Forgetting and Remembering

Which key tools will you turn to regularly to maintain your mindset and how will you use them effectively?

There are two categories of tools I will use to help my mindset - 

"Set It And Forget It"
Remember good old Ron Popeil?  Ronco products let you "Set It And Forget It".  I love these kinds of tools.  These are the tools like auto-pay for your bills that you spend a bit of time setting up in the beginning, and then they just do what they are should.  Rather than repeat these tasks every week or every month (and then worry - did I do that yet?), my mind is free to concentrate on other things.  Thanks to Ramit Sethi for this (the wisdom of using systems) and other insights at his blog http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com


"Do you Remember the Time?"*
The other category of mindset tool is for things I want to remember - and here I'm actually looking forward getting tips about what other people are using.  I am working on creating some new habits, and    getting regular cues will be really helpful.  I've heard about Habitforge, but haven't used it yet - any success stories?  For me, sometimes its about motivation, but sometimes its simply about planning.  Because I like to have some flow in my day, and don't necessarily want to schedule everything, I haven't worked out the best way to get these habits ingrained.  Maybe a reminder popping up until I get it done will help? 

Meanwhile,  I'm in new tool overload since I just became a mac after a lifetime of being a pc.  So, since I can barely use the new trackpad, you will forgive me that I have not yet done any design work on this blog :)

*I know there has got to be a better title than this old MJ song, but somehow that got stuck in my head now and I am unable to come up with anything else!

S--t gets real

What are my three priorities for the next 30 days that will move me closer towards living life on my own terms?

Yikes.  This is the nitty-gritty stuff.  Publicly saying what I want to accomplish.   I'm much better at keeping things at the idea level than than actually deciding on what I need to do to make things happen.  

First of all,  I want to continue working on this blog, continue learning about blogging and decide if some kind of writing is going to be interesting to me long term.  This includes learning more about SEO and social media marketing,  and whether there is a good fit for me career-wise. 

Second, I'd like to make space for some good stuff in my life by getting rid of some junk - I'm ready for a big craigslist sale or yard sale or trip to goodwill (or probably all of the above).  Commit to clearing 2 boxes of stuff this month.  

Finally, good health is going to support my ability to do everything I want to do.  I've started working out  with a trainer and its going great.   Eating better (not perfect, just better!) is going to help me feel great. 

Freedom, Flexibility and Flow

Yes, I'm doing the 30 day blog challenge, but as a new blogger and without the habit of writing daily and since Seattle summer is fleeting, I've missed a few days... so... some brief answers as we get into week 2. 

What’s your definition of freedom in business and adventure in life?

This is a new realization for me, and a big one.  I crave a lot of flexibility in my life.  What probably looks to others like a disorganized mess, is really my best way of working.  I'm calling it flow.  Its actually only when I get really stressed out that I seek structure and organization and calendars and schedules.  And that isn't really good for me.  I need goals, and systems, and purpose, but not rigidity.
Its because I like this flexibility that there is space for adventure in my life.  The biggest part of adventure for me is doing what I'm curious about - and I'm curious about a lot in the world.

What is your definition of location independence?

Flexibility that I can work from anywhere, even if I all I want is to work from my home office.  Clients that trust me enough that they don't need to see me to know that I am creating great work for them.  

What’s does your perfect day look like?

I tackled this in day 2!  I may come back and add more :)

Intuition

One post in, and that wasn't so scary.  Nothing pretty yet, but we'll get there. 

Tonight I saw the third installment of Seattle Opera's Ring Cycle.  The shows have been amazing.  Friends have asked what its all about, and I have to say its about everything.  Themes of following your intuition vs. learned knowledge,  free will vs. rules and law,  parent-child relationships, and love vs. power to name just a few.   Like any great art,  it will resonate differently for you depending on your situation.  The gentleman sitting next to us was crying quietly through the entire third act tonight.  

One of the themes in the Ring that is resonating with me is the conflict between intuition and knowledge.  Or heart vs. head.  Intuition, as represented by Siegfried, just tries things because they might work.  And when he makes a decision based on intuition instead of knowledge - he's not worried about the outcome (success or failure) because he knows he's doing the right thing.  
This is hitting home for me because my modus operandi is the opposite.  
I love ideas and information, and I live in my head - which leaves me second guessing myself and my decisions, and keeps me from even taking a first step.  

If you woke up tomorrow and were free to do anything you wanted with your life, what would you do and who would you be?

Let's see what my intuition tells me about this question... let's flow...
I can describe an ideal day...
I wake up rested.  Maybe I am at home, or maybe I'm wherever "home" is for these couple of months... Sweden, Japan, Chile? After breakfast, I work for a couple of hours.  Then have lunch with a friend, before heading to a meeting with a client.  I have another meeting with an organization I volunteer for, and in the evening enjoy some kind of concert.
Lots of details to fill in there - who are my clients?  what do I do for them?  but hopefully that is what I can figure out over the next 28 days and beyond. 

First Post Ever!

I've been thinking, and thinking, and thinking about starting a blog.  But, I keep getting stuck in the analysis paralysis that has kept me stuck from moving forward on many other things in life.  So this time, I'm going to just jump in and see what happens.  I mean really - what a better reason to actually get started than a kick in the bum (ahem, 30 day challenge) from someone whose blog I respect and learn from?  
http://suitcaseentrepreneur.com/blogchallenge/blog-challenge-day1

And that's where we derive my blog's name.  I'm not exactly prepared, I'm not exactly sure where this is going, but I'm starting anyway... so... 

Wherever You Are.... Just Start There. 

-Amy


TODAY’s challenge: Write a post on why you started your blog, who you wanted to reach, what you wanted it to be all about. Then state why you joined this blog challenge and what you want to get out of it.