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Having five kids has given me quite the experience of being stretched to capacity. I am ever so thankful for my wife who manages most of the chaos. My hats go off to all the single parents who can relate just a little.
I can think of many times when all the kids want to tell us something or vent on how their day went (all at once) and it gets a little crazy. When someone needs something from the store right now because we’re out and nobody wrote it on the shopping list… it gets a little crazy. How about when someone has to finish a project that’s due tomorrow… ok you get the point. Life gets a little hectic. Welcome to organized chaos.
I feel like we’re herding cats sometimes with all the events and planning, but this is our life and we would not change it for the world. However there must be some kind of organization. This is when you try to keep things under control, answer all the questions, one at a time while giving that person your full attention.
I noticed the same thing happens when I work on my projects or business. I start to get a little chaos running in my own mind. I’ve always been a big dreamer. I usually don’t have a problem coming up with new ideas or concepts. When I get in that zone I tap into my creative side. I’m always looking for ideas and concepts to help others with their programs or processes.
When I brainstorm ideas for videos and blog posts, I tend to have multiple ideas running through my head all at once and if I don’t take action or at least write them down… they go away. When I try to recall later what I though was a really good idea, it doesn’t seem as good anymore. I realize that if I don’t take this action I loose out, but a little trace of that idea or thought lingers. This is a dangerous area for me. I feel like I am missing work that needs to be accomplished.
I start to feel behind, like I forgot something or I misplaced something. The good news is I figured out a system that helps me to stay focused during these whirlwind brainstorming adventures.
- Journal it – Keep a journal or notepad within reach all the time. I used to just grab any piece of paper I could find and jot a note down. Then I ended up with lots of pieces of paper and I could not recognize the note or idea. That sense of confusion would creep up I would feel overwhelmed. Having one place to put all the ideas or action items allows me to remain in control.
- Label it – When an idea just hits you and you don’t have the time to do a full write up, jot down a couple key points, but label it. Is it for an article or video? Is it something for a project or blog post? A to-do item you don’t want to forget. Labeling these thoughts will allow you to recognize them later. If you are doing a brainstorming session, write all your ideas down but label the entry as “brainstorming” for what ever the topic is.
- Date it – Add an entry date and a due date to take action on. You don’t want to have all these great ideas go to waste by not holding yourself accountable. A timeline in which to put this idea into action will help to maintain your focus.
- Less is more – Keep the tasks simple and doable. It can still be overwhelming if you have an action to create a video post. You need to break it down into smaller actions: brainstorm the topic, research, write your ideas, gather video equipment and shooting location, edit, save and post. All of these action step could be written down to save you from feeling overwhelmed.
The whole idea is to get all of these great ideas off your brain and onto paper. So grab a notebook, get those ideas written down and get them implemented.
Ken Pickard
The Network Dad
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29 Comments and Pings on Organized Chaos – Staying Focused While Allowing the Creative Juices to Flow
Ken, one of my daily actions is to read 10 pages a day of a good book. But it never fails while reading, my creative juices start flowing, and inevitably I come up with something I want to blog about.
If I don’t get up and take some notes in my blog folder, the idea will escape me and I’ll loose the moment. So I am in full agreement that one needs to keep some organization of their thoughts … on paper.
Then when I feel lost as what I should do my next blog post on, I go to the folder … with all the ideas.
Cathy Mahady´s last blog ..“You Are What You Think About”
Cathy,
Thanks for sharing! the folder system works great. At least my desk is a little cleaner. My wife is happy about that one! And I’m not without ideas for my blog now. I can’t believe I put this off for 3 years… thinking i didn’t have enough to offer. I’m glad I took Katies class with you.
Ken
Hey Ken, Great article – organized chaos, I love it! I too have a million things going on in my life, kids, my day job, my business, being a family taxi, cook, laundress, you get it!
These are some really great ideas, utilizing a notebook, dating the entries, labeling them – all very helpful. I have a couple of things that I wanted to share with you that have really helped me also. The first thing is a program called “Free Mind”. It is a great program and it’s free! It really helps to keep track of projects, ideas, to do lists, basically anything you want to keep track of. Tne second thing is using the recorder on my cell phone. Many times my best ideas come to me while I am driving in my car, by myself. Of course I can’t write while I am driving, but I have a voice recorder on my cell phone and it is great for those times!
Thanks for the great articles Ken, keep them coming!
Jan
Jan´s last blog ..Dental Website – Why You Absolutely Need to Have One!
Jan,
These are great tips! I just heard about Fre Minds and Mind 42 the web version. I set up a map and am amazed at all you can do with it. I’m also in the process of creating a couple of videos about this cool tool!
I also like the idea of a recorder. I never thought of using my cell. I KNEW there was a reason we were friends!
Thanks,
Ken
Hi Ken!
I love this post! I only have two kids running around creating organized chaos, so I can only imagine how crazy it gets with five. You are totally speaking to me here. My mind is a constant whirlwind. I have been getting better at jotting my thoughts down, but of course the chaos causes it to be on whatever piece of paper, envelope, or napkin is around. A journal is an AWESOME idea that I am implementing starting this very moment. Thank you!
Writing dates down is crucial as well. Because there’s such a collection of thoughts in my head I get lost sometimes about what to do first. Setting my own ‘due dates’ helps me to prioritize all the thoughts and start taking action.
Thanks for the great insight!!
Danielle
Danielle Zack´s last blog ..What is Your Mental Energy Telling the World?
Danielle,
Thanks for your comments. I too still have to many pieces of paper, napkins, post its (I have a love hate thing with those) But at least I’m working towards a system. I’m proud to tell you that I have more entries in my journal than looses papers on my desk. Woo Hoo!
Ken
Hey Ken
Thanks for sharing that. I do not have any kids, let alone 5 but I toaltty understand what you are talking about with getting blog idea’s. I too find that if I do not get them on the road right away and get going with them, I loose them. Lots of times I find i do write it down but when i go to create the post, the energy is not there like it was before and I am trying to re-create something that I should have done sooner.
I have found the best thing for me though is to write a some of the points down in a list of idea’s that I have. As this list keeps getting bigger I just pick the idea that feels the best for me at that time. Then I do not have to worry about not having the right energy behind it. I figure if I have a list of 20+ idea’s, something will jump out at me. So far, it’s been working great.
Thanks
Steve
Steven Downward´s last blog ..Please, Don’t Fall Into This Trap With Your Home Based Business…
Steven,
Thanks for the comment. I totally hear you about the energy may not be there when you look at your notes later. Sometimes I get hit with a great idea, while I’m in the car or somewhere where I can’t write things down. I’ll try to talk it out, if it sounds good I’ll get pretty pumped about it. Then later I can’t remember why I was so excited. I’ve had a few one way conversations with myself. I should break out a recorder or something!
Ken
Hey Ken,
How’d you get that picture of me? ha ha ha!!
I thought it was chaotic having 2 kids but you definitely have me beat. Hats off to you man!
I too have fallen into the post it notes trap, hundreds of little scraps of paper that make no sense an hour after I stick em somewhere. Have finally come up with a method that works well for me, using one of those binders that has pockets and enough room for 2 notebooks. 1 notebook is just a scrap one – if I need to write down a phone number, address, etc right away. It’s a note I won’t have to refer to again.
I use the second notebook to plan out each day, checking off my “to do” items as I do them, and adding any other tasks that I complete on the right side of the page. I leave the left side blank, and use it to create and manage “other stuff”, like blog post ideas, videos I want to do, my syndication list for the week, etc.
Seems to be working for me. Organization is definitely the key. My next organizational project is keeping track of business mileage and expenses – a job for another day
Have a blessed day brotha…
Kathy Jodrey´s last blog ..How to $ave and Make Money Money through Internet Shopping – Online Shopping USA
Kathy,
Thanks for sharing. Yes organization is key. Especially when we start taking our business seriously and move if from hobby status to business success. Keep doing what you do and you’ll get what you want!
Ken
hi Ken,
Great post.. There is so much to learn about online marketing that chaos can easily arise. This is so important to create a system that keeps us sane and streamlined, or else our creative efforts will be stifled by inefficiency. I also find the simple act of spending even 10 minutes per day in total silence just clearing my mind to be very helpful, as organization begins within our minds.
Kevin Doherty
Kevin Doherty´s last blog ..Quick Tip on Increasing Your Website Conversion to Generate More Leads For Your Business
Kevin,
thanks for the comments and the great tip about spending 10 minutes in silence. This is a great grounding experience. I once spent 24 hours in solitude when I was a teenager. It wasn’t all that fun at the time but left me with a life lesson I’ll never forget.
In today’s hectic environment 10 minutes can seem like 24 hours. Time is a precious gift. More valuable than gold. Thanks for reminding us to spend even a little bit… on ourselves.
Ken
Awesome post Ken!
I know exactly the feeling when many things are running through your head at the same time and new ideas are flowing…
and I tend to be very easily distracted as well,(and I don’t even have kids)
I’m gonna try out your system to see how it works for me! Next time I get those ideas and I’m not in a place where I can take action on them immediately, I’m gonna write down notes about them and set aside a time asap when I’m gonna deal with them!
Keep up the great work you are doing and continue to spred your content around the world!
Take care,
Dr Jon
Jon Alfredsson´s last blog ..What are Your Goals with Social Media?
Jon,
Thanks for the comments. Your right… we are easily distracted. So many opportunities to go after and so many ways of marketing. I appreciate you and the value to bring to our Tribe. Thanks again for all your help.
Ken
Ken, You’ve done it again my friend!
Great content, great ideas. I’m
definitely going to implement this
right away.
Kary
Kary Rogney´s last blog ..Flood Light vs. Laser Focused On Facebook
Right on Ken!
Thanks for a valuable share. This
is great info for the home-based biz
entrepreneur with TONS to do:)
Eric Goldstein´s last blog ..Google Docs: Create Your Own Surveys
Ken,
Great tips! I keep a notepad handy to jot down any creative ideas which come to mind. Most ideas are stillborn and need to be recorded before they die; the shelf-life is short.
Ryan,
You crack me up. Sometimes those not so hot ideas lead to some of the best buried treasure. Keep mulling those around!
Ken
Ken, this totally resonated with me!
I just got the book “Refuse to Choose” which is for people that are “scanners”. People that have so many ideas and things they want to do, but sometimes get overwhelmed with so much going on. In it she suggests getting a day-book/journal type thing to write down all of your ideas.
Great idea for the notepad and labeling. This helps me tremendously. And that notes section in my iphone is a lifesaver. I jot everything down on those yellow notes it provides.
What a fun family you have!
Sue Vittner´s last blog ..The Spiritual Side of MLM
Sue,
Thanks for the comment! This idea also helped me out so much as well. Getting all the ideas and action items in once place saves brain cells. I’ll have to check out the book you recommended.
Ken
Staying focused and staying organized is huge in this business. You did a great job giving some valuable tips on how to do it! Thanks for being a giver and giving so much great stuff here on your blog!
Michael Feil´s last blog ..Developing Your Own Tribe Power Hour
I can completely relate to this post! There are so many things that I want to accomplish, I find that I need to constantly remind myself to get organized and stay focused on one thing at a time. I really appreciate you sharing your great tips! I wish I had a notebook handy for all of the notes I just took! I love how you say less is more, and that it is important to keep things simple, and give yourself doable steps to achieve your goals.
Melissa Wright´s last blog ..Be the CHANGE you want to SEE
what a great post Ken,
we do have so many distractions especially at this time of year,
I think the key is to be well organized, and stick to your plan as much as you can.
Jean´s last blog ..“What is Skype?” and how to use it.
That’s a great post that I really need to put into action, let me put it over here with the other 400 things I need to do this week…. j/k!
Seriously so many of us are distracted by poor organization and clutter that we lose valuable brainpower!
The book “GTD” (Getting Things Done) is an awesome organizational system for getting stuff out of our brain and on to paper!
Thanks for the reminder!
Kimberly Castleberry´s last blog ..Inspirational Moment: You Become Like The People You Surround Yourself With
I can seriously relate to this post. I chase rabits all the time, so I have to find some way to stay focused on what I need to be doing. If it wasn’t for my pocket recorder, i would have a pocket full of torn up paper with notes jotted on them, and I still wouldn’t get anything done…
Thanks for the tips here…
Warmest Regards,
Justin
Justin Glover´s last blog ..How To Update All Of Your Facebook Fans At The Same Time
Aloha Ken,
I love this post about organized chaos. This is the stages every person who decides to grow and become more go through. I love how you give the step by step advice which is very easy to follow.
Thank you,
Kellie
Kellie Hosaka´s last blog ..What Is “Spiritual Awakening” & How Does It Relate To My Business? – pt. 1
Keep up the good work, I like your writing.
I’ve been checking your blog for a while now, seems like everyday I learn something new
Thanks
very good article,thans for your sharing
This entry was posted on Thursday, October 1st, 2009 at 3:19 pm and is filed under You, Inc. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.