Cathy Stucker - The Idea Lady

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Just Say No to New Year’s Resolutions

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No to Resolutions

If you are like most people, you made a long list of resolutions for the new year. Your list may include everything from losing weight or quitting smoking to finding a new job, taking your business in new directions, learning a language, not procrastinating, having more patience with your kids, finishing your degree, spending less money, or finally learning how to use that %&@#^$@$ computer properly.

Whatever your resolutions, it is likely that they will not survive to see February. Most people who solemnly list all the ways they are going to improve themselves give up all too soon. Not only are they still stuck with their bad habits, they also have a sense of failure hanging over them.

There is nothing wrong with making resolutions. However, trying to completely change your life over night is usually doomed to failure. The exception is when there is a powerful motivating force, such as the need to make lifestyle changes due to a major illness. Change or die can be a powerful motivation.

For most of us, though, the motivation to uphold our New Year’s resolutions is nowhere near that strong. And, when it gets hard it is easier to just quit.

I do not say this to discourage you, but to show you that there is a better way. Here are some tips to make changes in your life that will stick. [Read more…]

Simplify Your Life. Today.

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simplify reminderWhy does simplification have to be so complicated? Does the idea of simplifying seem overwhelming? “Where would I start? What do I need to do? Should I take a class or hire a coach? I don’t have time to simplify!”

Stop it! Simplifying is easy. You don’t need to implement big systems to make things simpler, you need to pare down.
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Live to Eat or Eat to Live

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This week’s Monday Morning Message from Wm. H. Danforth, founder of Ralston Purina:
What is the Monday Morning Message?

A letter that I’ve just read contained the following :

“Why do so many office workers put in a good solid morning’s work and then waste half the afternoon by dawdling? The chances are at least even it is because they eat “not too wisely but too well” at lunch. “There’s a reason for the wandering mind and sleepy brain—and usually the stomach is IT.”

My observation tells me that Mrs. Westbrook’s Cafeteria foods are so tempting that most of us eat too much lunch. Try balancing up your food. I know some of you would be better off if you would cut down on your noon meal.

Try it, won’t you? I like to see action!

You are what you eat, and what you eat affects how you feel.

If you find yourself dragging through the afternoon and wishing for a nap, it may be because of what you ate for lunch. Having a large meal or a fat-filled fast food feast is a recipe for feeling sluggish.

Skipping lunch isn’t the answer, though. You will feel better and be more productive if you have a light lunch. Skip the heavy meal of fried foods and have a salad or a light sandwich instead. Go easy on the sugar, too. A sugar rush can give way to an energy crash, so skip the sugary soda and high-calorie dessert.

Then, take a brisk walk after lunch to energize and prepare yourself for a productive afternoon.

Try it this week. You will feel better, be more productive and perhaps even drop a few pounds by the end of the week.

Kill Them One at a Time

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This week’s Monday Morning Message from Wm. H. Danforth, founder of Ralston Purina:
What is the Monday Morning Message?

Are you trying to fight some enemy in the dark?

If you could see him, you could conquer him, because you are stronger than he. Bring him out in the sunlight. That particular bad habit; that obstacle that keeps looming up before you; procrastination, lack of system or what not—drag them out in the sunlight and have it out with them once and for all.

Try licking one enemy this week and another next week, and so on and see what a difference it makes in your life.

Most of you won’t do this, but some of you will. If you lick one this week, you can lick another next.

Cathy’s Commentary:

I got several points out of this Monday Morning Message.

1. We often try to hide our flaws, even from ourselves. But we can’t conquer them unless we see them and acknowledge them.

Own up to your weaknesses, your flaws, the things that are holding you back, then take action to eliminate them.

2. Do not try to tackle all of your obstacles at once. Choose one change you will make this week to get rid of a bad habit, compensate for a weakness or flaw, or overcome an obstacle. Then do it, consistently, every day.

By taking on one enemy at a time, you will soon vanquish your foes and be more productive and successful.

Jar Yourself!

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This week’s Monday Morning Message from Wm. H. Danforth, founder of Ralston Purina:
What is the Monday Morning Message?

Smash a Window!
Kick in the Door!
Do Something!
Jar Yourself!

All hail to the unknown Author who said, “If the Door of Opportunity does not Open to Polite Knocks, KICK IT IN!”

Let’s stir something up this week.

Begin on yourself.

Make this the week you make a bold change. Do something you have never done before:

Take on a new challenge. Take on a new responsibility, or create a new product or service for your business.

Let go of something. Have you been holding on to a task that you should not be doing? Delegate it to staff, hire a virtual assistant, outsource it or just stop doing it.

Change your look. Changing your hair and clothes can give you confidence and change your attitude.

Get physical. Push yourself to run, sign up for a yoga class, join a gym (and go), and look for ways to challenge yourself physically everyday.

Approach someone who could be a mentor to you. Look for a way you can work together.

Find someone you can mentor. You do not have be at the very top of your industry to be a valuable mentor to someone else. And you can learn by mentoring someone else.

Start something. Commit to starting a new habit that will make you healthier, more productive, happier or somehow make your life better.

Stop something. Give up a destructive or harmful habit or practice. Quit smoking, stop procrastinating, or anything else that holds you back.

Find a way to make technology work for you. Start using a new tool that will change how you do things and make you more productive.

Change your attitude. Instead of “I can’t,” say “I will.” With a conscious effort you can turn a negative attitude to a positive one.

Do the thing you fear. Are you afraid to make a speech? Or even to speak up in a meeting? Do it!

Make this the week you do something that will jar you out of your routine, generate excitement and boost your confidence.