Thankful for my Family of Me + 3

Today I am starting my November 'Thankful for' Month of gratitude. My family is very important to me and everything I do is with them in mind. My three children have created the first ring of my family and I love them with all of my heart! They are each unique and beautiful in their own way. I get excited when I think of the potential they hold to shape their world and affect so many others along the way. 

We entered the teenage years this year and it has been quite an experience, but also left me with a realization/wake up call that training on my part is almost finished... Most of the choices they make are up to them and hopefully the good morals I have instilled will play huge part. There comes a point in time where you can't just pick up your baby, hold them and soothe them until they quit crying over something, or worse- someone. And when you have to step back and let them learn lessons on their own to grow. It's tough, but such an amazing blessing to have in my life. Watching them grow is so much more fantastic than I ever imagined. So very Thankful!

They have learned a lot in watching me... and boy is that a scary thought! I always say my kids keep me grounded. For I would be a train wreck with out them, ha! Some experiences my family has encountered I wish I could erase, but hold confident that everything happens for a reason and we pull good from each lesson. I have also learned a lot in watching them: the way they react, the way they set up a scenario, the way they refer to others, and their very kind, caring hearts! (well most of the time, lol) 

Families don't come with instruction manuals and all you can do is try your best, to be your best... and God fills in the rest! 

Thankful for my family of me + 3. 

Organization vs. Disorganization: Where do you stand?

Organization aids peace of mind, creativity and time effectiveness.
Disorganization causes stress, fractured thinking and wasted time.
To stay organized you must develop systems unique to your situation, whether it is handling paperwork, managing email, conducting meetings, using a follow-up file or scheduling in a planner ~ Harold Taylor

Organization is usually one of the hardest areas to experience consistency and most people struggle with greatly. The key is establishing systems THAT WORK. Everyone processes information differently. This will affect the use of time management systems as well. There is no cookie cutter approach.. One size does NOT fit all.

If you find yourself struggling with the consistency of your organizational a systems currently in place (or lacking there of) please let me know! I would love to chat with you!
vickie.minnella@gmail.com
Connect with me on twitter @VickieMinnella
Happy Tuesday!

Blueprint for Success - NACWE Share

Starting a project or task can seem overwhelming but with the proper planning, tools and resources, the result can be life-changing. When we implement organization and task planning into our lives we become strategic about success. Let’s face it, success doesn't simply swoop in and land on too many of us. If we want true success, we have to plan for it.

Sharing a blog post I wrote for NACWE with great principles for everyday success: 

We have to:

• Allow ourselves the time to sit and think
• Pray for direction
• Create an action plan… and then you have to MOVE!

To achieve goals, we must work hard. If we believe there is only one way to do things, we box in all the possibilities for life.

We must prayerfully consider the course our life is on and then picture what we want it to look like in a year or two. Then, create and follow a blueprint to make that possible.

“I am certain that God who began a good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished. (Phillippians 1:6)

The Bible clearly states that when we seek and plan, He will provide a way. Here are a few areas where success eludes countless women:

• Schedules: Allow time to plan each week and be careful not to over schedule. Plan time to think and pray.
• Household responsibilities: Assign tasks a specific day of the week. For example: Plan meals once a week and then grocery shop for those items only. They do not have to be extensive dinners with 100 different ingredients. Keep it simple, especially on days of heavier activity. Also, it is helpful to do small things each night to avoid a larger chore once a week, like taking 10 minutes each night to run around and straighten up or loading the dishwasher before going to bed.
• Self-Care:- Plan something EVERY DAY to as a reward. This does not need to be a daily trip to the spa, although that would be nice at times, rather a break to read a magazine, time to talk with a friend, or a special coffee treat. As we take care of ourselves, we are better able to give our best to others.
• Exercise: As busy women, it is crucial to set time set aside for physical activity. Exercise can be such a rewarding, motivating feeling and can lend to a higher productivity level in other areas of life.
• Goals: Keep dreaming. God wants to do great things in our lives, but we have to keep expecting to grow, no matter where we are at this moment. Avoid any ruts—we are here for a purpose.   Dream BIG!
• Accountability:  Find people that will hold us accountable—willing to speak truth and love unconditionally. This may be found in a life/business coach or just a close friend. Connect with other women for support and friendship. Communicate goals with them. We also need to consider our current circle of friends: do they lift us up and offer positive growth? If not, we may need to change our circle of influence. We become who we hang with- even as an adult!

Think outside the box today. Expect great things to happen and you will be surprised how broad your perspective becomes and how much bigger your ‘box’ really is! Plan for the success your life was designed for and “He will complete the good work He began in you.”

Blueprint for Success - National Association of Christian Women Entrepreneurs


NACWE.org

Schedule Planning Tool

I created this handy little worksheet to help people see where their time was going as well as what goals they wanted to make a reality. This offers a clear picture of what is currently going on and a way to realistically accomplish a bigger picture. This can be used in the present situation or as a goals worksheet for how the ideal time frame would look. This has helped in creating calendars and color coding the calendar through task, takes it one step further. This will also help in time-blocking for the most efficient use of productivity, profitability and performance.

Click the link below and download/print your free copy!

Schedule Planning Worksheet Hope this is helpful! Happy Time Tip Tuesday ~V

Actions follow beliefs- a death crawl

There is great power in belief! Your actions will follow your beliefs. If you accept defeat- defeat is what you will get. There are times in life when the thought of defeat will trigger tears of frustration. What we do with those tears is the essence of our character. Are you willing to give it your best to make it to the end zone? The power is within you- if you believe it! 

Watch this short clip from one of my favorite movies for a little motivation this Monday! I post it every year, in some form or another, right around football season for a reminder... Anyone can do the death crawl, but those that push themselves through the weight of others will reach the finish line! ~V

Connections Provide Inspiration

There are days that I wonder what the heck I am doing... more often than I care to admit. Parenting can be hard. Life can be hard. And parenting through single life can be really hard. Especially on a career-driven, passion-driven (and I have to keep it real and throw in the OCD-driven part too) person. I have found one imperative tool to keep my clock ticking and heart fluttering- CONNECTIONS! Make and keep positive connections with like-minded individuals. No, not the ‘like-minded, having the same bad day’ connections, although sometimes I will admit, it is nice to have those too- keeps things in check and I don’t feel so crazy after all!

In all seriousness though, I am talking about the connections you crave with inspiring, uplifting people that will challenge you to think, make you take a step back from time to time and evaluate the direction you are headed. Even if your path redirects your route, keep it on the map. Keep all goals in perspective; for there will come a time to put it all to work. Having to take a step back over the last year has taught me the real meaning of this:

If something is meant to be, it will be. But if you are forcing it, then the time is not right and the result will not fulfill the goal. Let it go. If it comes back after some time, then reevaluate.  

·        Evaluate the pros and cons of the last time. It is very important to clearly look at what went right as well as what went wrong.

·         Think about how the goal- has grown and evolved? Is the goal altogether different?

·        Consult with a few close friends/mentors. Consider all of your connections. Mix up the pool of people you consult with

·        Create a clear strategy before attempting your next try and then give it a shot.

Keeping the connections I met along the way and staying in touch with an amazing group of women, has keep my spark. They continue to inspire me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, email, webinars and even text messages. I love watching them pursue their dreams but I also like to see how their paths redirect sometimes too, and more importantly, how they grow through that time. I have a few friends that I have stayed in contact with that have grown and been transparent enough that I know success did not happen overnight. They struggled, prayed, cried, shouted for joy and even waited/reflected for a time. I am grateful to share these times with them as I lean on them in the same way.

I found myself listening to a teleseries of very successful women during my drive time and signing up for webinars that interest me in both my current career world and the entrepreneurial world again. Although I know the time is not right for all of it at the moment, I keep myself thinking about the material I want to offer, the business models to offer it through and the connections I can help in the process. Even in my present career, “how can I add value to those around me?”

My connections are what keep my mind off of the tough “what am I doing this for” moments and fixed on the fact that this is a temporary timeframe and this too shall pass… so I choose to be ready when it does. I also believe God puts people in your life at the right time for a reason, and sometimes even a season. Be willing to tune into this and plant the seeds wisely along the way, in order to reap the most plentiful, overflowing harvest. Connect with game changers, but also connect with strong friends. (and no I don’t mean the body building type, although if one happens to get sent my way that comes equipped with an entrepreneurial mind and can keep up with me- well shoot, I have to take that as ‘seeds well sown’??)

~V

Pre-Printed Grocery List

Simplify Saturday Tip: Hang a Pre-Printed Grocery List on your fridge or inside of a cabinet to circle food items as you are close to running out of them. Then each week finish circling the items needed to complete your meal plan shopping. Happy Saturday! There is also a printable below to download and print. 

Pre-Printed Grocery List - Print your free copy here

Grocery List 2012