
- everybody HATES it?
- I can’t keep up with everything?
- I’m not able to post a new blog every week?
- it turns into a failure?
My fears were huge.
In fact, I even had a writer’s block for the very first time in my entire life.
It took me an entire month to write down the first blog.
I felt paralyzed for weeks!
Despite all my worries, there was also something inside of me telling me that it was the right thing to do.
And I’m glad I did it.
The 52-Week Challenge For A More Productive You ended up becoming a major success that helped me grow my website, VIP Tribe, and business.
The concept of the challenge
Who doesn’t know the hashtag “Transformation Tuesday”?
I’ve gone through one my own back in 2012.
And while I’m proud of my achievement, one thing I can’t deny:
Transformations are stressful.
The stress comes from 3 main sources:
- Forced habit change
- Peer pressure
- The unknown
1. Forced habit change
Whatever you want to transform your life, it isn’t a natural process.
Instead of allowing yourself to go from point A to point B one day at a time, you’re constantly rushing against the clock.
The deadline is tight and missing one single day can seriously damage the end result.
It’s nerve-racking!
2. Peer pressure
Because of the radical lifestyle changes, it’s hard to get people to support you.
Unless they’re in the same boat, not even your best friends are going to understand your reasons and motivation.
Let alone allow you to leave them behind in their comfort zone.
But the problem is that you need support and accountability.
Without help, you feel lonely, tense, and less motivated to keep up.
3. The unknown
A transformation is something new.
Even if you’ve tried it before, experiences change every single time.
Any unexplored terrain feels scary and causes anxiety no matter how engaged and motivated you are.
The 52-week productivity challenge 2018
The 52-Week Challenge For A More Productive You is based on my methodology: Mindful Planning™.
Throughout the year, we tackle one not-so-obvious productivity killer each week using 5 steps:
- Measure
- Analyze
- Prioritize
- Focus
- Systematize
You can still find all the prompts from 2017 in the Facebook Group.
But for 2019 we’re taking the challenge to the next level.
From now on, we have:
For only 5USD per month, you access all content as it’s released.
You can join this revised and updated 52-Week Challenge For A More Productive You at any time of the year.
And you decide what or if you want to catch up with anything.
Join the movement to become a better version of yourself the next year and beyond.
Before you go
Can you answer the following question in the comments below, please?
What obstacles do you need to overcome to create space in your schedule for the things you love?
by Debbie Rodrigues | Dec 11, 2017 | Challenge, Productivity
If you don’t know yet why you have to measure your progress to boost your confidence, I got 12 reasons for you. Check them out!
By the time I’m publishing this blog post, most of us we’ll be doing our yearly review.
If it isn’t in your planning yet, I highly recommend that you do include it.
Should you read it later, make sure you add a quarterly assessment to your calendar.
Why is that?
You need to develop the habit of measuring your progress to boost your confidence.
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Reasons for starting measuring
Do you know how close/far you are from your goals?
I don’t mean in terms of date (tomorrow, next week, etc).
Do you know how many milestones you have already reached?
Why is is it important?
Because then you see the results of your hard work.
And believe me when I say: many times you’re in a much better place than you think you are.
We tend to compare ourselves to others instead of focusing on how far we’ve come.
Don’t let your perception of where you hurt your excitement about what’s coming next.
Want more reasons why you need to measure your progress to boost your confidence? I GOT 12 FOR YOU!
1. Know what’s working
If everything works like a clock, you can rest assured you’re on a good path.
2. Better planning
It’s easier to set priorities when you know exactly where you are on your Journey.
3. Stay on track
Are you a victim of procrastination? Regular measurement are great to help you focus on what matters and get work done.
4. Accountability
Whether you’re a member of a community or you’re on your own, you can hold yourself accountable by reviewing your growth on a regular basis.
5. Reassess
Did you over- or underestimate the amount of work and time you needed to achieve your Goal? A simple measurement can help you detect that.
6. No guessing
Drop the assumptions and interpretations. Evaluate your development with concrete data.
7. Detect delays timely
Life happens, but it doesn’t mean it has to block your growth. In fact, good planning includes cushions. So you don’t need to give up on your Dreams just because you didn’t meet a due date.
8. Fix what needs fixing
Could you use your systems better? Are you wasting time? Do you need to scale things? Flexibility boosts productivity and, as a consequence, your self-esteem.
9. Get help
When you measure your progress you may discover some delay. You might be wasting time with something that isn’t your specialty. If that’s the case, don’t hesitate to delegate it.
10. Less stress
Whatever is the result of your measurement, positive or negative, there’s no reason to stress out because of it. It showed you what you need to do so… Just do it!
11. Achieve more
Clarity is great to positively rewire your mindset. And when your emotions are in check, you can accomplish ANYTHING you want.
12. Celebrate wins
There’s always an excellent reason to celebrate. When you measure your progress, you know exactly what it is. No matter how big or small.
My favorite tools for measuring progress
My favorite tools to follow up my improvement are Evernote and Trello.
For 2018, I’ll also use an Erin Condren Deluxe Monthly Planner for business and a Filofax Saffiano for personal milestones.
I love the combination of digital and paper and I’m not the only one.
Seeing how much we accomplished is the perfect confidence boost on those days we need extra motivation.
We are always moving forward, but a reminder from time to time works wonders.
If you’re looking for ideas on how to get your measurement going, join our challenge.
It’ll be great for accountability and support as well.
52-Week Challenge For A More Productive You
I’m hosting a 52-week productivity challenge on my Facebook Group #PlanWithDebbie.
You can read everything about the challenge here.
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How the 52-week productivity challenge works
First of all, grab a copy of the list [ninja-popup ID=11356]52 Things That Are Killing Your Productivity.[/ninja-popup]
After signing up, you’ll be invited to join the Facebook group #PlanWithDebbie.
On the group, I’ll share daily prompts during the 52-Week Challenge For A More Productive You.
I’ll guide you through a brand-new topic each week.
From Monday through Friday, you’ll learn how you can use Mindful Planning™ to:
- Become more efficient
- Save time
- Manage stress
- Achieve your goals
You can start the 52-Week Challenge For A More Productive You at any moment of the year.
And you choose whether to follow every single week or to focus on your personal pain points.
If you miss anything, you can always refer to older posts for catch-up or review.
All that FOR FREE!
See you at the challenge
The method I apply to the challenge is exactly the same one I use with my clients: Mindful Planning™.
It’s a 5-step method you can use to all aspects of your life become more productive one day at a time without added stress.
Come and join the 52-Week Challenge For A More Productive You today.
I’m looking forward guiding you towards a successful year and beyond!
Disclaimer: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. You will not pay more when buying a product through my link. However, when you order through my link, it helps me to continue to offer you lots of free stuff. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. Thank you, in advance for your support!
by Debbie Rodrigues | Nov 6, 2017 | Challenge, Productivity
To get your work done, you need to avoid too many meetings. Learn how to be more productive with these 10 tips.
It’s so easy to get caught in too many meetings, isn’t it?
In the past, we had to be able to meet in person to have a meeting.
Depending on the kind of job and position, it’d imply traveling, extra costs, etc.
Then, it came conference call, messaging, video call…
Nowadays, we can “meet” people anywhere, anytime.
And how many abuse of it!
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The problem about meetings
There’s nothing bad about meetings themselves.
Sitting down with people (physically or virtually) can save a lot of time, email exchange, and headaches.
Still, it doesn’t mean we should attend countless meetings just for the sake of busYness.
In most cases, when we find ourselves “chatting” more than doing the work, we also experience:
- procrastination
- lack of organization
- lack of leadership
Procrastination
Meetings play an important role in any relationship.
It’s a lot simpler to clarify goals and differences by talking whether it’s:
- at work (with peers or management)
- in your business (with suppliers, accountant, partner…)
- at home (with your kids, spouse, gardener…)
But if those meetings are being used as an excuse to avoid work, then “Houston, we have a problem.”
Lack of organization
When there’s no structure, we may end up calling extra meetings with our peers and partners because:
- roles and responsibilities weren’t clear from the beginning
- people don’t know what they’re supposed to do
- milestones haven’t been set
Little things that could be avoided with some preparation in advance.
Lack of leadership
Being a leader is more than having a job title.
It’s necessary that someone, for better or worse, assumes the responsibility for the planning and execution of the steps of any project.
Otherwise, it becomes chaos.
Avoiding too many meetings
The best way to avoid too many meetings is by taking the most advantage of one’s scheduled.
Why having to sit together 2 or 3 when all you really need is one well-planned, efficient, and effective meeting?
Below you find 10 tips to make your meetings more productive:
- Define the meeting’s objectives in advance.
- Invite only essential participants.
- Start on time.
- Set clear house rules.
- Track time.
- Make everyone accountable.
- Avoid distractions.
- Limit conversation to meaningful topics.
- Focus on action points.
- Keep it short.
1. Define the meeting’s objectives in advance
Let your invitees know what they’re expected beforehand.
Make your topics clear and tell them what you’ll need from them.
Don’t assume that “everyone should know it.” It’s safer to inform them to manage expectations.
2. Invite only essential participants
It’s a meeting, not a party.
You don’t have your kids with you when making important decisions about the budget with your spouse, do you?
The same approach goes for professional meetings.
Invite only key people and make them responsible for sharing relevant information with their peers.
3. Start on time
Being timely shows how much you value your schedule and the time of all participants.
Get ready between 5 to 15 minutes in advance, depending on the type of meeting.
If you’ll be late because of last-minute delays, let others know it asap.
They also can use the extra time to catch up with other matters.
4. Set clear house rules
Simple requests that can help you have productive meetings are:
- turn off mobiles
- no chatting
- no laptop
When you’re able to host efficient meetings, everyone will have plenty of time to deal with other matters afterwards.
There’s no room for multitasking in effectiveness.
5. Track time
Make sure there’s someone keeping track of time from the moment the meeting begins.
This will put some healthy pressure on participants to stay focused for the duration of the conversation.
The timekeeper needs to be someone who isn’t afraid of calling to order if necessary.
6. Make everyone accountable
While the “leader” is responsible for guiding the progress of the meeting, they can’t do it all alone.
Having all participants interact increases accountability and creates an environment open for discussion.
7. Avoid distractions
Depending on the type of meeting, different house rules are defined to make sure everyone stays focused.
For virtual meetings, making the use of camera mandatory is an excellent option.
8. Limit conversation to meaningful topics
If you want to break the ice with an informal conversation among participants, do it BEFORE the meeting starts.
Once the timer is started, be all business.
Taking a break once the meeting is over is a lot more pleasant and productive.
9. Focus on action points
Meetings should be about agreeing on things to do.
All participants must leave it knowing exactly what’s expected from them next time.
10. Keep it short
Short attention span is a reality for most of us.
Prolonging a meeting for too long will only cause participants to lose focus and interest.
Hosting successful meetings
Depending on the goals and on the participants, some of the tips above may or may not apply.
However, keep in mind that meetings are meant to boost productivity, not to kill it.
If you aren’t the one responsible for hosting the meetings, don’t hesitate to provide helpful feedback.
Great leaders will be glad to listen to positive feedback.
Would like more tips on how to have successful meetings? Join our challenge today.
52-Week Challenge For A More Productive You
I’m hosting a 52-week productivity challenge on my closed Facebook Group.
You can read everything about the challenge here.
[ninja-popup ID=11356][/ninja-popup]
How the 52-week productivity challenge works
First of all, grab a copy of the list [ninja-popup ID=11356]52 Things That Are Killing Your Productivity[/ninja-popup].
After signing up, you’ll be invited to join my closed Facebook group.
On the group, I’ll share daily prompts during the 52-Week Challenge For A More Productive You.
I’ll guide you through a brand-new topic each week.
From Monday through Friday, you’ll learn how you can use Mindful Planning™ to:
- Become more efficient
- Save time
- Manage stress
- Achieve your goals
You can start the 52-Week Challenge For A More Productive You at any moment of the year.
And you choose whether to follow every single week or to focus on your personal pain points.
If you miss anything, you can always refer to older posts for catch-up or review.
All that FOR FREE!
See you at the challenge
The method I apply to the challenge is exactly the same one I use with my clients: Mindful Planning™.
It’s a 5-step method you can use to all aspects of your life become more productive one day at a time without added stress.
Come and join the 52-Week Challenge For A More Productive You today.
I’m looking forward guiding you towards a successful year and beyond!
