It’s tempting at this time of year to say “I will make a big change”. Sometimes big changes are necessary and unavoidable. However, I’ve found that taking smaller incremental changes that lead to my successfully developing a new habit are better. For example, I’ve wanted to return to writing and posting more regularly since … […]
Plan
planning timeline for severe weather
A regular review of plans is a good way to be prepared. Doing this routinely helps you both reinforce what you need to do and also stay agile — life and weather changes, your plans need to remain flexible too. As weather events are now different from how they were in the past, it’s important […]
Book Review: How to be a Productivity Ninja
I first read How to be a Productivity Ninja around the time it was published, back in 2014. That first copy was a review copy, received through NetGalley. It’s been waiting for a review ever since. Why? Perfectionism syndrome and wanting to have a copy of my own — something that inexplicably never happened. This […]
Before an Automatic Update Fails
Today we can automate many of the administrative parts of WordPress — updating plugins, themes, and the core software itself. Most of the time this works smoothly. Sometimes, however, it doesn’t. The key is to be prepared before something goes wrong. Three Ways to Prepare It only takes a few minutes to prepare yourself and […]
Some Thoughts on Disruptions
I think and write a good deal about how the benefits of deep work and planning can help your business weather a disaster. A disruption doesn’t need to be long or particularly big – small events can cause unexpected challenges to the work of a solo or micro business. While there may be a plan […]
Creating and Maintaining a Disaster Preparedness Plan, Communications
To communicate successfully — to share information that’s timely, clear, and concise — can be overwhelming. If you need to provide updates when faced with a stressful and changing situation, such as an extreme weather event, it’s helpful to plan long before any disruption knocks at your door. A framework will help you decide now […]
Book Review: Four Thousand Weeks
What is the secret to time management for mortals? Patience and control. If you’ve felt the modern cult of busy (and perfect) productivity needs a kick, yet also crave practical advice to help keep your head above water, Four Thousand Weeks delivers. For those who feel a lack of patience and that life is careening […]
Creating and Maintaining a Disaster Preparedness Plan, Prevent Phishing
Disasters exist in different forms — historic flooding, theft of business data, or a family medical emergency. One common factor about all these situations is that your stress levels will be elevated, impacting your ability to focus and be attuned to close details. It’s in these moments of stress that phishing attacks become most successful. […]
Lessons on Adaptability from My Cat
My cat, Shadow, had surgery a week ago. His recovery needs were straightforward, to rest and wear an e-collar (aka cone) until his stitches heal. This was a new area of feline care for me; I could plan, but would reality match up? A spare room fit all the recovery criteria set out by our […]
Creating and Maintaining a Disaster Preparedness Plan
After this past year, I understand everyone wants to return to normal and not think about a disaster. One normal thing to think about: here on the Atlantic coast, it’s June and that means hurricane season. Following a check list while other parts of life are chaotic can help you and your micro-business weather any […]