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Archive for Caldwell Evolution News

waves on beach, writing happy birthday to Caldwell Evolution

Yearly Planning with Micro Tasks

Posted by Carolyn on
 July 6, 2023

A New Fiscal Yearwaves on beach, writing happy birthday to Caldwell Evolution

July 1 is the beginning of a new fiscal year for Caldwell Evolution and yearly planning is on the calendar. Micro tasks have come to my rescue again. Yearly planning can be fun, however it can also be overwhelming. Using micro tasks and a dedicated planning process, I was able to get through the process, and get excited for the year, without feelings of overwhelm bogging me down. The process I use is very effective and when paired with micro task strategy, it also be very powerful.

The Yearly Planning Process

The yearly planning process for me involves a review of goals and achievements from the past year, analysis of what worked and what didn’t, setting goals for the following year and some KPI’s (key performance indicators) to go with them. The process I use comes from a coaching program in which I invested during the covid-19 pandemic. I learned a 3 step process from Fabienne Fredrickson, founder of Boldheart.

The process works well if documented on a three column table. Take a piece of paper and divide into three vertical columns. At the top of column one write the title “What I Wanted”. For column two write “What I Got”. Finally, at the top of column three write ‘The Gap, The Lesson”

Step One: What Did YouWant/Desire?Three columns on a piece of white lined paper marked what I wanted, what I got and what is the Gap or Lesson.

Step One is carefully listing what you had wanted for the year. (I am assuming you are also using this for yearly planning. If not, use whatever time frame within which you are planning.) When planning for the previous year, what were you hoping or expecting to attain during the year.  No judgement, just list each item on your table in the first column to the left.

Step Two: What Did You Get?

In the second column, titled “What I Got”, write down beside items in column one what actually happened by the end of the year. Did you expect $100,000 in revenue? What did you actually achieve? Were you hoping to travel to a hot vacation location? Did you travel? Again, no judgement; at this point just write the facts. Column two is the first of two reality checks. Be honest.

Step Three: What is the Gap/What is the Lesson?

In the third column, beside the items in column one and two, write the difference between what you wanted and what you got. In addition, what did you learn from that difference (gap)? What was the lesson? You may have achieved or received more than you wanted or desired. Or you may have achieved less.  In both there is something to be learned about what you did to make it happen or what you did that prevented your goal from being achieved. This is your second reality check. Look at the habits or behaviours or things you did, in other words had control over, that made the desired achievement happen, or not happen. The high performance athletes review this as “How did I control the controllables to set myself up for success?”

Using Micro Tasks

This is where I find the micro tasks most helpful. Writing all that down can get tedious for me. It takes some brain power, thoughtfulness and time. If I am not careful, the process doesn’t actually get finished and I never fully commit to the key performance indicators. By breaking each step down, I completed not only this tedious part of yearly planning, but the entire yearly planning process over the course of a week.  Breaking down into micro tasks meant using really short work sprints.

Micro tasks can be as small as 5 minutes. For this task, I worked in 20-30 minute sprints. Because I had written goals for fiscal year 2023, I simply logged those in column one. That was one task. Column two took a bit more work since I had to review what was actually achieved over the year. That took a couple of time sprints. Finally, column three is more about analysis. Those I tackled one item at a time and gave myself permission to get up and do something else in between items.

With the columns filled, my next task was to identify what I want to achieve in fiscal year 2024, what success would look like and what the key performance indicators would be. Again, I broke the process into small tasks by tackling each desired achievement as a separate task.

The Result

One of the benefits of working with micro tasks is the built in reinforcement the strategy offers. When each task is completed, your brain registers an accomplishment and with it, all the lovely positive chemicals that go with that. Accomplishments don’t have to be huge. They can be small.  Using micro tasks to avoid feelings of overwhelm, creates more accomplishments.

Are we fooling our brains? Maybe, however, sometimes that’s exactly what has to happen to get through a bigger project. Breaking a big project into a series of micro tasks can be a game. Each step completed is worthy of a celebration, check in a task list, high five and a cheer. String together those micro tasks and the project is done.

Yearly planning? Check.

Caldwell Evolution News Mentored for Momentum Coaching Planning Productivity

Digital Declutter For a Clutterfree Business

Posted by Carolyn on
 September 27, 2020

With the world in the grip of a global pandemic, I hope that you have stayed well.

Like many people, lockdown during the pandemic has offered me a time for reflection.  Like many people, I have revised my business to make more sense in the increasingly digital world in which we live.

With changes afoot, it was time to give my audience an update. Here is a digital declutter and a clutterfree business update from 2020 thus far.

Too Much Stuff!

Following the establishment of Caldwell Evolution Inc in 2016, I used the brand Altered Organization to represent the organizing side of the business. Caldwell Evolution became the brand for coaching, productivity and all my other professional work.  A good idea at the time. Instead, however, I had created a lot of digital assets to be managed. They included a couple of Facebook pages, groups and Instagram accounts. The result was a lot to look after and it wasn’t being handled very well.  There was more to schedule.  There was more to post. Nothing was getting done.

Simplifying and Decluttering

What then, does a productivity coach and professional organizer do when looking for  digital declutter and clutter free business?

Declutter

It was time for digital and brand decluttering.

Taking a page out of my own client handbook, I have spent 2020 decluttering the business and online presence of Caldwell Evolution Inc.  Here are some changes that you may have noticed:

1. Caldwell Evolution Inc services are all consolidated under one brand.  Altered Organization as a brand has been retired. You can find information on all services one website www.caldwellevolution.com. 

2. Instagram has been consolidated.  You can find Instagram stories and Instagram posts all under the one brand Caldwell Evolution.

3. The @wellrich Twitter account has been brought in line with the Caldwell Evolution branding.  You can find me there @CaldwellEvolutn.

4. The Altered Organization Facebook page has been merged with Caldwell Evolution Organizing and Productivity. I invite you to join us in the new Caldwell Evolution Facebook group, Mastering Clutterfree Living.  Here you can find tips, strategies, challenges and conversation with other individuals seeking a more clutterfree, productive life.

5. On Pinterest, you can find me @caldwellevolution
Check out my LinkedIn profile which has also had a declutter fresh look.

Hopefully, these changes make resources and information easier to find. This will help your efforts to create clarity, create space and accelerate your evolution to the best version of you. My intention is that you find this simplified, decluttered digital presence helpful.  I would love you hear your comments.

Caldwell Evolution News Declutter
Tags : Caldwell Evolution, clutterfree, declutter, digital clutter, get organized, organize

Done in ’20 Offer

Posted by Carolyn on
 November 27, 2019

Use Promo Code SMALLBIZSAT at checkout for $100 off.

Done is 20 with Certified Professional Organizer and productivity coach Carolyn Caldwell is the 55 minute coaching that will turn 2020 into the year  you get stuff done and see your To Do’s become Done’s.

Booked in December 2019, Carolyn will walk you through creation of a dynamic, get it done To Do List. Done in 20 includes a work sheet, a recorded Zoom call and sample lists to ensure your success in getting things done in 2020. From brain dumps to time deepening, you will be planning like a productivity pro.  Done in 20 provides the direct support and encouragement available with a live coaching call.

Take advantage of Black Friday weekend offer; save $100 if booked by December 2, 2019.

Use Promo Code SMALLBIZSAT at checkout for $100 off.

Caldwell Evolution News I AM Evolution Coaching
Tags : Productivity Offer, To Do List
website launching

Great Day for a Website Launch

Posted by Carolyn on
 February 13, 2017

website launching

What better day than Valentine’s Day to launch a new website.  Have a look around and leave a message.  Sign up for tips, tools and strategies on getting clarity, doing more with less, getting focused, and productivity.

So glad you stopped by. Check us out also on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Caldwell Evolution News Uncategorized
Letters to Clutter

Letters to Clutter

Posted by Carolyn on
 February 5, 2017

You’re standing in front of your desk, staring at the stacks of paper, frustrated and overwhelmed.  “Why are you still here?  Why can’t you find a file to climb into and make yourself available when I need you?  Somewhere in there is the invoice I’m trying to get paid for – how will I ever get paid if I can’t even find the invoice?”

You open the closet door and glare at the contents.  “I hate you and I love you.  Ugh, how am I ever supposed to make this closet work when a bunch of you don’t fit, some of you I don’t even like and I don’t even know what’s at the back?!”

Your youngster is finally in bed and hopefully soon asleep.  You return to the family room and flop into the chair realizing you can’t even walk on the floor any longer because of the piles and piles of toys.  “Just put yourselves away, why don’t you!  Can’t you find a nice basket or box or anything and do the Mary Poppins thing – jumping right into them.  And while you are at it, sort yourselves out and take the toys that no one has played with for the past 6 months to the donation centre.  I’m going to bed.”

If you’ve ever talked to your clutter, or think you might like to say something to it, I’d like to hear from you.

Write your clutter a letter and send it to me for inclusion in a project being published later this year.  Your letter doesn’t need to be long, 200 – 400 words is perfect although longer or shorter is also welcome.  Start your letter off with “Dear ________ (item or items of clutter i.e. Paper, Baby Clothes, Garden Tools), What am I going to do with you?” and tell the clutter what you are really thinking.

Your clutter might include one of the following items or you might have your own version of clutter.:

  • Costume jewellery
  • Inherited jewellery
  • Inherited dishes, flatware, glass/crystal
  • Paper
  • Sports equipment
  • Particular sports equipment e.g. A bag of balls, an old croquet set, a bag of hockey equipment
  • Clothes that don’t fit
  • Clothes that aren’t liked
  • Clothes in general
  • Childhood books
  • Memorabilia
  • Photographs
  • Someone else’s items e.g. a spouse’s sports gear, clothes or other items
  • Tools
  • Leftover renovation material e.g. tiles, paint, fabric
  • Craft goods

Identify yourself only by your initials and your town of residence.  Individuals will not be identified in their submissions and any particular identifying information will be removed.

Letters can be sent to me, Carolyn Caldwell at [email protected].

Looking forward to hearing what you have to say to those trinkets collecting dust on the shelf.

Caldwell Evolution News
Tags : Caldwell Evolution, Clarity, Frustration, Letters to Clutter, Overwelm, The Clutter Letters

Welcome to the Caldwell Evolution Website!

Posted by Carolyn on
 February 1, 2017

Caldwell EvolutionIt’s official: February is a wonderful month to publish a new website.  So here it is.  Cruise around and having a look at what the new site is about.

Where could your Evolution take you? Find out with coaching for clarity and purpose.

Where could your Evolution take you?

If you are interested in Coaching, either personally to achieve more clarity in your goals, or if you are a professional organizer looking to kick start your organizing business into action, you will be interested in checking out the Evolution Coaching page.

 

 

If you are interested in achieving greater organization in your home, life or business, you will be interested in checking out our professional organizing services at the Altered Organization site.

 

 

 

Professional organizers check out the Organizing Summit page for updates on the latest trends in the organizing industry.

Caldwell Evolution News I AM Evolution Coaching
Tags : Caldwell Evolution, Clarity, Coaching, Evolution Coaching, Evolve, Mission, Organizing Summit, Professional Organizing, Vision

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