The Productivity Shift

Know someone who is overwhelmed by interruptions, please be sure to share this podcast link with them: the-productivity-breakthrough
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Back when I worked in corporate America, I dealt with a lot of interruptions. Part of this is because I am a recovering people pleaser and back then I was an active people pleaser at that time. So my office door was always open with my ear cocked for any way that I could help anybody that happened to be wandering by.

This gave me a reputation for being very helpful, and because of that helpful reputation lots of people would pop in with the ‘gottaminutes’. You know, "Hey Elise, got a minute? I want to bounce this idea off of somebody." 30-minutes and a bunch of whiteboarding later, they left my office ready for action and I tried to get back into the groove of whatever I was doing before the gottaminute.

Being the extrovert that I am, I would jump at the chance to hop into somebody's problem and help them solve it, often at the expense of my own work which meant I would end up staying late most nights to get my work done.

From what I understand from stories that my parents have told me, I've always been this way. Apparently back in first grade my teacher turned my desk toward the closet and away from the rest of the classroom because I would spend my time helping the other kids and not do my own work. LOL!

No matter where you are or what you do, interruptions are a part of life. Some careers and businesses are more prone to interruptions than others.

A couple of years ago a LOT of us started working from home and we had to shift from workplace interruptions to homelife interruptions. Especially with kids involved or even just needy pets at home. So, not only were you adjusting to how to be productive at home, you were dealing with different interruptions than you dealt with at work. And the work interruptions kept coming, except that maybe they arrived in a different form like texts, chats, slack channels, emails, phone calls, etc.

And now, a lot of people are heading back to the office and are going to start to experience those interpersonal interruptions, the gotaminutes, again.

It doesn't matter what form interruptions take, you already know that interruptions are costing you time, but did you know how much time? Studies show that it can take 23 minutes just to get back to where you left off. That’s after you’ve taken care of the interruption.

3 ways to better manage interruptions

1 - Set up a do not disturb time lock:
Time Locks is a concept Edward G Brown talks about in his book The Time Bandit Solution: Recovering Stolen Time You Never Knew You Had. A Time Lock is where everyone is given dedicated quiet time to concentrate. Whether you work from home or in an office setting, if you feel like interruptions are robbing you of your productivity, you could try the time lock method at home. You can have some sort of visual to indicate to them that you should only be interrupted for an emergency, like a stop sign drawn on a piece of paper. Better yet, have your kid make the stop sign for you!

2 - Set up a 'ready-to-resume' system:
According to research at the University of Washington, creating a “ready-to-resume” plan can help you shift your focus when interruptions arise. The plan doesn’t have to be extensive, you can just jot down where you were and your next step on a piece of paper. 10 seconds or less. Creating your plan not only allows you to get back on track faster, but it also helps you give your full attention to your little “co-worker”.

3 - Be sure your "to-do" list identifies actions that you can actually do:
Based on my years of working with people on this stuff, I can tell you that if interruptions consistently throw you off, your To-Do list is probably a major part of the problem. It means that your list is a mix of projects AND actions. If you look at your To-Do list and have to think about what to do next, your list isn’t helpful.
Your To-Do list should be a list of actions you can actually take at any moment when you are in the right location. So, do yourself a favor and make your to-do list actionable.

“Interruptions probably aren't your problem, boundaries and systems are. Improve those and you'll improve your productivity.”

Which brings us to the question of the week… What is ONE experiment you can run this week to better manage interruptions in your life and work?

Hop on over to "ProductivityBreakthrough" on Instagram and tell me about it in the comments or send me a DM. And if you create a do not disturb sign, post a picture and tag me in it!

If you want to support young dancers to build their talent and character while fulfilling their dreams and inspiring others go to https://www.thebackstagefoundation.org/ to learn how you can contribute.

And if you are in the Seattle area and are looking for a fun night out on Friday, May 20th, be sure to get your tickets to the Backstage Foundation's annual benefit show, "In The Spotlight" https://www.thebackstagefoundation.org/events
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“I believe that the world will be a better place when people are doing the things that they love and are meant to do, and they are contributing to the world in the ways that they want to.”

In this episode, I am talking with Kari Hovde. Kari is a longtime entrepreneur, owner of a real estate brokerage called K Properties Northwest and has been in the Real Estate industry for the past 18 years. She is also the Founder and Executive Director of The Backstage Foundation.

“The Backstage Foundation is a nonprofit organization that supports talented young dancers by helping them with any gaps in their financing or any hardships of some sort for them to take their dance careers to the next level.” ~ Kari

The two most important things that Kari loves to spend her time on are being in relationship with people and at dance class, which she describes as “probably one of my favorite places for teaching, exercising and getting all the good vibes.”

In our conversation Kari shares her journey from a driven, do-it-all myself business owner, to a leader who has learned to delegate and tap into the support all around her in order to create things that are bigger than she could ever have imagined.

“If you have a dream of something that you want to do, it just takes steps of moving forward. It CAN be done.” ~ Kari Hovde

Kari left us with so many amazingly inspirational gems, and as you go on to listen you can expect to hear about:
● How Kari interweaves and balances all her passions, hobbies and purpose while prioritizing staying in relationship with people.
● Some of the biggest shifts that have happened both professionally and personally in Kari’s life.
● The things she learned to accept about herself through her journey of introspection and self-awareness.
● The Backstage Foundation and how it is impacting the lives of young dancers by helping them “build their talent and character while fulfilling their dreams and inspiring others.”
● “In the Spotlight”, the Backstage Foundation’s first annual benefit dance show happening in May this year.
● Plus lots of pearls of wisdom sprinkled throughout.

Question of the week: What is one small step you can take this week that will make progress on a BIG dream you have?

Before we wrap this up, who do you know who needs to hear this message? Who do you know that has a big dream that maybe they've been holding back on in some way, shape or form? Please be sure to share this episode with them.

I would also love to hear what your takeaways from this episode were. Share with me over on Instagram at @productivitybreakthrough

Are you struggling with your finances? Whether it's' because you don't have enough money or you're feeling out of control with what you have, Doug can help you. Get a free call scheduled with Doug today at schedulewithdoug.com

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"Struggling with finances is totally optional." ~ Doug Peterson

In this episode, I talked with cash flow expert Doug Peterson about how to stop struggling with your finances.

Doug is a 37-year entrepreneur, and 17 of those years was as an executive coach. Over the years he noticed a major problem that many people have with their finances that he and his wife were able to overcome and now he has turned that into a system to help others.

My top 3 takeaways from Doug.

I totally get this because this is what I teach people to do in my GYST program. Stay current with your life, plans and resources so you can be intentional about your choices. That's exactly what Doug teaches people how to do when it comes to their finances, so that you're not spending money that you don't have. And that when you're making choices to spend your money, you actually feel really good about it, not just in the short term, but also in the long run.

Doug talked about his life plan and that even though he’s on track, there's still work that he's doing because, well…we're all human. That, however, doesn't mean that we can't enjoy the journey. To Doug, enjoying the journey, enjoying this current moment with his family, with his friends or with his clients is the priority. And this helps him stay out of the trap of wanting to make more and more money in order to be happy.

So simple, and yet not easy...but I have to say that Doug makes it easy. AND I love that he acknowledges that sometimes we will struggle when we don't have enough money for the essentials, but after that, the struggle is not necessary.

So regardless of whether you have just enough or more than enough money, if you've had a stress-and-struggle relationship with money, I encourage you to reach out to Doug and schedule a time to get on his calendar. You can do that by going to schedulewithdoug.com

Questions of the week…this week we have a twofer, courtesy of Doug.

Tell me, who do you know that could benefit from listening to this episode? Would you do me a favor and share it with them? Better yet, I'd love it if you'd share this episode on your social channels with your top 1-3 insights from this episode so others can benefit from it too. Thanks!

"I gotta get my shit together!" Have you ever said that to yourself?  If so, be sure to get on the waitlist so you are notified when doors open up again to my Get Your $hit Together (GYST) program.  

If you want to join the GYST waitlist, head on over to eliseenriquez.com/GYST

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Who out there is a perfectionist?

I believe that while certain personalities can slip into and be troubled by perfectionism more than others, we all tend to be perfectionistic about something. For all of my enneagram people out there, I'm a type 9. The harmonizer. But right next to 9 is type 1. The perfectionist. And I have to say that my perfectionistic type 1 wing can be very strong at times!

Now, I know you must be scratching your head at the quizzical nature of this episode’s title. I won’t go into the details here, but if you tune in to the episode, you will hear the entire story. And yes, you’re allowed to laugh.

In the world of psychology, perfectionists are often identified as either healthy or maladaptive.

Healthy perfectionists challenge themselves by having high expectations, goals and standards. They get a very real sense of pleasure from the labors of their painstaking effort. When failures and challenges happen, they learn from them and stay engaged in an activity.

Then there are maladaptive perfectionists who set unrealistically high goals and standards. When they encounter failure/challenge they could go one of two directions:

In the past when my perfect days were at risk I've taken the path of becoming more obsessed with my goal. Making it happen no matter what...even if I didn't enjoy anything about it. But I've also been someone who avoids an activity altogether due to my perfectionism. I also spend most of my time in healthy perfectionism in the areas that matter.

Like many things, I think of perfectionism as more of a spectrum.

Most of the time when my perfectionism crops up, it's healthy...and sometimes...well, I already told you what that can look like.

For some things, perfectionism is worth the effort, the high standards, and occasional sacrifice to make something that is excellent, maybe even perfect. But sometimes, when your low-stakes perfect scenario starts to look not so perfect, it might be ok to go with “good enough”.

This is why one of my regular life reminders is "progress, not perfection".

One of the ways I help people get their perfectionism under control is to help them more clearly see the reality of their time and their commitments. We do this in my GYST program. If you want to join the GYST waitlist, don’t forget to head on over to eliseenriquez.com/GYST 

Question of the week: What is ONE thing you could do a little less perfectly this week? You know, how can you just shave your legs?

I wanna know what that would look like. Share it with me over on Instagram.

PS: Perfectionism can sometimes be tangled up with anxiety and other mental health concerns. If you are ever feeling like your perfectionism is having a significant impact on your ability to function in and/or enjoy your daily life, reach out to a mental health professional. I'm a coach who has coaches and a therapist. It takes a village to keep this girl going, so don't hesitate to build your village too.

Are you interested in uncovering your word or phrase for the year? I actually have a free guide that can help you uncover your guiding word or phrase. Just head on over to eliseenriquez.com/freestuff to get your free download.

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What’s your take on having a word or phrase of the year? Do you loathe it, or do you swear by it?

If you’ve been with me for a while now, you know I pick a guide word or phrase every year. Now, maybe you think I put too much stock in all this word for the year stuff, but it truly has changed my life.

Let me take you on a flashback with me for a minute.

It was January of 2016. I was sitting in a church pew at Seattle Unity Church with my future wife.

A few things to note in this scenario:

So to say that my life was a bit topsy-turvy at that point is an understatement. And thank goodness for new love. Otherwise, I would not have been sitting in that church pew on that January day.

Anyway, my future wife, well aware of the topsy turvy-ness of my life, invited me to the White Stone Ceremony at Seattle Unity Church. I had no idea what a white stone ceremony was, but I went because, well, love.

Sitting in the pew, I was led through a visualization of the year ahead and I was scared.

I was going to go through a divorce, effectively ending a relationship I had been in more than half my life. I'd be figuring out how to support myself by myself. I had never really done that before. My husband and I had been together since high school and we'd built our life and wealth together.

I'd be finding a new place to live. At that point, I was living in a dreary condo that I had friends over to maybe once ever. And I never let my family come over. I was so not happy with the place; no way in hell would I have wanted them to see me there.

I knew the woman by my side was going to be in my future and I'd need to figure out how to navigate the world in a same-sex relationship. Something I had never done before.

I accepted my fear AND embraced what I wanted to create throughout the year: stability, connection, happiness, success.

As we had entered the ceremony, we were handed a little golf pencil and a small rectangular stone. As the visualization wrapped up, we were asked to pick a word to guide us through the year ahead and write it on our white stone. I didn't follow the rules, which is so not like me, I picked two words: Bold and Brave. I scrawled those words on my white stone and embraced Bold and Brave for the year.

That year, I had the best year I'd ever had in my business, I successfully navigated my divorce, I deepened my connection with the people who mattered most to me, and I moved in with Kim and we created a home together. "Bold and Brave" guided me through the hardest year of my life. (Well, my hardest year until the past couple of years!)

"Every day matters" helped me stabilize the next year.

"Gathering" led to growth the following year.

"Shine" challenged me after that.

"Create" led to crazy amounts of production in 2020.

"Bloom" brought me through 2021.

This year’s word and phrase were a bit harder to pin down. Here we are in early March 2022, and I finally have it:

“Creating Space: making time for proactive planning and action, growth, and moments to refill my cup.”

My definition is printed out on a cute card and posted on my computer monitor in my office and in my bathroom so that I'll see it all the time.

So, even though we are in month 3 of 2022, I still have this question of the week for you...What is your guiding word or theme for the year?

If that's too much to think about, just consider what word or phrase would be helpful this week.

And if you are interested in uncovering your word or phrase for the year, remember to download that free guide to help you uncover your guiding word or phrase at eliseenriquez.com/freestuff

Hey there! I created a free guide to go along with this week's episode. So just give the episode a listen first, then go download your free guide to help you get simple systems in place to support your tax process. Go here to download the guide: eliseeenriquez.com/freestuff
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Happy spring!

Ok, that’s wishful thinking.

If you listen to this episode when it's released, then you’re experiencing the annual slosh back and forth from winter to spring to winter to spring until we finally get full blown spring. I live in the Pacific NorthWest and I forget about the slosh every year.

Bulbs will start popping out of the ground as early as January and I get excited for spring. Then, inevitably there's a cold snap, which is kind of welcome because it usually means lots of sunny days...even though they require lots of bundling up!

But when we finally tip over into spring, it's the best. Sure, there's still rain here and there, but there's also crocuses, daffodils, tulips, leaf and flower buds...

and Taxes!

Jeez louise, I'm really taking you on a rollercoaster of emotions here. The drama of seasons changing. From the beauty of new life to taxes?

If the word taxes just froze you on the spot with dread, then this episode is for you.

And, even if you have your shit together when it comes to taxes, this episode is still for you because the big picture of what I talk about applies to any cumbersome, infrequently recurring process in your life or business.

Back in the day, the weeks leading up to the tax deadline used to feel like I was standing at the foot of Mt Everest without any gear or any map to get me to the top. And I had an accountant.

In years past I would just let that kick-off email from my accountant sit there. I'd stare at it and stress. I'd work on other things. Anything but this huge climb called taxes. Every year I'd repeat this drama - it IS an easy thing to do with a process you don't have to do daily, weekly, or monthly afterall.

With something like an annual process you can get into the habit of kinda just putting your head down, getting it done, and then completely forget all about it until next year.

It doesn’t have to be this way, though.

The fact that you do it so infrequently is the PERFECT reason to create a system that supports you in making it happen with less stress and struggle.

“But what kinda systems, Elise?” I hear you ask.

In this episode, I share 3 simple steps you can take to help you go from stressed to savvy when it comes to your taxes.

Step 1: Work on your mindset - What’s your WHY for doing your taxes? When you get clear on that, then you will have the key to your motivation.

Step 2: Get the facts - If you are frozen in some way about your taxes, the best thing you can do is get more information.

                 Getting the facts about your situation will help shed light on what to do next.

Step 3: Put some simple systems in place - These systems will support you so you don't have to try to remember it all again a year from now.

Once the tax process is done, set up your physical file folders and cloud file folders for next year so that you can just toss stuff in them as you get stuff throughout the year. Then, by early next year, you'll have everything in a limited number of places, and a checklist to carry you through the next season. VIOLÀ!

And the beauty of it is that this same process can be applied to anything you do that feels like a requirement and doesn't happen very often.

Whew! That is a lot.

But don't worry. Remember that visual guide? Don't forget to download it at eliseeenriquez.com/freestuff.

Now that you’ve got these great tips to help you with your taxes, I’ve got a question for you.

Question of the week…What is ONE simple system you can put in place to make a big project a little easier this week?

Head on over to Instagram and let me know.

A quick heads up!

The doors are closing on my signature productivity training program, GYST, this week. Head on over to eliseenriquez.com/gyst for more details.
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This episode is a little bit different because I did my first interview. Yikes!

Y'all are people on a mission and I wanted to share the story of someone whose mission changed when she decided to amp up her productivity.

In this episode I talk to Laura Turczanski, an Attorney by day and mom of 3 boys every other waking moment. About a year ago, Laura's mission was to just get her life under control.

“I was drowning in emails and tasks and to do's and post-it notes all over my desk at work. There were so many balls in the air, and I never felt like I even knew what was on my plate.” — Laura.

Then she implemented some simple systems over the past few months and now her mission is to enjoy her life with her family and enjoy her work. How cool is that?!

There are so many things I loved about Laura's story, but I gotta just share some of my favorites:
● I loved that Laura knew that there could be something better than what she was experiencing when she was overwhelmed. Deep down, she knew there had to be a better way.

● The other thing I loved was that what she put in place was actually simple. Y'all know I'm a big fan of simple systems. We usually need consistency more than complexity and simple makes consistency easier!

● I loved that Laura recognized that she'd do better with accountability and community to keep her engaged in her system and she didn't judge that, she just GAVE that to herself.

You know I always have a question of the week and this time I asked Laura to come with one for you.

So here goes the question of the week… What is the one thing you could get done this week that you don't want to have to think about again next week?

This question made me laugh because I could totally relate to it. What is that one thing that's been on your list forever that you just don't want to see anymore? What can you do this week to get it done or at least, move it forward?

Share your thoughts with me over on Instagram.

Are you ready to turn your dreaming into DOING? Join us for the FREE masterclass I'm hosting this week. You can register at eliseenriquez.com/masterclass

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Did you know that most people have given up on their New Year's resolutions by now? 

Not me...because I don't make New Year's resolutions. 

But I do set goals. Most of my goals are targeted toward my business, but I do have some personal goals. Every year I'd set goals and hope I could figure out how to accomplish them. Not just hope, I'd work at it. 

              ~ I know that goals are results and you can't get results without action. ~

This is the difference between leading indicators and lagging indicators. Leading indicators are the actions you know you need to take to get the result you are looking for. Lagging indicators are the results you achieve from the action you take.

               If you aren't getting the results you're looking for, you gotta change the actions you take. 

In one of my favorite books, Atomic Habits, the author James Clear says: “You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems. Your goal is your desired outcome. Your system is the collection of daily habits that will get you there. This year, spend less time focusing on outcomes and more time focusing on the habits that precede the results.” 

                     "Winners and losers have the same goals." ―James Clear

OUCH! But it's true. Every Olympian wants the medal. Every candidate wants the job. The wanting isn't enough. It's a good start, but it's not enough. What you gotta get in place are the systems to support you in achieving your goals consistently.

One of the best systems you can put in place for moving you toward your goals while staying present to the people, experiences and opportunities that matter most is a Bonus Brain. 

"What the heck is a bonus brain?", I hear you ask.

A Bonus Brain is a group of tools that hold everything that needs to be remembered so your brain can be freed up to be more present, strategic, and creative. 

I'm going to be talking all about the power of a bonus brain in a masterclass I'm hosting this week. Head on over to eliseenriquez.com/masterclass to register. Registering for that masterclass could be your first action toward achieving your most important goal this year! 

Time for the big question. Yup! It's the Question of the Week...What system can you put in place to help you achieve your most important goal this year? 

Tell me all about it! Share your answer with me on Instagram.

Before we dig into today's episode, I want to invite you to a FREE masterclass I'm hosting next week called  Stop Being "So Busy": 3 Simple Ways to Shift from Doing it ALL to Doing What Matters

Click here to register:  https://eliseenriquez.com/masterclass

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Do you ever stop to think of how the words you use affect your productivity?

Last weekend we were hanging out with our nieces and the six-year-old kept saying things like, "I don't know how to do that." She was feeling self-defeated because of her lack of experience and knowledge, and we kept responding to her with, "Yet, honey. You don't know how to do that yet." And after a little bit, she picked up on that.

It's a simple shift in language that will help her be more resilient.

AND this isn't just stuff that six year olds need help with.

In my productivity coaching practice, I get to work with really smart, generous, kind, successful people. And I gotta share something that I've witnessed with everyone I've coached, whether they’re leaders of multi-million dollar companies working with me one-on-one or someone enrolled in one of my group programs. They all use words that get in the way of their productivity.

Now as you know, in my world, productivity is moving forward what matters most to you. So it’s safe to assume that they don't mean to do this, but they inadvertently do so by talking about things in a way that can be so limiting for them. And just like my six-year old niece, a simple shift in language is all it takes for them to make a turn around.

In this episode, I share the 5 limiting phrases I see people use ALL the time and what to use instead.

Before we get started, could you do me a favor?

If you listen to this week's episode and it makes you think of someone who might find it valuable, please send them a quick email, text or DM with a link to the episode https://elise-enriquez.mykajabi.com/podcasts/the-productivity-breakthrough/episodes/2147685191 and a little message like "I thought you might like this." Thanks, I would really appreciate it.

OK, back to the 5 phrases to watch out for:

Let me show you how you can turn each of them around:

When you catch yourself using any of these words I want you to first correct yourself out loud whenever possible. And then I want you to be kind to yourself. Some of these words may have become a habit for you and it will take time to loosen their grip and shift to more helpful words.

And now I've got a question for you. That's right, it's time for the question of the week...Which of these phrases will you focus on changing starting right now? I should, Have to, I can't, But or I don't know?

I'd love it if you'd post the phrase you're working on to Instagram and tag me @elisemenriquez so I can celebrate you!

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Remember to sign up for my FREE masterclass Stop Being "So Busy". Click here to sign up:  

https://eliseenriquez.com/masterclass

“The beginning of a new year is really a great time to make room for what’s next.” - Elise Enriquez 

Welcome to the Productivity Breakthrough Podcast with Elise Enriquez. In episode 13 I talked about emotional and mental stuff that we are leaving behind. Today I talk about our physical spaces and  why it’s just as important to clear out room for the new year to come  

[00:01 - 01:33] I Dare You to Plan for 2022! 

[01:333 - 05:38] Make Room For This New Year 

[05:39 - 06:34] Question of The Week 

Key Quotes:

“The thing is, even if you're clearing out an area that has nothing to do with what you want, energetically it sends a big message that you are open to receive.” - Elise Enriquez 

Resources Mentioned:

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Did you have a breakthrough today? Write to me and let me know!

Connect with me

Visit my website for more resources http://eliseenriquez.com/

You can reach me on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook

LEAVE A REVIEW + help someone get their productivity breakthrough. Listen to our previous episodes here. To get notified when the next episode is available and stay in the loop on other productivity breakthrough goodness, click here:  https://elise-enriquez.mykajabi.com/forms/267894/