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Dream Big, Start Small

Posted on August 14, 2011 by nikkiward in Life & Love, Motivation & Inspiration, Organization & Productivity | Leave a comment

Do you ever loose track of exactly where it is you’re trying to go?  I mean the ‘big picture’ that you have in your head.  We all have dreams and goals, but most of us lead a daily life that doesn’t necessarily take us in the direction we’re trying to go.

How does spending 10 or so hours a day earning a living and then coming home to dinner, laundry and bed so we can get up tomorrow and repeat the process ever lead to that picture in our head?  Well, first we Dream Big, and then we start small. 

I’ve put together for us, a very simple Dream BluePrint for doing just that.  We begin with the Dream, and then with the help of the BluePrint, we break it down.  Step one is to determine goals that will lead to the Dream, then make a plan to reach those goals.  Most importantly, take that plan & set DAILY tasks.  These tasks are small and easy, but they’re part of the plan!  As you mark each daily task off the list, you feel good about making progress – you want more.  Once your first list of tasks become habits (Yay), make a new list.  Work your plan, reach your goals & live your Dream!

I would love for you to download the Dream BluePrint from this page.  Try it and then talk to me about it.  What can we change to make it better.  What do you like about it?  Does it help?  I’m starting with a BluePrint for getting fit – I’ll let you know how it goes.

You know, we can have more than one Dream Blueprint – I’ve got a few Dreams for this Blog that I think I’ll map out with another copy.

I can’t wait to hear what you think!

Organized and Mobile

Posted on February 19, 2011 by nikkiward in Organization & Productivity | Leave a comment

Capture anything and access it anywhere.  That’s what it says when you go the Evernote.com for the first time.  And they mean it.  How many of us work from different computers or devices at any given time.  I know I am always looking for a file, picture or favorite web page from a device that is invaribly not the one I saved it on.

Evernote has effectively solved this problem.  Save a document in Evernote – it is then available on your downloaded computer application, your web account and your mobile device – all for free.  Add a webpage to evernote and read it offline, or link to it from any device. 

Evernote lets you create ‘notebooks’ to organize your information.  You can even share notebooks with other Evernote users.  The free version of the application has a monthly upload limit of 60MB, upgrade to 1GB plus upgraded search capabilities for $5.00 per month. 

I’ve been using it about 3 weeks, and I am hooked.  Take a look!

My 30 minutes a day…..

Posted on February 1, 2011 by nikkiward in Health & Fitness, Life & Love, Motivation & Inspiration | 2 Comments

I am a fitness buff – on paper.  I know, that’s the worst kind!  I have books (I’ve even read them).  I follow the best fitness guru’s.  I know how to eat right, I know how to exercise, I have a gym membership.  I know how to be fit.  I am not fit.  And being fit is not what this post is about.

Like millions of us, one of my resolutions for the new year is to get in shape.  I started small.  A walk.  Each morning.  A mile and a half, down dirt roads near my house.  I have to do it before my eyes are really open, or I’ll change my mind, so I get dressed in the dark, grab a bottle of water and set out.

Or, at least that’s how it started.  In one month, that 30 minutes each morning has become the best part of my day.  I often see the sun rise.  I listen to the birds and the neighborhood pups come out to say good morning.  One morning I saw deer tracks right on our little dirt road!  But more than all that, I am energized and inspired.  I solve old problems and have new ideas out there.  I come back excited to begin my day and take action on those ideas.  My motivation soars!

I don’t think the result would be the same on a treadmill at the gym.  I’m not sure if its the exercise, the fresh air or the solitude – it really doesn’t matter to me what it is.  Maybe it takes all three.  I’ve known for a long time that a 30 minute walk each day is good for your health – I had no idea what it could do for your spirit. I highly recommend it!