Inspired Forward

Cut Through the Confusion and Chaos to Live a Well-Organized Life

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State of the Union for 2019

So, today is the one-year anniversary of restarting this blog. I first set this site up in January 2017, posted three things, and then gave up.

But that all changed a year later when I opened an email from a blogger named Becca Klein, who was promoting something called the Work-At-Home Summit.

I kept re-opening that email, wondering about this summit thing, and it took me a good few days to actually click through to “claim my free ticket” to the event.

My life quickly took a sharp turn down the road of Online Business—far sharper than it ever had before. I feverishly took notes during the summit interviews, blocking off entire evenings and mornings to absorb it all around the sharp edges of my corporate job.

As I went through those short few summit days my mindset started to shift.

What if I could do what they do?

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How to Plan for the Worst Right Now

I’m a planner at heart. It’s something I’ve always done, naturally, ever since childhood. I planned out my entire college course progression before I even started college—but that kind of planning isn’t what I want to talk about today. I want to discuss why you should plan for the worst… Before the worst happens.

That sounds depressing, doesn’t it?

But those who plan for the worst are the ones who make it out alive.

Have you considered what you would do if the worst happens? No? It's important to plan for the worst so that you're not left scrambling -- in any situation.

Wait, what?

Hold up, Colleen, what are you even talking about? “Make it out alive”?

Yeah.

At my job, I’m on our Safety Committee. It sounds like the “safety police” until you understand that my company’s #1 core value is, in fact, safety, and we just had a Safety Conference. It’s a big deal.

And safety is something that needs to carry over to our personal lives.

The best way to be safe is to plan. Prepare. Understand what the stakes are and to know what you’re going to do if the worst happens.

Ergo, plan for the worst before it strikes.

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14 Ways to Show Yourself Some Love

In all the hullabaloo, consumerism, and distaste for Valentine’s day, here’s a list of things for you Single Pringles out there, as well as anyone who just wants to bury their heads under the covers until February 14th goes away. Show yourself some love.

Self-care and self-love are so important in this day and age, especially since it’s becoming more and more evident that loving others—really loving them—is hard if you don’t love yourself first.

And don’t worry—none of these tips involve chocolate.

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The Journey to Magnificence: Week Fifty-Two

Welcome to The Journey to Magnificence! This is week fifty-two, the final week of this series: February 3-9, 2019.

This is it.

The last installment of my “Journey to Magnificence.”

When I started this thing back in February 2018, I had a tough time imagining what it would feel like to finally reach 52.

But here we are!

My life has changed so much in the last year.

I’ve consistently posted twice a week on this blog, made almost $250 on Medium from locked stories, started a Virtual Assistant side-business—and landed clients way faster than I ever thought would happen!

I got clear on my goals for 2019 and every week I look back and look forward so I can iterate the next week.

That’s truly the secret—take it one step at a time, and don’t rush.

Week fifty-two has finally come and gone -- the end of this journey series documenting my progress through side-hustle endeavors and improving myself.

What I Said I’d Do

  • Big Goal: Publish my book.
    • This Week: Line edits
  • Big Goal: Achieve a healthy weight.
    • This Week: utilize my hotel’s gym in the mornings (at a conference in Vegas!)
  • Big Goal: Earn $12,000 in side-income.
    • This Week: Continue working with clients, and spend some time in online courses that build my skills offerings.
  • Personal Goal: Interviewing my Grandma
    • This Week: Clean up audio from Sunday’s interview

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