Every year we imagine that the holidays will be a swirl of joyful parties, decorations, surprising loved ones with the perfect gift, cooking flawless meals, indulging in family vacations, and generally spending blissful time against a magical winter backdrop. We long for the magic and excitement of our youth and imagination, while dreading the worry, …
December holds our hearts – in both our memories and anticipation. Whether it’s a joyful time, or bittersweet, choose to create NEW memories and connections while honoring those of the past. Personal acts of service and giving to others is a great way to stay grounded and make a difference, in small and large ways. …
It is precisely under crisis conditions when we have the most to gain by a grateful perspective on life. Deeply happy people are even thankful for the trials and tragedies they pass through. In the face of demoralization, gratitude has the power to energize, heal, bring hope, and help us cope with hard times. But …
Our technology has become an integral part of us and our lives. Yet, somewhere along the line, we tend to forget why it’s there and who is in charge. Technology has many benefits and rewards—in fact, the positive list literally goes on and on. However, scientific studies are showing that there are both positive and …
There’s always a lot going on in the world and in our communities. As participants in our nation and local societies, we have an obligation to be aware, speak up, and vote. These actions matter, and make a difference in the greater picture for all citizens. But sometimes it can be confusing. There are so …
Effective self-motivation is one of the main things that distinguishes high-achieving professionals from everyone else. So how can you keep pushing onward, even when you don’t feel like it? Every choice has a price, but when we are motivated, it is easier to bear the inconvenience of action than the pain of remaining the same. …
In November we feel the year winding down and reflect on all we’ve experienced and are thankful for. It’s an important time to connect with friends, family, and all those who’ve had a lasting impact on our lives. So, take some well-earned time for reflection, then plan and commit to creating a calmer, and more …
Chris McChesney, Jim Huling, and Sean Covey have written a book, The 4 Disciplines of Execution. It contains principles that will help you and your team successfully enact change. The objective of this process is to teach leaders how to help their teams execute on their highest priorities in the midst of the day-to-day whirlwind. …
In his book, What Matters Most, Hyrum W. Smith explains why so many people feel something is missing from their lives: conflicts between actions and personal values. Like many people, you may not have heard of a Belief Window before, but it affects many of the decisions you make every day and how you behave …
In the book, The 5 Choices, the authors discuss how to combat society’s addiction to urgency. The idea of urgency addiction is that we enjoy the revved-up feeling of doing things and checking them off, so we start subconsciously looking for things to check off, even if they don’t matter. We might even start to …
At Franklin Planner, we strive to help our customers achieve their goals and live the life they truly desire. To help achieve this, we’ve decided to allocate this month as “Optimized October”. To optimize something means to make something as fully perfect, functional, or effective as possible. In order to optimize our lives, we have …
Practice Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw To “Sharpen the Saw” means preserving and enhancing the greatest asset you have—you. It means having a balanced program for self-renewal. This may sound intimidating, but it’s actually much simpler than it sounds. It could include taking care of your body by eating right, exercising, and getting the right …
October embraces the excitement of autumn, tastes like pumpkin spice, provides a thrilling sense of the unknown, and fills us with hope for unlimited opportunities. October Checklist Pocket Size: PDF October Checklist Compact Size: PDF October Checklist Classic Size: PDF October Checklist Monarch Size: PDF
Autumn is officially here, bringing with it cooler weather, wondrous colors, and a slower pace. These factors can make it tempting to start spending your days indoors, but this is actually the perfect season to get outdoors and enjoy nature with your family. Now that the hectic days of summer are over, it can feel …
Before the electronic era, everyday reading was a ritual that those who wanted to gain knowledge adapted to. Now that we have the internet, we’ve become so bombarded by information that it can almost seem unnecessary to read an actual book. However, there are many benefits to reading, including: stress reduction, memory improvement, stronger analytical …
Continue reading “Lifelong Learning – Curating Your Reading List”
The very first Labor Day was celebrated on September 5, 1882 when 10,000 workers took unpaid time off in New York City to march in a parade from City Hall to Union Square. They proposed that American workers should be honored with their own day. Twenty-three other states soon followed their example, and in 1894 …
September is right around the corner, which means autumn will be here before you know it. Cold weather can change a lot about how your house functions, so it’s important to make sure everything will continue running smoothly. Here are a few things you should do to prepare your home for the changing seasons. Check …
September brings to our minds and hearts a desire to continue learning and invest in growing our knowledge and talents. As the weather begins to cool down it’s a perfect time to read a book, get outside for a picnic with the family, and plan a season of fun and productive autumn activities. September Checklist …
September is almost here, bringing with it cooler weather, a stricter schedule, and the end of summer. Despite this ending looming in the near future, there’s no reason to stop crossing things off your summer bucket list. There’s still time to squeeze in last minute summer activities and make the most of every minute. Here …
Continue reading “Summer Sunset – How To End The Summer Well”
In the bestselling book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen R. Covey’s sixth habit is Synergize. This was a fairly popular word in the 90s, especially in the business sphere, but has fallen out of the common vernacular in recent years. Perhaps it’s time to reevaluate the meaning of this word to …
