Creating a Personal Mission Statement

If you're anything like me you have 5,000 things you want to do, not enough time to get to everything on your to do list, and a pile of books that you "hope" you'll be able to read one day. Since the beginning of the year is usually a time for looking forward, this might be the time to consider writing your own personal mission statement. When you've defined just what is MOST important to you, you'll be able to focus on the important tasks and let the other ones go by the wayside. The Rochester, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce has a cool .pdf worksheet that lets you plug in some personal details so you can create a personal mission statement that inspires the best within you.

www.rochestermnchamber.com/pdf/lgr_missionStatement.pdf


(Writing Sparks Newsletter, 1/18/2008)

Money Comes to Me Easily and Effortlessly

If that's not true for you, the problem might just be that you don't believe it's true. Many self-help programs tout the importance of using positive affirmations to help you get what you want out of life. If used correctly, affirmations can make dramatic and positive changes in your life. So this year, instead of making a number of resolutions that you'll break by January 2nd, how about trying to give yourself a positive pep talk instead. If you're looking for a good place for affirmations, psychic Lorrie Kazan sends out a free, weekly "Prosperity Meditation."

To check out past issues, visit www.lorriekazan.com/backissuespm.html

This article was posted in the December 14 issue of OnceWritten.com's Writing Sparks newsletter.

Creating Your Reality with Goal Setting

You know that when you write down your plans and goals they have a much better chance of becoming reality. Having them bounce around in your brain, competing with all the other noise that's up there is great, but for dramatically increase results, you have to write it down. It never ceases to amaze me, on my own goal (AKA to do) lists how I'll write down every little thing I can think of, both for long and short term goals, and even if I've completely forgotten that list existed, when I come across it years later, most of the items have been done. In order to help you figure out your most pressing goals, Cigna Health has developed a goal-setting worksheet that is pretty cool. Print this sheet out, take yourself on a nice, quiet, solo Starbucks date, and just spend an hour dreaming about and planning your future. Cigna Health Goal Setting Worksheet.

This article was posted in the May 7 issue of OnceWritten.com's Writing Sparks newsletter.

What If You Could Make Headlines?

Okay so maybe you aren't ready yet to start generating real headlines, but still, if you're thinking about your name in lights, you might want to use the news to create a creative visualization for yourself. Write down one of your goals, edit it into one or two short paragraphs, and then post the text at www.getclippings.com/index.php to generate a personalized newspaper clipping for yourself. Print the clipping, post it on a wall, and use it to remind yourself to keep moving along. Want to see mine?

This article was posted in the April 2 issue of OnceWritten.com's Writing Sparks newsletter.

Time Management and Avoiding Procrastination

In the spirit of today's "Finding More Time" issue I'm also focusing on procrastination as a time sucker. Secondary to saying "I don't have enough time," procrastinating until we are sure we don't have enough time left is another way of sucking up time and acting as a detriment to your goals. For a fun article on overcoming procrastination, visit www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newHTE_96.htm now. The Mind Tools site has lots of cool advice for developing your career skills.

This article can be found in the March 26 issue of OnceWritten.com's Writing Sparks weekly newsletter.

You Can Have What You Want

One of my most favorite new websites is www.geniuscatalyst.com, a site that is devoted to helping you get what you want out of life. A great article posted there is entitled "How to Win Games and Influence Dolphins" which gives baby step suggestions on setting up goals to make them attainable. You can find the article at: www.geniuscatalyst.com/public/tipoftheday_s.php.

To Do Lists on Steroids

Managing your to-do lists can be a real headache. If you're like me, you have three legal-size pages of notes, two cocktail napkins scribbled with things you've "just remembered" and don't forget the six phone messages to yourself, reminding you not to forget what you wrote on the cocktail napkin. If you're managing a group project, with more than one person responsible for getting things done, the to do list can take on a life of its own.

A handy website to help you manage your life's to-dos is www.backpackit.com. The application is super easy to learn how to use, and you can manage one or multiple lists over there. You can make your list public to a few people, so they can keep up with their own action items, or you can make it public to the world. Take a sneak peek at my "mock" list at http://mpoling.backpackit.com/pub/844077.


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Get Past the Block
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Set a Goal . . .

This week we're getting serious about goal setting. I challenge you all to pick ONE thing you REALLY want and set some goal on how to get it. Break the goals down into bite size pieces, and make sure they are do-able in small time increments.

Then make sure you do one thing every single day to get you closer to meeting your goal. For writers, this goal often tends to be around the theme of writing every day.

Seriously try it. Three pages a day.

Handwritten, that will take you less than 30 minutes a day. Do it in the morning, at night, even at line at the bank. Don't let yourself make any excuses, and get those goals done. Or else I'm sending Guido over to break your knee caps.

Some of the members of the OnceWritten.com forum are setting their own goals. You can see what they're planning at: http://www.oncewritten.com/Community/viewtopic.php?t=210. Do feel free to pitch in.

Get Past the Block
OnceWritten.com offers weekly tips and suggestions to help get you motivated and moving beyond the things that block you. To sign up for a weekly shot of inspiration, subscribe to the OnceWritten.com Writing Sparks newsletter.

Need Creative Writing Prompts
OnceWritten.com offers brand new, FREE, creative writing prompts every week. Feeling stumped in your writing? Check out the OnceWritten.com Free Creative Writing Prompts page.

Write a Life Plan

Last week I mentioned my life plan, and a couple of subscribers asked me about it. I'm a big believer that you can get what you want, as long as you tell the universe (and yourself) that you want it. I've had huge success with writing down my goals, and am often amazed when I look back on old lists. I've often accomplished most of the things on my lists, even the items I forgot I had written down.

In the absence of my having a formal life planner to share with you all, I found a cool one over at Start Up Nation, an awesome website for small business owners. This is a favorite site of mine, with tons of really great information. An overview of life planning can be found at: http://www.startupnation.com/pages/start/Step1.asp and the page has a template, a sample, and audio files to help you get started.

Get Past the Block
OnceWritten.com offers weekly tips and suggestions to help get you motivated and moving beyond the things that block you. To sign up for a weekly shot of inspiration, subscribe to the OnceWritten.com Writing Sparks newsletter.

Need Creative Writing Prompts
OnceWritten.com offers brand new, FREE, creative writing prompts every week. Feeling stumped in your writing? Check out the OnceWritten.com Free Creative Writing Prompts page.