Relationships | List Producer

3 Reasons The Stories You Tell Matter

September 26, 2016/0 Comments/in Happiness, Health, Lights Camera Expert, People, Reduce Stress, Relationships/by Paula Rizzo

I love telling stories. Even if it’s just fiction. Everyday when I walk to work and I see different “characters” on the street. I always make up stories about them.

For instance, the homeless man who hangs out on the corner in front of my office – I’ve named him James. He was a Wall Street hotshot but lost it all because he was greedy. Oh and he lost his family too. His wife left him and took his daughter – the only reason he even went to work everyday.

When you were born, where you grew up, the different jobs and hobbies you had over the years, these all make up who you are. But how you present these details can completely change how others see you. For example, when people hear I am a news producer and I write a blog on the side, they assume I’m the kind of person who never stops working. However, when I talk about my love of tea or doing yoga then I give off the impression of being very relaxed. Read more

List of 10 Gluten-Free Grains for Everyone

August 30, 2016/0 Comments/in Benefits of List Making, Books, Food, Guest Posts, Health, Learning With a List, Relationships, Tool for Success/by Paula Rizzo

Everything seems to be gluten-free this and gluten-free that these days. I was a bit skeptical in the beginning when all of these “new” foods started hitting shelves. But I did a shoot with a nutritionist named Kelly Dorfman and she told me about a story from her book “What’s Eating Your Child?”

The story was about a young child who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. She was prescribed a cocktail of medicines and her parents were frustrated and wanted to help their child. They went to see Kelly in their last efforts and it turned out the child wasn’t bipolar at all — she had a gluten intolerance! Amazing isn’t it? What you eat has such a huge impact on everything. Read more

When It’s Bad To Be Good At Something

January 18, 2016/0 Comments/in Happiness, People, Reduce Stress, Relationships/by Paula Rizzo

Last month my husband and I were in Florida to celebrate his grandmother’s 90th birthday. What a milestone! The whole family flew there from all over to celebrate together.

In between trips to the pool and cocktail hours…we found ourselves decorating the house for the festivities.

Everyone was given a job: Balloon blowing, hat making, ribbon twirling…oh and there was a list to be made too!

And guess who was called to make said list. That’s right — yours truly.

It always feels nice when you are recognized as being good at something. I like it when people ask me for list-making tips because it’s fun to help people, but it’s also gives me a little confidence boost to be an expert.

But then it hit me.

Being good at something can actually be bad! Read more

The Payoff of Being Anti-Social for a Month

December 28, 2015/0 Comments/in Decision Making, People, Reduce Stress, Relationships, Tool for Success/by Paula Rizzo

At the beginning of December I took a stand and took the month off from networking and going to events.

I was drained.

I normally really enjoy going to these kinds of events, so when I started to dread them — I realized it was time for a break.

As part of my anti-social plan, my husband Jay and I went to Puerto Rico, back to the resort where we got married 7 years ago for a little relaxation.

I set myself the challenge of doing absolutely no work while I was there. It was amazing to just lay on the beach and enjoy the moment!

When we returned and people asked me to meet up for tea or dinners after work this December I replied simply, “I’m sorry, I’m not available.” Read more

Don’t Micromanage – Make This List to Work With Others

December 16, 2015/0 Comments/in Apps, Benefits of List Making, Increase Productivity, Learning With a List, List Making, People, Reduce Stress, Relationships, Saving Time, Technology, Tool for Success/by Paula Rizzo

Remember in high school when you’d have to do a group project and get paired up with a bunch of other kids?

I was always the one who was trying organize things and make sure we hit our deadlines. (Nerd Alert!)

But no matter the project — there was always that one kid who said she would be responsible for a crucial element…and then not deliver.

Nothing would make me more annoyed, but I was always happy when the project was over and we didn’t have to work together again.

In the “real world” the same thing can happen. But the downside is you can’t trade in your team members as often.

You’re forced to work with the same team and figure out a way to make it work.

This is where lists can really come to the rescue. Read more