Challenging local councils

I visited Ballast Point park in Birchgrove, Sydney last weekend. A pretty spot, lovely views of the harbour and interesting design.

The site was originally used for loading ballast onto ships when they had off-loaded goods in the early colony (1788 - 1800) to return to England empty, and was a hunting and fishing point. It later was the site for a wonderful and significant home, called Menevia. It changed hands a few times and eventually was bought by Texaco (Caltex) - they demolished the house, and developed the site as a fuel depot, manufacturing and packaging facility until the 1990s.

It was bought by the government and returned to public use, with the site developed as a park. Apart from the interesting design, the site has wind turbines to power the path lighting. These are silent, are of a different design than others I have seen and seem perhaps small enough for domestic use.

Will local councils allow us to install wind turbines for our domestic use? My plea - all homes should be encouraged to have solar heating, wind power, and rain water tanks, and suppliers please aim to make it as easy as possible to install these and help our environment.

Do you keep losing things?

Some people are truly well organised - all of the time. Many of us are organised some of the time, but not at other times, and then there are the blessed group - those who are organised all of the time. We might have other less flattering terms for them, and I think they are a minority. However, there are definite benefits for being orgnanised - life will just flow, and we will be more efficient and can save a lot of time, and maintain our calm.

If you keep losing things - such as keys, notebooks or diaries, personal planners, cell phones etc. consider these quick tips:

• Decide a location for these items that makes sense to you
• Put these things in the same place - religiously.
• Make sure other people using these things follow the same pattern.

For example:

• Put keys in a dish, on a hook, on a lanyard and have coloured keys or key rings for identification
• Have extra copies of important keys - keep them in safe places and give a set of keys to a trusted friend or relative
• Engrave your mobile (cell) phone number onto your key ring and other items you might misplace
• Charge your mobile (cell) phone near your keys
• Keep your mobile (cell) phone in same part of your desk, office, house when not used
• Place car park tickets and access cards in the same place EVERYTIME (part of clothing, wallet, handbag)
• Park your car in or near the same part of a car park.
• Take note of your car park bay number and floor (level)

In Summary:
Put things in the same obvious place all the time
Small items are best placed close to where they are used
Have a coding system for different items (colour, size, style)
If you share items, discuss with the others and actively agree with them where to store the items.

Are You Too Distracted to Pay Attention?

We all do it. Rush around madly trying to finish something in a hurry.

I have a home office, so for me, it is often the last minute tidying before an important meeting with a client, or before visitors arrive. In this haste, I often just throw things into a room, to get them out of public view. It doesn't matter how important these items are - I am in a hurry and just do the "dump and run."

Nothing wrong with that - it gets the job done, but, because I am distracted - thinking about what is happening next, I do not focus or pay attention to what I am doing, where I am putting things. Then, I have trouble finding what I moved in haste. What was obvious is now hidden and no amount of retracing my steps will assist me to find the missing items...

And so it goes on....

Does this happen to you? Does distraction prevent you from paying attention to essential details and information?

Try to be present with each task as you complete it. Try giving your undivided attention to what you are doing in the moment...

This will increase your feeling of being organised, in control and on top of things, as well as giving greater calmness and order to everything you do, allowing you to savour every moment.

Developing Useful Systems

Using appropriate systems assists efficiency and order and can create calmness and productivity.

The difficulty is getting people to use systems consistently. If the system is sensible, practical and obvious - it is more likely to be used.

We are all familiar with systems that DON'T work! One of my favourites is a sign to designate a "no-go" zone for off-leash dogs in the middle of a huge off-leash area in a public park. There is a small metal plaque set into the ground that indicates this "no-go zone". Do they think that dogs can read and change their play based on a picture?

So the question is: How can I get staff to take my systems seriously?

If people understand why a system exists they are more likely to use it.
Make sure all systems are necessary
Ensure the systems are reasonable for the users
Keep them simple
If the systems are mandatory clarify their purpose to the users
Systems exist to bring efficiencies - not to control people
Are the systems current or "just there from before"?
Are there easier or better ways to guide staff?
Are they relevant?
Do they reflect staffs' actions?

In Summary:
Understanding brings acceptance.
Use the KISS principle (Keep it simple, straightforward)
Clarify the purpose of the system
Review and revise systems NOW!
Systems should be relevant and appropriate

Following these steps will help you develop systems that people will value and use.

Go With The Flow

Have you ever had one of THOSE days? You know - the arsenic day when everything goes wrong? No plan can be realised, no task completed and you end up feeling like a wrung out rag?

I think it is probably more of the norm at this busy time of the year, rather than the exception.

I recently had a whole weekend like that - major time conflicts as I juggled supporting relatives through bereavement, a dear friend's daughter's car accident, family responsibilities, Christmas cheer, entertaining and work. My much anticipated and eagerly awaited dinner party for close friends went from being for a group of 9 on Friday to a nice small gathering with 3 guests three hours ahead of the starting time.

I had plans (and I am an EXPERT planner - have been for years). I imagined a time frame for each item, how it was all going to happen, what obstacles could arise, and I had my wonderful strategies to deal with each potential problem.

Nothing went according to plan, and you know what? It all happened anyway - fairly calmly and smoothly, just not in the way I anticipated.

A number of my friends commented on my ability to stay calm when it is so easy to get lost in the chaos.

I realised that my ability to "go with the flow" was because I have learned not to be completely or totally attached to the outcome of any one thing. I don't really mind how anything occurs as long as the result is to my satisfaction. I know I cannot control everyone and everything - in fact, I'm not so sure that I can control myself 100%. But that's the fun of being human.

So while we are well into the "silly season" and madness reigns during December and January think about what is truly important to you. Do you want to spend time frazzled and tired or having time out for smiles and cheer?

If you want to be able to go with the flow, let go of your expected ideas. Don't hold onto a specific outcome, but focus on the big picture.

Think of the result you want, what is acceptable for you and what moral and ethical boundaries exist for you, and then just "go with the flow."

To all my readers - have a wonderful, safe, healthy and happy Festive Season and a fantastic 2008. Enjoy your moments as they arise they truly are gifts....

How to Bring Order into Your Life

There are any number of systems that people suggest we use to bring order into our lives and move from chaos to calm.

The difficulty is choosing the right system for each of us

When you can't find your way clearly around completing any task, think back to when you did something well. How did you do it?

We really do know what to do
We all have our own natural way of doing things. It might not be the same as the way that other people do the same or similar thing, but it obviously works for you. When you know what your natural way of doing things is, you can start to apply that same method to all things that you do.

For example, some people like to have everything in order BEFORE they start to work on a task. Others are happy to get stuck into the task and organise as they go. Another approach is to have a clear plan but remain flexible so that they can respond to any changes as they arise.

Think about how you do the things that you do efficiently. It should be something that you know you do easily and efficiently, that your friends and colleagues tell you that you do well. Take it apart - think about how you do it.

• Do you use a checklist (written down or in your head)?
• Do you talk about it with others to help you sort out your ideas and actions?
• Do you plan each part of the task or do you just respond to what is happening as you complete the task?

The more detail that you can identify about how you do anything, the more likely it is that you can see the patterns that you use whenever you complete any task. Once you have noticed your patterns, think about where else you can use this same approach to complete any task.

For more tips, visit http://www.sharonnephillips.com

Calm in a Storm

I'll admit it. I am not always calm, despite my appropriate branding of
Calm from Chaos (see http://www.sharonnephillips.com). People who know me will vouch for that. It can take a lot for me to lose it, but I can lose it along with the rest of us.

And you know what? I lose it when things don't go according to my plans. I plan well, I know that I can guess where things will fail and I build in safety nets around those predictable failures.

But, when things don't happen the way I expect, I get stressed and disappointed and sometimes angry and frustrated. That's when I lose it.

When I let go of expectations, and go with the flow knowing that I have done my best I can remain calm - that's why people can recognise me as easy going and "in control" (while I KNOW I am NEVER fully "in control").

Can you let go so you can let yourself be calm?

What do your secrets stop you from doing?

We all have secrets.

Sometimes they stop us wanting to stand out, to follow our dreams or to form deep, close relationships with others because we are scared that they might find out about our deepest, darkest secrets.

What would happen if we let go of the fear of someone finding our secrets out? In this age of the Internet, of surveillance and scrutiny, it is likely that if someone wanted to, they would find out our secrets anyway. And we all have a past.

So, if you let go of the fear of being found out, what would you be able to achieve? If you could own all of your experience as gifts that have shaped you into who you are, would you reach out and grab your full potential?

Finding calm in turmoil is a gift.