Go Wild! Go GREAT! The Journey from Now to WOWTM

Does your Organization Sponsor a Book-Club? It's Part of the Blueprint for Success!

Attention CEO's and Chief Learning Officers:

If it's true that "we become the people we spend time with and the books we read", perhaps it's time for your company to sponsor a Business Book Club!   That's just one best practice of leading organizations who recognize that part of the Blueprint for building a successful organization, is making sure that employees at all levels are involved in what Dr. Stephen Covey calls  "Continually Sharpening the Saw" or learning latest best practices and tools not just of your industry but of unlike industries.  Business Book Clubs provide you one more tool outside of traditional training that fosters (open and creative communication and encourages employees to read more than just their e-mails)

Business Book Clubs operate similarly to Personal Book Clubs.  The Club is typically voluntary and often conducted over lunch or immediately after work once a month.  Some companies sponsor the lunch or refreshments to encourage employee involvement.  A Business Book Club list is assembled (based on recommendations from employees )and detailed  3 - 6 months in advance. Hint: One rule for recommending a Book is  the employee must have read it on their own and have found value and practical application to the organization.   Each month there is a different business book club discussion leader.  Typically,  one employee is selected to host/arrange for the meeting room, send out notices to members and arrange hospitality.  There's also one volunteer to be the actual discussion leader.  In addition to developing relevant questions linked to "how do we apply xyz principle to our organization?" That discussion leader has the responsibility for capturing key points of the book club and filtering to appropriate organizational channel. Those channels should include the CEO, HRD Manager and appropriate Department Managers.

You can also spice up the Book Club with Creative Theming linked to the Book Title!  (See Below) 

When I collaborated on "Blueprint for Success", my new book with Dr. Covey, Ken Blanchard and 11 Other Top Business Consultants, the objective was to write short chapters that contained Best Practices for Business and Life that could be used in Business Book Club Discussions.

Free Book Club Training Kits for Training & Business Managers!

In Blueprint for Success, you'll find my Best Practices for "Now to WOW!TM Customer Service" Dr. Covey's thoughts on "Principled Centered Leadership"  Ken Blanchard's view on Chick-fil-A's sales success. There's also Dianne Durkin's Formula for creating a Loyal Workforce and Jim Gottfurcht revealing how to "Manifest Financial Success with the Psychology of Money" plus much more.

If you wish to begin your Organizational Book-Club with this Newly released Anthology of Best Practices, we'll help get you started.  I mentioned creative theming.  The sub-title for Blueprint for Success is "Proven Strategies for Success and Survival".  This title was selected based in part on my audio book "Go Wild! Survival Skills for Business and Life".  Let's face it.  It is a jungle out there and to remain competetive, why not duplicate best practices and avoid the pitfalls with proven blueprints?  Order Blueprint for Success for your team--- and will give you a free themed book club discussion kit including Bright Red "Go Wild! Go GREAT! Now to WOW! Dog TAGS" for each team member and a book club discussion guide.

So what are you waiting for?  Go Wild! Go GREAT! in 2008!  Consider Increasing your Organizational IQ with a little Book Smarts.

To obtain copies of Blueprint and The Book Club Kit, Visit our secure store at www.gowildgogreat.com or write us at  info@gowildgogreat.com   

            

Face Time Fridays! E-Mail Free Zone on Fridays Builds Teamwork

Forget "Casual Fridays.  Think about implementing "E-Mail-Free Fridays." A Texas Real estate firm requires that on Fridays, all employees communicate with each other face-to-face or, at the very least, by phone.  The company does make exceptions for electronic communications to clients . I applaud this policy to insure that employees have at least one day of face-time with each other.  Teamwork has and will always be about "Relationships" and "Communication" so maybe it's time for your company to consider a policy where one day of the week, you skip the IM's and e-mails in favor of old fashioned personal team contact. 

Would you like Hot Ideas to motivate your Employees and build a Positive Workplace?  Write us at Go Wild! Go GREAT! Now to WOW!Teams or visit our web-site.

www.gowildgogreat.com

rosemary@gowildgogreat.com

Rosemary Rein, is the Author of "Blueprint for Success" with Dr. Stephen Covey and Ken Blanchard and "Go Wild! Survival Skills for Business and Life? published by Park University.   

                   

Boost Creativity and Zap Boredom with Pecha Kucha

Put Pecha Kucha to Work in Your Meetings!

20 slides for 20 Seconds Each and You're Out of Here!   Slides are mandatory, speaking is not.  I can hear the thunderous and spontaneous applause bursting out at Corporate Bored Rooms Everywhere.

Pecha Kucha (Japanese for “chitchat”) is a modern speaking salon focused on design, fashion, food, and new media. It’s a forum where young thinkers present and swap opinions and ideas — in short but sweet  "food for thought" presentations consisting of 20- (twenty-second slides).  These Creative Salons, originally developed by two Tokyo Based Architects found popularity with individuals involved in the arts,  i.e.photography, art and design but have expanded to include business topics.

Pecha Kucha Salons  can be found in major cities from Brisbane to Atlanta. Check out international listings at:

http://www.pecha-kucha.org/ 

Or consider sponsoring your own creative-visual chat in your City!   Here'e the quick rules of Pecha-Kucha:.  20 slides, 20 seconds each .  No exceptions.  Topics can range from business, design and emerging trends but no more than two people from the same discipline can speak each night, keeping topical overload to a minimum.

CEO's and Business Managers---Heads Up on this Hot Trend.  Use Pecha Kucha for Team meetings within your company and watch what happens with the help of visual imagery to prompt creativity.  PS:  There's a Bonus:  Goodbye Painful Powerpoints, Hello to the Points that Really Matter.

Develop your Business Plan, Re-design your Brand, Tackle a Critical Business Issue by Bringing Creativity to Your Company.  Contact us for information on our "Now to WOW! Creativity Safari's.tm --  1 and 2 day team learning adventures, in which you and your team will learn how to apply creativity,   problem  solving and strategic planning skills to propel your business forward.  Note:  In our two day Now to WOW! program, your team also leaves with one big mission accomplished, as they apply techniques used in corporate and government think tanks to produce a tangible work product (i.e. brand design, marketing/business plan, project matrix.) www.gowildgogreat.com

Bring Comic Relief to Employee Training and Customer Recognition Programs: 5 Ways to Use Cartooning to Make Your Company A Super Heroe

Go Wild! Go GREAT! Now to WOW!tm Customer Service Training Materials using a Cartoon Character we developed named Fred T. Frog and a Sketch for a 76th Birthday Celebration of 3 Friends.

Create WOW Factor and increase retention of your message and brand with Corporate Cartooning.

Please don't tell me HRD/Training Managers that  you're still hanging those "Employee of the Month" plaques in your lobby that make even the most professional employee look like a felon-- let alone valued and important!  Alas, don't admit that your training manuals would even put a die-hard reader of Popular Mechanics to Sleep!  Do your Employee Retirement Parties bring tears to everyone in the room, particularly the retiree, because of a lack of imagination or real thought?  Well, perhaps it's time to get funny (literally) and create WOW! Training Materials and Recognition Programs that engage us and capture our attention.  "Corporate Cartooning"

Cartooning and Animation represents a media that engages both a new generation of  Gamers as well as the Traditional Comic Book Enthusiasts.  Here are 5 ways to put Cartooning to Work to motivate, educate and reward both customers and employees in Training Programs, Annual Meetings and Corporate Recognition Events. 

5 Ways to put Corporate Cartooning to Work in Your Company:

1.  Bring the WOW Factor to Customer and Employee Appreciation Gifts.  Yeah, sure you can have a thumb drive or specialty gift basket imprinted with your logo to give to valued customers and employees, or you can really show your VIPs how special they are by creating a Personal Cartoon Sketch of them in front of the backdrop of your business.  Trust me, with the thought that obviously went into the gift selection and creation they won't throw it away.   

2.   Create a Comic Book for Compliance, Safety  and Customer Service Training.  It's non-threatening and pretty darn funny when you have a  "Dudley Does it Wrong" Character who does everything to irritate customers or violate safety procedures.   The visual imagery and demonstration of what not to do is a powerful training technique for getting employees to do what you want them to do.

3.   Host a Memorable Employee Retirement Party with your Own Bart Simpson. Present a Storybook and a multi-media that creates a heart felt retirement celebration. As a Facilitator, I have used multi-media presentations incorporating photos and music as well as animated characters to recognize the Guest of Honor. The animated characters are designed in the honorees image as well as other key team players who humor the audience with their banter of favorite corporate memories and upcoming plans for retirement.  Traditional Roasting can be tedious in the hands of people who hate to do it and aren't good at it.    Animation combined with a Professional Master of Ceremonies makes it professional, easy and fun and allows for lots of input from the employees in the planning of the Cartoon Sketches.   At the end of the retirement party, the honoree is presented with a literal children's story book as a memorable keepsake.

Positive Workplace Campaign.  This is one of my favorite cartooning techniques used to develop and promote a positive and inspired workplace.  Battle your Negaholics!   Remember the rule of Negative Contagion:  Negative Energy Spreads faster than Positive in the Workplace.  Try using your own Cartoon Character who presents Positive Workplace Messages that are linked to your team's mission and values and clearly outline Rules of Team Behavior.

5. Use Corporate Cartooning in Product Launches, Trade Shows, Customer Events and Training Seminars.  Note: Not just for fun, but linked to a specific marketing/educational message that creates impact and retention.   Cartoon Characters are powerful advertising messengers (Think the Geiko gecko)   

At Now to WOW! Training Services and Business Events,  we put Cartooning to Work for our clients to motivate, educate  and reward both customers and employees.  Note:  Our contracted animation and instructional storyboard artists can turn your project around often within 48 hours all via Internet/e.mail correspondence.

Do you want to bring your Annual Meetings, Training Sessions, Employee Celebrations from Now to WOW!tm with audiences through powerful and creative presentations?  Contact us at www.gowildgogreat.com or write Rosemary@gowildgogreat.com

Best Practice for Teams: Get Your Leadership Team Cooking Together

     One of our Favorite Team Building Activities is our Go Wild! go GREAT! "Iron Chef Competition".  You guessed it! .... in a competitive Team Cook Off, the business team is  judged on  "creative use of ingredients" "cooperative team effort in the kitchen" "product quality" and "presentation".   

     And yes, in case you were wondering, the same recipe for running a great kitchen can help your team run a great company and produce a prize winning recipe for business success.      Let me tell you after experiencing our own version of Iron Chef Team Building Adventure,  the expression "If you can't handle the heat, get out of the kitchen"  takes on a whole new meaning!  What's Cooking in your Kitchen?   Hopefully not leftovers!

       For Free Team Building Activities and Help in Planning your Team Building Retreat?

Visit or  Write Go Wild Go GREAT! Team Adventures

www.gowildgogreat.com

info@gowildgogreat.com

Trend Setting: Is Your Company Out of It? or On Top of Emerging Trends?

    When leading Strategic Planning & Creativity Sessions, I am sometimes asked the question by clients "Rosemary How do you Spot Trends?"  My answer is to give them one of my favorite secret weapons.  "I have a staff of the best Trend-Hunters working for me!".   The good news is you  have that research staff too-- all free of charge via an informative and invaluable web-site open to any Entrepreneur, Strategic Planner, Marketing and  Advertising Professional.  The web-site is www.trendhunter.com.

   As I prepare on this Sunday to watch this year's  Super bowl Commercials, I checked out this week's product trends on Trend Hunter.  Here's just a glimpse of "What's Cool" this week.    Suspecting that your partner is cheating on you?  Just purchase the Check-Mate Infidelity Kit.  If you think about a CSI swab of  your mate's clothing, you're onto the principles behind this Gotcha.    Tired of drinking your Chardonnay alone as your pampered pooch looks at you with longing?    Your best friend can now join you thanks to  Bark Vineyards who have  developed specialty non-alcoholic wine with labels both you and Fido will love.  How about a fine  "Barkundy" or "White Sniff-n-Tail?    PS: Cats need not feel their nine lives have lost meaning.  There's a Meowlot for the feline in family.       On a more serious note, the site provides trends in all industries with demographic intel helpful to marketers.

Note:  On their site, The Trend Hunters caution that  "Popular is not Cool!  Cool is the Next Big Thing".  The Site's Chief Trend Setter, Jeremy Gutsche notes that Trends are Unique, Cutting Edge and Viral and advises companies that to be a trend-setting company requires the following 5 step recipe:

1) Reset of expectations

2) Observation of Customers

3) A Hunt for Cool

4) Clustering of Insights

5) Developing a Point of View

So what are you waiting for ?    Stay on top of what's hot? what's not ? and what will be tomorrow's next big thing ?

Add  www.trendhunter.com to your list if you want to stay ahead of the curve

Rosemary Rein, Ph.D is the Author of "Go Wild! Survival Skills for Business and Life" and "Blueprint for Success".  Dr. Rein hosts Strategic Thinking and Creativity Retreats for Leadership and Design Teams  at her retreat center in the Rainforests of  Costa Rica as well at at Corporate Retreat Centers in the U.S. and Canada.   www.gowildgogreat.com and www.retreatscostarica.com

What is Trend Spotting?*Source www.trendhunter.com
Trend spotting (a.k.a. trend watching) is the science of identifying emerging shifts in our social behavior and aspirations. Trends are driven by a range of factors, including pop culture, media, news, innovation, and the arts. Trend spotting is used by industry professionals to develop products, enhance idea generation, and inform marketing, media, design and strategic planning. By developing a systematic approach to trend spotting, individuals and organizations can better develop disruptive products and creations that dance the beat of cool.

Have a Love Affair with your Customers! 5 ways to keep your Customer Romance Burning

     As I have been finalizing my chapter on "WOW! Customer Service" in the upcoming  book "Blueprint for Success and Survival" with Dr. Stephen Covey and Ken Blanchard, (Look for in Bookstores in 2008) I have been reviewing my field notes from working with business clients who have successfully propelled their business from Now to WOW!  They are Businesses, large and small  who have transformed their organizations and dramatically increased their revenues  by having a renewed love affair with their customers!

     Okay, let's start with the ingredients of a love affair---Yes that infatuation and head spinning awe, personal love letters and flowers that leave you catching your breath.   Where did this incredible creature come from who seems to adore you?   Now switch for a moment and think about that couple you see, who seems to have lost the magic they surely must have had at one time-- limiting  their appreciation of each other to a once a year Hallmark Greeting.   

When I look at businesses, with poor customer service, apathetic employees and usually a  resulting flat or declining bottom line, I see organizations that need to re-ignite their love affair with the customer.  Over the years, they have gotten comfortable with the way they do things and accordingly have fallen into that "got to make the donuts" rut. They have ceased to look at the customer experience with "brand new eyes".   

So if you're looking at your sales, your service quality and your employees grumbling around the water cooler about everything they have to do today.....Consider these 5 ways to "Spice up your Customer Love Life"

1.  Ten Positive Customer Touch Points:    Hello! if the only time a customer hears from you is when you send your monthly bill or there's a problem-- you've got that Hallmark Greeting problem.  Your customers are going to find someone (your competitor) who "shows them the love" in a much more personal way on a regular basis.   A key to providing WOW customer service is to examine your points of customer contact and seek 10 positive communications with customers to every 1 negative touch point and yes your invoice is considered a negative.        

2.   Show the Love to Your Employees:   Case studies demonstrate that the way you "show the love" and treat  your employees is passed on to customers!  Note:  the principle of 10 positive touch points applies to coaching and motivating front line customer service employees. One good practice is for every negative you provide to an employee be sure you give them 10 positives as well.  Nothing worse, than the boss who is always pointing out what you do wrong versus expressing appreciation for what you do right.  Has your team gone out of it's way recently to beat a deadline or retain an account?  Why not Surprise and Romance them with 10 minute chair massages?  Note: Keep in mind that in romance, surprises are always the best,  which is why I hate those ordinary "employee of the month programs" that become expected, non-special and just plain boring. 

3.  Examine all of Your Love Letters and Communications to Customers:  The first  thing I do in working with business clients is to look at everything their customers sees, feels , hears and touches with my brand new eyes.  Do your client bills just say Thank YOU! or do you include inspired and heartfelt appreciation of the customer's value?  Does your web-site grab them in 7 seconds?  That's all the time you have!  Are your marketing materials written to appeal to all 4 personality and 3 learning styles.  If not, maybe you need to hire a "Cyrano Word Smith" to romance your customers.

4.  Save them Time and Money:  There are two things that are sure-fire Cupid's arrows with customers.  Save them Time and Money and communicate how you're doing that on a regular basis. In business and in life, time and money are the two forms of energy we never have enough of.

5. You know.... It's not about You!       Think of that blind date where the person sitting across from you is droning on and on about themselves.  You want to scream  "Did you think it's not always about you? Sometimes It's about me?".  As I review web-sites, listen to "telephone hold messages" and review marketing materials, I am amazed how businesses focus on their own features verses the customers needs.  I was hooting and hollering in reviewing one web-site:   The home page was a photo album titled "This is where it all began" followed by baby pictures and a history of the principles.  Who cares?  This is why in sales and customer service training, the skill of "listening" and "adapting to individual customer needs and communication styles" are critical.  No Bob, it's not about you!  It's about the Customer!

So perhaps it's time to evaluate your Customer Love Life before your competitor does it for you!

Rosemary Rein, Ph.D is the Author of "Go Wild! Survival Skills for Business and Life" and the upcoming "Blueprint for Success and Survival"  She speaks and consults with business organizations 100 days a year on Now to WOW Sales and Service transformation.

www.gowildgogreat.com

 

Time & Stress Management Tips from the "Jesus Christ Lizard"

It's amazing how nature provides us with so many lessons for every day life.  Last week we encountered a creature on the beach of Costa Rica's Caribbean Coast.  The Basilisk Lizard, more commonly known to as the "Jesus Christ Lizard"  decided to join our picnic.  Okay,  so where did that name come from? Well this amazingly fast member of the iguana family is aided by webbed feet that make him appear to literally walk on water.   

It took us a while to spot our friend, who in addition to his fast walk on water trick has the opposite ability to remain absolutely motionless and use camouflage against would be predators.  Now wouldn't that be a useful skill in the workplace?  Imagine, no annoying interruptions because no one can find you, but the ability to propel into action with such amazing  grace and speed that everyone thinks "you walk on water" when it comes to getting the job done.

Conservation of Energy is a key survival skill in the wilderness as it is in the workplace.  You only have one tank of gas in any given day and as we all know with today's gas prices, you need to use it wisely.  Like the Jesus Christ Lizard, one of the traits of people who handle both  time and stress well is  "dedicated time spent in solitude each day" .  Look around at the people who dash madly around making everyone crazy with their constant, frenetic motion.  There's no quiet in their world!  Do you think they would they be the first you turn to in crisis? Bet not!  Nope, give me the calm and still creature who is acutely aware of his environment at all times  and can leap forward into action and go faster and further than anyone when the situation dictates.   

Questions for today:

1) Do you spend some time in quiet solitude each day?

2) Do you quietly observe your environment in any given situation before leaping forward?

3) Do you under-promise and over deliver and avoid over-commitment? After all you're No Jesus Christ Lizard! but you have learned from him.

Keynote Presentations, Seminars and Go Wild! Go GREAT Teambuilding Retreats 

www.gowildgogreat.com and www.retreatscostarica.com

Same Time Next Year for Your Business? Let's Hope Not!

The Benefits  and How To's of Now to WOW! Year-End Retreats!

I am currently working with several clients in preparing what has become their company's Year-End Strategic Planning Retreat.  No, not just another meeting to crank out  the annual business plan, rather an Annual Team Retreat to re-focus, re-energize and re-invent their organization for a brand new year. 

If your organization's only plans for the year-end are the "where and when of this year's  annual holiday party" perhaps a Now to WOW! TM Makeover is in order so it won't be "Same Time Next Year" for your business.

Just imagine in 1 day your team is charged up to increase profits, customer satisfaction and really Go Wild & Get GREAT! in 2008?  Envision a day of team celebration, collaboration and connection where the best minds and practices of your organization are shared and defeats and setbacks are put into humorous perspective and learning!   What if there was a way to produce a great and workable business plan in 1 day of fast and focused facilitation?    I think you would agree that it might be a better investment of time and money than planning this year's "Secret Santa" or days, maybe even weeks in continual business planning meetings. Meetings where everyone yaps about how great they are and in fact the business plan never gets done, or worse never gets implemented.

The following are 5 components of "Successful Now to WOW! Year End Team Retreats". Summer is almost over!  Get Planning to Go GREAT! in 2008.

1.  Pick a Theme for your Retreat!  Themes Build Teams!  This year I am planning an Amazing Race Planning Session for one organization, A Go Wild! Go GREAT in 2008 Safari and even an Iron Chef Business Planning Adventure for a Restaurant Group.  Everything from Agenda to Invitations to Decor, speak to the theme and build excitement and  a brand for the coming year's initiatives.

2.  A Strategic Agenda:  There is a science to the agenda for business planning retreats.  Did you know that when you plan the agenda, you need to consider 4 different personality styles, 3 different learning styles, gender and age communication differentials and natural body rhythms?  PS:  There's also a little thing called Haptic Learning---yes, raised in an era of TV Commercials, the agenda needs to be fast-paced, and interactive where literally there is a call to action every 8 minutes. 

3.  Fun Factor:     Show me a team that doesn't laugh together, and I'll show you a team that doesn't work together.  At Go Wild! Go GREAT! we use a variety of techniques to raise and renew energy levels with activities and humor on the hour following what we call  "1 hour chunks of serious business and brainpower".  Note:  1 hour of focused attention is considered the ideal time for concentrated and intensive work projects before we start to lose productivity.  Note to Self:   If you're under the gun to get a project done, set a timer for one hour and then take a 2 minute vacation.  Go back at it and you'll be amazed at how this simple rule increases both quality and quantity output.

4. Location, Location, Location.   Isn't it amazing how vacation and a change of scenery can refresh, re-energize and give you a new lease on life?   Look for interesting and unique locations for your team retreats away from the office and you don't need to spend a fortune!  A different off-site location can get your team to look at things differently and there's lots of affordable options.  For example,   I've rented Football Stadiums where we literally had an empty football stadium and use of the team's playback meeting room.  (Talk about the Big Picture and a natural tie-in with the importance of a year-end playback of best practices.).  I've rented historic houses (Check Out Vacation Rentals by Owner) or talk to a meeting planner.

5. Collection of Retreat Data & Memories;     The whole purpose of the retreat is to have a tangible map for next year and capture the organizational vision and benchmarks.  I recommend to my clients and myself use Mind-Mapper facilitation software where the group's input is immediately captured via lap-top and displayed with LCD projection. You can check out sample maps at www.mindmapper.com

Here's another creative option: I have commissioned local artists from the University to create a Living Mural of the Groups Journey from Now to WOW! during the actual retreat. Literally during the retreat day, an artist is transforming the group's accomplishments, vision, input and benchmarks for the coming year into a living "Work of Art Mural".   

This Colorful, Mural is then brought back after the retreat and posted at home base.  It becomes the team's visible business map for getting from Now to WOW!  PS:  It's not a business plan tucked in a drawer..Your team looks at it every day!  Remember Walt Disney's Wisdom. " Build the Castle First!  They need to see the Castle to build the dream."

Finally be sure to capture pictures of your team retreat in progress which you can then put with motivating music for a grand finale and a team memory of the journey.

Same Time-Next Year!?  You Bet, but if you follow these suggestions, guaranteed your organization will be on it's way from Now to WOW! tm and better!

For information on bringing Rosemary's Now to WOW! 1 day  Business Planning Retreats to your organization, write Rosemary@gowildgogreat.com.  Retreats are conducted in the U.S. Canada and Latin America.   

Stop Multi-Tasking! Take a Power Hour!

Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica in 2007!  What a difference 100 years Makes?

It seems almost unbelievable that I could be blogging via wireless looking out over my balcony surrounded by jungle and sea, here in magical Costa Rica. Beach Bum you're thinking? Hardly! Already this morning, I've written to 5 clients about ongoing projects, connected with my sister who lives in Texas, completed the last segment of a new training curriculum and am preparing for a progressive tour of some of Costa Rica's most pristine and secluded beaches.    Tomorrow a Sloth Rescue. ( I believe a woman should rescue a sloth at least once in her lifetime and I'm not talking about the human kind.)

As I coach companies on the journey from Now to WOW!  I talk about progress through technology yet caution about the over-rated benefit of multi-tasking.

Did you know that when you switch from task to task you are losing about 40% efficiency? 

So what's the option?  A power hour.  Provide each employee with 1 hour in a quiet and creative  space free of interruption to focus on their priority project.  Watch productivity zoom and morale soar!

Hey and try this secluded focus time on for size yourself and experience the thrill Getting It Done and Getting it Right in Your Personal Power Hour.

In January, my book with 7 Habits Author, Dr. Stephen Covey will be published entitled "Blueprint for Success".  As many of you know, Dr. Covey is our First Things First Guru!  If you've already adopted that habit...perhaps Add First Things First in a Power Hour!

PS:  Travel Notation for the Secluded Working Vacation:  One of my favorite guesthouses for writing retreats is located on Costa Rica's  Caribbean Coast. It's where Wireless meets the Sea and Jungle.

Visit:/www.bananaazul.com/