On Thursday, I went on the 1st, perhaps to be annual, NCERC (Nevada County Economic Resource Council) Tour of Nevada County.

We visited Peaceful Valley, Autometrix, NVision, Loma Rica Ranch (organic farm), site of the future Nevada City Tech Center, ZAP Mfg. maybe one more that I missed in order to attend a previous commitment.

The tour was impressively organized and ran very smoothly. 4 chartered buses carted us around, each one hosted by a representative of the NCERC committee who organized the event. There were signs posted in driveways to indicate “go this way”, each business clearly put time into their presentations (though more than one of the presenters would greatly benefit from Toastmasters!) We stayed on track time-wise at each of the businesses. Lunch was a catered box lunch affair and everything was ready when we arrived.

The business that was the most comfortable to be in, for me, was Autometrix. Their facility was cheerfully bright, the walls an attractive peach/terracota color, the floors a light wood or wood laminate. This reminded me of how important a pleasing working space is! Why would I want to spend all day working somewhere that had zero aesthetic appeal? Mood is definitely affected by surroundings–if you have control of your office, make sure you Love it!

The buses and drivers came up from the Bay Area, about 200 miles away. Seems there aren’t any charter companies in Nevada County, but considering gasoline prices, I thought it surprising that there wouldn’t be any in Sacramento either, which is only about 60 miles away.

One of the benefits of an event like this is the opportunity to meet people in a casual environment. To encourage people to get to know one another, they could have done some sort of intro on the buses, for example, “Share your name, business or employer, and what you like best about your profession.” Those of us not shy didn’t really need pre-intros, though it would have helped identify the different businesses represented on the bus.

These successful businesses were all very organized in the clutter department. It was obvious their systems were dialed in such that they were able to focus on their products, customer service, and growth.

The twenty-first issue of the Project Simplify newsletter The Simplifier is now archived on our newsletter archives page.

Here is a brief summary of the contents:

1. A Note From Shawn
Systems: the magic bean demystified
2. Our Featured Quote
by Elbert Hubbard
3. Article: Systemizing Made Simple
By PS Head Simplifier Shawn Tuttle
4. This Week’s Simplification Tip
A mini-system: New client folders ready to go
5. In the News & On the Web
In The News: Mandatory vacations, plus learning to manage your energy, and tips on time management and organization
6. Featured at ProjectSimplify.com
Shawn’s Bio
7. Keep Smiling
Smiling is Good For Your Health

Read the full issue here.
Subscribe to The Simplifier here.

[posted by Lance]

I’m not… but my sister is!

She’s using this cool website, theKnot.com to help plan her wedding. The Knot has assisted at least a million (my exaggeration–or not?) weddings and have documented everything she may need to do, or at least think about.

Once you enter in the date of the Big Day, it automatically backs up some 9 months or so, and gives you checklists to complete by month. Wow, there is a lot to do! TheKnot helps keep you on track so you don’t forget something really important, like the groom. (kidding!)

Do you ever make plans to spend time with someone on a whim and midway through the appointment find yourself wondering, “Why am I here with this person?”

Having had one of those moments today, I’m recalling the sayings, “like attracts like” and “we are who we hang out with.” By knowing ourselves and envisioning who we want to be, we can easily decide who we want to spend time with.

It’s okay to out grow relationships. It’s not good, or bad, it just is.

Give yourself the gift of good company. It feels great!

I’ve been having some difficulty keeping up with posting regularly. Truly, I don’t know how the pros do it. I’m in awe of those who post daily, let alone several times a day!

What with tenants moving out, new-cat-itis, client work, networking, Toastmasters, growing the business, and that thing called Life, sitting down to write has been fairly elusive this past week.

‘Tis not from lack of action, though… So, I had the potentially awesome, and potentially dangerous idea of posting some correspondence.

The first one that comes to mind to share is an extension/follow-through from a post a month ago, Mental Chatter of Silence?

I’m happy to report that progress has been made on that booming message from the Universe (about trying out a meditation class).

Naturally, to protect the identity of concerned individuals, I have changed the names referenced in the following emails:

Hi Jill,

I understand you offer a meditation course. I’ve been positively referred to your course from both Anne and Sharon. Sharon forwarded me the dates for the next course beginning Oct. 10th. May I sign up?

I’m desiring another tool for working with/calming my mind and bringing forth more soul-wisdom into my daily work, especially into my business, Project Simplify. http://projectsimplify.com/yoga/mental-chatter-or-silence/

I’m a regular at Katie Carter’s Friday morning Yoga class and do a modified home practice a couple times a week. Ok, enough about me, now let’s talk about me for a while (joking! heard that in a movie recently.)

:) Looking forward to hearing from you,
Shawn

and her response:

Shawn, I had fun reading the articles on your website. You are such a great writer! I’m putting you down for the October/November Meditation class coming up. I’ll mail you the flier tomorrow. You are already in this realm with your efforts and musings, experiments and tools. It will be fun to get to know you and I daresay stimulating to have you in this class where we will all be endeavoring to “direct attention” among other things! Jill

Guess I’m signed up :) With public witness, there is NO excuse to let it slide now!

This morning in Toastmasters I did the following “speech” on the subject of collecting dues (I’m no longer Area Governor–am now club Treasurer). I put “speech” in quotes because it was more like a skit, super fun to do! The primary technique was body language, and I got into it.

Start out with a Treasurer’s type table - table, no lectern, banker’s lamp, banker’s visor, pencil and ledger. Tapping my teeth with pencil, looking off into the distance, thinking hard.

Alter between sitting at table “thinking” and stepping away as narrator of my thoughts.

thoughtful look on face
I’ve been voted treasurer of my toastmasters club–a very important position. I want to do a good job managing the club’s finances.

sitting up straight, accepting myself in the role
It’s a big responsibility. I’m in charge of keeping track of the budget, reconciling the bank account, and keeping the club apprised of our financial situation. This month, September, is the most important month of my career, dues are due. (hold up calendar)

dreamy look on face
I’m going to quickly and efficiently collect everyone’s money with a smile, I’ll hand write thank you notes. I’ll call all the past members. With charm and grace, I’ll convince them to rejoin–I’ll be a Star!

smug and self-satisfied
I have until September 30 to send in the dues to Toastmasters International. Piece of cake. I could do this job in my sleep.

doubt begins to creep over
What if people forget to bring their checkbooks? “oops!”

doubt creeps into fear
What if they’ve been pretending to like me this whole time–”sucker! we’ll sign her up as Area Governor!” What if they don’t bring their checkbooks on purpose! They want to see me squirm! they want to see me fail! (go still with understanding) They want to see me beg. “Katie, please bring your checkbook to pay your dues!!! please!!!”

confusion
They all seemed to like Chuck. How did he do it? He just made a few announcements, “Dues Wacka due”

conspiracy theory
“Dues Wacka due”?! What was that all about? Knowing Chuck, I’ll bet it was some kind of non-sensical spell that works on the unconscious level. (wiggle fingers) “Dues Wacka due” “Hmm (dopey grin) I have an overwhelming desire to write a check to Toastmasters!”

revenge
I know how I’ll deal with them… I’ll volunteer to lead Table Topics. The word of the day will be “procrastinator”. I’ll ask questions like, “Why I haven’t paid my dues…, Stacy!”

thoughtful again
Hmmm, may lead to bad karma.

encouraged
I can’t understand why any of them wouldn’t want to stay in this wonderful group of intelligent, interesting, and inspiring people. I’ll give it one more week before doing anything drastic…

How did a piece of old french toast arrive in the middle of the kitchen floor this afternoon?

Really, what a strange site to behold, that unexpected slice of egg-dipped cooked bread laying face down (seemed to be an end piece) on the floor’s faux brick pattern. Made me feel like I was in someone else’s kitchen observing a mysteriously quirky trait of the kitchen’s owner. (”Here’s the new refrigerator. And this is our face-down-floor-french toast. And this is…”)

I don’t suppose the newest addition to the house had anything to do with this mystery– long, sleek, graceful, beautiful, dark haired Audrey (as in 6 month old kitten named after Ms Hepburn)? hmmmm