nina nordstrom & associates :: your professional productivity resource

Friday's Feature Film

2009-07-31T10:00:00.000-07:00

THE STRANGEST SECRET

"Most of us miss out on life's big prizes. The Pulitzer. The Nobel. Oscars. Tonys. Emmys. But we're all eligible for life's small pleasures. A pat on the back. A kiss behind the ear. A four-pound bass. A full moon. An empty parking space. A crackling fire. A great meal. A glorious sunset. Hot soup. Cold beer. Don't fret about copping life's grand awards. Enjoy its tiny delights. There are plenty for all of us." -Author Unknown

Watch movie now >>

Brian Tracy on goals, in his own words...

2009-07-30T10:00:00.000-07:00

"I have been studying success and the psychology of success for more than 25 years. I've spoken about this subject to many thousands of successful men and women. Ultimately, everyone comes to the same conclusion, 'Success cannot be achieved without goals.'

The ability to set goals and make plans for their accomplishment is, in reality, the 'master skill' of success. It is the single most important skill that you can ever learn and perfect. Goal-setting will do more to help you achieve the things you want in life than anything else you've been exposed to.

Becoming an expert at goal-setting and goal-achieving is something that you absolutely must do if you wish to fulfill your potential as a human being.

Goals enable you to do the work you want to do, to live where you want to live, to be with the people you enjoy, and to become the kind of person you want to become. Setting goals enables you to achieve all of these.

If one of your goals is to make a lot of money, then there is very little that can stop you from achieving financial success. There are millions of men and women who have started in poverty and obscurity and by setting goals, have achieved wealth and prestige. There is virtually no limit to the financial rewards you can obtain. All you have to do is to set them as goals, make a plan, and then work the plan until you succeed in that area.

The whole purpose of setting goals and making plans is for you to be able to choose the kind of life you want to live."

Get The NEW Psychology of Achievement from Brian Tracy and start changing your life today!

Friday's Feature Film

2009-07-24T15:00:00.000-07:00

THE DASH MOVIE

Have you ever read something so profound, so moving that it literally stopped you in your tracks? Words that bypassed the brain and went straight to your heart?

If so, viewing "The Dash" movie will be another one of those times.

Being constantly busy can often allow you to perpetually postpone get-togethers, reunions, vacations, etc. you know you want to attend. Take some time today to re-evaluate those things which make you feel busy and unavailable. It is important for you to analyze what you truly treasure in life. When you stay focused on how busy you are, it's easy to loose site of the top priorities you deem as having significant value and you'll even be more likely to procrastinate those priorities.

Productivity is not always about how many papers you filed or how many emails you responded to. You can also be productive by simply spending time with those you love, admire, and have fun with. Try to focus time each day toward those tasks or events, which bring you inner peace, happiness, and satisfaction as well as joy to others.

Our time spent here on Earth is short. If you truly want to make a difference with your life, I invite you to take 3 minutes to watch a movie that will take your breath away.

Click on the graphic or link below and enjoy! Please be sure to share this with your family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers. You may also click the appropriate "Reaction box" below. Thank you!

Watch short movie now >>

Monday's Must-Have

2009-07-20T10:00:00.000-07:00

Do you enjoy reading while on vacation?
Does your company require you to do a lot traveling?

If so, then you will enjoy the convenience of reading everything from your business journals to fiction novels on Amazon's Kindle 2. Now, at a more affordable price of only $299, you'll save money in the long run with most titles costing just $9.99. Save time, too, with wireless delivery to your device in less than 60 seconds. The slim and lightweight design is as thin as a typical magazine and stores over 1,500 books. Enjoy a long battery life while on the beach, at the airport or waiting at the doctor's office. An advanced display reads like real paper and with 16 shades of gray, text and images are clear and crisp.

Learn more about Amazon's Kindle >>

Watch this short video for a quick overview of all the amazing features (1:55)

For accessories, 300,000+ titles, and more, browse the Kindle Store >>

Results in Productivity

2009-07-16T10:00:00.000-07:00

Do you ever feel as though there is never enough time in your day to get it all done?

If so, help is here! The FREE Get More Done Club delivers quick and easy-to-implement strategies, so you can gain the vital knowledge you need in order to accomplish more with less stress.

Below is a list of the many club benefits. On the first and third Tuesday of every month, you will receive one or more of the following:

Important web site news and updates
New product announcements and special offers
Links to resource sites
Inspiring productivity quotes
Recommendations for productivity tools
Helpful productivity articles:
- Simple Living
- Make Time for Paper
- Archive Your Files With Ease
- Being Your Best Time Master
- The Benefits of Getting Organized
- Creating a Filing System in 5 Simple Steps
Informative reports:
- Living with Less
- Mastering Time
- Paper Management
- Attaining Your Goals
- Efficient Filing Systems
- Identity & Document Protection
- Starting the Organizing Process
- Being Environmentally Conscious
- and so much more!

More info >>

Your Go-To Online Bookstore

2009-07-15T10:00:00.000-07:00

Trying to find just the right book can be challenging and time consuming. That's why this bookstore is your best choice when you need quality reference books. The following outlines the nine bookstore categories and their current inventory. Selections continue to grow, so be sure to check back often!

Computer: 9 books on Microsoft Office Outlook 2007
Efficiency: 12 books on delegation and making meetings more productive
Goal Achieving: 9 books by John Assaraf, Brian Tracy, Zig Ziglar, plus others
Organizing: 23 books by Peter Walsh and Julie Morgenstern
Personal Transformation: 13 books written to inspire and bring positive change into your life
Productivity: 19 books including David Allen's best sellers
Simplicity: 8 books to help you live a simpler life
Social Media: 9 books on popular networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn
Time Management: 24 books from well-known authors Stephen R. Covey, Peter F. Drucker, and others

All books have been carefully chosen based on highly-rated customer reviews, they have recently been published, and are available from Amazon in order for you to take advantage of their FREE Super Saver Shipping.

Browse the bookstore now >>

Friday's Feature Film

2009-07-10T10:00:00.000-07:00

A Tender Warrior: Lt. Gen. Hal Moore's "Letters To America"

Simple words of trust, friendship, and living life to its fullest are eloquently spoken by Lt. Gen. Hal Moore.

Enjoy this 3-minute movie now >>

Refresh Your Resolutions to Get Organized

2009-07-01T10:00:00.000-07:00

by Avery

Remember those New Year’s resolutions you made to keep your workspace better organized? If those good intentions have fallen by the wayside, don’t give up just yet. It’s time to dust off your desktop and try again. Check out these mid-year resolutions to get you back on track to a clutter-free year. Continue reading >>

How To Turn Your Passionate Message Into Immediate Income

2009-06-30T10:00:00.000-07:00

Ever noticed how so many creative, service-oriented entrepreneurs have such a wonderful message to share, but seem to be stuck working too hard for too little payoff?

It doesn't seem fair, does it?

Well, the reason I ask is because I just found out that my colleague, Helen Graves of Crackerjack Online Marketing, is hosting a FREE informational teleseminar on Wednesday, July 8, called, "Cash Flow Magic: How To Turn Your Passionate Message Into Immediate Income."

Helen has seen over and over that what is missing for mission-centered business owners is a concrete and specific process for how to easily bring in new clients and create immediate cash flow. Her mission is to show you exactly how she has done it for herself, and how you can too!

Click here for information about her teleclass and to sign up today.

**Be sure to leave a comment here on our blog, because I would really love to know; If you are planning on a slow summer, is it because your business is doing so well you can afford the time off or because you have fallen into the trap of believing you "can't make money in the summer?"

Different Styles for Different Files

2009-06-29T10:00:00.000-07:00

by Avery

There are many different ways to file. Filing can be alphabetical, chronological, numerical or color-coded. But in order for a filing system to be successful, it also needs to be clear, consistent, and easy-to-maintain. Using a well thought out and logical system can help you get organized and stay that way. Professional organizer, Terry Prince, reveals which filing style works best for different files. Continue reading >>

nina nordstrom & associates recommends FreedomFiler

Friday's Feature Film

2009-06-26T10:00:00.000-07:00

GREAT QUOTES FROM GREAT LEADERS

Profound statements from our great leaders of the past will humble you as well as motivate you to take the necessary action that will make a difference in your life and the lives of others.

Watch movie now >>

Please feel free to mark the appropriate reaction box below after watching. Thank you.

Filing for Efficiency: It's More than A to Z!

2009-06-24T10:00:00.000-07:00

by Avery

You may have a filing system in place, but is it as effective as it can be? Terry Prince, a professional organizer, who has been working with small businesses and large Fortune 500 companies for over 20 years, shares tips on the two key aspects to efficient filing; creating the files and maintaining them. By taking the time to set up a smart filing system now, you’ll find it will be easier to maintain in the long run. Continue reading >>

nina nordstrom & associates recommends FreedomFiler

The Secret To Successful Office Management Systems Revealed in 3 Simple Steps

2009-06-22T10:00:00.000-07:00

These days we are so overloaded with information that it's easy to lose sight of the basics of running a business, and you very quickly become overwhelmed and suffer from information overload. Just take a look at some of the ebooks, products, ecourses, etc. you have stored on your PC. I bet they all relate to marketing your business, getting more clients, increasing your income, etc., but I bet NONE of them tell you how to manage your business!

Building a successful, long-term, profitable business isn't about "marketing" your business, it's about "managing" your business. The marketing comes once you have your management systems in place.

You cannot begin to market your business if you can't find the information you need, don't know who you are marketing to, and don't know where you are in your business.

So, let's go back to basics and take a look at the 3 key office systems you need to "manage" your business before you can start to "market" your business.

Filing Management System

Creating and maintaining a filing system is the very foundation your business is built on, so this is the very first system you need to put in place; an efficient and effective filing system.

With a proper filing system in place you will very quickly and easily be able to find the information you need, when you need it.

> nina nordstrom & associates recommends FreedomFiler and The Paper Tiger <

Contact Management System

After you've got your filing system all straightened out, you then need to set about organizing your contacts. This is another crucial area of managing your business. If set up correctly your contact management system allows you to:

Keep a note of clients, potential clients, and colleagues contact information
Easily and effectively follow-up with a prospect
Locate critical client contact information quickly and easily
Build your business

Financial Management System

This is the final key office management system you need to put in place for managing your business. Once you know where you are in your business financially, you will be able to market your business more effectively.

Having up-to-date, critical, financial information available at your fingertips allows you to efficiently manage your cash flow and be able to know straightaway if you can take advantage of opportunities that come your way.

So remember, go back to the basics and first "manage" your business before you "market" your business.

(c) 2008 Tracey Lawton

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About the author: Office Organization Expert, Tracey Lawton, is the creator of Easy Office Organization, a fixed-term membership program to take you from overwhelmed to organized. Read more about it and grab your membership now.

Friday's Feature Film

2009-06-19T10:00:00.000-07:00

FINDING JOY

When happiness fills us on the inside, our ability to get more done soars. If you love inspiring quotes, you will love this short movie. Spread joy today and share this with others.

Watch now >>

10 Ways to Measure Your Time Effectiveness and Efficiency

2009-06-17T10:00:00.000-07:00

It's true that what we focus on tends to expand. When we watch the clock, time moves at its slowest pace. However, when we are conscious of what actions, tasks, and activities we give out time to, we have more of it. If you don’t know how your time is spent, keep a time log for one week. Track how much time you spend on each activity throughout the day. Once the week is done and your notes are complete, sit down and analyze how you've been spending your time and make the appropriate adjustments. You should be able to identify pockets of time that are being misused on the phone, on the internet, with non-clients, too much networking, in front of the TV, sleeping, chatting on non-relevant, etc. That’s not to say you shouldn’t be doing these things, but you do want to make sure they are not stealing valuable time.

Conduct an honest evaluation of yourself and your daily work habits. An honest reflection on your daily work habits will reveal exactly “who, what, where, when, and how” contributes to your productivity or lack thereof. Ten ways to measure your time effectiveness and efficiency, ask yourself:

Am I being productive or just active? Know the difference.
Am I inventing things to do to avoid the important tasks and activities?
What are my non-negotiables? (i.e. how late am I willing to work, do I really need to attend 3 networking events a week?)
Are you willing to train your unconscious with new techniques? If I keep doing what I’ve been doing, I’ll keep getting what I’ve been getting.
It takes longer not to write things down than to write them down. My plans, goals and activities don’t need to be complicated, but they need to be written. That which is written, gets measured.
What have I learned and am I willing to correct what needs to be corrected? This should include mistakes that should not be repeated. Get it right and move along. Time allocated to actually serving clients earns money. Time allocated to administrating and soliciting clients, costs and money.
What am I currently doing? What actions have worked? Not worked? - Detail the effectiveness of specific tasks. Did each task achieved do what was intended to support the larger goal? Detail actions taken that did not provide the expected benefits.
What progress has been made, if any, by my current system? Does this system work for me? Does it meet my needs?
What adjustments to my plan are necessary for maximum results? What can I plan to do differently? What should I do less of, more of, and what should I stop doing altogether?
What should I add to my plan that I now realize is missing?

These questions used to measure your effectiveness are critical to not only establishing a functional system, but getting rid of time consuming, non-revenue generating activities and maximizing your work efforts; while strengthening your business. And finally:

Deal with procrastination – “what if I do it, what if I don’t”
Establish a standard starting format
Plan and schedule
Delegate and trade
Break down projects
Set and calendar deadlines
Consolidate like tasks (i.e. return calls, checking phone/mails, emailing/filing, answering letters, sorting)

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Monday's Must-Have

2009-06-15T10:00:00.000-07:00

Easy Office Organization

If you are like many solo service professionals, you’re feeling overwhelmed and frustrated when it comes to running your business. Your business isn’t growing as quickly as you would like; you don’t have a constant flow of new clients coming into your business; and your marketing systems are virtually non-existent.

In a nutshell, you are not managing your business… you’re not even marketing your business!

However, imagine if you could turn all this around and have a business where your systems run on autopilot; you're adding new subscribers to your list daily; and your marketing flows effortlessly.

Well, that day is finally here…And I don’t want you to miss out!

Today, my colleague, Tracey Lawton, of Office Organization Success, has put together an amazing program that will take you from overwhelmed and frustrated, to organized and stress-free in 48 hours or less!

She will show you how running your solo service business can be done in a simple, fun, and effortless way.

Go here now to learn what all the fuss is about and receive an Early Bird Bonus.

Tracey will teach you, step-by-step, what to do, how to do it, and when to do it, so you can create your core online marketing and office organization systems. She does it in such a way that you will make progress, week after week!

Tracey has told me the buzz around Easy Office Organization has been amazing. Feedback from one of her members just about sums it all up:

"I just ordered your new system, and I am so excited. It really seems like you've put together a wonderful package."

This is a unique program, so take advantage of it TODAY before all the spots disappear!

Friday's Feature Film

2009-06-12T10:00:00.000-07:00

A PEACOCK IN THE LAND OF PENGUINS

This movie reminds us of how important it is to feel appreciated and to encourage one another to be our unique selves. Work environments which nurture the differences in their employees will prosper and flourish.

Watch this short movie now >>

The Secret For Managing Your Email Revealed in 7 Simple Steps

2009-06-11T14:00:00.000-07:00

Email management is a major source of overwhelm for many solo business owners; I only have to read my new subscriber notices every day to know this! When I ask my subscribers what their biggest office headache is, email is right up there with the rest of them! Comments such as:

"Email - yikes!"

"Responding to emails"

"Managing email"

"Email overload"

Do those sound familiar?

By cleaning up the flow of email messages into your inbox, you can then improve the flow of your business, and spend your time more productively.

Below I am going to share with you my top 7 tips for effectively managing your email, so you can break out of your email jail.

1. Most email messages are not urgent! Don't feel you have to read and act upon an email message the second it hits your inbox. You don't! It isn't urgent. If there was a real emergency, your client/colleague/friend would call you.

2. Are all those newsletters you subscribe to really necessary? Probably not! If this is the case, spend some time going through them and unsubscribing to the ones you don't really want or read.

3. Do incoming email messages play a distracting alert, such as an audible sound? If so, disable it. This is a distraction and you could quite easily stop what you're working on to go and check your email. It will then take you some time to get back on track again, not to mention the amount of time you've just lost stopping what you were doing, reading your email messages, and taking action on them.

4. Schedule set times to check your email. Once or twice a day is enough, say first thing in the morning and again later in the day. If you subscribe to various industry groups, save reading those email messages until you take a break from your work, maybe at the end of the day when you're winding down. You can easily get sidetracked reading all the different topics and replying to them, all of which are taking you away from your paid work.

5. Utilize email filtering tools. Set up folders and filters so your email messages get sent to the appropriate folder as soon as it arrives. This makes organizing and reading your email messages a cinch. You can then decide how to focus your time reading certain email messages. For example, all email messages that have gone into your "networking groups" folder can be saved to read later, however email messages which have gone into your "clients" folder can be acted on straight away.

6. Create email templates to save time. If you're finding you are responding to the same questions over and over again, create an email template. Next time you get asked the same or similar question, simply open your email template, add the person's email address, and hit send!

7. Run auto-archive regularly. If your email software comes with an auto-archiving feature, you need to run this regularly; at least once a month, so your email folder doesn't become too large. And let's face it, do you really need to keep email messages that are more than six to twelve months old?

If you follow these 7 tips above, you will find you are spending less time worrying about and checking your email, and more time on being productive, which will be better for your bottom line.

(c) 2008 Tracey Lawton

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About the author: Office Organization Expert, Tracey Lawton, is the creator of Easy Office Organization, a fixed-term membership program that will take you from overwhelmed to organized in 48 hours or less. Read more about it and grab your copy now >>

Rethinking the Office Drawer

2009-06-10T10:00:00.000-07:00

By: Avery

We love our office drawers. So much, in fact, that we expect them to hold everything from staples to snacks, and we automatically reach for them when we're looking for any piece of paper that’s ever crossed our desks. But while we automatically think “file drawer” for anything we want to keep, a drawer may not always be the best place to hold our stuff. It might be time to think outside the drawer—or find a way to streamline your existing operations. Read on >>

Did you know?

2009-06-08T14:00:00.000-07:00

There are six special, in-depth articles waiting exclusively for members of the Get More Done Club. The three main areas of focus include topics on:

Organizing
Time Management
Paper Management

If you would like to have access to these fabulously informative articles, then become a member today - it's FREE!

Monday's Must-Have

2009-06-08T10:00:00.000-07:00

box.net for your business is trusted by over 2 million users. It allows you to edit your Microsoft Word and Excel documents online, from any computer, with no software to download. box.net is simply the easiest way to safely store and share files online.

"I have been a box.net user for about a year now and enjoy how easy it is to use. Having features I can use with my iPhone makes sharing extremely convenient." -Robert K., La Mesa, CA

Try box.net FREE for 14 days! Watch the short video below for more amazing features. Length 40 seconds.

Friday's Feature Film

2009-06-05T10:00:00.000-07:00

CHANGE IS GOOD...YOU GO FIRST.

Change is never easy for any of us, however, change is necessary if we desire to see improvement. You'll be inspired to take action today as you discover the many benefits, practical ideas, and provoking quotations all set to toe-tapping music.

Watch this short movie now >>

Friday's Feature Film

2009-05-29T10:00:00.000-07:00

LAUGHTER IS AN INSTANT VACATION

Busy week? Escape for the next three minutes by watching this movie, which is sure to make you laugh, giggle, and put a smile on your face. You'll forget your worries as your mind takes a mini vacation. Enjoy!

Watch this short movie now >>

Filing 101

2009-05-28T10:00:00.001-07:00

The Secret To Success
It’s not your fault if you feel frustrated by filing! Most filing systems take too much time to file, hide the papers you often need, and require unnecessary maintenance. It’s no wonder many of us resort to paper piles! The problem is not with you; it’s the filing system you’re using. The solution is to eliminate all file maintenance, reduce your file time dramatically, and accelerate retrieval of papers needed for routine tasks. You can quickly learn the essential paper-sorting techniques, how to stay on top of action files, and ultimately how to set up your own self-purging reference file system. All it takes is a little know-how!

Simplify With The Art Of Filing™
No matter how much paper you have to sort through, there are only three kinds of paper. ‘A’ is for Action. Action files are for papers that require immediate action or follow up, such as bills to pay. ‘R’ is for Reference. Reference files are for papers that you want to save for future reference. ‘T’ is for Trash. Trash is for papers that can be thrown away (or shredded and recycled). Always keep these three kinds of paper separate (A.R.T.) and you’ve won half the battle!

Keep Action Files In Sight
Papers that require action or follow up are best stored in a vertical slot organizer on your desktop, an open filing rack, or a portable expanding wallet for papers. Ideally you can label the slots from the side (facing you). Action files can be organized by category or by date. Categories may include “Bills To Pay”, “Letters To Write”, “Calls To Make”, and so on. Dates may include days of the month, “Days 1-15”, “Days 16-31”, and “Future”. At the end of each month review your “Future” file and decide what papers to deal with in the upcoming month. Papers that are extremely urgent may be placed on your desk right in front of you – to be dealt with immediately. A good action file system allows you to spread out things to do over time and prevents you from having to search through your paper piles each day just to decide what to do!

Our Environment Needs Your Help

2009-05-27T10:00:00.000-07:00

statistics

0 paper bags biodegrade in landfills due to a lack of oxygen.
14 plastic bags contain enough petroleum to drive a car a mile.
380 billion plastic bags or wraps are thrown away in America each year.
Cities spend up to 17 cents per bag in disposal costs, wasting millions of tax dollars.
Making a paper bag emits 70% more global warming gases than making a plastic bag.

Save the world 1 Bag at a Time® go to 1BagataTime.com

ABC Nightline Greening Garbage: Reducing Garbage Output in the Home Length: 7:45