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Greetings!
Whoo hoo!! I love the holidays!!
I have my tree up and house decorated, gifts mailed out of state, the rest of my shopping is done, the annual goodie trays of cookies, fudge and chocolate drizzled pretzels have been baked and distributed to my neighbors (one of my kids' favorite traditions) and now I can just kick back and watch all the great holiday shows and movies and spend time enjoying things with my girls.
The challenges we are facing are bringing us back to basics this year and I sincerely hope, wish and pray that you will have a fabulous holiday season with your friends, co-workers and family! |
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Paar-ty!
Just a spoon full of sugar. . .
I have been watching George W recently and am noticing how he is just having fun these last few weeks of his administration. He is winding down and really enjoying his time.
 That is how a lot of businesses are during the last few weeks of each year as well. Unless there is some giant surge in business, most offices are more laid back, people are talking more and less productive. Ok, so what about that?
How about: Go with the flow!
This is the perfect time to clean and clear things out to prepare for a fresh start in 2009! This process of clearing is still productive, just in a different way. The things that could use it are:
- Emails: clear out all of that junk that you have been saving for "someday"! Take any important information (addresses, attachments, etc.) and put them in their appropriate storage places and delete the emails.
- Client files: purge excess info and put the older clients in long term storage, with a defined date to really let them go
- Pencil/junk drawers in your desk: How much "stuff" is in there that you NEVER use?!
- "Idea" folders and "Great Info" folders: Save the BEST OF THE BEST and trash the rest. Remember the distinction interesting versus committed? How much are you committed to taking action on and how much is just interesting? We don't have the time to be "interesting" right now, only "committed" stuff stays.
Now here's how to make it fun. . .
- Get it approved to dress down and have 1/2 day purge sessions for the next two Fridays.
- Order pizza
- Have great holiday music on to keep you moving and in a great mood
- Have contests on who can clear out the most space in the files or in your emails
- Have fun, goofy, inexpensive prizes (chapstick, gum, pencils, etc.)
 Lastly, enjoy the fruits of your labor. Really drink in how awesome it feels to have cleared some space around you and SCHEDULE in some maintenance times for 2009.
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Fun Food
Seasoned Oyster Crackers
This is one of my favorites and a great snack for the holidays, Super-Bowl parties and barbeques. But watch out--they are very addictive once you eat a few!
1 t. dill
1/2 t. garlic (I usually use a little more because I love garlic)
1/2 t. lemon pepper (optional--they are a little tangy even without this)
1 pkg. Ranch dressing mix
1 C. oil
2 bags (12 oz.) oyster crackers (the cheaper ones work better--they absorb more
of the tasty stuff!)
Mix all the dry ingredients together thoroughly. Incorporate oil and pour 1/2 over the oyster crackers in a big bowl. Toss to coat. Mix the oil dressing again and pour the rest over the crackers. Continue tossing with a spatula (it pulls off all of the dressing that made its way down to the bottom of the bowl) until all the dressing is coating the crackers.
I don't do this, but have seen versions of this recipe where you toast them in a 200 degree oven for about 15-20 minutes. I have also seen where the recipe above was used with just one bag of crackers, but I have found that to be a little too oily for my taste.
Let them set at least one hour. Store in an airtight container. |
| Great Business Gift Ideas
If you struggle with what would be an appropriate business gift each year, struggle no more!
These are two great items that are great to give your staff, clients, or co-workers, and they are on sale until December 31st!
Don't have time to read a big book on organizing or spend all day in a time management seminar? The Organized for Success book by Karen Ussery is your answer! It's an idea-a-week book that's fun and easy to use. It stays propped open right on your desk so you are reminded each week to get organized.
 Goodbye stress. Hello, balance! In Maintaining Balance in an Unsteady World, learn fresh new solutions for dealing productively with anything life throws in your direction - ANYTHING - and immediately feel more joy, comfort and success. This is a compilation book, and you will experience the pleasure of balance by learning techniques for dissolving stress and conflict, reaching your goals, and improving relationships. Take delight in harmony and stability - both at work and at home!
Both books are on sale for $10 each!
(Discount for bulk purchases of amounts of 5 or more)
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Global Corner
Give Yourself the Gift of Less Paper
 How would you like to help reduce the amount of wasted paper in 2009?
- Opt out of the Dex phone books by going to their website: www.selectyourdex.com
- Napkins--how many times do we get extra napkins in with our fast food orders, or grab them in the restaurant? Instead of just tossing them, save the unused ones and use them at home with your meals. Just by using one less napkin per day would save the landfills up to a billion tons of trash annually!
- Junk mail--opt out at www.dmaconsumers.org/cgi/offmailinglist.
- ATM receipts are one of the top resources of clutter on the planet. If everyone in the U.S. didn't take a receipt, it would save a roll of paper more than 2 billion feet long.
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Blessings,
Jody Owen
The Space You're In
(480) 461-0463
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