Tool for Success | List Producer

Angie’s List: An Empire Built on a List

July 5, 2011/2 Comments/in Benefits of List Making, Decision Making, Fellow List Producers, Increase Productivity, Learning With a List, Reduce Stress, Tool for Success/by Paula Rizzo

Angie Hicks, Angie’s List

As many of you know I’m a senior producer for a news network in New York City. I cover everything from surgeries to fitness classes. Recently I was fortunate enough to do a segment about saving money on your medical bills with one of the most famous list makers of all — Angie Hicks — the founder of Angie’s List.

Her consumer review website helps people find doctors, contractors and other local services. Angie’s List now has 1.5 million members across the country — and to think it all started with a list!

Q: Why do you call yourself a compulsive list maker?

A: I wouldn’t necessarily call myself compulsive, but Angie’s List is certainly getting a national reputation as the mother of all lists… Angie’s List started out as just that – my list of the best and worst companies in and around Columbus, Ohio. We’re in more than 200 U.S. cities, now and the list just keeps growing – both of cities served and number of companies rated by consumers in each local market. So I guess I am compulsive about making lists, after all! Read more

Checklist for Getting Over a Setback

June 28, 2011/2 Comments/in Beauty, Guest Posts, Health, Learning With a List, Reduce Stress, Relationships, Tool for Success/by Paula Rizzo

I’m an eternal optimist and almost always have a smile on my face. Ask anyone who knows me. But even I’ve had “one of those days” every once and a while. You know what I’m talking about – those days when you just don’t feel like yourself. Or maybe you’ve had a hard time and you’re in a rut. Getting back to normal can seem impossible. That’s why psychologist Dr. Michael Nuccitelli created this checklist to help get us over any setback.

Checklist for Getting Over a Setback

by Michael Nuccitelli, Psy.D

The trick is to practice as many of the tips as you can, check off each one you finish and I guarantee you will be feeling better in no time at all. Please “Do Not Pass Go” until you have completed step one. Without insight into step one, the other nine will have no bearing on your ascent to vim and vigor. It’s what the doctor recommends. Read more

The Ultimate Magazine List

June 22, 2011/3 Comments/in Beauty, Benefits of List Making, Fashion, Food, Health, Increase Productivity, Oprah, Reduce Stress, Tool for Success/by Paula Rizzo

I love reading magazines. It’s my guilty little pleasure and has become a borderline obsession. My husband makes fun of me because our coffee table is always overflowing with the last few months of my favorites. But I have to have them all and reference them to take notes. Eventually I give them to my mother-in-law because she also has this magazine addiction.

As a self-proclaimed magazine connoisseur – here is my list of favorites that you must try:

1. Health Magazine: It has the perfect mix of mind, body and soul – and recipes too! They have great contests and events for their readers. One of my favorite features is the “To-Don’t List,” which highlights tasks overwhelmed women don’t have the worry about. Perfect! I also like the “What the Yuck” column by Dr. Roshini Rajapaksa – I worked with her briefly when we were both at WPIX in New York City. Read more

Tips for Hosting a Wine and Cheese Tasting

June 16, 2011/6 Comments/in Benefits of List Making, Food, Guest Posts, Learning With a List, Reduce Stress, Tool for Success, Wine/by Paula Rizzo

Wine is one of my favorite beverages along with tea and water. Pinot Grigio is hands down my “go to” wine although wine guru Gary Vaynerchuk told me to get over myself and try new varietals. I’m trying Gary!

I’ve attended a few wine tasting parties thrown by my friend Danielle one of which was a brief intro to shiraz, it was a great night with some great wine. It’s always been a blast although I’m not sure we really learned much about wine even though we did fill out rating cards. I’d like to host my own this time so I turned to wine expert Wendy Crispell, who has designed and hosted many corporate and private events for NY celebrities, top business leaders and industry clients.

Hosting a Wine & Cheese Tasting

by Wendy Crispell

As a wine and cheese professional I believe wine is something that should be accessible to everyone. Many people are intimidated by the vast selection, unknown varietals, labeling jargon and differences in price vs. quality. I’ve noticed that most will stick with an old standby rather than taking the chance on trying something new or different. Hosting your own tasting is a great way to try new wines, explore unknown regions and just have great fun with friends! Read more

Successful Financial Guru is a List Maker

June 1, 2011/2 Comments/in Benefits of List Making, Decision Making, Fellow List Producers, Increase Productivity, Reduce Stress, Saving Time, Tool for Success/by Paula Rizzo

List making can help you strive in so many areas of your life: work, home, relationships, leisure and even fashion! No one knows this better than Joe Duran. He’s this month’s featured “list producer.”

Joe is the CEO for United Capital, a national wealth-counseling firm that is one of the fastest growing companies in the financial services industry. Pretty impressive, huh? Well he owes a lot of his success to being a list maker!

1. Why do you call yourself a compulsive list producer?

Lists keep people synchronized. I expect myself and everyone that works with me to stay on top of all the many things we are working on.

2. What do you make lists about?

I like everyone that works with me to keep two kinds of lists: action lists for any follow up items as well as checklists for repeatable activities.

3. How often do you make lists?

There is not a day that goes by that I am not given multiple checklists and action lists to look at. Read more