Ellen Hankes

Timing the Trick or Treat

The first carload of trick-or-treaters just arrived. Still early with the wonderfully warm fall sunshine still treating us, the knock came at the door. Without her children, the young neighborhood mom stood at the door dressed in a colorful hippie or clown outfit.

Since the children were very small, the young mom asked if I could come out to the car to see them in their Halloween costumes while still strapped in their car seats. They, predictably, had rounds to make and grandparents to see while everyone was well rested and happy.

This young mom was effectively planning her time and energy as well as the resources of her children as she fit everything into a fun afternoon and evening of Trick or Treat activities.

Are you fitting it all in with a balance of work and fun? We would like to hear how you are managing.

Never Too Late to Learn

"It's never too late to become the person you might have been." George Elliot

We have never had more opportunity to continue to learn more about the world and ourselves. A recently retired friend shared her experience of shopping for a new iPod. I assured her she would enjoy discovering new podcasts on a universe of interesting and educational topics.

Life-long learning has newer been easier with access to on-line classes and college degrees. This week I will be participating as well as teaching outreach classes through the local community college.

What are you learning and how? We would like to hear about your journey of learning.

Share Books

It's an electronic age but the bookworm is alive and well fed. Your bookshelf may be bulging with titles that you no longer find useful. If dispersing of books at work or at home is part of your get-organized plan, here are some ideas on how to share books with others.

Donate books

Many public libraries accept books for periodic fund-raising booksales. Check with your local library for information on book donations. Other groups such as Goodwill often accept books and will give you a receipt for their charitable donation.

Sell books

Recently I visited a Half Price Books store. They source inventory of books, music, movies and games from sellers of such material. I was amazed at the variety and volume of reading material, not to mention the low prices. Be aware that prices offered for used or new merchandise depends on supply and demand as well of condition of the item.

How do you keep your professional or personal library under control? We would like to hear your story.

Proactive Email Management

The emails just fly in the inbox. They are work related but some personal ones may slide in as well. There are emails of varying importance in the queue mixed with newsletters and updates that are no longer as attractive as they once were.

Here's one tip that will can cut your inbox emails by 10 per cent or more. Send fewer emails. Here's how:

1. Refrain from replying to all. Ask yourself who needs to know the information. Often only the sender needs to know your reply.
2. Find other ways to thank people. If the only purpose of the email is to relay a kudo, think twice about sending the email. Instead, combine the note of appreciation with another purpose. "That was a great webinar, Josh. You really were on topic. Would you be willing to brief Randy next Wednesday when he is in town." Josh will respond will a more detailed message than just "Thanks."
3. Avoid supplying your email address. When untimely e-information arrives in your box, unsubscribe. I often put a note in the comment box that requests reason for unsubcribing: "Proactive email management."

What steps are you taking to manage email? We would like to hear your ideas.

Examine Extra Expenses

  Reviewing the details and added charges on your bills will help you understand where your money goes. Sometimes those extra charges are negotiable but unless you understand the reason for the expense you cannot control it.

When the bank statement arrived this month Eleanor found a minimal charge that had not appeared on her statement in previous months. The bank phone number was listed on the statement so it only took a minute to inquire about the reason for the charge.

The expense was for, it turned out, the electronic bill paying which is offered by most banks. The previous month Eleanor had exceeded the bank's free amount of electronic checks so a small charge was assessed. Eleanor's banker offered, "It is still less expensive than the cost of postage!"

Have you found unexpected charges--large or small--on your bills? What action did you take?

Time Leakage at Work

Is your day not long enough to get the work done? Does the week hold boundless possibilities at the beginning, but soon begin to unravel? Are you less productive because the clock hands move faster than you can work?

There may be Time Leakage in your work day. Here's how Time Leakage can occur. You spend 5 minutes checking the stock market (now that may not be good news). A colleague stops by and you commiserate about your favorite football team.  It will just take another minute or two to check the status of an on-line order for a birthday present you ordered.

If there is more work than hours in the work day, take a look at author Dr. Jan Yager's survey results for the top time wasters at work.

Clear Clutter to Allow Fire Escape Route

National Fire Prevention Week is a time to pause and ask "Is the clutter in my space a fire hazard?"

Now is the time to take proactive steps to protect your family, your neighbors and yourself from the tragic human and material loss of a fire.

Reduce clutter.

The past year has sadly brought household fires where lives were lost because clutter impeded the ability of fire professionals to rescue occupants of the cluttered home. Get help if you need it.

Turning Gold into Cash

A recent story on ABC News Good Morning America about "Gold Parties Pay Cash for Your Jewelry" featured people selling their unused gold jewelry and trinkets at home-based parties.

If you have some bits of broken jewelry, out-of-style gold earrings or necklaces, or other gold items, what are options for converting gold into cash?

There are merits as well as challenges with each way, so do diligent research and take your time as you decide how to proceed. In addition to the gold parties, you may consider using ebay, a local jeweler, a gold buyer or a pawn shop.

What is your experience with selling items of value such as gold? Your story can inspire and inform others.

Rescue Your Next Presentation

  Do your presentations or speeches need help? Whether it is a sales call or an auditorium, there is a huge payoff in organizing your presentation. Here are some ideas to rescue your next presentation opportunity:

Ask yourself "What's in it for the audience?"

The listener wants your words to speak to their head or heart. Your information must relate in some way to them, You have the ability to solve a problem, make the listener feel better, or very importantly, to make them laugh. If your presentation is irrelevant the listener will move on mentally to other things.