Carol Schulte

Get your Brave on!

productivity

What it REALLY means to be productive.

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Happy Friday!

Happy Friday!

Although not necessarily an early riser by nature, I’m in the process of a bit of a transformation (and it’s a process, I tell ya!) as I’m up a few times a week at 5am to swim 🏊‍♀ with the Toronto Triathlon Club. ***I actually just signed up for my first half ironman in July… EEK 😳!*

So I may have been up a little too late on Tuesday evening, may have slept through my alarm ⏰ (or subconsciously hit ‘stop’ in stead of ‘snooze’!) and instead of reprimanding myself, may have committed in my half awake state to my instructor to join the Thursday am group to make up the missed session.

Well, yesterday I made sure I got up right away when I heard that buzz, even had time to make coffee ☕ for the first time (which I proceeded to spill as I locked my door behind me, HA! 🤣) and arrived at the pool with a whole minute to spare… only to find out Thursday practices start at 6:30am, not 5:55!

After coming to terms with the fact I could have enjoyed an additional 30mins of sleep, I decided to maximise this bonus half hour and found a coffee shop a block away to journal and make lists. However, after a good swim, making some new friends, and enjoying some good conversations, I had a big epiphany about what it really means to be productive.

 

Watch this week’s video🎥 to learn my new definition of productive, as well as three easy ways you can reframe your relationship to productivity today…

It’s time to feel GOOD about what you ‘accomplish’ each and every day, regardless of how much you get done on the to-do list!

SO… what does PRODUCTIVE mean to you?

I hope you take on at least one of these  ideas, and stop trying to create ‘large amounts of commodities’ and instead enjoy large amounts of moments that matter.

And please, SHARE your thoughts and ideas in the comments below 🙌 ! 

Have a FAB week!

 

 

 

 

P.S There are still TWO spots to join our EPIC once-in-a-lifetime experience volunteering in Tanzania 🇹🇿 and then climbing Kilimanjaro 🏔!  More info HERE. 

Is it your time… for Mobile Heaven?

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My Week in Pics: From tapas to paella… and maximising the moments without a mobile phone.

Is it your time… for Mobile Heaven?

Happy Friday!

It’s funny. I’m old enough to know what life was like before cell phones existed. And somehow the world survived just fine!

And now, if anything happens to our phones, it’s like our world comes crashing down. And I’ll admit it, I’m no exception.

It’s been tough not having a properly working phone this past week. However as much as I value technology, the internet, and social media for all it can offer in terms of connection and relationship-building, I also think there may be a downside, too.

Watch this week’s video to hear about my latest mobile phone woes, and the challenge I’ve created as a result!

 

When you are experiencing something, checking something off of your bucket list (and trust me, I’m the Queen of Bucket List!), or engaging in your daily activities, are you actually experiencing? And what if you couldn’t post to social media, could you survive?

I invite you to take on this disconnection challenge… and find the joy in the action of DOING.

DO IT… and then share your experiences in the comments below. I dare you!

Have a FAB week!

 

 

Wanna Be More Productive? Try Being Lazy. Allow me to explain…

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My week in pics: Visiting a coffee farm, going horseback riding (with my new bestie Higa!) jumping in a waterfall during a rainstorm, doing a barrio tour, embarrassing myself during rumba and hip hop classes, indulging in a 13-course tasting menu (at one point we had to wash our hands in one chocolate!) enjoying a full day hike in a beautiful national park in the rain… 

Happy Friday!

And happy St. Patty’s Day! I have my green shamrock earrings on (yes, made sure I packed them when I left back in January… good thing I have my priorities straight!) and hope you’re sporting some green, too.

 

I had an epiphany this week. Contrary to what may make sense intellectually, maybe I’ll actually accomplish more by accomplishing less.

What do I mean?

It seems I’m trying to force being all one way all of the time, when it’s just not possible.

 

You want to be more productive? When was the last time you allowed yourself to be lazy?

You want to be happier? When was the last time you embraced your sadness?

You want to feel more connection? When was the last time you enjoyed time on your own?

 

Here’s the idea.

You can never be all of only one side of the spectrum, and none of the other. It just doesn’t work. And as long as we try, we’ll never win.

We’re never all one way with anything in life. We can’t ever just be one spoke of the wheel. We’re the whole wheel.

When I was completing my masters thesis, I used a theory called relational dialectics when examining end-of-life conversations.

Now stick with me here, I promise I’m not going to get all morbid on you, nor too academic.

However the theory speaks to the fact in every interaction, and in every dialogue, there are tensions at play. The three main ones are:

 

Autonomy-Connection:

We want to be connected to another individual, however at the same time be able to hang onto a sense of our own autonomy.

 

Openness-Closedness:

In our desire to build connection, we want to self-disclose certain information about ourselves. And, we also want to be sure to keep other things private.

 

Novelty-Predictability:

In our relationships we crave some newness to keep things exciting, however we also want to ensure we have certain rituals that make us feel comfortable and that we’re used to.

 

One of my ongoing struggles while being on this crazy Remote Year journey thus far, is trying to strike a balance between working and experiencing. And I’m not sure I’ve quite struck gold yet on that front.

And maybe it’s unrealistic to think I ever will.

First of all, I’m not sure balance even exists. And it’s not about being all in on one side without also embracing the opposite side, with respect to anything.

It’s about integration.

You’ll be more productive when you realize it’s okay to feel less than, or dare I say ‘lazy’ on occasion.

You’ll be happier when you realize it’s also okay to have off days.

And I bet you’ll experience increased connection when you realize you’re also perfectly fine on your own.

We don’t live in a black and white world. It doesn’t always have to be all or nothing. And although I’ve often said ‘go big or go home,’ perhaps that’s not necessarily the case.

So welcome both sides of the spectrum this week. Embrace it all. And perhaps in being okay with doing less, you’ll realize you’re actually doing more.

 

Have a FAB week!

Carol - high res

 

 

 

What are your thoughts on striving for integration instead of balance? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below!

Is it about maximizing the moment, or experiencing the moment?

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Is it about maximizing the moment, or experiencing the moment?

Happy Friday!

 

Greetings from Turks & Caicos, where I’m enjoying some fun in the sun time with my amazing family. (It’s true – jetsetting from Colombia to the beach… I’m a spoiled girl, extremely lucky girl… however also a very grateful girl!)

In this moment, I’m sitting by the pool, watching children splash and play, watching drinks splash and swirl, watching people splash and smile.

I’m witnessing a moment in time.

And it may just be this moment right now, wherever you are, perhaps an insignificant moment you may not give much thought to, that becomes a special moment in your life.

Perhaps it’s the epic soundtrack music I’m listening to, however in this moment, although not jumping out of a plane or climbing a volcano, I‘m still having an experience, right here, right now.

Now I’ll admit I’m a self-confessed maximizer.

I want to make the most of every situation, say yes to every opportunity, squeeze in every experience possible.

However in an effort to want to maximize my time, maximize every experience, I wonder if sometimes I end up minimizing some of the moments that truly matter.

These moments, like the one I’m having right here, right now, are the ones that make up your life.

And yet if we’re trying too hard to create a moment, or force a moment, we may end up losing out on the moment.

I like doing things. And, if I’m honest, I also like feeling as though I’m doing things. Checking things off the list so to speak.

This week, I haven’t done a whole heck of a lot. At least, not with respect to ‘checking things’ off any list.

But maybe I’ve done more than I realize.

I’ve enjoyed time with my family. I’ve had special conversations. I’ve played with Elmo, danced on the stage with Cookie Monster and other Sesame Street friends, had lots of fun potty trips with my niece and nephew, and lathered on a whole heck of a lot of kids’ sunscreen.

I like maximizing. I like doing things. I like lists. And yet perhaps I’m realizing it’s not always about checking things off any list at all.

 

Living your life cannot be captured in a do-to list.

 

So this week, at some point I challenge you to put away your list, and be open to experiencing a moment in time, this moment in time, and enjoying it for what it is. No need to maximize anything. Just experience.

Deep thoughts from sitting in the sun, HA!

Have a FAB week!

Carol - high res

 

 

What are your thoughts on maximizing versus experiencing? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below.

What do selfies, stickers, and scotch have in common?

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What do selfies, stickers, and scotch have in common?

On Wednesday evening, while out for dinner with a few fabulous females in my life up to BIG things, we laughed until we cried. LITERALLY.

I hadn’t done that in while! And boy did it feel good.

I’m all about having fun – and yet sometimes I let the seriousness of business and all of the goings-ons (exciting as they are) to get in the way…

It was no wonder when we got back to my place that evening and ended up selling my pull-out couch to a random stranger turned friend (seriously, we’ve been texting back and forth and now we’re getting together!), we had so much FUN trying to maneuver this thing and all its pieces onto luggage carts and dollies and in and out of the elevator and into the borrowed van… hilarious.

Here’s what she wrote the next day: “We talked about how much fun we had picking up, conversing, laughing, problem solving and moving the couch… who knew it would be such an enjoyable experience and adventure! Best kijiji purchase and interaction EVER – a pure pleasure!”

That morning, my friend and sleepover guest and I decided to pull out daily meditation cards (shout out to May You Know Joy… LOVE these cards!) and not surprisingly, the one I happened to pick out of the deck was “Today, I choose playfulness.”

I do try to bring play into all I do, and yet sometimes I feel I need to apologize for it, or like I need to be more business-like, or appear more professional in how I present my brand both on and offline.

Yet if I’m honest, I actually think we need to bring MORE play into both our business world and into our lives!

And that’s why, as part of presentation I gave to the City of Brampton Economic Development Centre this week I taught the participants how to take the perfect seflie. Now although some were totally getting out of their comfort zones, there was also lots of laughter and they had FUN! (I know because a few said it was their favourite part of the presentation in their evaluations!!!)

And that’s why when working at the Lodge yesterday, and I gave out colourful little stickers to everyone there, faces brightened and shoulders dropped. There were fun conversations and neat connections that ensued.

And that’s also why, when invited to a scotch tasting event last night, even though I don’t even drink scotch, I said yes. Because although I have a LOT of exciting things going on and a lot to do, it’s also important to find time to PLAY.

In fact, I would dare to say I NEED to play in order to be more productive.

And I would dare to say YOU could use a bit more play in your life, too.

 

SO, what do selfies, stickers, and scotch have in common?

This week, to me, they all meant PLAY.

 

There you have it, folks! All roads lead to play.

I truly feel this is especially important to remember as we’re experiencing the aftermath of the election results. (I’m not going to go there and shall refrain from commenting – as I’m not about to open up Pandora’s Box – and yet I was certainly affected this week…)

So, how can YOU add a little bit of playfulness into your work and into your life this week?

Perhaps you want to get yourself some stickers, or have fun practicing selfies, or say yes to trying a new bevvy!

Or maybe you want to colour. Go the park and have fun on the swings. Race down the grocery store aisle with your cart just because. Play a practical joke on someone in your family or a colleague (sneakily fill the coffee pot with decaf instead of regular… that’s always a good one!)

Whatever you choose, I dare you to have some FUN this week. To allow yourself to play. To laugh until you cry.

It will make you feel SO good, trust me.

What do selfies, stickers, and scotch have in common? All roads lead to play! We ALL need more play in our lives. (Click to tweet it out!)

 

Have a FAB week!

Carol - high res

  

 

 

P.S. Speaking of play, toady is the LAST DAY to get your eariy bird tickets to join us at Aerosports next Tuesday! Rest assured there will be a LOT of #playingbig happening there!

P.P.S. If you’re ready to add more play into your life, then you’re going to want to learn more about The Tribe. Although it hasn’t officially launched yet, message me  for more info…

‘Just One Thing’ could make all the difference.

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‘Just One Thing’ could make all the difference.

Happy back to school week, back to work week, back at it week!

I don’t know about you, but I find the beginning of September almost like the beginning of a new year. And it’s exciting!

Many are eager and ready to hit the ground running, after hopefully enjoying some rest and relaxation over the Summer.

It’s great to be pumped and motivated. And, it’s important to also ensure you are setting yourself up for success.

Next week I’ll be giving a few talks on this very subject. Now there are lots of concepts and ways to ensure you’re getting on the right track. And, if you try to adopt them all, and all at the same time, you may not have as much luck.

I’d like to introduce you to the concept of ‘Just One Thing.’ There’s a book on it, I’ve written about it before, and just recently one of my friends and colleagues published an article about it. So perhaps it’s that time to bring it up here.

I’m notorious for having multiple windows open on my computer at any given time.

I’m also known to have my hand in multiple pies at the same time.

Or, I’ll be in the middle of writing something,  when I remember about the tea I just made, and then when I get up to get my tea I notice the pens on the counter, and then when I go to put them away I see the card I bought and still need to write, and then I notice that completed application that still needs to be scanned, and then I look down at the small pile of business cards of folks I wanted to follow up with and start making notes about, and before I know it I’ve gone down a deep rabbit hole and totally forget what I was doing in the first place.

Can you relate? (I hope it’s not just me… or maybe I am just a little bit crazy. And that’s cool, too!)

You see I’m realizing more and more if you truly want to get more diligent about getting things done, you need to be super disciplined about doing JUST ONE THING at a time.

Especially if you have a lot of different projects on the go, and numerous competing responsibilities at any given time (and who doesn’t, right?!?)

I’m a big believer in having everything you want, however maybe not all at the same time.

If you want to be successful, I think it comes down to focusing on JUST ONE THING at a time.

Research has proven that multi-tasking is simply not effective. Single-tasking is where it’s at.

  • When it comes to setting yourself up for success, what is JUST ONE THING you could implement today?
  • What is JUST ONE THING or habit that may make all the difference?
  • When it comes to a current business project, what is JUST ONE THING that would move the project forward?
  • If today were to be productive, what is that JUST ONE THING you’d do?
  • When it comes to one of your important relationships, what is JUST ONE THING that if you did this, could be a game changer?

There are so many things to do, to learn, to say yes to. Information is being launched and lurched at us from all angles all of the time. Yes, it’s exciting ~ and it’s also often overwhelming.

Pause. Breathe. Smile.

That information isn’t going anywhere. Those ideas will still be there. Those opportunities will still come your way.

There’s a LOT we could do – and likely we will do – if we perhaps choose just one thing at a time. One step at a time. One task at a time. One habit at a time. You got this! (Click to tweet it out.)

Have a FAB week!

Carol - high res

 

 

 

What is that  ‘JUST ONE THING’ you’re going to focus on today? This week? This quarter? I want to hear from you in the comments below!

 

P.S. Women Living BIG is turning 1 on Sept. 24th! And we’re going to celebrate! Tickets are only $25 ($20 with a girlfriend… ) I hope you’ll join! 

P.P.S. If you’re looking for a fun night out with the ladies ~ I’ll be emcee-ing the Glamdollza event next Friday… come and join us!

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