For many people, this was quite an uncomfortable process because we were pushed to declare what was important to us–how else can you know what to keep and what to let go of?

Those who took seriously the urge to slim down on the irrelevant and minimize distractions, this final push in 2011 to “let go” of anything that didn’t serve them came easier. Those who resisted and instead insisted on bumbled forward without discretion had a much harder time of it.

Personally, my year was, well, kind of chunky. It didn’t feel all that fluid, truth be known. However, once I ‘fessed up to myself why that was in December, you might say the water started a-flowin’ with a passion!

You’ll remember that I reported in the last newsletter that I was about to begin working with a coach. . .

All I can say is, “Oh My.” Well, I have a little more to say, like, “Wow.”

There are a few changes afoot that you should know about because they affect you directly!

After an impressive run of six + years, Project Simplify and the Simplifier newsletter are, as I write this, in their final days. In fact, this is the last issue of this fine publication. Zoinks!

Logical next question: Is this IT?? Am I done with my work?

Logical next answer: Hell No!!! (Pardon my french.)

Watch your email inbox tomorrow for the unrolling of the next phase… (Which, if you’ve been reading for a while, isn’t all that surprising. Hint: 2 words. The first starts with a N and the second with a P, Yeehaw!!)

Which means that this is an adieu to the completion of a phase of my life that has been so incredibly rewarding and so amazingly affirming.

Even more importantly, it’s a perfect opportunity to say, Thank You! You are the reason for exploring new ways to simplify and discover easier ways of working. I am so grateful for your interest in this work and these ideas–I hope to continue the journey with you for a long time.

I also want to thank the ever-versatile Lance Brown, who has been a columnist for this newsletter, and had a presence in The Simplifier from the beginning. In fact, if it weren’t for him prodding me toward the first newsletter all those years ago, I may have been too chicken-s#*t to ever get it going. From idea-man, to coder, to editor, to columnist, his digital fingerprints are on just about every part of the Project Simplify website and newsletter.

So it’s with a twinge of nostalgia and a lightening bolt of excitement that I’ll wrap up this note to you.

Well, almost. How about one more thing to touch back to what I wrote above about the energy flowing once I ‘fessed up.

There have been a ton of posts and newsletters flying around talking about goals, goal setting, and the one I prefer, a word (or three) for the upcoming year.

However you decide to set the tone and intention for the year, my encouragement to you is to do it honestly. And the person to be most truly, deeply and radically honest with is yourself.

Listen to the little hints and messages your spirit is sharing with you. Denying them the attention they deserve is a sure source of chunkiness, a fact I did my best to deny for a good part of the year.

Listen, trust, fly! Booya!!

Simplify, organize, come back to your essential Self, personal sustainability and responsibility have certainly been the consistent themes of my story. I’ve felt, however, like something, maybe the glue that holds it all together, the impetus, the unifier of it all was missing.

Talking with Lance last week, I acknowledged that I’ve been intentionally left a large gap in my Story because I haven’t known how to talk about IT.

There are many reasons for keeping my significant experience secret–long influenced by the thought of keeping my skeletons tucked away, fear of sounding ridiculous, fear of the other person involved, confusion at what to tell and how to tell it, and so on.

It’s time to bring it out and Rattle Some Bones.

It’s too big, complex and convoluted to spit out in a post. I do hereby give myself permission to pull it into the blog, vlog, speeches, stories etc.

For what is this project without the lens of my experience? A mish mash of productivity, simplifying and random commentary. That’s not what I want to create.

I want to create something that inspires others to Stand UP for their right to bring forth their most awesome-est Self. To live the grooviest life they can make happen, and to add their particular yumminess to the delicious dish of life.

And the only way for that to happen here is by speaking my truth. Not everyone will want to hear it. That’s cool. I trust that the ones who want it will find and get what they need to step onwards on their own path.

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Photo credit:
Day 27 “Secret Box” by Naveg

That evolved into the niche of self-employed, home office folks and thus dealing mostly with information management. For many people, managing information is confusing and contributes to crazy amounts of feeling overwhelmed.

You’d think that helping people simplify this part of their lives would be enough–that by getting organized, they’d be able to proceed in their work and life with confidence and success.

Well, it’s not enough. The tools and strategies that have helped us to succeed in the past are inadequate for the world we long to create.

I’m framing this in terms of Old World and New World. A few words about these:

There are currently a large number of people who are intuitively gravitating toward the new world but inadvertently applying old world skills and values. The result: intense feelings of discontent, inadequacy, and being out of place.

Am I saying that we should just switch from one consciousness to the other? NO.

With awareness, we have choice. With awareness, we decide which is appropriate to apply and when.

We will still utilize schedules, Todo lists, email and filing strategies. The difference is that we will do so mindfully.

Our compasses will shift form being pointed toward “Success at any cost” (or for those of us who rejected that some time ago but then found ourselves struggling to survive) we will reconfigure our compass to guide us toward the lives we know we were born and meant to live.

You can see why the focus of Project Simplify’s work had to evolve. Yes, keep sharing the skills for information management. Add to this: skills for navigating a new world centered around personal and universal fulfillment.

• Clearing from your life whatever no longer serves you.

• Mastering the 21 C workflow, i.e. managing your work and life without getting consumed by it.

• Getting reacquainted with your essence and establishing this as your navigating compass.
• Engaging in the right responsibilities that support your development and facilitate your contribution to the world.

• Rediscovering your role of creation and doing it (even if you don’t know where it’s heading!)

It’s such an exciting time. . . One of the most awesome parts about it, in my opinion, is a much greater willingness to help and be helped by each other. It’s the ultimate group effort–and we’re going to rock!

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Photo credits:
Chain Bridge – Stádlec_1 by jyryk58

If you’ve never crafted a 30-second elevator speech you may not appreciate the challenging process the self-employed go through to create one.

[If "elevator speech" is a new term for you, just imagine you found yourself in an elevator with a rich and famous person who is also your ideal client. You have 30 seconds to go from complete stranger to someone whose business they want to learn more about.]

Coming up with this short intro can be something akin to pushing a large ball of burning tar up a big hill, penalty of death. And you think I’m exaggerating. Well maybe I am just a little.

As a business owner, you want it to capture the essence of your project, be descriptive enough to be tangible for the listener, and be intriguing enough that your listener asks for more info.

Which is all leading up to the ah-ha! moment yesterday during a co-coaching call with my dear friend Kalia. After I told her the title of the upcoming workshop, she paused for a moment and then got all giddy on me. “Shawn! That’s it!”

Lo and behold, we worked it into an elevator speech.

Here we go: “My business has recently launched a project called The Natural Professional. Our mission is to support and inspire people committed to working with purpose, passion and peace.” Not even 30 seconds!

This mini-description can also serve as a qualifier and descriptor of your target audience. For example, when asked to speak, I can respond, “Are the people in your group committed to purpose, passion and peace?” If those are characteristics that they value, then it’s likely a good fit.

So what was natural (or professional) about my stressing over not having this dialed in up until now? Nothing!

Patience, people, patience. Let the help arrive in unexpected ways. Let inspiration hit when moved.

Our job as Natural Professionals is to allow the space for these to light upon us–as butterflies landing on a flower bathed in warm spring sunshine.

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Photo credit:
Elevators

by Penningtron

Talking with an artist friend the other day, the subject of social media came up. After listing all the outlets she “needed” to get up to speed on: a facebook fan page, Twitter, podcasts, videocasts, blogging, etc. she looked about ready to throw it all out the window. “It’s overwhelming!” she lamented.

It is a lot to think figure out. Though it’s also unrealistic to expect ourselves to be proficient and prolific in all these venues “yesterday”–as if we need yet another excuse to feel like we can’t possibly do it all.

I suggested she pick one and see if she can get into the habit of publishing to that venue regularly.

“Which one?!”

“Which one speaks to you the most?” I replied. I told her that Lance has been encouraging me to do video cast updates from the Project Simplify World Headquarters for quite some time.

“Yeah, yeah. I’ll get there,” was my common response. I just wasn’t ready to take on the whole sack of questions that came along with it: deciding on content, figuring out the recording tech, the editing and uploading tech, etc. Ugh.

But that all changed last week, with my new iPhone. Not only is recording video easy, all I needed was a YouTube account to upload to and Voila! publishing is complete. The tech side is so easy, the only part for me to think about is the content.

And all I need for content is an idea. The rest flows spontaneously. They clips are short–around two minutes, no editing required and, it turns out, it’s FUN!!!!

This format definitely plays to the wanna-be actor in me. After the first one, I was immediately thinking about what the next one might be!

This reaction is a clear message that it’s time for me to do regular video casting. (The first two updates are below.)

I recognize that my artist friend, being more reserved and shy than I, probably won’t hit the video casts for quite some time. But as someone who wants to share her work and connect with potential clients and customers, one of the social media venues will work for her, her style, and her comfort level. And that’s just the right one for her to jump into!

So Hello already! Let it be easy! =)

(Did I really say, “Technical Guru Guy“?!?!)

(Still working on getting my whole head in the frame, lol.)

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Photo credit:
Free 108 Glossy Waxed Wood Social Media Icons
by webtreats

That’s how I feel about the Natural Professional. 2010 is the year to get out and groove!

It’s been popping up on the blog and in the newsletter for quite some time, now it’s time for synthesis and your contribution.

Specifically, I’m focusing on two projects:

1. The Book: a practical handbook for someone looking to reclaim their life and step into their best self (a.k.a. the Natural Professional)

2. The Online Program: likely to be a 6-week crash and inspiration course to get you revving on your journey

The online course is slated to launch in the late spring, but the book project—which I hope to make a community venture—kicks off in earnest in January. And I’m going to need your help!

Over the course of the year, I’ll focus on one subject (roughly, one chapter) per month. I’ll be sharing excerpts and supplemental materials, hosting topical chats and teleconferences…and most importantly, I’ll be looking to you, my fellow simplification-aspirers, to help me keep it real.

You’ll be encouraged to provide your stories, experiences, and/or thoughts on certain passages etc. If all goes well, I may even have a “reader’s contributions” section in the book. And there will be incentives (read: prizes) and other fun things to make sure the process is as enjoyable and rewarding as possible.

I have my point of view, but to truly help others, I’ll need as many perspectives as possible. I truly believe the “natural professional” idea can transform lives—and maybe even transform the world. But the idea is bigger than me. It’s as big as me plus you…plus you, plus you, plus you, and you, and you, and you over there—you get the idea!

The Natural Professional drumbeat will be sounding out on various locations around the web. We’re picking out the drapes and furnishings on places like Facebook, Twitter…we’ve got something called a “blog” in the works–we’re pulling out all the stops. :)

If you want to be the first of the first to hear the latest of the latest about upcoming NP doings, cruise on over to the nascent Natural Professional site, put your digits in the widget, and go on your merry way. We’ll let you know what’s next as soon as it’s ready.

Thank you!! from the bottom of my heart for joining me on this journey. GREAT things are sure to come from our adventure together.

-Shawn

Looking forward to my conversation with Colleen yesterday has transformed into gratitude for her pointed ability to cut the crap today. I requested an appointment to help unravel a knot I was feeling in the area of developing the Natural Professional identity. What a perfect conversation we had that got me pointed back to the actual problem at hand, which is: what’s the essence of the message?

At one point in the conversation I said, “I feel like there’s a pool I desperately want to dive in to, and instead I keep tip toeing around it.”

Dive, baby! Swim to the center of the Universe to explore the depths and nooks and crannies. Join the dancers celebrating the mysteries of the world, those partying and reveling in the joys of existence.

What I feel internally is my heart expanding, excited to have my truth so close to the surface. Buzzing with anticipation of joining the world-wide party of truth-tellers. My Inner Goddess is waking up from her eons-long nap and she is ready to get her Groove On! I hear the rumblings of her rebel yell welling up inside, almost ready to explode onto the scene.

So then, my dear, what is it? What do you want to say to the nice people reading this? Is she really a rebel? Absolutely. She rebels against the conventions of the Corporate world. Against the popular belief that there is Work, and then there is the rest of my Life. Against the notion that a Zen Master only exists over there on his meditation pillow. Against the dangerous conviction that I’ll work now and follow my dream later. Against the acceptance that life is hard, shit happens, and then we die. Against the willingness with which we hand our power over to another person, another’s belief system.

Your work: where you spend more of your waking hours than at home.
Your work: where you place the attention of so many of your brain cells.

Very simply, where you place your attention is what you manifest. Am I talking about avoiding work? No. I’m talking about radically shifting the very notion of the role work plays in your life. What you thought was the bane of your existence, may well be the key to the rich life you’ve dreamt of.

I don’t want to help you get organized for the sake of getting organized. I don’t want to help you simplify so that you can check out. I don’t want to help you get your work dialed in so you can just run off to the golf course.

I want you to feel a deep satisfaction of your life through the expression of your soul in an email about redecorating the conference room. I want you to paint a gorgeous painting on Tuesday night, step into it while you sleep, and then live your work of art on Wednesday. I want you to have brilliant ideas pop into your mind in the moments of calm while waiting for a meeting to begin. I want you to feel as a Zen Master deep in meditation while some confused shmuck tries in vain to suck you into their misery.

Your strength. Your passion. Your life.

My strength, my passion, my life, my work is all dropping sleeping beauty and waking up the radical spirit of the divine goddess of spicy living, the zen master of wild thought horses, the inner saint of generous sharing, the punk rocker of truth telling–all wrapped into one juicy and delicious being called You.

It’s time. It’s now.

2010 is the year of reclaiming and recreating.

All signs point to Yes.

Let’s get Groovy!!

The time has come.

It’s been many moons since the seed of weaning off the Microsoft Suite settled on the soils of my mind.

The biggest challenge by far is Entourage, the program I’ve been using for email, schedule, contacts, long term notes, and ToDos**.

[**side note: the Task manager is used sporadically. I still haven't found my ideal task/project manager (Hello! Program development at Project Simplify World Headquarters...? When are you starting up? Hmm, not yet. =) Things by Cultured Code was getting close but I wasn't totally sold by the end of the trial so I didn't purchase. One of the main factors keeping me out of those waters is the lack of easy syncing with my Palm Treo 755p. End side note.]

The obvious move: to Mac’s Mail.app, iCal, and Address Book suite.
iCal – yes. I’m happy with that move and will, in fact be making that move.

Address Book… Not my favorite but that may be more of a factor of unfamiliarity than issue with the program itself. My main outstanding requirement is that it dovetail with the email client. End of the story is I will migrate contacts to Address Book.

Mail.app – no. There is an irrational part of me that wants to love Mac programs and I wish that part of me would wake up and get a life. I haven’t been writing down my issues with Mail, but I know they revolve around not enough options. As if they are trying to save me from myself.

I appreciate that they are trying to keep things simple and reducing options is a good way to go. But for those who are tech savvy enough to be dangerous and interested in workflow customization–it’s constraining and truth be known, leaves me a tad frustrated.

So I’ve opted to try Thunderbird. Let me clarify “try”. I’ve no interest in spending a bunch of time on multiple programs. By the time I “try” a program, I’m actually saying, “I’m choosing this program unless it bugs majorly.” That’s just not how I want to spend my time. (Got a book to write already!)

The majority of what I’ve read on forums seems to favor the program. So then the big question was: Sync with Address Book?

Kind of a tricky answer. Apparently Thunderbird 3.0 has been in development for a couple (several?) years and the main upgrade (in my world) is Address Book integration.

For whatever reason, this version which was originally scheduled to come out a year or two ago has stalled. (I hear rumors of the Thunderbird team breaking off from the main Mozilla team.) However, some smarty-pants developers out there have taken this open source code and made available an adapted Thunderbird 2.0 that can integrate (with a little additional code added by the end user).

Did I say savvy enough to be dangerous? For me this means, I could probably get the additional code added, but if anything went amiss I’d be clueless. But you know what? I’m gonna do it! Take the plunge! Live on the edge! Boogie on through the night! (are we talking email program here? my inner geek is flying hard!)

I’m almost ready to make the move. I’m thinking a Saturday or Sunday afternoon when I know I’ll have enough time to back up, purge data, set up each of the programs, get the email working, import old info, make sure it all syncs with the Palm, and basically feel like I’m good to go.

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Photo credit:
envelope
Originally uploaded by Tim Morgan

Good morning, Monday!

The week has barely begun and there’s already two things to report.

report #1
I finally heard back from Mr. Agent who took The Natural Professional book proposal to the Frankfurt Book Fair. He reports back that it “created some interest among publishers”. Who knows. It’d be cool if it got picked up and it’s OK if it doesn’t.

I’m trusting the flow on this one. All I know is that I keep getting the feeling that the time is Ripe in the world for this work, so I’m going to keep chugging away.

report #2
Co-editor, tech stud, social media whiz Lance Brown who undercovers as a most unsuspecting but dang-effective cheerleader when desperately needed by yours truly. (Period? I realize that wasn’t actually a sentence but it was such a long phrase that I’m taking editorial creative liberties with it.)

(try again) Lance and I got together yesterday for a serious Social Media strategy session with a major emphasis on Twitter. Let’s just say I’m inspired.

I went from about 2 posts in the last month to about 5 in the last 18 hours. The trick is sticking with it…

You know how in movies a character will have some crazy awesome epiphany, usually near the end of the movie? And then everything resolves and they saunter off into the proverbial sunset?

What I want to ask is, “What about tomorrow?”

I mean, I have crazy awesome epiphanies on a regular basis, like understanding the quasi-mystical, magical potential powers of Twitter.

Posting will be strong for a week, but then something will happen, and then the real question arises. Will there be a return to commitment? or a slide into bad non-posting habits?

Ditto with blogging. I think we’ve finally made it out of the strong gravitational force field of slacking here. Will we be able to establish Twitter posting as a “given” also? Tune in next week for an exciting update on that front…

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Photo credit:
Little, Brown Book Group At Frankfurt Book Fair
Originally uploaded by dannysullivan

If copyright issues are your things, then check out this article by the photographer (of the image on this post) Danny Sullivan: Search Engines, Permissions & Moving Forward In Copyright Battles. Fascinating!

A shorty from the 500-word warm up that produced two sentences for a newspaper blurb for an upcoming talk. I think I should be grateful it was only 500-words to warm up…. =)
==

“Little habits define you, and the impressions that others have about you – and thus it becomes a marketing issue.

How quickly you return emails, says something about your handle on your inbox.

How often you push past deadlines says something about your control of your workflow.

How often you show up to meetings late says something… about your schedule? Or something even deeper… your relationship with your life and your priorities.”

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Photo credit:
Frazzled
Originally uploaded by karindalziel