Decision Making | List Producer

Tested Strategies to Get More Done

November 18, 2015/in Benefits of List Making, Boost Memory, Decision Making, Increase Productivity, Learning With a List, List Making, People, Reduce Stress, Tool for Success/by Paula Rizzo

I don’t have ADHD or ADD, but I know a lot about it. That’s because I cover health news for a living. Although having this blog has taught me a lot about it too. Turns out a lot of the tips that I’ve given through the years are particularly useful to people with ADHD and other attention issues and they’ve reached out to me about it. It’s true — I struggle with distractions too and have systems to cope.

Recently I listened to Peter Shankman’s webinar on how to be productive when you have ADD. If you don’t know of him, Shankman is a public relations and marketing expert who has written three books including “Nice Companies Finish First: Why Cutthroat Management Is Over–and Collaboration Is In.” He also created HARO (Help a Reporter Out) which is a journalism tool I use daily. And he also has ADHD and travels all over the world regularly. So there are a lot of amazing sights that catch his eye throughout the day! Read more

How To Change Your Luck And Live A Happier Life

November 11, 2015/in Benefits of List Making, Decision Making, Happiness, Reduce Stress, Tool for Success/by Paula Rizzo

Do you ever just feel unlucky?

Always getting caught in a traffic jam when you’re running late, or the printer runs out of ink five minutes before you’re due to give a presentation?

Does everyone else around you seem to be getting their dream job, but you never seem to be in the right place at the right time?

So what is the key difference separating them from you?

They believe they’re lucky.

No really, that’s it. Read more

Keynote Speech

November 9, 2015/in College, Decision Making, People, Tool for Success/by Paula Rizzo

I can check something off my bucket list — Keynote Speech!

I was so honored to speak at the New York Women in Communications Student Communications Career Conference at NYU this weekend.

I started the day off with a visit from the GlamSquad for hair and makeup. If you haven’t used the service, you have to give it a try. The artists are punctual, friendly and very talented. I was super pleased and would use them again. They show up right to your door and you can get beautified in the comfort of your own home! Brilliant!

I spoke before a few hundred students about what it was like to be a producer, win an Emmy award and write Listful Thinking. Some of them told me afterwards they were thankful I shared my experience with the “F word” — failure. I talked about the ups and downs of my own career and how it wasn’t always sunshine and rainbows. I failed too. I took two jobs back to back that weren’t good fits for me and I was miserable. It happens.

I shared that I had gone on a tour of the set of World News Tonight with Peter Jennings when I was about 14 years old thanks to a childhood friend’s dad who worked at ABC. That Dad became a keystone in my keynote! He’s the one who got me hooked on the news business and on TV just by opening up his world to me and showing me what he did for a living. (PS Now we actually work together all these years later!)

His kindness though always stuck with me and I try to do the same for anyone who is interested in what I do. That’s why being asked to do this Keynote was even more special. I was able to tell young women who are aspiring journalists, publicists and marketers about my world. Being able to give back that gift is priceless.

Here’s a small video clip from the event, where I talk about what I wish I had known when I was 21!

Don’t Be A Scrooge This Christmas With This Checklist

November 2, 2015/in Benefits of List Making, Decision Making, Holidays, List Making, Reduce Stress, Saving Money, Saving Time/by Paula Rizzo

I get that we are all busy people and money is always tight around this time of year, but there is nothing I hate more than people who ring you one week before Christmas and say “Sorry we – insert excuse here – so maybe we just shouldn’t exchange gifts this year.” As though Christmas somehow managed to take them by surprise despite being an annual holiday.

I know most people don’t buy their Christmas presents quite as early as me, but the majority have them sorted by the week before and a last minute cancellation can really throw them off.

Be considerate of others this Christmas and follow this checklist:

Have the ‘Christmas’ talk – If you’re going to spend your time finding the perfect present for someone, it’s important to make sure they actually want it.

Now’s the time to drop your friends and family a quick text to find out “Are we doing presents this year?” Read more

Stop Searching For Your Passion

October 19, 2015/in Decision Making, Fellow List Producers, Happiness, People, Saving Time, Tool for Success/by Paula Rizzo

Everyone has their “thing” — that one big goal they often dream about, tell their friends about and picture themselves achieving. For me it was writing a book and it’s been thrilling to reach that goal.

If you follow this blog regularly you’ve probably heard of my friend Terri Trespicio. I’m especially proud of her for reaching one of those goals that she’s spoken about often and dreamed big about.

She did her very first TEDx talk in Kansas City a few weeks ago! She talks about finding your passion… or rather not finding it. Read more