One of the things I’ve been noticing about myself is that I’m uncomfortable during the messy ‘in-between’ stages of things.  We recently moved into a new home and even though we are pretty much ‘moved in’ there are all of the lingering messy things… boxes unpacked, disorganized garage, pictures not yet hung… you know, the detail stuff.

Then, over the weekend, Tony and I started doing ‘home projects’.  I was getting stressed having so many different projects going on with “nothing” completed and a mess all around me.  I started to get cranky.  Yet – I noticed something. I became conscious of my uncomfortable feelings. And realized they were old familiar friends.

There is a saying that says, “How you do anything is how you do everything.” You see, I like to multi-task. I like the fast-paced world. I like to create new things, get new projects started, and get the ball rolling.  Yet, I tend to get a bit ‘all over the place’ if I start too many things at once and nothing is finished through to completion.

So, I started wondering…

Are we ever ‘done’ in life? In career? In job? In work? Or, are we just in one continual moment of change and that’s what’s constant and consistent.

Or, can we actually do fewer things and get them through to completion before starting the next thing? Is this possible? Does life work like this? And what would I tell my clients?

I think what I’m learning about myself as a career coach for others and as a person with her own career is:

• It’s okay to have a few things going on at once. Life is rarely ‘one thing at a time.’
• Do your best to prioritize so you feel more successful at the end of the day.
• Bite larger projects off in sizable chunks so you can have that sense of completion throughout the larger project or task.
• Celebrate both big and small accomplishments. Literally pat yourself on the back!
• And, yes, know that “it” is never really done.  Life is constant. Career is constant. Enjoy the ride.

I welcome your thoughts and comments on how you celebrate your successes and follow-through to completion.

And, please let me know how I can help you manage the chaos to create a step-by-step strategy to maximize your career success.

My Mom is an amazing person, Mom, professional, and friend.  Here she shares her tips for managing clutter and creating the space for something new… for the things we truly want and deserve in our life.  As she says, “You know how passionate I am about managing the things we can manage and eliminating those things that clutter up our lives.”

I thought I would share her ‘list’ with you so you can get going on clearing and make room for creating! Please share your comments, feedback, or your own ideas in the blog comment section

1. Open your mail daily or at a minimum every other day.
2. Shred or destroy all junk mail with 2-days. Eliminate the junk in your life.
3. Unsubscribe to emails that get in the way of reading the good stuff.
4. Eliminate clutter or stacks of old magazines from the rooms. There is a sense of order and sense of satisfaction when these items are tossed out or recycled.
5. Pay bills each week rather than daily or monthly.
6. Take a look at your monthly financial commitments. Create a spreadsheet to see what approximately what your monthly nugget is – update this monthly.
   • Estimated bills
   • Debts (to anyone)
   • Minimum payments
   • Summarize the information so you have a monthly view of your expenses
7. Obtain new insurance quotes to reduce costs – auto, home, medical. This can be done on-line or through a broker and you may be surprised at the savings.
8. Re-evaluate basics like cell phone plans.
9. List any money you may have coming in from taxes or rebates  and buy one $1 lottery ticket weekly.
10. Use a credit card that provides airline miles that can be used efficiently – Alaska is good for the west coast.
11. Manage your 401K funds at least quarterly. Do it today because it is a great place to make free money and cut losses that happen by lack of management.
12. Use any and all products you already have in the house before buying more.  Be creative.
13. Recycle clothing by dropping them at a consignment shop for credit.  Small, friendly shops are the best.
14. Make sure your bank does not charge any fees especially if you are a long time customer with a number of accounts.  I found that they did not have me on the right plan for what we had and we now have free everything. It would not have happened if I did not ask.
15. Keep your calendar up to date and don’t over commit except when it comes to blocking out time for yourself.
16. Develop a routine (time in the day or week) for certain items – paying bills, doing laundry, exercise, housework (break house work in to manageable pieces when you can do it along side your spouse, roommate, etc. – it is shared and goes much faster).  Place it on your calendar or a note in the kitchen until you get into the routine.

Choose a few things to focus on each week until your home, life, and career are truly humming to the tune you want and need for a happy, successful experience!

We’ll be reminded throughout the day today, this 40^th annual Earth Day, to consider our impact on the environment. We’ll hear about green beauty products, cars, household appliances, etc. We may stop to pick up some litter on our daily walk. Or, we may get involved in a community project or plant a new tree. These are all great things.

But I stopped to consider what earth day has to do with careers.  How can we, through our careers, build a better earth? Is it possible? Can we really do it?  Here are a few small ideas to get you thinking:

If you’re currently employed and your company isn’t so green or environmentally friendly, what can you do to help change this in small ways?

• Perhaps you could team up with the Office Manager to build a new recycling program.
• Or, perhaps you could spearhead a small volunteer employee committee to implement one new ‘green’ initiative every month or two.
• Think about the small things you can do in your immediate work environment.

If you have your own business, implement some new processes or programs to reduce your carbon footprint. Perhaps things like:

• Put recycling bins everywhere. Make it easy for your employees!
• Do more online marketing and less print or mailers.
• Give incentives for people who carpool or take mass transit to work.
• Don’t print your emails and encourage your employees to do the same.

If you’re unemployed or considering a career transition, research the many new career options popping up in the ‘green’ industry.  Just a few of the online resources to check out and do some research:

• http://www.greencareersguide.com/: Self-described as, “… the most comprehensive database of articles on green jobs. Whatever your stage of life, we have you covered. Green careers, green training, and green entrepreneurship articles are only a small part of our exhaustive green career site.”
• http://www.greatgreencareers.com/: Self-described as, “…connects employers and job seekers in the green jobs industries.”
• http://jobs.greenbiz.com/ : Self-described as helping you, “Find the sustainability professional and green-collar job that’s right for you.”

Or, you may want to pick-up one of these green career books:

• Green Careers: Choosing Work for a Sustainable Future by Jim Cassio
• Green Careers For Dummies by Carol L. McClelland
• Green Careers by Jennifer Power Scott
• The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Green Careers by Barbara Parks
• Careers in Renewable Energy: Get a Green Energy Job by Gregory McNamee
• The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Green Careers by Barbara Parks
• Green Jobs: A Guide to Eco-Friendly Employment by A. Bronwyn Llewellyn
• Green Jobs for a New Economy: The Career Guide to Emerging Opportunities by Peterson’s
• Green Collar Jobs: Environmental Careers for the 21st Century by Scott M. Deitche
• Green Careers (Wetfeet Insiders Guide) by Frank Marquardt
• Making a Living While Making a Difference: Conscious Careers in an Era of Interdependance, Revised Edition by Melissa Everett
• 75 Green Businesses You Can Start to Make Money and Make A Difference by Glenn E. Croston
• Green Careers in Energy: Your Guide to Jobs in Renewable Energy by Therese DeAngelis
• Green at Work: Finding a Business Career that Works for the Environment by Susan Cohn

So, on this earth day, do something small. Share wisdom. Help a friend with green career advice.  Walk instead of drive.  Recycle that plastic bottle at lunch instead of tossing it in the trash can.

Or go big and consider your green career options.

And, of course, if I can help you explore what ‘green’ means to you in your ideal career, please contact me and we’ll talk about it!  Happy Earth Day

Many of you understand the importance of CLARITY and/or GOAL SETTING!  And many of you know that I use each month’s new moon to set intentions / goals / wishes / dreams with what I want to create in my successful career and life.

So today’s post is to remind you that this month’s new moon is tomorrow, Wednesday, April 14th at 4:30 am PT / 6:30 am CT / 7:30 am ET and is in ARIES.

Whether you believe in astrology, the new moon, or not… just use the day as a reminder to recharge, revisit, and clarify your goals and intentions for a wonderful life!

How does the new moon work in terms of goal setting?

• Write up to 10 intentions (any more than that and the energy gets kind of displaced).
• It is best to hand write them (vs type)
• Each month, the new moon is ruled by a different astrological sign which rules certain aspects of life. Writing intentions in these areas is very powerful but you can write your intentions in ANY area of your life. You don’t have to be born in the Aries sign in order to benefit from the new moon each month.
• Write your intentions in the positive… In other words, state what you want (don’t say what you don’t want or may just get that!).

• New Beginnings, including: blazing new trails, initiating, high energy, taking action, innovative approaches
  • Example: “I I easily find myself initiating action in regard to ______.”
• The Self, including: the physical body, survival issues, instincts, assertiveness
  • Example: “I easily find myself consistently asserting myself in healthy ways.”
• Innocence, including: honesty, authenticity, impulsiveness, straightforwardness
  • Example: “I easily find myself honestly revealing my thoughts and feelings.”
• Self-Discovery, including: exploration, taking risks, eagerness, competition
  • Example: “I easily view any ‘setbacks’ as an opportunity for creative self-discovery.”
• Independence, including: self-direction, self-reliance, autonomy, self-sufficiency
  • Example: “I easily make decisions that are in my won best interests.”
• Our “Warrior Nature”, including: courage, leadership, strength, vigilance, boldness
  • Example: “I am easily filled with courage and awareness in actively pursuing my own aims.”
• Self-Absorption, including: lack of awareness of others, selfishness, vanity, impulsive action that alienates others, anger, impatience
  • Example: “I easily stop taking impulsive actions that are against my core best interests.”
• In matters of restoring health, Aries rules: acne, eyes, head, face, scalp, and brain, headaches and dizziness
  • Example: “I easily experience total healing to occur in the area of my ______ (body area ruled by Aries).” OR “I easily attract, recognize, and begin working with the right healers for me that restore my ______ (body area ruled by Aries) to perfect health.”

• The author of the book on new moon astrology uses the “I want…” type of wish/intention.  I tend to drop the ‘want’ part of the wish/intention and write wishes/intentions that are in the present tense.  So rather than, “I want to attract get started on writing the novel I have been talking about,” I would write, “I easily have the ideas, thoughts, and time available to start my new novel.” Do what resonates with you.
• I think it’s a great idea to add the word ‘easy’ or ‘easily’ into any wish/intention. I mean, why not be clear and ask the universe to make it easy???
• And, if you’re asking for clearing or healing in any area, you may want to write something like “in a healthful manner” within the wish/intention so that what you are asking for occurs in a healthy, easy manner.