Welcome to MyPath

Stress can be lethal if not brought under control. It can affect your health, well-being, relationships and employment.

Many people miss the signs when there's too much on their plate.  However, there are a number of indicators and symptoms you should recognize so that you may remain calmer and more focused at completing the task-at-hand while increasing your performance and productivity.  Be aware of high stress, anxiety, frustration, irritability, depression, or inflexibility.  Notice when you become impatient with others and respond rudely. If you find yourself making an increasing number of foolish mistakes or bad decisions, pause and shift your energy so that you alleviate negative consequences.

Recognize what you can and cannot control in your life. Let go of what you absolutely have no control over and concentrate on what you can control or at least influence or negotiate.  You can regain control in many situations by simply:

·      Rethinking the ‘shoulds’, ‘musts’, and ‘coulds’

·      Acknowledging your reality and current situation

·      Accepting your abilities and limitations. Leveraging/maximizing your strengths.

·      Having a positive can-do attitude

·      Minimizing stressors

Some stress cannot be totally eliminated and is actually effective to helping you be at the top of your game.  However,many different behaviors and attitudes help better cope with stress. My personal favorites include exercising, smiling/laughing, taking things in stride/going with the flow, breathing through difficulties (too help slow things down and stay in the moment while consciously choosing how I want to respond rather than just reacting), planning ahead and creating contingencies in case things go as unanticipated.

Other effective behaviors for coping with stress so that you can increase your productivity and contentment include:

·      Defining your limits (having realistic standards and limits)

·      Slowing down (stop hurrying)

·      Learning to deal with anger

·      Using meditation/yoga

·      Avoiding catastrophic thinking

·      Listening to calming music

·      Using imagery or daydreaming

·      Knowing your natural rhythm of when you’reat your best.

·      Scheduling your day so that you have structure

·      Paying attention to noise levels and minimizing

·      Using pent up energy wisely

·      Taking time for yourself

·      Getting off adrenaline/avoiding procrastination

·      Regrouping after stressful periods

·      Eliminating worry (87% of what we worry about never occurs or is out of our control anyway)

·      Learning to say “no”

Reduce your stress and improve your productivity!  For more stress tips, subscribe to my free bi-weekly e-newsletter at www.theprioritypro.com.

Prioritizing your work is an extremely important part of being successful. By sorting and organizing your work based on its priority, you will find it easier to finish; you’ll be less likely to procrastinate.

Being clear on what needs to be done and the most efficient order for finishing your tasks is the best way to begin your day. There are several ways you can prioritize your tasks. The way you decide to prioritize is up to you. Everyone works best in a slightly different way. Here are a couple of helpful techniques:

1. Prioritize according to the:

·  due date/deadline;

·  biggest return on investment;

·  weight of importance;

·  implications/impacts/consequences of delaying (to yourself or others)

·  easiest to implement;

·  length of time estimated it will take to complete;

·  resources needed and their availability;

·  what you’re most passionate about; or,

·  rank order of importance.

2. Do a brain dump the night before and list everything you need to accomplish the next day. Review any paperwork, emails and future deadlines and add any additional items to your list.
3. Start by clearing your mail, emails and your desktop then work with a fresh start.
4. Complete first things first (a.k.a., Stephen Covey’s four quadrants: Urgent & Important (crying baby, ringing telephone, heart attack, fire, and other things you have to deal with); Urgent & Unimportant (most interruptions and distractions); Not Urgent & Important (planning, exercise, rest, and other things that are important for your success and well-being); Non-Urgent & Unimportant (time wasting, addictions and other senseless activities)
5. Begin with a short to-do list of items you want/need to get done and can realistically accomplish in a day. Once you finish that list, add more items, moving to the next day any that you do not finish. (Be sure to break larger tasks into do-able bites)
6. Re-adjust priorities during the day as needed to remain focused on your top priorities.
7. Start! When your plate is full and may seem daunting or overwhelming, the important key is to get started. You can start small and move along as you complete each project; start with whatever is bothering you the most; or start with the first thing you see.
8. When someone else gives you work, ask about his/her priority level.

Failing to prioritize your work load usually results in being extremely inefficient, ineffective, unproductive, and extremely stressed out. Prioritizing at work is usually a constant juggling and re-balancing act. Unfortunately, you probably cannot predict which tasks will be assigned, but if you adopt some of the techniques listed above you will be able to more masterfully create your own system of prioritization.

How many times have you thought to yourself or said out loud: "I have so much to do today, how am I ever going to get it all done?"

What are the techniques that have worked for you??

The Priority Pro helps busy professionals gain clarity, focus and direction so they can accomplish more of what matters most.

Multitasking is a cherished skill long listed in job advertisements and on resumes. However, you cannot deliver at your highest level without focusing your energies on one important thing at a time.

Here are some strategies that can boost your productivity and performance:

• Block your Time

Fully engage in the task-at-hand for a specified time allotment.  By creating time blocks you allow yourself to have razor sharp focus and you alleviate distractions. Design your time blocks to allow adequate time to complete all or a distinct piece of a task. By using one hour blocks or tying several blocks together you can gain momentum and accomplish more.

• Be Purpose-Driven

Understand the purpose of a meeting, call or task to avoid unnecessary tangents and wasted efforts. Ask questions to clarify the importance, time line, deliverables, expectations, and who else needs to be involved.

• Maximize Teamwork

Create a positive environment in the workplace that harnesses the synergy of the group. Look at things holistically.

• Simplify

Instead of trying to do everything at once, choose one defined task and do that well. You can’t possibly accomplish all of your goals simultaneously but when you focus you can accomplish one of your goals at a time. Focusing on a singular test has been scientifically proven to be more productive that trying to alternate focus between two or more tasks.

• Define Top Priorities

Everything doesn’t carry the same level of importance or urgency. Identify the ONE thing that will definitely get done each day; this is the very most important thing in your world today. Focusing on each task’s relative importance allows you to allocate your resources for maximum efficiency.

• Reorganize your Workspace

Clear a space on your desktop. Move your computer monitor and phone away from this space so that they won’t distract you. If this isn’t possible, minimize all other screens so that just the one thing you’re working on is up on the screen and turn off your email and IM alerts. Then, if you have a door, close it! If you don’t have a door, create some other means of communicating that you cannot be disturbed. Be sure everything you’ll need to complete your task is within easy reach so that you don’t need to get up to get or search for anything.

Boosting your productivity will increase your command over your workload and your sense of accomplishment when getting more done. Multitasking negatively affects your ability to focus and focus is at the core of productivity and success.  The more you focus, the more you can get done.

To boost your productivity, you may have to unlearn bad habits that have been promoted as increasing efficiency and effectiveness. Recognize how you may be preventing your own ability to focus by not eliminating distractions and interruptions. Your results are generally worse when you multitask, but in some areas they’re especially compromised, such as when you’re trying to learn a new skill. If you can’t or won’t stop multitasking, a good rule of thumb is to multitask what you want to execute, rather than absorb, and choose tasks where mistakes won’t matter.

Many ambitious high achieving professionals fear that they are not really as bright and capable as others tend to think they are. As they climb the career ladder they have apprehension and self-doubt. Although they have accomplishments, they tend to attribute these achievements to luck. All this weighs heavily on an already full plate.

Several years ago, I attended a presentation by Dr. Valerie Young about what she referred to as the “Imposter Syndrome”. It has stuck with me because I frequently come across successful business leaders who seem to be afflicted by this. As a business owner and former corporate employee, I admit to having my own demons in this area. Often when I hear feedback from a coaching client or event planner, I discount the impact that my words and strategies have made. I worry that I’m not good enough, smart enough or savvy enough to make a positive difference in people’s lives. So, despite contrary evidence to this, my complex self-doubt thinks otherwise. Insecurities can make us question ourselves and our capabilities.

Seemingly very successful business leaders at every level of the organization, entrepreneurs, rising stars worry that they’re not as great as others think they are. Although they’ve faced every challenge, received recognition and promotions, their customers think they’re a super star, they fear that they will be found out!

The imposter syndrome can hold you back from pursuing dreams and goals. It prohibits you from feeling pride and a sense of accomplishment. It can cause you to work harder than anyone else to convince yourself that if you were really as smart and capable as everyone else believes, you wouldn’t have to work so hard. The fear can be paralyzing and terrifying, if you allow it!

If you are one of the millions suffering from the imposter syndrome, there are effective ways to help you cope. Re-examine your expectations of yourself. If you tend to have perfectionist tendencies and the conviction that you shouldn’t be struggling at all, reflect on this by asking yourself ‘why’. For instance, for a client of mine who is a technical professional that will be taking a new position as an Operations Manager very soon, “why would you know how to be an exceptional Operations Manager if you’ve never done this before?” By shifting her energy away from the self-doubt caused by the Imposter Syndrome, she began focusing on what skills, knowledge, and resources she already has to build upon and what relationships are already in her network that she can expand on and learn from. She shifted from not being able to make any mistakes to minimizing mistakes and risk and using any mistakes as opportunities to learn and grow. The faith and confidence her company has in her is giving her the courage to step in and be as great and capable as everyone else already thinks she is.

Stop doubting your own abilities and skills! Realize you’re not the only one that suffers from the imposter syndrome! Some experts estimate as many as 70 percent of people have this feeling of fraudulence at some point in their lives, while as many as 30 percent of people may experience it consistently.

For tips and strategies to help you deal with the Imposter Syndrome, click here.

Look around you….

Are there piles mounting, a growing to-do list, unresolved relationship issues, or cluttered cabinets, drawers and closets?

If so, tend to these before they accumulate. As they build up, they become increasingly overwhelming and time-intensive to eliminate or at least alleviate. It becomes harder to sort and de-clutter larger stacks and piles. Relationship issues tend to grow into more complicated problems when they are avoided rather than handled effectively and resolved.

Picture a plate that’s piled high with food to the point that it’s brimming over. Food is falling on the floor. Gravies and sauces are blending together to make tastes that are unpalatable. Your once enormous appetite is slowly fading to stomach pains at the thought of having to devour all this food.

This analogy is reticent of how you may be accumulating your work, issues and other activities.

Instead, focus on taking things off your plate by prioritizing and accomplishing tasks and delegating or outsourcing most others. Although you may never have a totally clean plate at the end of the day, week, month or year, by removing things from your plate you’re able to minimize the time and energy spent thinking about something or getting it done.

Too often, we allow ourselves to get distracted and off-task, especially when we have unpleasant, routine or boring tasks to complete. These tasks, like opening mail, responding to emails, filing, record-keeping, and more tend to keep piling up if not addressed in a timely manner. If you really must do these things your self (either because you have no one to delegate it to; have no budget to hire anyone; want to learn how to do it because it’s important for your professional development; or, for some other relevant reason) then, clearly define what it is you need to do. For example, rather than thinking “I need to prepare the spreadsheet”, rephrase it to “I need to gather the numbers from the other departments to input into the spreadsheet.” This clarity helps you focus on the task at-hand. Additionally, as in this example, understand how the numbers will be used, why it’s important and who will be viewing the data. Having a greater depth of understanding helps drive the importance of the different tasks on your plate vying for your time and energy. Understand what you have to gain by getting through each task, too.

Getting motivated and staying on task is important. It’s easier to get motivated to do a smaller task rather than a large task. You won’t need to set aside nearly as much time to complete smaller tasks either. The more often you do them, the easier they become because they become much more routine.

You may not accomplish everything on your plate today! However, if you more reasonably fill your plate rather than allowing things to pile on, you’ll be able to accomplish more of it without having things pile up and accumulate. Get motivated and stay on task!

I have a client I've been working with in a 1-1 coaching relationship who is a physician.  At the end of last year, she started her own private practice.  Regardless of what profession you're in, starting your own business is a big endeavor. In many cases, there's a large financial outlay initially and there are a lot of systems, processes and new routines that need to be established as the foundation of your success.  This client was very successful working within the structure as an employee. There were clearly defined job duties and responsibilities and work hours as well as a team of resources to help handle other tasks in the office.  On her own, she often feels overwhelmed at the growing list of tasks and responsibilities that fall on her plate. She expressed feelings of frustration at not being able to handle all of her work and personal/family responsibilities on her own.

Working together, we reviewed her strengths and strategies that have worked successfully for her in the past. We used these as a baseline to create a system that will function more effectively for her today.  Starting from optimizing the tools she already has accessible, we began exploring and discovering techniques she could adapt in this new work environment to get more done with less. The key that we're focusing on is to minimize the mental clutter so that as much as possible happens on a routine basis without having to think about it. We’re eliminating procrastination and perfectionism, as well. For example, bill paying had fallen behind because incoming bills had gotten lost in the increasing piles in her home office. By adapting the same technique she was using at her office to keep incoming bills in a manila envelope and take care of paying them on a weekly basis, she was easily able to create a structured routine. In my case, I have made it a habit to pay my bills on the first and the fifteenth of each month to avoid the possibility of late payments, overdue fees, penalties, etc. When I’m traveling, I prepare them either before I go or immediately when I return in order to keep the rhythm going for this routine task.

The point is that there isn't just one right way to manage anything in your work or office and the more you can establish as part of your regular routine, the easier it becomes to manage everything on your plate.  By leveraging your strengths and past successful behaviors, you can adapt to new situations with less difficulty.

Things will continue changing at work—you'll possibly get new work assigned, a new boss, a relocation, different responsibilities, a promotion, a new position, etc.—so, if you re-establish the routines, habits, systems and processes that work for you each time there is a change, you'll be in a better place of managing your full plate with grace, balance and success!

I have a few clients who absolutely hate their current jobs but feel stuck where they are because they believe that there isn't anything else out there. Unfortunately, few people have the luxury in today's economy to leave a job without having something definite already lined up and the job dissatisfaction rate continues to climb. Having a job you hate is not an easy thing to deal with so here are some ways to make your situation easier to handle:

1. Maintain perspective: Know what’s motivating you to stay at a job you hate; it’s important to know why.  Is your current job the only one in your area that fits your skills? Or do you need it to keep your children fed and clothed? What attracted you to the job in the first place? Does that reason still exist? Whatever the reason, remembering what it is and keeping it at the forefront of your consciousness makes working a difficult job easier. When you do this, you end up working not for the job itself, but for whatever the motivation is behind your being there. The job becomes more than a job— it becomes a way to fulfill whatever desire moved you to take it in the first place.

2. Know what you really want: Often, a terrible job will help you be clearer about what you would want in a better job because you know for sure what you don’t want. Identify the things you desire in your job. It may help to focus on what you don’t like and note the opposite. It may also be helpful to note the things you dream about in your ideal job. For example, are your coworkers too competitive? Then, you may prefer a more team-based environment. Is your boss always second-guessing or changing your decisions? Then perhaps you would like a job where employees are trusted and tasks are truly delegated. Would you prefer a job that requires a lot of problem-solving instead of a set group of tasks? Would you rather work for yourself? Have you always dreamed of teaching for a living? Be sure to create a physical list that contains what you really want in a job. Explore how many of these things you can create in your current job situation or somewhere else in the company.

3. Make a conscious choice: Being in ‘choice’ is very powerful.Therefore after identifying your key motivation for staying at the job you hate, if it’s compelling enough to keep you there, than consciously choose to stay.  If you’re unsure about it, evaluate it further. Maybe you took this job several years ago because you wanted a job close to home beings you had small children and didn’t want to spend an excessive time commuting. Now that the kids are older, is this still important criterion? Or perhaps you took this position because there seemed to be an aggressive career path to a higher level position but it never materialized. Or maybe you realize that you qualify for lots of different jobs of the same type that you're working now, and you realize that a different work environment might make things much more tolerable. Whatever your motivation, consider carefully whether it's enough motivation to stay at the job or if you’d be better off transferring to another department or Division if you’re at a large enough company, or leaving entirely if there aren’t any feasible options within your current work environment.

4. Set weekly goals for yourself: If you really want to leave your job, set weekly goals to help you find the golden opportunity for you. One week you might research the industry, another week you might arrange three informational interviews, send out five resumes or attend a networking event. Having these goals will help you transition to something better. Doing something daily towards a new job will help give you a sense of accomplishment and keep you progressing toward a new job.

5. Re-engage your commitment whenever you feel negatively toward your job: When feelings of frustration, hopelessness, anger, or sadness about your current situation re-surface, review your choice again. Realize that even after you have chosen to stay, there may still be parts of your job that you dislike.  Let go of the negative emotions and re-focus on the positive motivations for staying.  Allow your conscious choice to stay to become the habit and motivator to continue doing a good job and contributing daily.

6. Honor your needs: Allow yourself to acknowledge whatever emotions come up for you. Don't try to hide it inside, or it will just blow out later. If you need to take a walk, or go to the restroom, take a day off, or even write it out in your private journal, do that. Letting things build up until they might explode is never a good idea. And, in the midst of your feelings, reflect back on your motivation for choosing to stay. Control your stress by respecting your needs.

7. Be realistic: If you really hate your job, don't expect to love your job some day soon. Instead, expect that you won't like it. Expect that the things that have frustrated you since the first day will still frustrate you now and will probably continue to do so as long as you stay at the job. If you expect that, the job will never sink below your expectations. However, at this point, you know that you are more than the job. You don't expect all of your satisfaction to come from that, because there are more areas in your life than just that.

8. Enjoy the Perks: Some jobs are terrible, but still have some great perks. Almost every job has at least one good perk such as a good salary, tuition reimbursement, health benefits, gym discounts, stock options, or opportunities to travel. Take advantage of whatever perks are available because even focusing on some of these more positive things may make things easier, at least in the interim until you find something else.

9. Increase your Self-Care: Going into a job you hate will be worse if you get to the office feeling rushed, stressed and frazzled and lack self-care. Set aside some moments of solitude each morning. Develop some positive daily rituals such as treating yourself to a latte, listening to upbeat music, going for a walk outside at lunchtime, getting up early enough to hit the gym before you go to the office, or connecting with friends for fun diversions. Add some humor to your day buy posting a “joke of the day” calendar near your work space. Enjoy an activity regularly that helps you unwind and get rid of tension. Be willing to treat yourself to simple pleasures to help you feel better inside. By focusing on you, your well-being, health and happiness your present situation will be more tolerable.

10. Maintain your job performance. Although you’re dissatisfied at work, it’s important to continue to do your work and do it well. Hating your job doesn't mean you can't learn new skills or be a good performer at work. Use your time to make yourself a better candidate down the road. If your company offers training courses, take advantage of them. Use downtime to learn something new on your computer. Pick up a management development book and read it (or listen to it) at lunch. Turn your job into an opportunity for self-improvement. Set personal performance goals that you’ll be able to highlight as accomplishments in future job interviews. Be sure to avoid burning any bridges at your company because you are unhappy. Instead, maintain positive relationships and grow your network.


Right now, it might seem like you will be stuck in this job forever. Keep your chin up and remind yourself that you are in charge of your destiny. Search internal postings for new positions. Start your search for a new job externally. Realize that this too shall pass!  

   We are sleep deprived as a Nation! When I polled a recent audience during a presentation about “Taming Stress in your Over-committed Life”, less than 60% indicated that they get 7-8 hours of sleep each evening. The remaining 40% reported getting significantly less!  One woman admitted to 2-3 hours of sleep each night on average.

So, what’s wrong with us?  Why don’t we get the sleep we need?Many people argue that they don’t need as much sleep as others.  Some defend their sleep patterns with the excuse of being “too busy”.

Here are some good sleep habits, I’ve adapted from a presentation I delivered for CIGNA Behavioral Healthcare that received rave reviews.  Incorporate them into your life as soon as possible!

• Avoid caffeine within 6–8 hours of bedtime.

• Avoid nicotine close to bedtime or during the night.

• Refrain from using the bedroom for any activities other than sleep and sex.

• Don’t drink alcoholic beverages within 2–4 hours before bedtime.  It may relax you and help you fall asleep but will result in a poorer quality of sleep, and more nighttime waking.

• Abstain from eating large meals or greasy, spicy, or gas-producing foods too close to bedtime.  Select a light snack composed mainly of carbohydrates instead if you’re hungry because it can help promote more sound sleep.

• Exercise regularly but don’t do it within 2 hours before bedtime.

• Minimize light, noise, and extremes in temperature in the bedroom.

• Establish relaxing pre-sleep rituals, such as a warm bath, reading, imagery, repetitious techniques (e.g., deep breathing, counting sheep), or progressive relaxation.

• If you are unable to fall asleep within 15–20 minutes after lights out, leave the bedroom and do a non-stimulating activity such as those above.

• Awaken at about the same time daily – a regular rising time is even more important than a regular bedtime.  In other words, don’t sleep in just because you can.

• Go to bed only when you are sleepy – again, bedtime is less important than rising time.

• Avoid napping late in the afternoon or evening.  If you choose to nap, do so early in the afternoon and limit it to 30 minutes or so.

• Choose a time during the day to think about your worries or concerns and make plans for handling them, so that you can avoid dwelling on them in bed.

• Sleeping pills are intended as a last resort and for short-term use only.  Sleeping pills have many side effects, and can cause drowsiness into the next day.  Their long-term use can actually lead to “rebound insomnia.”  If you have been using sleeping pills for more than a few months, consult with your doctor about how to stop them.

Here’s to a better night’s sleep!  Getting adequate sleep will help you function at your best by enhancing productivity, performance and your attitude towards life.