Business Credit Cards

By Jessica Hupp

Staying on top of all the things you have to do isn’t always easy, but there are lots of ways to make your task list simpler. Whether that means keeping unnecessary items out, or just getting a handle on organization, every little bit helps. Test out these ideas for the ultimate in task list streamlining.

1. Use a small piece of paper: By limiting the room in which you can list tasks, you’ll be forced to choose only the most important items.
2. Keep yourself to a 10 point maximum: Promise yourself to never keep more than 10 items on your to do list at one time.
3. Categorize: Whether you’re breaking your list down by location or overall task, compartmentalizing it will help you stay on top of organization.
4. Use Tudumo: This tool makes it easy to organize, prioritize, and search for tasks.
5. Create a someday list: Keep aspirational tasks out of your revolving to do list.
6. Write a Not To Do List: By writing out items that you need to let go of, you’ll free up time and mental space for what’s important.
7. Implement a Tiny To do List: Write a list with only three important tasks for one day, and you’ll focus on the most important things to accomplish.
8. Use a task bowl: If the order in which you complete tasks isn’t important, write items out and put them into a bowl, then fish them out and complete tasks on the spot.
9. Break it down: If you’ve got a task that can’t be completed all at once, turn it into a number of tasks, so you’ll be able to finish each one at a sitting.
10. Delegate: Some items just don’t belong on your list. If there’s a task that could be better done by someone else, give it to them.
11. Be specific: Instead of writing vague tasks like “go to the grocery store,” tell yourself to “pick up eggs, milk, and cheese.”
12. Get picky: Your task list doesn’t have to be a wish list. Only write down the things that, if neglected, will let someone down or make your life miserable.
13. Hide future tasks: If you’ve got items that won’t be relevant for a few weeks, or are contingent upon completing some other task, use an application that lets you hide items until later.
14. Start small: Start your list for the day, week, or month with small tasks that don’t take too much effort. This will give you the momentum to keep going and move on to larger tasks.
15. Include time estimates: When writing down tasks, include an estimate of the amount of time the task will take you. This way, you’ll be better able to schedule your time and prioritize items.
16. Assign ranks: Give each task a rating of A, B, or C based on your priorities, so your mission is clear.
17. Use next actions: When working on tasks that require multiple actions, have only one action on your task list at any given time. Once you’ve completed that particular task, refer to a separate project list for the next action to add to your revolving task list.
18. Set time limits: Keep items from living on your list too long by assigning them time limits. If you haven’t completed them within a certain amount of time, promise yourself to finally do it or mark it off your list.
19. Avoid listing daily items: For repetitive, daily tasks like picking up the mail, or dropping kids off at school, use your calendar instead to avoid cluttering up your to do list.
20. Stay on top of recurring tasks: For tasks that need to be done on a regular basis, but don’t have specific deadlines, use a task manager like Sciral Consistency. This way, you’ll stay on top of oil changes, laundry, and other items that don’t really merit a revolving spot on your task list.
21. Use two-minute checks: Periodically, take 15 minutes to look at your task list and see if there’s anything you can finish in 2 minutes. If you can, knock them out within your period of 15 minutes, then move on.
22. Focus on value: Set a monetary valuation on your time, and only add items to your task list if their profitability meets or exceeds the value of the time they’ll take up.
23. Make the answer no until proven otherwise: Instead of saying yes to everything until you find a reason not to do it, start off with a no until you can find a good reason to do it. This will keep a number of tasks off your list.
24. Do super-easy tasks right away: If the act of writing down a task will take almost as much time as doing it, leave it off of your list.
25. Leave out the obvious: Items that tend to jump out at you when they need to be done, like emptying a smelly trash can, don’t belong on your list.
26. Group tasks: Organize tasks like phone calls and responding to email together, and you’ll get them done quicker because your mind is in the communication zone at that time.
27. Categorize by time: Create separate lists for different blocks of time, such as a 5 minute list, an hour list, or a weekend list.
28. Consider reality: Can you actually do the tasks you want to list? If they’re impossible or better done by someone else, they need to stay off of your task list.
29. Note projects: If any given task is part of a larger project, be sure to make a note of it for easy skimming of your task list.
30. Assign a Most Important Task: Set your standards low and identify just one task that absolutely has to get done.
31. Keep an idea list: Separate ideas from actual tasks by keeping them in a separate list.
32. Throw it away: If you’re overwhelmed by your task list, take one last look at it to identify any truly important items, and just throw it away. You’ll start off with a new, clean slate and be able to focus on current, important tasks.
33. Make an hour-based task list: Turn your task list into an hourly schedule, then promise to stick to it.
34. Keep it visible: Put your to do list in a sidebar or another place where you can’t ignore it to stay on top of tasks.
35. Put it all in one place: This sounds like a no-brainer, but you should keep your revolving list in one place, instead of where you are when you come up with a task.
36. Use the Printable CEO: These printouts will help you track tasks and more.
37. Color code: Assign urgency and importance, and it will be easy to see what tasks you need to get to next.
38. Give yourself points: Make each task worth points, and limit your task list to a specific point value.
39. Write it at the end of the day: By writing your daily list for tomorrow at the end of the day, you’ll still have the tasks you need to do fresh in your mind.
40. Automate: If you’re using an electronic task list, make use of any functions that automatically update your to do list based on date, completed tasks, and other criteria.
41. Use tags: For those with electronic task services, use tags to keep track of what you’re doing.
42. Set up reminders: Make your task list work for you even when you’re not looking at it by setting up reminders through email, messaging, or SMS.
43. Get mapping capabilities: Integrate your to do list with maps for added functionality.
44. Share: Use a task list program that you can use with others so delegation and task sharing is easy.
45. Take it with you: Use a task service that allows you to use it on your phone or via the web.
46. Integrate with RSS: Share your list with others, or get updated about changes to shared lists via RSS.
47. Keep notes: In many to do list applications, you can make notes on each item, so you can give yourself details or status updates.
48. Stay on top of deadlines: Use an application that allows you to view deadlines at a glance to know what you’re up against.
49. Use post its: Productivity experts may not agree, but by using post its, you can limit entries, categorize, and best of all, throw them away.
50. Integrate with a calendar: Get an overview of your day, week and month, by using a to do list that shares a brain with your calendar.

By Christina Laun

Although sometimes it may seem like it, no one is perfect. Everyone makes mistakes and has at least a few faults. And while it may seem like a noble goal, striving to be a perfectionist in your work or personal life can actually be more of a hindrance than a help in making you successful. Focusing on making every detail perfect can end up making you get less done, not to mention leave you in a constant state of anxiety. These are a few ways you can stop worrying so much about being perfect, enjoy your work, and still get plenty done in a day.

1. Set realistic expectations. While it might be wonderful to finish your current project, start another, get new clients and keep up with all your household chores, the reality is that expectations like that aren’t always realistic. There’s no sense in making yourself feel bad by setting yourself up to fail. You don’t have to be perfect to be productive, so give yourself expectations that are something you can actual accomplish, you can always add on more later if you get ahead of schedule.
2. Give yourself credit. When you set goals for yourself, it’s easy to let yourself concentrate on the things that you haven’t accomplished instead of those you have gotten done. Give yourself some credit for the milestones and small parts of projects that you get done along the way.
3. Accept that you will make mistakes. While it might be hard for the true perfectionists out there, you can get a lot more done if you recognize that no matter what it is you’re doing, there are going to be some mistakes that you’ll make along the way. Accept this, and use these as valuable learning experiences to be better in the future instead of beating yourself up over them.
4. Ask for help. Though you might feel it’s a blow to your pride, asking for help doesn’t make you weak or incompetent. Sometimes having an outside perspective or a little extra help can make all the difference.
5. Focus on the present. It can be easy to get caught up in worrying about past mistakes or things that are looming in the future that may never even happen. Instead of trying to perfect your past and future, concentrate on doing what you need to do now to make yourself happy or get more work done.
6. Just get it done. Getting things done perfectly is great, but just getting them done period isn’t too bad either. Focus more on the action of getting things done instead of putting so much effort into worrying about doing each thing perfectly.
7. Relax. When you tense up because you’re worried or nervous about being less than perfect, you can make work a completely miserable and stressful experience. Just relax instead. Even if things don’t turn out perfectly, chances are good that things won’t be nearly as bad as you imagine.
8. Focus on the big picture. Perfectionists tend to focus on the little details, nitpicking every tiny aspect of a project, making it take much longer than it should. Let go of the small things so you can focus on the bigger aspects of your projects.
9. Give yourself permission. It can be hard to stop looking at things through the eyes of a perfectionist. You can start by giving yourself permission to be less than perfect and stop thinking of yourself as a failure when you don’t meet your own expectations.
10. Silence your inner critic. That nagging voice inside your head that tells you your work isn’t good enough can drive you to work harder, but it can also drive you crazy trying to achieve impossible perfection. Replace those negative comments with with positive encouragement instead.
11. Realize that someone can always find fault. You could spend hours tweaking a design, website or paper and no matter how much you do to it, someone can still come along and find fault. Everyone’s idea of perfection is different, so understand that no matter how perfect you make something it will never be safe from criticism. Realize this and you’ll be more willing to give yourself a bit of a break.
12. Use it as a motivational tool. Perfectionism doesn’t have to be totally bad. Sometimes it can be a great motivational tool in pushing you forward. The trick is knowing where to draw the line between productive thinking and destructive thinking. If you find your work making you more miserable than happy, then chances are you’ve crossed the line and need to take a step back.
13. Stop comparing yourself to others. It’s fine to have someone to look up to, but constantly comparing yourself to others can ultimately be self destructive behavior. Do the best you can do, not the best someone else can do.
14. Don’t overanalyze. Planning, preparation, and going over your work can be good things, but when you start overanalyzing things to the point that you don’t get started or finished with anything is counterproductive. Remember that it doesn’t matter how great something is if it’s only half done.
15. Lighten up. Your work may not be a joke but that doesn’t mean you have to treat it as a humorless endeavor. Lighten up and you will be less willing to get bogged down in making everything perfect.
16. Learn to take criticism. No matter how perfect your work may seem, you’ll likely get some amount of criticism from users or clients. Learn to take these kind of comments as ways to make your work better, not as attacks on you personally.
17. Stop procrastinating. Though it might seem odd, perfectionism can often lead to procrastination. If you find yourself reluctant to start projects until you can do them just right or until you have the perfect idea you’re likely letting your perfectionism get in the way of getting things accomplished. Just get started, you can always go back and revise later if you don’t like what you’ve gotten done.

Taming your inner perfectionist can be a long and hard fought battle, but it can be worth it in the end if you feel better both about your work and yourself. You’ll avoid loads of frustration, self imposed guilt trips, and maybe even get more done.

By Christina Laun

With so much going on at home and at work, getting the clutter off of your desk and out of your closet can seem like the last thing on your mind. But clutter can do more than take up space, it can also have a marked affect on your state of mind. Cluttered spaces can zap your productivity and make even doing simple day-to-day tasks take much longer than they should. Here are 50 resources you can check out to help you learn how to clear out the clutter and take back your productivity.

Blogs

Get great advice and ideas on clearing out the clutter in your life from these bloggers.

1. Unclutter.com: This blog is all about fighting clutter and getting organized. Find articles on everything from decluttering your kitchen to cleaning out your purse or wallet.
2. Zenhabits: Find your inner Zen guru on this blog. Learn about how to simplify, declutter, get in shape, increase your productivity and more.
3. Your Life. Organized: Monica Ricci blogs all about getting organized here. You’ll also find a series of podcasts, and links to great organizational resources.
4. Declutter It!: Written by Julie Bonner, this blog gives suggestions and advice on how you can make your life more clutter free both at home and at the office.
5. The Positivity Blog: Learn to look at the bright side with this blog. There are also loads of posts on simplfiying your life and becoming more productive.
6. FlyLady: The Fly Lady is a decluttering and cleaning guru. On her site you’ll find information on how to implement her clutter clearing process as well as humorous insights.
7. Neat and Simple Living Blog: This blog is dedicated to helping readers let go of clutter, organize, acquire less, and learn to love life.
8. The Clutter Diet Blog: Author Lorie Marrero blogs about all things related to organization and decluttering. Check out recent posts on organizing holiday decorations and keeping your bookshelf neat and clean.
9. Jeri’s Organizing and Decluttering News: Professional organizer Jeri Dansky gives her ideas and thoughts on organization in this informative blog.
10. The Happy Living Blog: Are the things in your home making you miserable? Check out this blog to learn how to live happier and more simply.
11. Organization Place Blog: This blog gives you links to tons of organizational products that can help make your life a little easier.
12. My Simpler Life: Here you’ll find advice and commentary on how to live a simpler life with less stuff and still be happy and fulfilled.
13. Organising Queen: This blog is all about organizing your life. From your time and space to your business and personal life, you’ll find information on all aspects of organization.
14. Organizing Your Home and Family: This blog lives up to its name, with loads of posts on how you can make your life easier at home by keeping things organized and streamlined.

Articles

Need a little guidance on getting started or help keeping up? These articles can give you some pointers and make getting clutter free easier than ever.

15. Declutter 101: Where Do I Start?: Beginner declutters should check out this primer to learn the basics of getting started cleaning up your home or office.
16. How to Declutter Your Life: Here you’ll find helpful advice on how to streamline your life and eliminate clutter as well as some tips on things to avoid.
17. Organizing 101: Resolve to Declutter: This article from Style at Home can help you learn how to get organized by eliminating some of the clutter around your home.
18. 15 Great Decluttering Tips: For those who struggle with decluttering, cleaning up and throwing things out can be a real battle. Here you’ll find 15 tips from fellow clutterbugs on how to keep your home clean and tidy.
19. Declutter Your Desk: If you’re like most people, you spend the better part of your day sitting at your desk so make it a pleasant and organized place to be by using the tips in this article.
20. 50 Tips to Unclutter Your Blog: If you make money from your blog, having one that’s clutter free and easy to read can make a big difference in your profit margin. This article will give you some pointers on making your blog look clean and user friendly.
21. This is the Year to Declutter Your Life: Check out these articles from the Oprah show to help you start the year out clutter free. You’ll find videos and articles on the reasons behind clutter, how you can challenge yourself to make a clean sweep, and inspiring stories of others who made big changes in fighting clutter.
22. Top Ten Creative Ways to Declutter: Clearing your home of clutter doesn’t have to be completely boring and tedious. This article gives some ideas on how to make cleaning out your closet more exciting and imaginative.
23. Spring Cleaning Checklist: Start off the spring, or any other season, with a sparkling clean home. This checklist will take you through all the parts of your home that you should give a good scrub and thorough cleaning.
24. 5 Steps from Clutter to Control: Fighting clutter doesn’t have to be a drawn out battle. This article gives some simple ways that you can start taking control of your space again.
25. Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui: Get advice on getting rid of all the junk sitting around your house and make it work in harmony with the principles of Feng Shui in this article from About.com.
26. Conquering Clutter: This informative and in-depth article from the AARP gives some insight into the reasons behind the clutter in our lives as well as ways we can fight it.
27. How to Purge Your Closet: Don’t let your clothes take over your closet. This article can help you learn how to fight the the overflow and gives a simple way you can help yourself know what to give away.
28. Zen Mind: How to Declutter: Help to clear your mind by cleaning your space. This article gives several great tips on how to tackle day-to-day clutter without becoming overwhelmed.
29. Top 10 Ways to Declutter Your Digital Life: Clutter doesn’t just have to be in tangible form, it can also make it very difficult to do work on your computer if you let files, photos and emails pile up on your hard drive. This article will give you ten ways you can reduce this kind of clutter.

Programs

These computer programs will help you clean up your desktop and keep the rest of your life organized and hassle free.

30. Chaos Antidote: Have a messy hard drive that just can’t seem to be tamed? Try out this program to help you get control of the clutter that builds up on your virtual desktop just like it does on your real desktop.
31. Famundo: This program is great for busy families. It has calendars, address books, photo sharing and more to keep you organized and ready to go.
32. My Reminder Service: Get rid of all those sticky notes and index cards with reminders scrawled on them and put your important tasks in this program instead. It will send a reminder to your cell phone, PDA or email so you’ll never forget an important date.
33. Check Free: Eliminate the messy paperwork from phone, power and water bills by paying them online. This service allows you to get and pay almost any bill online.
34. Absolutely Busy: Never lose a client’s or friend’s email again with this program. You can enter contact information, track leads, and even stay on top of projects.

Organizations and Groups

Whether you’re looking for help cleaning out your garage or just want to meet with others that have clutter issues, these groups can help.

35. National Association of Professional Organizers: Sometimes you just need a little professional help. Find an organizer near you through this association and get organization tips to help you get started on your own.
36. Faithful Organizers: This organization focuses on professional organizers that also embrace the Christian faith. If you’re looking for a professional that shares your values as well as your need to get things organized check out this site to find someone to call in your neighborhood.
37. Messiestalk: This online forum, created by founder of Messies Anonymous Sandra Felton, gives users a way to chat about any clutter, cleaning and organization issues they might have and get tips and advice from others.
38. Clutterers Anonymous: Need some help and support overcoming the clutter in your home? Find all the resources you need on this site to get the assistance you need from others in your same boat.
39. Freecycle: What to do with all that stuff you cleaned out of your closet? Try trading it or giving it away on Freecycle. You’ll be getting clutter out of your home and giving your stuff to someone who needs it.
40. Declutter Meetups: Here you’ll find links to groups that meet to discuss clutter, organizing and living simply all over the United States so you can make new friends and get your clutter under control.

Websites

This collection of websites can help you find resources about clutter, give advice, and provide great reading material for motivating you.

41. Real Simple: The online version of this print magazine is a great place to get tips and ideas on simplifying your life, cleaning, and organizing your home.
42. How To Organize, Declutter & Simplify Your Life: This Squidoo lens gives some great advice and tips on ways you can help eliminate clutter from your life, organize your closet, and more.
43. Online Organizing.com: Here you’ll find resources to purchase organization materials, hire a professional, get advice, get a newsletter and loads of other useful resources to help you get a handle on the chaos in your life.
44. Clutterbug.net: Professional organizer Christy Best gives advice on everything from organizing for the holidays to how clutter prone people should shop on this informative website.
45. Declutter First: This site is dedicated to helping people get organized by first decluttering their lives. You’ll find articles on clearing clutter from your kitchen, garage and closets as well as some general tips to keep in mind.
46. Organized Home: This website is full of ideas on how you can clean up and organize your home. Learn how to create a storage plan, get rid of unneeded wardrobe items and more.
47. Life Organizers: Does your life need a decluttering overhaul? This site has loads of articles on cleaning, organizing, and decluttering your home as well as on how you can live happier and healthier.
48. Clutter Workshop: This site, by clutter relief coach Beth Johnson, contains an ebook, online classes, and even forums where you can get help eliminating clutter from your life.
49. How to Get Rid of Things: If you’re the type of person who hangs on to 10 years worth of magazines that you never look at, chances are that you could use a little help getting rid of some things around the house. This site gives advice on what to toss in just about every category.
50. Home Organize It: On this site you’ll find loads of resources on getting the mess out of your home. From hiring a professional to cleaning out your business or personal office, this site has information on it all.

By Jessica Hupp

Chores, by definition, are rarely fun. No one wants to do them, but everyone has to get them done. Fortunately, we live in an age that values using technology to streamline everyday life, so there are many services out there designed to make your chores less of a chore, and we’ve profiled 25 of them here.

1. Banking: These days, many people rarely have to step foot into a “real bank,” preferring instead to perform banking transactions online.
2. Bills: Just like online banking, paying your bills online is now easier than ever. It’s hard to find a bill that you can’t pay online, and many banks offer a one-stop place to do it all.
3. Grocery shopping: Netgrocer, Peapod, and even brick-and-mortar stores like Albertsons and Safeway have ventured into online grocery store territory. Many shoppers find this method to be cost effective and time saving because of the organization it offers.
4. Taxes: Individuals within a specific income limit can use Free File from the IRS to prepare their taxes online. Others beyond this limit can use widely available alternatives like H&R Block, TurboTax, and TaxACT.
5. Travel planning: Whether you’re checking out fares or researching the best places to go, the Internet is an increasingly popular place to go for travel advice.
6. Photo sharing: While sharing photos may not feel like a chore for some, people with children and/or far flung family members often find that their loved ones are no longer satisfied with an annual holiday card photo. Keeping up with this chore is easy when you use one of the many photo sharing sites online.
7. Update your family: Beyond photos, you can use emails, newsletters, and blogs as a great way to keep your loved ones up to date on family happenings without going to too much trouble.
8. Get movie listings: The days of picking up the newspaper for movie listings are all but gone. Now, you can look up showtimes online, while at the same time reading reviews and viewing trailers to help you decide on the best pick. You can even use movie sites to find free sneak previews, deals, and more.
9. Plan a party: Online services make it really easy to plan a party online. You can send out invitations, consider themes, get ideas, and more, all with a few clicks of your mouse.
10. Get directions: Your key map has been taken down a notch by the plethora of online mapping services available today. Using these services, you can get detailed, turn-by-turn directions, often with helpful add-ons like highway preferences, gas station price comparisons, and business directories. You can even send directions to Grandma via email or links.
11. Renew government documents: Many local governments offer online renewal and registration for driver’s licenses, plates, and more, saving you a trip to the office.
12. Shop: Hitting the mall and other shopping centers is a dreaded experience for some, but with online shopping you can skip the crowds and often find better deals to boot.
13. Ship a package: With many shipping services, you can calculate rates, print documents, and pay for the shipment, all online. Often, all that’s left is a drop off, but you can usually pay to have your package picked up if they’re not stopping by already.
14. Nag others about doing chores: Getting others to do work is just as much a chore as regular ones. Services like Monkey On Your Back automate the nagging process for you.
15. Order pizza: Nearly every major pizza chain now has online ordering, so you don’t have to rummage through your junk drawer for a coupon anymore. Rather, their specials and deals are cleanly presented on the ordering page.
16. Comparison shopping: Before the advent of e-commerce, comparison shopping was a costly venture, both in time and gas money. But now, all you have to do is go to one of the many sites that tracks prices to find the best deal out there.
17. Clip coupons: Often paired up with comparison shopping sites, coupon sites track the best deals, both online and off. You’ll usually find coupon codes or printable coupons that can be taken to brick-and-mortar stores.
18. Check out the news: If you’re not a newshound, keeping up to date on the latest in current events may feel like a chore, especially if you’re tuning into overhyped TV news or flipping through old-fashioned newspapers. Reading the news is more streamlined than ever online, with organized categories, RSS feeds, and newsgroups.
19. Check out the weather: No longer do you have to wait until your local news burns through the latest fires and murders to figure out what you need to wear tomorrow. Learning about weather in your area or where you’ll be traveling is as easy as entering a zip code or metro area into a web site.
20. Find a doctor: Through doctor directories, you can literally shop around for your physician. These sites make it easy to learn about their education, insurance details, and even read reviews to find out about what others have experienced with the doctor.
21. Get recipes: You don’t have to read women’s magazines or drag out cookbooks to learn how to cook tasty concoctions anymore. There is a seemingly endless supply of recipes online that are easily categorized, searchable, and reviewed by other cooks.
22. Research your health: Whether you’re in search of helpful pregnancy information or curious about alternative treatments, the Internet is full of useful resources that offer helpful tips and create talking points you can bring to your doctor.
23. Research DIY projects: Whether you’re the do-it-yourself type, or just forced into servitude by your spouse, you can find loads of great ideas and step-by-step instructions for projects online.
24. Reserve and renew library books: Save yourself a trip to the library, or snag the latest Harry Potter before some punk kid gets their hands on it by using online library services. Many local library systems offer online catalogs, reservations, and account services designed to make your life just a little bit easier.
25. Set up utilities: Moving is a chore, not just because of the mass of stuff you have to load and unload, but because you have to go through the process of setting up services to your home all over again. Luckily, most of this can be accomplished online, either one by one through your providers, or using services that do the work for you, and even offer comparison shopping.

Greetings! Welcome to the 6th edition of the Carnival of Business and Entrepreneurship. We have selected 51 posts for this edition. I thank all participants for making this carnival a huge success. Here are the posts in the order they were received:

Mike Smith presents 101 New Years Business Resolutions posted at Bootstrapping Blog.

GP presents Weighty New Years Resolutions - Kind of posted at Innside Montana-Your Home at the Range. Tips for fiscal leanness in the new year.

Ed Rivis presents How to optimise a homepage. posted at Ed Rivis.

Cameron Schaefer presents Create a Personal Board of Directors Part I posted at Schaefer’s Blog. The truth is if we want to live well, we all need accountability; people in our lives to help us reach our goals, discuss decisions with, keep us from making wrong turns and shine light on our blind spots.

Goldfish presents Owning a Business – Be Careful with What You Ask For posted at Contrarian Goldfish.

Tash presents Leading from behind posted at Word Constructions.

Terry Dean presents PlugIm Test Results posted at Integrity Business Blog by Terry Dean.

Oiventuresinc.com presents Wait A Minute, There Is An “I” in Teamwork > Leadership In Action posted at Leadership In Action. Great article on leadership and business.

Fred Black presents Don’t give a Hoot about Google Page Rank. posted at Fred Black: Internet Business Blog..

Steven Lohrenz presents Online Business ABCs Intern Program posted at Steven Lohrenz.

Robert Phillips presents What Types of DVD Products Sell Best? posted at How to Create a DVD without Spending a Dime.

Emmanuel presents 5 Things You Should Consider Before You Start a Business | PACE with Emmanuel Oluwatosin posted at Daily Motivations and Tips for Entrepreneurs, Business Owners and people who want to rise to the top of ther career. Starting a business demand you to be emotional and mentally strong. This article shows you some of the things you should consider taking along as you start your business.

Cindy King presents Prepare For International Markets posted at Get International Clients.

Hill Robertson presents All You Have to do is Make a Profit?. posted at Internet Business Success Guide from a Geek. This article is about finding something that makes a profit and then repeating it to make big money.

Woman Tribune presents Create the Life You Deserve posted at Woman Tribune. Heather Juma, founder of Girls Who Network, asks “What are you doing to make the effort to go out and get what you really want?”

Tali presents The S.M.A.R.T.S Report- A Smart Report for Smart Social Marketing posted at The Marketer Review. Stompernet got SMARTS. Check out the report that’s rocking the internet marketing community.Stompernet got SMARTS. Check out the report that’s rocking the internet marketing community.

Fiona Lohrenz presents Financing Your Day Care Business posted at Child Care Only.

Edith presents How to Maintain a Positive Attitude posted at Edith Yeung.Com: Dream. Think. Act..

Matthew Paulson presents Quixtar Supporters Caught in Active Information Warfare and Propaganda Campaign » American Consumer News posted at American Consumer News.

Praveen presents RIP Richard Knerr - Thanks for the Business Lessons! posted at My Simple Trading System. Richard Knerr, the founder of the toymaker Wham-O, died at 82. His story holds lessons about business success and innovation.

Jim Sansi presents Internet Business Redundancy posted at The Kaizen Business. Natural disasters happen and so do human errors but at least with the current configuration I can lose my blog and my connection to the Internet and still continue to make sales.

Mike Buckley presents Doing Well By Doing Good posted at Mine Your Own Business.

Sarah Paine presents Earn Money From Your Home posted at Sarah Paine.

David B. Bohl presents Small Business Trends Column - Who Else (Besides a Majority of Business Professionals) Wants Work Life Balance in 2008? posted at Slow Down Fast Today!. A nationwide survey sheds some light as to what people think will help them achieve their business goals in 2008. What made the top of the list? Achieving a work-life balance!

Life. Money. Development. presents Working in groups: 10 keys for success posted at Life. Money. Development.. A survey of key aspects for success when working in groups.

Mark Runta presents Managerial Courage posted at Career Progression, Management & Global Sourcing. Conviction to pursue what is right and important is the hallmark of leadership.

Vishal Gupta presents A stimulus is a stimulus is a stimulus, or is it? posted at A Business Professor’s Weblog. This article examines an important economic question- Should governments intervene in the economy?

Ciara presents It?s time to be honest; my traffic levels are loathsome? posted at Website Copywriter and Webmaster Blog. My website traffic increasing trial to grow my traffic from pathetic levels (truly pathetic) to decent!

Martin Russell presents Free To Attract Buyers posted at Word of Mouth Marketing. Marketing isn’t just about getting as many people in the door as possible…

Andrew Erickson presents The Holiday Countdown - Getting Your Visitors to Buy posted at WebSite Werx.

Carol Bentley presents Saying thanks. . . posted at Carol Bentley. Many business owners are astute enough to realise that expressing thanks for business; for referrals and recommendations; for a job well done by a supplier; for an excellent result achieved by an employee is good business practice.

Investing Angel presents Tips For Shorting Stocks posted at Stock Investing. In today’s unstable market, many people are considering shorting stocks. This might be because they believe the market is going to get worse, so they want to bet against the market or they just wish to hedge their bets.

Ryan presents Business Writing is the Best Career posted at Academia-Research blog everything about how to write a good paper.. It is always a burden for students to write their essays. Sometimes, it can even be more frustrating for them to compose a document especially if they do not like the topic.

GWN Lifestyle presents Do You Run Your Business Like a Girl? posted at GWN Lifestyle. How to Run Your Business Like a Girl–business tips, resources, and strategies.

Becky McCray presents Gene Marks can’t make these technologies work, but you can posted at Small Biz Survival. In response to an article in BusinessWeek, wherein Gene Marks listed off some tech ’solutions’ he says small businesses “can’t use.” Can’t? All small businesses? Let’s go through his list of 10 “overhyped and underwhelming technology” tools “that don’t work” and see if we can make them work for small business!

Joshua C. Karlin presents Reason Why Sales & Marketing - The Power of ?Because? posted at Marketing & Fundraising Ideas.

Sarah presents The Girl’s Guide to Kicking Your Career into Gear posted at SARAHSPY. Review of newly-released book.

Jose DeJesus MD presents The Market Crash America Missed posted at Physician Entrepreneur.

Rebecca Suzanne Dean presents Miss Copy Causes Car Crash In Japan! posted at Rebecca Dean. New life as a Professional Copywriter and part-time road hazard.

John W. Furst presents A Relationship Needs Support posted at E-Biz Booster Blog. A real Internet business goes beyond being an affiliate marketer. Many marketers are afraid of having customers, but it’s not too hard to build great relationships with your clients, if you are committed. There is nothing to be afraid of.

Kenton Newby presents 6 Surefire Strategies for Writing Better Articles or Blog Posts posted at Kenton Newby.

Warren Wong presents How To Gain An Edge In Business posted at Personal Development. Describes three things you can do to gain an edge in business naturally.

Tim Gary presents Are Your Customers Just Fresh Meat? posted at Internet Success Bites - Take Action to Succeed in Online Business. Customers can be hard to get. Once you have them, keep them with excellent customer service.

Dave Origano presents The Characteristics Of a Highly Successful Entrepreneur posted at Online Marketing & Exponential Business Growth Blog.

Kingsley Tagbo presents How To Become A Computer Programmer - Ten Articles posted at THE FASTEST WAY TO LEARN TECHNICAL SKILLS OR GET A JOB.

Ron Ruiz presents From Secretary to Multi-Millionaire posted at Ron Ruiz.

Aaron Anderson presents What A Tripod Can Teach You About Online Business… posted at Online Business Blog.

Andrew Erickson presents Yahoo Stores down on Cyber Monday?, but not mine! posted at Andrew Erickson.

Thomas D. Brownsword presents Business Action Update: December 14, 2007 posted at Business Action Steps.

Teresa Morrow presents Promoting Your Business: What? Part 1 posted at Key Business Partners.

John Phillips presents Lynch, Noose, Golf and Employment Law posted at The Word On Employment Law. John Phillips presents Lynch, Noose, Golf and Employment Law posted at The Word On Employment Law.

That concludes this edition. Next edition of this carnival will be hosted here on January 29, 2008. Submit your blog articles using our Blog Carnival Submission Form.

By Laura Milligan

The new year ushers in loads of resolutions and good intentions, many of which don’t make it past the first few weeks of January. Staying motivated enough to find a better job, lose ten pounds, or create a solid personal budget are tough when we’re already battling hectic lives. To help you find the inspiration you need to stay focused all year long, check out this list of 100 motivational blog posts.

Our Favorites

This first list includes some of our favorite posts about staying motivated, from discovering strength and inspiration where you least expected it to learning how to organize your entire life.

1. 1 Step Back, 2 Steps Forward: Learn how to stay positive with this simple mantra, even when you’re experiencing setbacks.
2. Stay Motivated When You Don’t Like It: The problem with motivation is that sometimes you’d just rather give up. Read this post for tips on how to boost your morale even when you don’t feel like being productive.
3. How to Wake Up Feeling Totally Alert: Steve Pavlina helps readers go from “grog monster to early riser” with the tips and ideas in this post.
4. Top 5 Tips for Getting Motivated: Life coach Fiona Harrold doles out five surefire tips for finding motivation and sticking with it.
5. How to Be Motivated to Get Down to Work: This post explores how time management, human nature and momentum affect motivation.
6. Developing Positive Patterns: Improve your life with baby steps by discovering and implementing positive patterns in your lifestyle.
7. Design a Home Office: Tips for Setting Up Your Work Space: Working from home is great…as long as you can stay motivated. Learn how the design of a home office can affect your productivity.
8. How to Stay Positive When You Know Your Life Sucks: It’s easy to become overwhelmed by all the bad things in our lives. Instead of feeling sorry for yourself, learn how to stay positive and motivated to make the changes that will improve your life.
9. Maintaining Motivation: This post has tips for staying motivated when you want to exercise, set goals, get organized and more.
10. Free Tools to Manage New Year’s Resolutions: Lifehacker’s set of online tools will help you manage your New Year’s resolutions all year round.

GTD Posts

David Allen’s Getting Things Done philosophy has helped countless individuals and businesses become more productive and successful. Check out the following posts for tips on staying motivated and organized, whether at home, in the office or on vacation.

11. Getting Started with “Getting Things Done”: 43 Folders posts this beginner’s guide to the GTD philosophy.
12. David Allen Speeds Up by Slowing Down: Lifehacker explores David Allen’s method of emptying the mind of useless information so that we can “slow down and think,” eventually resulting in a faster, more productive work day.
13. How to: fix Leaks in Your GTD System: If you’ve noticed a few holes in your implementation of GTD, don’t give up. Read this article to discover remedies for all kinds of GTD leaks.
14. Are Your Lists Really Complete?: Learning how to create effective lists is one of the basic principles of GTD. Check out this post for tips on how to make sure you’re maximizing each of your daily lists.
15. GTDInbox: Read all about this Gmail app that coordinates your inbox with GTD principles.
16. 17 Interviews with GTD Master, David Allen: Lifeclever puts together this list of 17 interviews with David Allen for expert tips and advice from the GTD master himself.
17. A Guide to Getting Things Done: This overview of David Allen and the GTD system is a helpful guide for anyone wanting to learn productivity and motivational tips.
18. Geek to Live: Getting Things Done with Google Notebook: This tutorial shows readers how to use Google Notebook according to GTD principles.
19. The GTD FAQ: If you have questions about starting or maintaining a GTD system, use this FAQ guide to find answers.
20. Massive GTD Resource List: Zen Habits publishes this resource guide of GTD-related links to connect you to all things GTD, from books to blogs to tools and software.

Fitness

Getting into shape and losing weight is a popular New Year’s resolution. Read this list for tips on how to stick to your workout and diet routines for good.

21. Fitness Programs: Staying Motivated: After you’ve made the decision to join a gym or start a running club, how do you make sure you stick with the program? This post from the Mayo Clinic gives great tips on staying motivated.
22. How to Stay Motivated to Exercise: Follow this simple guide from eHow.com for tips on sticking to your plan to get fit.
23. 8 Mistakes that can Wreck Your Fitness Plan: Check out this list of things not to do when starting a new fitness routine. You’ll find out how to beat burnout, stay motivated and more.
24. Exercise and Cold Weather: This post shows readers how to “stay motivated, fit and safe” during exercise, even when the weather is freezing cold.
25. Exercise: 7 benefits of regular physical activity: If you’re still not convinced that exercising will affect your body in a healthy, beneficial way, read this post to find out how simple exercises can improve your mood, fight chronic diseases and help you sleep better.
26. Offbeat Ways to Eat Better, Exercise More: If you’ve tried every diet and exercise plan out there, read this post for creative ideas on how to burn extra calories and reinvent your menu.
27. Gyminee Blog: Gyminee’s online fitness and nutrition tracker keeps your goals on track by helping you easily manage schedules and more online. Check out their blog for product updates, the Entrepreneurs of the Week specials and featured chats on the group forum.
28. Staying Motivated: This post gives tips on staying motivated, even when you’ve reached a plateau in your fitness program or when you don’t notice results as quickly as you’d hoped.
29. Sick of the Gym? Find Your Sport: If you’re having trouble sticking to your fitness plan, you might need a change of scenery. Use this guide as a resource for finding what sport or activity gets you moving.
30. 13 Fitness Tips to Stay Motivated and Work Out Effectively: Buzzle.com posts this itemized list to give readers an approachable way to conquer their exercise obstacles.

Health

From battles with stress to overeating, these posts help readers manage their health issues in a positive way.

31. 9 Hidden Reasons to Stay Motivated: If the skinny pictures from your past aren’t keeping you motivated any longer, take a look at this list of different inspiration ideas for losing weight.
32. Healthy Recipes: The Mayo Clinic offers up lots of healthy recipes for heart-healthy, meatless, diabetes and other special diets.
33. Your Diabetes Diet: Stay Motivated by Breaking Down the Barriers: Anyone with diabetes, especially those who develop the condition later in life, can experience set backs when trying to stick with a diabetes-friendly diet. This post helps you deal with barriers like financial limitations, social stigmas and more so that you can continue to put your health first.
34. 11 Things Children Can Teach You About Weight Loss: Find out how a child’s outlook on life can help you lose weight. Items include “everything can be a game” and “it’s always more fun with friends around.”
35. Eight Ways to Beat Stress: Discovery Health provides readers with eight effective ways to beat stress so that you can use more energy on realizing your goals.
36. 19 Hacks to Stay Healthy at Your Workstation: While most of us have good intentions when it comes to taking care of ourselves, our resolutions leave us as soon as we walk into the office each day. Read this post for 19 ideas on how to continue being healthy and energetic even when you’re at work.
37. How to Stay Clean After Drug Rehab: Entering the real world after spending time in drug rehab is frightening. If you’re nervous about relapsing or you want to help a friend who’s leaving rehab, take a look at this post for ideas on staying clean.
38. Teenagers: How to Stay Healthy: Teenagers sometimes don’t believe that the health choices they make today can affect their bodies in the long term. This post details the ways in which smoking, vaccines and sex can be risky even when you’re young.
39. Top 10 Ways to Stay Motivated: This post has great tips for staying motivated while on a diet.
40. How to Fight Depression and Anxiety: Depression often leads to apathy, making it difficult to pull yourself out and start living life. This post has ideas on staying focused on the fight against depression and anxiety.

Spiritual

Whatever your religious background, finding ways to nurture your spirit can help boost the motivation you’re looking for in other areas of your life.

41. Feng Shui Your Life: Consider discovering the elements of feng shui to promote peace, harmony and energy in your life. This page will connect you to tips on arranging your office, bedroom and entire lifestyle according to feng shui.
42. The Purpose of Yoga: Motivation for Better Health: This article documents the ways that yoga can unite the mind, body and spirit to increase productivity and motivation.
43. Motivating Your Spiritual Side: This post gives tips on how to improve your own personal spirituality like “practice focusing more on others” and volunteering and practicing mediation or prayer.
44. Avoiding Spiritual Complacency: Christians may want to read this post to find out how they can improve their spiritual lives by continuing to challenge themselves and learn more about their faith.
45. DailySpiritualGuide.com: This website publishes daily spiritual messages to inspire and motivate readers of all faiths. Click through the posts to find one that speaks to you or submit your favorite message to share your inspiration with others.
46. The Benefits of Meditation: Tips and Techniques: Meditation can help you stay focused on achieving your goals by clearing your mind of harmful, distracting thoughts and energies. This post gives lots of tips for practicing effective meditation.
47. Meditation for Beginners: 20 Practical Tips for Quieting the Mind: The Zen Habits blog eases beginners into meditation by sharing tips like “make it a formal practice” and “notice small adjustments” in mood and movement.
48. How to Stay Focused and Live Life Wholesomely: New Age Today gives advice on how to stay focused through self-love and self-discipline.
49. Finding Daily Inspiration in Difficult Times: No matter what goal you’re working towards, you’ll experience bad days along with the good. Christians can stay motivated by reading this article about “reaching out to God everyday.”
50. Stay Focused with Essential Oils: Lifestyle “change expert” Laura Lewis shares with readers the kinds of oils and scents that promote motivation and productivity to help you stay focused.

Career-Oriented

Whether you’re in the market for a new gig or just need some motivation to show up each day, check out these inspirational posts.

51. Job Satisfaction: Strategies to Make Work More Gratifying: Push yourself to find the meaning in your job by reading this post from Revolution Health.
52. What Does Your Career Mean to You?: Find out which professional field you’re meant to conquer with the tips and information provided in this post.
53. How to Survive (and Thrive!) in a Job You Hate: Though it’s tempting to walk out every time your boss ignores your hard work, quitting without a plan isn’t a good idea. This post helps you survive your nightmare job by reminding yourself why you’re there in the first place and having realistic expectations.
54. Finding Balance and Meaning in a Nine-to-Five World: Tips like “stay young” and “work in a state of awareness” help readers find the meaning in their jobs and learn how to create balance around work and their personal lives.
55. Beginning Your Job Search: Getting stuck in a frustrating job search is maddening. Don’t lose your motivation, though, by taking any old job that comes your way. Use the tips and resources at WomenForHire.com to keep you focused on the career you really want.
56. Success for Short Timers: How to Stay Motivated While Moving On: If you’ve already decided to move to a new city or make a career change, how do you stay motivated at your current job? Let this guide help you show up to work on time each morning without being miserable.
57. How to Be Bulletproof in the Outsourced Economy: Employees lose jobs to international outsourcing everyday. Instead of getting frustrated or giving up, learn how to protect yourself against outsourcing and boost your overall job performance.
58. How to Stay Sane During Your Contracting Career: Signing on as a contractor usually means you get to create your own schedule, pick and choose clients and maybe even work from home. On the other hand, contractors miss out on regular benefits and have to figure out their tax situation on their own. Read this post for tips on staying sane during your stint as a contractor.
59. Find a Job: Create a Job Search Plan: Staying motivated during the job search is tough. Make a solid job search plan to help you stay on schedule and achieve your career goals.
60. How to Resolve Conflicts with Your Co-Workers: The Career Journal from the Wall Street Journal offers advice for professionals who run into trouble dealing with irritating co-workers.
61. 17 Ways to Survive Your New Boss: Just when you were getting comfortable with your office space, work schedule and job responsibilities, your department welcomes a new supervisor to boss you around. Learn how to survive the change with these helpful tips.

Setting Goals

Learning how to set the right kind of goals will get you started off on the right foot. By understanding how realistic expectations can affect your motivation, you’ll work your way down your to-do lists in no time.

62. Goal-Tracking Tools: This post gives different ideas for creating your own goal-tracking tools to help you stay on track.
63. How to Set Goals You Will Actually Achieve: Steve Pavlina’s post includes a detailed guide for setting realistic goals in a timely manner.
64. How to Set Goals: wikiHow: If you want a basic how-to guide to explain the easiest ways to set goals, check out this tutorial from wikiHow.
65. Goal Setting: Why Should I Set Goals?: Setting goals “can provide motivation, persistence and desire” so that you can more effectively achieve the results you want, whether in your career, fitness routine or personal life.
66. How to Set Goals for the New Year: Learn the difference between short-term and long-term goals, the problem with setting goals that are too big and tips for setting your own goals, all in this post.
67. 10 Questions to Help You Set Achievable Goals: Questions and activities like “write down 3 things you love” and what do you want less of” in life will help you set appropriate, life-changing goals.
68. Tools to Help You Focus and Concentrate on Your Goals and Objectives in Business and Employment: This post outlines why it’s important to track your goals during each step of the process. The end of the article provides links to helpful tools and websites that can help you organize your professional goals.
69. Setting Personal Goals: Take a minute to think about the last time you focused all of your energy on bettering yourself. If you haven’t reevaluated your goals since college, it’s probably time to examine your priorities and learn how to set new personal goals.
70. 11 Goal Setting Software and Tools: This list of free tools will help you track goals from start to finish.
71. How to Set Financial Goals for Retirement: If you need some extra motivation to understand how saving the $50 you could have spent on shoes will affect your retirement, take a look at this simple guide for setting up a long-term budget.

Finding Inspiration

Once you’ve found what drives you, you can keep going back to your inspiration every time you lose motivation. Let these guides help you discover your secret inspiration.

72. Your Best Self: Find Inspiration: When in doubt, ask Oprah. This special section features testimonials of successful women who found inspiration when they needed it most.
73. How to Find Inspiration to Write Everyday: Bloggers will find this article useful, as it has great ideas for finding motivation and subject matter to create frequent postings.
74. Motivational Quotes and Inspirational Quotes: This collection of quotes from About.com features messages about creativity, health, relationships, the military and more.
75. 8 Ways to Find Creative Inspiration: If you’re involved in a creative project but keep losing inspiration and motivation, try one of these eight tips for bringing it back.
76. How to Find Inspiration for Song Writing: This post focuses on finding inspiration for writing songs, but its ideas are useful for all kinds of writing, from editorials to poems.
77. MotivateUs.com: This website is full of inspirational quotes, stories and articles designed to motivate all kinds of people.
78. What Drives You to Success?: This list of “10 of the most compelling “drivers” that account for the correlation between success and excess” will help you put your priorities in order.
79. What Drives You?: Take this fun test from Tickle to find out your true inspiration.
80. Where do Writers Find Inspiration: This posting from Helium.com lists different ways that writers find inspiration. The tips are useful whether you’re involved in a writing project or not.
81. Blogging Tips: Hundreds of Resources for Finding Content for Your Blog: Lorelle from Wordpress lists all kinds of places to find inspiration so that you can continue posting on your blog.

Discovering