Consider this: as with our lesser strengths, there may be a way around the challenge. I’ve been there. I’ve felt the overwhelm of the project that is re-org. All that sorting, prioritization, and filing is tedious. It’s intimidating. B-O-R-I-N-G. Yeah, I’ve shredded like a fiend. Yeah, I’m planning to digitize several cold files. I don’t really need a hard copy of my thesis anymore. But I’d rather be working with clients or sailing. What I really want is to blink my eyes and step into my new world of order. Just leave the stacks behind. Last summer I met a man who showed me how.

Last summer certified professional organizer Joshua Zerkel of Custom Living Solutions delivered a truck load of tools to my chapter of the International Coach Federation. One of those tools was the Evernote application. Evernote lets me capture ideas, articles, lists, photos . . . anything . . . through my smart phone or computer. I can access my content from any computer in the world.

Within an hour of Joshua’s presentation I was already less attached to the paper. For example, I no longer grab a paper and pen when I’m in a waiting room and I see something interesting in a magazine. I grab my phone, launch Evernote, and scan, shoot, or type. Guess what else I do differently. I scan miscellaneous papers and file them in Evernote within seconds. I’m folding file boxes at a satisfying rate. I’ve jumped ahead to the new way of doing things without having to first re-invent my world. I simply moved forward. I doesn’t have to hurt!

If analysis-paralysis turns you off, try Evernote. If you are a creative type who sees project ideas everywhere, try Evernote. Let me know what you think.

We’ll begin the day with a small group coaching session to review the day’s agenda and share objectives. Then we will embark on our journey with our hand-picked crew aboard S/V Pegasus. You will explore the San Francisco Bay and your own coach-able moments simultaneously. We will break for gourmet snacks and one-on-one coaching sessions. Finally, we will reflect on our afternoon’s adventure.

Reserve your seat now if you have the moxie! I look forward to sharing the beautiful bay with you!

Details

• April 23, 2011
• 12:00 p.m. to 5 p.m.
• Berkeley Marin, Berkeley, Calfornia

Contact Lisa to learn more about Moxie Mavericks Adventure Life Coaching and to register for this event.

http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/217711

“As long as what you want does not cause harm to others, you never need to apologize for pursuing your own dreams and big ideas.”

If this line from Chris Guillebeau’s new book, The Art of Non-Conformity, causes you to throw your hands up in relief, read on. Chris’s latest publication on how to change the world by setting your own terms, achieving significant personal goals, and helping others at the same time is his most invigorating manifesto yet.

Part 1, The Remarkable Life, clearly outlines the choice of personal responsibility and how to face down fears. Part 2, Reclaiming Work, illustrates how we can rethink our competencies, education, networks, and personal finances to create personally meaningful work and leadership. Part 3, The Power of Convergence, brings it all together by showing how we can shift from riding on our glory days to building a legacy.

Chris’s writing is daring and specific. “‘Unreasonable,’ ‘unrealistic,’ and ‘impractical’ are all words used to marginalize a person or idea that fails to conform with conventionally expected standards.” He tackles axioms such as “time is money” head on in defense of life quality.

Chris  shares his own fears and mistakes humbly but without apology. He then describes how he moved forward after setbacks. He challenges us find and do what matters most with no excuses. Pop-quizzes like this one appear throughout the book to help us focus forward: “What do you really want to get out of life? How can you help others in a way that no one else can?” He also gives straightforward advice on ornery topics such as challenging authority effectively and building our own small armies for the good.

This is a book for mavericks with extra moxie. This message is not “intend it and it will come.” It’s more “choose your priority and go get it.”

You can meet Chris when his book tour hits The Rockit Room in San Francisco on Wednesday December 8, 2010 at 7:00 p.m.

The Book:

The Art of Non-Conformity by Chris Guillebeau, New York: Perigree, 2010 (pbk) $14.95 U.S., $18.50 CAN, 978-0-399-53610-6

More on Chris:

http://chrisguillebeau.com/

You don’t have to live your life the way other people expect you to. You can do good things for yourself and make the world a better place at the same time. Here’s how to do it. — Chris Guillebeau. Read more.

Chris is the author of the popular “Unconditional Guides” series (also referred to as “world domination made easy”).

You can purchase the book at Amazon, at Barnes & Noble, Borders, Chapters, or support your local bookstore.

Moxie Mavericks passes this award to . . .

Steph Jordan: http://stephjordanincolor.blogspot.com/

Heather Roach: http://wanderingstitch.blogspot.com/

Margaret Fieland: http://www.margaretfieland.com/

Createquity: http://createquity.com/

Unconventional Guides: http://unconventionalguides.com/

Here are the rules for this award –To pick up the Circle of Friends Blog Award:

1. Save the award logo to your computer and use it on your own blog.
2. Nominate 5 other bloggers you feel have become part of your circle of friends. Link to your nominees within your blog post.
3. Include these instructions on how to pick up the award in your blog post.
4. Link back to the person who gave you the award in your blog post, to show your appreciation.
5. Comment on their blogs to let them know they’ve received the award.

Over our yummy, late, and long lunch on the dock we swapped stories of travel, work, sailing, and writing. I’ve worked with Michele for a few years now and I’m always impressed with her perspective, wit, and energy. It’s no surprise that she is scintillating in person! Her playful yet earnest passion for the writing work that she is doing on her own and with the Pod People is infectious.

When we met, the Pod People (refresher: a group of poets from the Muse Online Writers Conference who decided to keep meeting after one of my workshops, they more formally call themselves the Poetic Muselings) were on the verge of completing their full length poetry anthology. It’s now August and that manuscript is, in fact, complete. Rather than tell their story in my own words again. I am inviting each of the poets to tell us how things look and feel from this stage of the project.

Dear Pod People:

Tell us what we need to know! Please share any or all of the following in comments:

1. What one phrase or sentence summarizes this experience for you?
2. Did your moxie get you through it? If so, how?
3. Did you get blocked? How did you deal with it?
4. What strength of yours contributed to the project’s success?
5. What did you learn from your collaborators?
6. How are you celebrating?

Thank you. Swim on!

While you are there, become a fan of the app then stand-by for special announcements and free moxie tools.

If you’ve received a Mini Moxie Boost from someone who is looking out for you, tell us how it made you feel.

Compounding the issue is our colleagues in workshops and critique groups. In these environments we tend to focus on everything our work is not. Our associates tell us what is missing because they want to give us something to work on. They believe this is the most useful thing they can offer. Getting rid of blocks is about removing what keeps us from moving forward. Toiling away at gaps and deficiencies might easily drain our energy and leave us stranded where we started.

Some groups, such as Toastmasters, use the sandwich technique to buffer constructive criticism. Each report of an observed flaw is bookended with a compliment. But it’s hard to hear the good news if we are only listening for the beginning and end of the bad news. Research shows that we tend to discredit the good news and accept the bad news.

So let’s turn the tables on feedback. Let’s go after the useful, positive, information that tells us what progress we are making. To stick, positive feedback needs to be specific, targeted, and supported by evidence.

1. The next time someone tells you that your work is interesting, compelling , or vibrant, try asking him what he specifically means by that word, where he thinks the work demonstrates this feature., and what impact your work has upon him. Dig in so that you know exactly how you are moving toward project completion.
2. Bonus: It is sometimes easier to spot strengths in the work of others. If you are uneasy with inquiries such as the one above, warm up by offering similar details to others.
3. Double Bonus: Practice spotting strengths in others, not just their work!

• Tie your feedback to a specific event or moment.
• Target your feedback to a distinct action.
• Describe the favorable outcome of the action as evidence of her strength at work.

Get ready to hear, really hear, about your own strengths!