New Year's Goals - Leave 10 Bad Habits in the Dust

New Year's is upon us and we all hope to make each year better than the last. I was perusing my Facebook account and happened upon Craig Darling's inspirational idea that New Year's Resolutions should be goals rather than hokey resolutions. He said, "I know it is hip to set a few resolutions. How many do we actually keep? It is a pretty poor success record over all... Try to set some goals instead. Goals drive you in ways a resolution can not. Set a detailed goal.. and every time you ponder your goal... picture the success in your mind.. Did you know that many years before Jim Carey made it big... he wrote himself a check for 10 Million to make a movie... kept it in his wallet. Hey, that goal worked out for him... Try it... To your successful New Year then!" I think this is a much better resolution to resolve to set achievable goals that short term plans - remember habits take weeks at a minimum, on average 66 days according to Psych Central (http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2009/10/07/need-to-form-a-new-habit-66-days/).

So in the spirit of the New Year and all things new let's check out a this article featured today by Laura Frongillo, Salary.com contributing writer. There are great tips for stepping out of our ruts and getting on with the new. 


Many thanks Laura Frongillo for your encouraging words and ideas. 

10 Bad Habits to Leave Behind in the New Year 

1.  Put off procrastination…now

Overwhelmed by the difficulty or size of a pending chore? Make use of calendars and computer alarms to plan out and schedule small pieces of big projects. Doing a little at a time is usually easier than tackling a whole project at once – and always more productive than putting it off ‘til you’re “up to” a big challenge.

2. If your system's broke, fix it

Do you clean up your act every few months only to find your folders empty and your desk a mess again in no time? If you’re constantly unable to find things, you may be trying to adhere to a filing system that doesn’t work for you. Notice where your various papers naturally end up and base a new categorization scheme on what works for you.

3. Are you too accessible?

Nothing hinders a project’s progress more than incessant interruptions. When you really need to focus, be sure you will not be bothered. Let co-workers know you are busy. If you have a door, shut it and hang a do not disturb sign. Turn off phone ringers if possible, as well as instant message boxes and incoming email announcements.

4. Cool the water cooler gossip

Sometimes it gets a little too easy to join in the office banter, even when it starts heading down the wrong path – like discussing the boss’s bad breath or which sales rep’s going out with which admin assistant. If you need to vent about a co-worker, do it with a trustworthy non-colleague. Limit the work coffee talk to sports and “Idol” chatter.

5. Poor planners don’t get rich

Do you arrive at your office without a plan for the day or run into meetings unprepared?  If so, it’s likely you’re wasting valuable time – and annoying your co-workers. Leave the poor planning in the past. Take a few moments to write a to-do list or an outline for the next day or an upcoming meeting so you can show up ready to go.

6. You won’t get ahead by being behind

If you find you are constantly 10 minutes late for work or appointments, chances are others notice it too. Nip this habit in the bud by setting all your alarms 15 minutes earlier and leaving yourself an extra half hour to get to work. The worst that can happen is you’ll be a little early and find yourself with some valuable free time.

7. Cut out crude cubicle conduct

Remember, your cubicle is not your castle. That’s because in most offices cube walls are not made of stone. Therefore it’s not okay to talk loudly, produce offensive smells, clip fingernails, blast music, belch, or cough incessantly. Be sure you leave the nail clippers, dental floss, strong perfume, and colds and flu at home or behind closed doors.

8. Unchain yourself from your work

It may seem like keeping your nose to the grindstone is the height of efficiency, but studies show that taking regular breaks from your work is a more productive approach. Step away from your work every so often so you can come back with a fresh outlook. Or take a break from one project every so often to work on another.

9. Unhealthy habits can affect your work

It’s easy in an office to get into a sedentary routine. But your physical health has a direct correlation to your mental health, which in turn affects your work success. Bringing healthy snacks to work instead of eating fast food can do wonders for your mood. Likewise, taking a walk after lunch can revitalize both your body and your mind.

People notice smart dressers – even if unconsciously. So, if you’ve gotten a little lazy in the wardrobe department, it’s time to weed out the “comfy” clothes and spruce up a bit. Don’t worry; you don’t need to be a GQ model or glamour queen to dress for success. Just tailor your look a little. Here are some helpful hints about clothes that say “pay me more.”

Full speed ahead

Once you’ve divested yourself of behavior that may be holding you back, replacing it with positive work habits should be easy – in fact, it often happens automatically. Congratulations on leaving the past behind and following the road to career success! Now, how about resolving to call your mother more often?
http://www.salary.com/Articles/ArticleDetail.asp?part=par1670

Great article Laura, now what we do with these items are what count. I wish someone had written this when I used to work a full time, in office, job, but of course many of these items still apply to the work at home, self-employed.  

 Let's start making those goals today and not wait until the New Year to get started. 66 days start now! Happy 2012!

Katherine

A Year In Rewind - 2011 What a time!

2011 has been a wonderful year filled with joy! Naptime Design has taken on numerous new clients and projects. I am so beyond words as to how thankful and blessed I have been. In the past year we have continued to serve a wonderful boutique (as we have since 2008/2009), Get Noticed Boutique, in Richardson, Texas. I maintain their website, social media, email marketing and all their graphic design and photographic needs. Around the same time I began helping Canyon Creek Fitness with their website and social media management and set up Cottonwood Creek Civic Associations websites.

Later in 2011, I began work with Fit For All Now with Stephen Volcik, my wonderful personal trainer and client, who I built a website for and maintain his social media, blog and graphic design. The work for him has been rewarding and fulfilling as I have also been able to create and maintain his YouTube channel as well as his photo galleries.

Another fantastic unique small business who we assist is Southern Vintage Glam in Plano, Texas. This shabby chic boutique and with a hair salon station in the back of the store, on 15th street in Plano, just down the way from Urban Crust. We enjoy photographing their merchandise, updating and maintaining their website, and managing their their social media.

I love that Naptime Design is not limited to any category of business. I love helping my sweet childhood friend with her online handmade craft store, The Sweetest Stitch. It has been so fun seeing all the wonderful crafts that such crafty ladies have made. Although, my friend runs her business from about 250 miles away from me, she has put me in charge of working on some of her blogging and graphic design as well as her managing her social media, Facebook and Twitter.

A new industry that I am knowledgeable about, but certainly not an expert on has become a new client and interest of mine. Jerry Parks, of Traditional Select Homes, has hired me to manage his social media. I love keeping up with home building and remodeling. This is a secret passion of mine - I secretly desire to be home builder/realtor/stager - I love this industry. My knowledge may be not be 40 years like Jerry's, but my personal experience of buying and remodeling the homes I have owned has been my own inspiration. Jerry has recently published a book on his incredible experiences over the past 40 years to help you build your dream home. The Builder Book is a wonderful book that will help and inspire you. Check out his book, available for Kindle, on Amazon.com.

A passion aside from my husband, children and clients is my newly formed, 501(c)3, non-profit organization, called Trooper's Team. Trooper, a badly burned dog, was found wandering the streets of south Dallas, and his story won the heart of my friend Kim Whiting, as well as mine. She fostered Trooper and has since adopted him. We started this non-profit organization to be able to support animal rescue groups and prevent the unnecessary euthanization of pets. There is much more to come from Trooper's Team - stay tuned in 2012 for great things.

Over the past year, I have also has some clients which I have done graphic design work for, Ebby Halliday (Lake Highlands Office), Tina Booth (Scentsy distributor), numerious friends and family who have graphic design needs for invitations, etc. I love it all!

There are special things in the works for Naptime Design and myself. I have loved 2011 and am anxiously awaiting all the fantastic projects ahead for 2012. Happy New Year!

Updates for Fit For All Now

Stephen Volcik, personal trainer and owner of Fit For All Now has become a great friend and my personal trainer. I am pretty bothered by the fact that I haven't worked out in weeks due to illness, but hope to "hit the ground running" (no pun intended) again starting next week. Fit For All Now's website is now up and running. His social media, Twitter and Facebook are getting noticed, the blog now has some insightful entries and I finally nailed down a logo that we all agreed on. Stop by check out Steven's pages and subscribe to his blog. He know his stuff and works hard to make everyone more healthy and fit. 

Meet my newest client, Stephen Volcik of Fit Now For All!

Sprucing up while I work!

Work continues and Naptime Design is so blessed to be busier than ever. I may be in the market shortly to add on to my staff of one. If you know anyone with graphic design, web design and social media experience looking for something very part time, send them my way. In the meantime, I felt my nest (my home office) needed more sprucing up. I love my office - it has become one of my favorite rooms in my home (and most frequented), but I figured that it needed some more unique touches. I just bought this lamp from my friend Whitney at W.E. Giggle - she and her adorable mother are the quite possibly the sweetest and most creative ladies I know. Crafty, crazy about the Lord and their families and have a wonderful eye for design. Be sure to check our their amazing home decor and printed cards and stationary. I love all of her things and could honestly buy it all - if my darling hubby wouldn't make me take it all back. More updates to come - lots of work happening and I will work on being a better blogger. I promise. :)

Katherine 

W.E. Giggle - Cards, Stationary, Home Decor

10 Things I've Learned

10 Things I've Learned...

The past couple weeks have been a lot about learning...

Let's just say I learned more than ten things, but I have to start somewhere, right?

1.  Networking is always key - grow, socialize, learn - make friends, be a good friend, work together...

 https://www.facebook.com/smcdallas

2.  Blogging can change your life - think it, blog it, share it.  I feel, I now think in terms of blog posts, Facebook status updates and tweets - do they always get written, not exactly, but I am certainly growing toward that. I think all my thoughts recently consisted of less than 160 characters. LOL

3.  Just like INXS said there is "Not Enough Time" - The days are never long enough, but sometimes we should just accept that what we don't finish today will still be there tomorrow and if it's not, then it wasn't meant to be. 

4.  SEO and Klout scores mean everything - not sure what these items are - well, if you work in or near social media and online marketing, you absolutely should and then you should read everything about how to make improvements. 

5.  Working from home (with kids present) isn't for the faint of heart - I love my work flexibility, love my clients, and love being able to work with my kids playing alongside of me - but let's just say it isn't for everyone and some days I ponder renting my own office space away from my house. :)

6.  Take care of #1 - so cliche, but so true. If you aren't taking care of yourself, how can you run a business or better yet someone else's business.

7. Organization will help your productivity levels soar. I know sometimes this is a tough one, the papers pile up, the work piles up, you can no longer see your desk and then simple tasks become difficult. Staying on top of the organization process definitely minimizes stress in the long run.

8. I've never been diagnosed ADD, but sometimes I don't think I could do what I do, without having it. The biggest question clients always ask is how many hours did you work on this or that - honestly, I usually cannot give an exact number. I dabble here, I dabble there - I dabble a little everywhere (Dr. Seuss-ish right?) - so clocking in specific hours per project is tough for me, but the truth is I spend a lot of time doing what I do and love each and every minute.

9. Education/Learning never ends - Graduate from college and you know everything and then you enter reality, where in reality, you know nothing. I am still learning each day - constantly, making sure I keep up with the latest news in design and social media - ensuring that I don't lose touch with the reality that is social media and it's ever-changing platforms.

10. There is a word called "No". I know, big shocker here - I learned new words this week, "No" and "I'm sorry". I would love to be able to help everyone, I love helping everyone, but there is only so much time I have available in days and weeks. 

Hope this brought you some insight - I know I could keep going, but my pillow is screaming my name. 

Cheers,

K

Social Media - Perfect and Flawed - It's Own Contradiction

If you didn't already read the article posted out there by the national Social Media Club. Neilsen's Q3 Reports on Social Media via Social Media Club, I highly recommend it.

Social media is one of the greatest inventions, as far I am concerned. That being said, with all things there are blessings and curses. When is it too much of a good thing?

In my most recent business endeavor, I have learned that even though social media is such an amazing way to spread the word, spread the cheer and raise awareness for a wonderful cause - it does also leave windows open for people to attack someone for any little thing that they so choose.

Although, Twitter, Facebook, Google+ and all other social media venues present opportunities for many to promote their businesses, they also do make room for others to stir up unnecessary trouble.

I also read a post from another co-hort who works in the same industry, who claims that you should not use your personal accounts to promote your business accounts. While I do agree with some of their content, I do feel that in some cases, cross marketing and marketing to your friends is the best way to get word of mouth out there. I have been blessed to be able to gain clients and work based solely on personal references from friends or others who have seen my business page posts on my personal account. In the same breath, I can say that there can sometimes be too much of good thing - when people begin to comment on how they are contemplating "hiding" your posts, then you should most likely hit the brakes and give your self-promotions a rest.

The funniest thing in all of this - people get offended, people try to make you mad, people try to get a reaction out of you. The person stirring up trouble, well, was just being the as I always call them "the stick in the ant pile" and my co-hort, well I am certain the blog post was aimed slightly below the belt. All in all - every day is a learning experience, every day I learn more about the social media world, about myself and about how blessed we all really are to live in a great country with such amazing freedoms to be and say whatever we want.

Meet my newest client, Stephen Volcik of Fit Now For All!

I call him my client, but I am his as well. Stephen Volcik, with Fit Now For All personal training is not only my client, but also my new personal trainer. He came to me by the referral of one of my best friends, who is also trained by him. I have been diligently working on and re-working logos, setting up his Facebook accounts, both personal and business page. I am so excited to see how quickly his business is going to grow. I am still debating if I add a Twitter account and blog to his package, but I think FB is going to be a quick first wave of marketing. I hope he can keep up with all the new clients and PR in addition to not kicking out current clients. :)

Here is a sample of the many logos I have played with over the past week or two and to be honest I may scrap them all and start a new one completely. Let me know what you think.

Kat

Busy as a bee! Just how I like it.

Of course I couldn't be happier about all my new clients and I am hoping to take on a few more. Life is good and while I'm busy working on everyone else's blogs, social media, websites and graphic design mine take a little of a backseat. I hope to get caught up soon on my work blog, but as always my clients come first! Stay tuned for more updates to my blog and website. I have been pretty good about updating my Facebook and twitter. Happy Thursday everyone!

-Naptime Design


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Weather Related Work Delays...

Well of course working on web and graphic design is certainly not directly related to weather, but working from home with children running a muck means very little if anything gets done. I am trying to stay current and get the necessary items taken care of, but I am definitely looking forward to warmer and healthier days.  I have a few projects going at the moment, but of course with technology there are always delays when I have to wait for approvals and other nit picking things to work their selves out. Patience is a virtue, that I have been shown, I do not possess during these bleak winter months - with work yes, with working at home while children fight in the background, nope. Crossing my fingers, hoping and praying for sunny, warmer days ahead and healthy little people.

K