[Your Organizing Strategy] Assessment

In This Issue:

Greetings!

A Note From Anne
Defining Your Vision
SMART Tools

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A Note from Anne

Hello!

Over the past year, you've seen me transform my business immensely. I've let go of some ways of doing things and am opening up to more efficient processes. One thing you may have noticed is that I'm keeping in touch with you weekly. It's been my vision to be your "go to" source for productivity; however, you need to know more about my expertise to have that confidence. Personally, I'd like to share my thoughts and strategies to help you increase your productivity as my vision for this upcoming year. For you, use this week's template on how to get your vision into action.

All my best, Anne

Setting Your Vision

The difference between where we are (current status) and where we want to be (vision and goals) is what we do (target objectives and action plans). ~ Anonymous.

Until it registers in your mind that something isn't right with where you are -- chances are you will stay there. So my message is to get you started by "checking in" with yourself and assess where you want to be.

I heard last week that we're not in a bad; it's a new economy not we need to adapt to. What a thought! It evolves my message to you to assess what your vision for your life at work (and even personally) for this new economy will look like, AND how you need to make goals based on a new vision.

The classic SMART tools for goal setting is about as simple as anything. When I went back to school in 1998 to get my degree in information systems, one of the first classes I took was with a professor who gave us the assignment to write our goals, personal and professional. I had always been great at professional, but the personal always slid a bit. (And I wonder why I'm still single?) All kidding aside, I took the assignment and wrote my goals. Now, I challenge you - using the SMART tools below to set YOUR vision.

What are SMART Tools?

So what are the SMART tools? SMART is an acronym:

S-specific: The why and how (i.e., I will write a book on productivity.)

M- Measurable: A specific time frame, quantity or measurable degree for your goal (i.e., I will have the outline completed by January 15, 2009, editor's draft completed by March 30, etc.)
A- achievable: Is this stretching me enough to feel like a challenge?
R- realistic: Alternately, am I pushing too much or is it do-able if I set my mind to it?
T- Timed: How will I manage my time to complete the project by a certain date?

As my professor challenged me back in 1998 (gosh that was over 10 years ago!), I found that I accomplished the majority of the goals. I did graduate, I did attain a certain professional job with a certain salary, I bought a house, adopted a dog, and had 3 kids (ok, they were foreign exchange students I adopted for 2 years!).

Some of the goals didn't happen because things changed (like today's change in economy). My fault was that I didn't update each year. Learn from me... you need to add to your processes that you need to check in with yourself and re-assess when it registers in your mind that it's a new year or new conditions, as it is today -- a new economy.

By the way, committing to someone (or the world) like I just did to all of you that I'm working on my book will definitely make you accountable. Do you really think I won't get it done now? I'd love to hear about your goals even if it's just in private to help you be accountable to someone so you can move forward with your vision. Let's get ready together for a powerful and productive 2009 - for all of us!

All my best, Anne

About Anne:

Anne McGurty is CEO of Strategize & Organize, a company devoted to training individual's to be more effective with the tools and resources to be productive in their work environment.

If you liked today's issue, you'll love Anne's transforming productivity training and organizing products to help you organize your business -- and yourself -- ranging from productivity consulting for individuals and executives to small business coaching programs to keynote speaking and corporate training programs to improve efficiencies in the workplace and improve productivity.

While Anne's best known for her expertise in productivity and expert office organizing, her clients share that her biggest impact comes from her philosophy of "personalizing her programs to fit the needs of her clients so they can streamline more efficiently with existing processes" - ensuring to create a sustainable work environment. This, Anne says, is the most important key to bringing an individual to personal freedom with time and organization.

You can learn more about Anne and her services, programs, and products at www.StrategizeAndOrganize.com.