Finding Success Through List Making

Dr. Shannon Reece

Making lists will make you successful. I’ve said it a zillion times because it’s definitely worked for me. I’m an Emmy award winning TV producer and staying organized through list making has helped me to stand out in my field.

This is just one tactic for achieving more at work and in other aspects of life. Dr. Shannon Reece has a website that offers strategies and tips for women in business. I was included in her post “89 Famous Quotes That Will Rock Your World,” — I’m number 55.  And she gave us “10 Ways to Create Free Time Out of Thin Air.”

I was honored to speak with her on her YouTube show “Spotlight on Success.”  The show is designed to give you a leg up on starting and maintaining a great business.  I’m excited to hear what you think!

A List Built For Two

I’m mostly a solo list maker. I document daily to-dos, goals and task checklists. But from time to time I share a list with my husband or friends to be more efficient. My husband and I both add to our grocery list throughout the week. And my friends and I share lists about things we want to talk about or make sure we do. I haven’t used this technique at work yet but as my guest blogger Kirsten Bischoff, founding partner of HATCHEDit.com, tells us — sharing makes you more productive.

A List Built For Two

by Kirsten Bischoff

An individual’s approach to list making is almost as unique an identifier as their fingerprints. After all, every brain works in a unique way. Lists can be rigid and precise, or completely abstract; they can be well laid out plans or vague strings of abbreviations. So the challenges when two people get together to create a list (or lists) can seem insurmountable. Read more

Backtiming: Producer Tip for a More Productive Day

In television news – timing is everything. Producers, anchors, reporters, videographers and editors work on very strict deadlines. Sometimes stories have to come together quickly – this makes time management one of the keys to success in this business. Working in TV news for over a decade has conditioned me to use this skill to be more efficient in everyday life.

Time Management

One of those time management skills is called backtiming. It’s a technique used to make sure all the stories fit into the show and you can get off the air on time. A line producer assigns a time estimate to each story depending how important it is. All those time estimates add up to fill the newscast. You have to make all the news of the day, sports, weather and entertainment fit in that timespan. Read more

Difficult Discussions Are Easier With a List

I had lunch with a friend recently and she was telling me about her boyfriend troubles. They’d come to a point in the relationship where it made sense to start talking about the future and if each other was in it.

Read more

Cut Down on Digital Clutter

Nutdanai Apikhomboonwaroot : FreeDigitalPhotos.net

It can be worse than real clutter — I’m talking about digital clutter.  If it seems like your emails are never ending and you can’t come up for air — you are a victim of this electronic issue.  I’ve written about websites that will help you manage your emails better.  And I’ve even shared a video about ways to reduce inbox anxiety too.

But there’s always room for more tips if you’re becoming an electronic hoarder!  I was recently interviewed about computer clutter by TheCourier.com.  You can check out the full article but here are some of the highlights from the experts:

  • Make folders in your email and hard drive
  • Make organizing files a habit
  • Get rid of files and emails that you don’t need
  • Make an archive folder for emails you want to keep but don’t need right now
  • Get a separate email for newsletters
  • Unsubscribe if you find yourself not reading newsletters