People | List Producer

Why Being Nosy Makes You Unproductive

November 30, 2015/0 Comments/in Increase Productivity, People, Saving Time/by Paula Rizzo

I’m a naturally curious person. You might call it nosy, but I don’t see it that way.

I’m just interested in what’s going on around me. It’s why I love people watching so much and it’s also probably the reason why I went into journalism.

The problem is sometimes this curiosity can be a hinderance. When you want to be in the know about everything… well it’s a lot of research. Sometimes I get so wrapped in things I don’t even care about, because I’m interested to see if it might lead somewhere good.

So I’m taking a stand and trying to cut these nosy time wasters out of my life. Check out my list – maybe you are guilty of dilly dallying with these tasks too: Read more

Why I’m Being Anti-Social This December

November 23, 2015/1 Comment/in Happiness, Holidays, People, Reduce Stress, Relationships/by Paula Rizzo

I’m always up for going to networking events, but recently I’ve found myself going to a lot of them and I’m getting burned out. I’m tired, cranky and forgetting things. It’s not my style.

Just last week I went to see The Color Purple on Broadway (with Jennifer Hudson!) with friends from a networking group. There was a problem with the seating and I ended up sitting away from everyone. I was a bit bummed at first to be isolated from the group but the most unexpected thing happened. After spending two hours on my own, I realized how little time I’ve spent by myself lately and I loved it! Read more

Tested Strategies to Get More Done

November 18, 2015/0 Comments/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

A Checklist to Help Paris Attack Victims

November 16, 2015/0 Comments/in People/by Paula Rizzo

I was devastated to hear about the attacks on Paris on Friday night. I have mentioned before on this blog that Paris is my favorite city in Europe. I had such a great time the three times I’ve visited France. So it saddens me that a place that has brought me joy is now suffering.

Having lived in New York during 9/11, I know how terrifying it can be when your city is under attack. Then, after the incident, there is the difficult waiting period as news from loved ones slowly trickles in. I am sending all the good vibes I can to the people of Paris, and those with friends and family in the city.

But there are things all of us can do in this terrible situation. Here’s a list of ways you can help people in Paris: Read more

Keynote Speech

November 9, 2015/1 Comment/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!