Water is the one thing in your life that you must have to survive.  But what if the water you are drinking is filled with contaminants. What if every time you drank the water that came from your tap you were filling your body with the means to create kidney stones or some other horrific and painful problem for your body?

Last July I became a wellness consultant and started the process of learning what was in my drinking water.  I’d bought the requisite water filters and even a new refrigerator with a filter on it for the ice and water functions.  What I didn’t realize was what was in my water.  When I purchased my new water filtration system from Nikken and started tasting how great the water tasted, how clear it was without all the floaty junk that the water from the refrigerator had in it I was amazed.

Then, when I thought I was good to go with this new system I cleaned the top portion of the filtration system.  I washed out the first filter and wow, there was a major difference.  My husband stood by and watched and asked me what was all the gunky stuff on the inside of the top section.  I looked at it and said, well honey, that’s the junk coming out of the spigot.

Now, really I have to say I never realized how much sand is in the water that the county says is clean.  Hmm, but yes, the Aqua Pour filtration system top section had a layer of sand from the water that came from the spigot. 

You may want to explore the reasons for drinking great water.  If you do then go to: http://www.nikken.com/russos

And when you read the technology behind why you need to drink pH balanced water (acid/alkalinity) and why it needs to be energized and remineralized let’s talk.

Life is for the living.  Live your life drinking the water of life the way it is supposed to be drunk, clean, energetic water that helps you live the life you were supposed to being living! 

Later!

How to Promote Your Business with Tips Booklets
and Other Information Products

Andrea Flowers interviews Paulette Ensign, the Booklet Queen

Date/Time: Tuesday,  May 12, 2009  – 2:00 PM EASTERN
Cost: FREE

Get paid for your business card. Leverage your content into at least 7 products, with minimal costs, if any. Identify new and larger bulk sales clients Create licensing rights deals for any product, online or offline. Increase profits whether you like selling or not.

BIO

Paulette Ensign is the founder, Chief Visionary, and Booklet Queen at Tips Products International. Paulette’s sense of humor and can-do attitude are the backdrop for teaching you to transform your knowledge into tips booklets and other information products for marketing, motivating, and making money. Paulette has personally sold well over a million copies (so far!) of her one tips booklet, “110 Ideas for Organizing Your Business Life,” in four languages and various formats without ever spending a penny on advertising.  You will leave this session with  ideas to breathe new life into your business, just one of which could significantly increase your bottom line.

Today’s words of wisdom are truly related to helping you realize you Can Do whatever it is you are reaching for.

Life is filled with obstacles.  Whether those are your family, a so-called friend, or a hateful co-worker you have to take the bit and figure out what you want and how you are going to get it.

Many people want to get organized.  They want to have money.  They want all sorts of things, but how they actually achieve those things has a lot to do with staying power.

How do you achieve your goals?

How do you determine the steps you need to take to achieve those goals?

How do you deal with the obstacles that are causing you to not reach your goals?

I want to hear from you on these three questions!

Now on another note, today I spoke with a group of women at the Albemarle Women’s Club and I was truly impressed by the turnout.  Thank you ladies for coming out to hear me speak.  Don’t forget to contact me and let me know what you thought and what you’d like to hear about in the future.

Life is so busy that we all have to take a few moments to plan our time carefully.  Time management determines how much you can get done, whether you actually accomplish the chores, errands, housekeeping, and work you need to get done.

So, as you take your calendar, your planner or other methods of keeping up with your daily ‘work’, remember to schedule all of these into your calendar.

One way you can encourage yourself on a daily basis is to write down what you accomplish every day right before you go to bed.

Then, make a list of up to six things you need to do the next day, but no more than six things since that is the limit it is said your mind can handle working on while you sleep.

Read the list before you lie down to sleep and let  your mind work on the problems overnight.  When you awake your mind will be providing the answers or possible solutions to the problems you face that day.

Try it and see.

Please remember to email me with the answers to the questions above.  I’ll respond to you personally as well as on the blog so you can see the answers that others are giving.

For now, have a great Thursday through the weekend and enjoy the finally chilly weather we’re having.

Denise

Over several months I talked about goal setting and getting things done.  This morning I was watching Discovery Health where the topic was on Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.  The discussion was led by a panel of three doctors who spoke on the topic of adults with this disorder and two or three symptoms that I see in quite a few of my clients.

I am not an expert on ADD or ADHD and please do not think that I know everything about this.  However, what these doctors were saying is that adults, like children  I assume, have these symptoms and have trouble in their lives because of them.

The symptoms I remember from this show that I am faced with almost on a weekly basis with adult clients are Disorganization and Time Management.

The next thing I heard from them was that there are times where the symptoms of ADHD/ADD are being confused with symptoms of depression.

The doctors were saying that these two inabilities to follow through cause adults with ADHD a lot of problems in their daily lives.

They also discussed the methods that have been being tested to help adults with their ADHD symptoms.  And because I am definitely not a doctor and not into spelling,even phonetically the medical names of medicines I will not even think of trying that one here.

There has been, however, a new medicine that is in trials for the adult with ADHD.  This medicine, according to the doctors, has several problems.  These problems stem from it not being compatible with people who have high blood pressure or heart disease.

So, my point in relaying this information is really rather a simple one.  I know that people who have ADHD and ADD have the symptoms listed above.  I would like to think that there is some natural way that those symptoms can be alleviated. I pray that one day the pharmaceutical companies would find the missing link here and fill it in for all those who suffer from the disease.

As for being disorganized, no matter how many books you read, or tapes you listen to everyone says just about the same thing.  It is not reading the material, or listening to it that is going to help unless you put the principles into practice.  If you continue to be disorganized then your solution is not simple enough to follow on a regular basis.

Easy, simple solutions require one consistent behavior when someone is disorganized.  That behavior is called a habit of performance.   You may set a goal of putting into practice one principle from a book on organization or one method that has helped others to retrain your mind to comply with being organized.

Habits are the basis of being organized.  Whether that habit is to always hang your keys in a key box next to the door, or to put your mail in a basket where everyone knows every day where the mail is, the bottom line is it is a HABIT.

Talk to your doctor if you exhibit signs (not just the symptoms above) of ADD, or ADHD.  Take the time to know the symptoms before you go to the doctor.  Be armed with information, write down your questions, and take a notepad with you to write down the answers the doctor gives you.  You pay your doctor to be there for you.  If they don’t fulfill your needs then seek out one who does.

No solution will work if you give up on doing it.  If you do not schedule it into your day.  If you do not follow through.  If you do not continue to attempt to try then the solution you put into place will not work for you.

Well, that’s it for today.  I hope that this blog gave you something to think about.  I am available to listen to your needs or comments on being organized and having ADD/ADHD.  As I said I’ve worked with numerous clients who struggle with the symptoms above.

Have a wonderful week!

Denise

http://www.progressiveorganizingsolutions.com

It’s the end of the year and once again we’re faced with that stack of papers that just has to be filed before you can switch out the files and create a 2009  filing system.

So my advice is to set aside one day (or more if needed) aside where everyone in your office is required to clear their desks, do the filing, get rid of the clutter and start getting geared up for the new year!

So what steps do you need to take to start this process?

Gather your employees together in a meeting room.

Talk to them about the need to clear the clutter from their desks and offices so the new year can start off fresh.

Walk them through a tried and true process of what the retention policies are within your organization.  Otherwise known as what they need to keep and what they can throw out.

This includes emails.  If you don’t have a policy regarding email retention you need to ask your legal counsel about legal documentation on customer emails, personal emails and corporate emails.  One of the biggest time wasters is slowed down computers due to over filled email boxes.

Know your people.  Some are more apt to take these rules to heart and some are a lot more hesitant to throw things out.  So as you send people back to their desks and offices make sure you make a few trips around and guide your people through the process.

Now, the clincher: If you’d like help; if you know that you’d rather someone else speak knowledgeably about how to do these things;

I would be absolutely interested in coming to do a full day with your company.

I will hold the seminar, teaching the process and then work with your employees or just you if that is what you want, on a Productive Environment Day.

Contact me for more information!  (910) 620-6413

Progressive Organizing Solutions

3224-C N. College Rd.

Suite 124

Wilmington, NC 28405

Denise Russos, Productivity Consultant

One of the biggest failures I’ve seen in business or government civil service is that people who have a hard time delegating (or releasing the reins) have that problem due to not knowing their people’s strengths and weaknesses followed by their own weaknesses in following up to make sure the job(s) are done correctly.

So as a business owner know your strengths and weaknesses first. Then, as you work with people already on staff, make note of their strengths and weaknesses. Pair up people accordingly when doing team work. Eventually, as people learn to rely upon one another the productivity of the group/team will increase due to an increase in trust.

Your own strengths and weaknesses will reveal how likely you are to delegate. The reality is that you can not do all the work yourself, no matter how hard you try. So learn where your weaknesses are, your dislikes and then hire someone who can fill those weaknesses with their strengths.

Take these little tips. Sit down and write them out. Make a list and check it twice. It’s Christmastime and if you have time to do everything you are surely blessed.
That’s it for this update!

Denise
denise@progressiveorganizingsolutions.com

Have you ever thought if you just had the right tool, the right filing method, or the right way to do a task, then everything else would just naturally fall into place.  You would naturally find this in the most logical place, a great store or website filled with these items that can make your life easier.

This week I want to help you realize where you can go to find these tools that can make your life easier, as well as creating a place where you can read reviews of these items.

So, this week I want to tell you about a website, http://wwww. thecontainerstore.com

The Container Store is a place where you can find storage options for almost any need.

Today the keyword seems to be au naturel…or environmentally friendly.  So naturally you will be searching for items that are environmentally safe, yet fit the need you have.  Do you compromise if you can’t find what you need this minute?   Or do you continue searching until you find what you’re after?

If it were me, and I was, as so many people should be, at least environmentally conscious, then I would search this site for Earth friendly products.

With that thought in mind I recognize that many of my clients have tons of CD’s and DVD’s that they need to store.  Many of you use plastic holders you find at almost all of the stores that cater to families.  What I want to show you here, with regards to this, is a product that is earth friendly.

The Stockholm DVD box is an earth friendly paper board box that holds up to 18 DVD’s in their storage cases.

Why would I recommend one box over another?

What I’ve realized is that by not storing your DVD’s and CD’s the cases become broken, the  CD’s or DVD’s crack, get scratched or generally get lost.  So, I look at this as saving myself money.  Being Earth friendly can be expensive, but when a storage item saves you money you have to realize that the cost of not storing expensive items can cost you more than paying a little extra for items that can save your things wear and tear.

Think about what you can store easily, eliminate easily and donate easily and free up some valuable real estate in your home or office, for you to be able to walk more easily in your home or office.

That’s it for today!  I’m off to a client’s so you guys have a great day!

Denise

Thanksgiving is over, Now What?

Are you struggling to keep up with the horrid pace of the holidays?  Are you worrying yourself silly over the economy, always wondering when, yes I said when, the life you know is going to come to an end.  What about all the changes that are coming our way?  Are you ready for them?

Staying on top of what is going on in your life is the best way to be prepared for tomorrow.

For many that would mean keeping up with the mail, the bills and especially keeping up with the checkbook to make sure the money is there to pay the bills.

Being organized with your daily quest to stay on time with bill paying, appointments you’ve made, play dates with the kids and many other things are what can help determine how successful you are going to be over the next sakes quarter.

Stay on top of what’s going on.  Keep your papers in order, your bills in order and know you’re not alone as you struggle through it all.

Denise

Right about now, the weekend before Thanksgiving, you are starting to think about being off for an extra day or two.  Your mind is switching gears between work and what you need from the grocery store to make that all important dinner.  Or you may be far from home and stressing over the fact that you won’t see your family for the holidays this year.  Your focus is thinning out on work matters and tuning in on what you want to give your son or daughter for Christmas, Boxing Day, or Channukah.  You may be focusing in on trying to stay focused.

My stress is realizing that I will be driving both Monday and Tuesday of this week and that today I keep falling asleep with my fingers on the keys.  A nap may be in my plans for today…somewhere between making Koulourakia (cookies) and making sure I have the ingredients for Spanakopita (spinach and feta cheese pies), Pastitsio (macaroni and beef pies) and stuffing for the turkey.  Of course, I will be getting up on Wednesday and cooking all of the above.  Yes, it is a long drawn out process that even my father-in-law seems impressed.

So how do you get past these stressors and stay focused and organized in your next few days?

I, yes me, use a list system.  It consists of the dishes I want to make, with the grocery list; the house cleaning schedule so I can make sure it is cleaned before company arrives; the scheduled appointments I have to keep; the call sessions I can make while the cookies are baking.  Of course this is all for up until Tuesday afternoon.  Monday and Tuesday are both out of town, so Wednesday is my baking and cleaning day.  On Thursday, I will prep the turkey and put it in the oven; clean whatever is left to clean (like the kitchen again) and then if I’ve taken the time to stop and put up the tree I will decorate it while the turkey is cooking.

Hmm, I wonder when I will find time to buy a tree.

Staying organized during this stressful time of year will help you remain calm and centered.  You will enjoy the season if you can remind yourself that this is a time of year when you give of yourself only when you have taken care of yourself.

I was watching a few minutes of Joel Osteen one evening when I heard him say something truly enlightening.

He was talking about how it is written in the Word that you should love your neighbor the way you love yourself.  Of course, this is all paraphrased.  My point here is the same as his point.  You can not love others, care for others, help others until you love yourself.

You can feel better about yourself by letting go of the ‘junk’ in your lives.  The bad feelings only pull you down.  They do not feed happiness and joy into your life.  Your friends and family have their own ‘junk’ piled up in their lives.  If you let go of your sorrow, your pain, your feelings of low self worth and increase your feelings of joy, happiness and wonder at what is here in the world for you to see and contribute to then you are better prepared to meet your neighbor with love in your heart.

How does organizing come into this?  De-cluttering is the first stage of getting organized.  Recognition that you will feel better, less stressed once you have let go of the ‘junk’ in your lives you will begin to recognize that you can find things, know where things are and feel organized.

Try letting go of some of the clutter this season as you prepare for the holiday.  Whether your holiday is Christmas, Kwanzaa, Channukah, or other holdiay let go of the clutter and be thankful for what you have.  There is always someone who has nothing right around the corner.

I think if we remember that one little thing;  Be thankful for “but for the grace of God” there you could be also.