As I head to Cleveland this week for the annual Institute for Challenging Disorganization (ICD) conference, thoughts about learning, creativity and success are on my mind. The conference is one of the learning highlights of my year. Colleagues from around the world gather to discover the latest education and research about chronic disorganization. This is a creative group that strives to find unique organizing strategies to better help our clients who struggle with chronic disorganization.

I’m looking forward to success on multiple levels- having a successful conference for our ICD community, bringing back ideas to help my clients enjoy greater success, and personally appreciating a successful experience.

Continuing along the line of success, here are a few tips I recently discovered that could enhance your creativity and learning. They are simple, yet effective.

Success Tip 1:  Boost Your Creativity

According to a study conducted by Stanford University, taking a walk can boost your creativity by 60%. While walking outside has additional benefits, especially for improving our sense of well being, walking indoors can be just as effective when it comes to boosting your creativity. The next time you’re stuck with solving a problem, get up and walk.

Success Tip 2: Boost Your Learning

There have been several studies about the power of doodling to enhance focus and learning. A University of Plymouth study found that doodlers retain and recall 29% more than nondoodlers, specifically if the content is being delivered in a boring way. Another study found that students who doodle during class learned more than students who don’t. Psychologists have referred to doodling as an “anchoring task,” that helps to improve focus.

Have you experimented with either of these strategies? What are your success tips for enhancing creativity and learning? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Come join the conversation.

Have you ever been disappointed by an experience you’ve had? If so, you’re not alone. Would you like to learn some ways to turn an unsuccessful experience into a successful one? One small change can make an enormous difference. I was curious about my colleagues’ ideas, so I reached out to this fabulous international group – Seana Turner, Nacho Eguiarte, Jill Robson, Diane Quintana, Ellen Delap, Janet Barclay, and Cris Sgrott-Wheedleton.

I asked them, “What is one essential ingredient needed to have a successful experience?”  Their responses are unique and inspiring. My deepest gratitude goes to each of them for sharing their wisdom with us.

What is one essential ingredient needed to have a successful experience? . . .

Flexibility

“Life is rarely 100% predictable, so I believe the key to having a positive experience is flexibility. This doesn’t mean failing to make plans. Quite the opposite! Having a scaffold of structure in place allows me to nimbly respond to the unforeseen, to keep going when I hit a roadblock, and to enjoy (rather than dread) surprises. So often we are discouraged or disheartened by unexpected developments, but some of the best times I’ve ever had were when I showed up prepared, but also open to whatever the next step might be.”

Seana Turner – Professional Organizer, Blogger & Public Speaker

Attitude

“No matter what recipe you’re making for dinner you’ll always need some salt. That would be a key ingredient. So the “salt" in having a successful experience for me is attitude. With a good attitude you can overcome every possible bad situation, and with a good attitude you can upgrade a good situation into a fabulous experience. No matter what, attitude is a must.” 

Nacho Equiarte – Professional Organizer, Architect, Grieving Counselor & Blogger

Acknowledgement

“How has the experience made you feel? Did you feel heard? I think most of us have a successful experience when we feel we have been listened to. How often do we need help or advice and we feel that the person is not really listening, just giving a stock answer? I know in my occupation, I have spoken with other organizers on how we communicate with our clients, and it is our listening skills that are just as important as our organizing skills.”

Jill Robson – Professional Organizer & Blogger

Positivity

“One of the most important ingredients to having a successful experience is your attitude. Think about it this way, you’ve set your goal, you know the steps to take to achieve your goal, and you’ve decided that it’s going to be difficult to achieve. Your attitude is such that from the outset you’re predicting failure. So, your journey towards your goal will probably be beset with bumps in the road, which turn into mountains because you’ve doomed yourself from the start. However, if you switch the channel deciding that this goal is worthwhile and that you’re going to achieve it your attitude is positive. There may be bumps in the road but you will overcome them and the journey itself will be a positive learning experience.”

Diane Quintana, CPO®, CPO-CD® – Certified Professional Organizer, Author & Speaker

Readiness

“A successful experience begins with a readiness for new perspectives. When a client begins our work together ready for change, it makes change happen. They are alert and aware of possibilities and reflect actively on this as well as during our session and after we conclude.  Success comes in baby steps with small changes they make as a result.”

Ellen Delap, CPO® – Professional Organizer & Productivity Consultant 

Confidence

“To achieve success, I have to believe in myself and my ability to accomplish that which I’m trying to do. Reminding myself of similar challenges I’ve overcome in the past can be very helpful, so I file complimentary messages I receive in a special folder in my email program and re-read them whenever I need to boost my self-confidence.”

Janet Barclay, MVA – Web Designer, Blogger & Virtual Marketing Assistant

Willingness

“I think any successful experience starts with a willingness to make a change and experience something new. I personally, never like to go through any change.  I am very resistant to doing things differently. It is part of my personality. However, I have learned over the years, that my personal growth and success can be directly attributed to making life transitions and embracing change. Now, I just acknowledge to myself that I don’t like to change, but I also acknowledge that there is a possibility that it will be good for me. I give it a try, and most of the time I embrace it, and it becomes habit. I recommend my clients to try small changes, one little one at the time.”

Cris Sgrott-Wheedleton, CPO®, CPO-CD® – Professional Organizer & Blogger 

Having a successful experience can feel illusive. With the wonderful concepts that my colleagues shared, you now have some new ways to approach your experiences. Whether you choose to adjust your attitude, be more flexible, or embrace the changes, a successful outcome is possible for you. For me, one ingredient that colors all others is my attitude. If I go forth with optimism and positivity, it flavors my experiences with exactly that. So even if the outcome differs from the plan, I can view it as a learning experience instead of a failure.

Which ideas resonate with you? What is one essential ingredient you need to have a successful experience? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Come join the conversation!

From what I’ve observed, success feels like success when we’ve struggled in some way to overcome a challenge. The amount and complexity of the challenge varies. Experiencing challenges that we often refer to, as failures, are hallmarks of success.

On a daily basis, I work with my clients as they overcome their organizing challenges and experience success. Their success happens, not in one grand gesture, but in small increments that we celebrate and acknowledge as we go.

Recently, I was struggling to write a particular piece. The deadline was looming. My ideas weren’t flowing. I thought I’d never get it done. Or if I got it done, it wouldn’t be good enough. It wouldn’t communicate what I wanted to say. Oh, yes. I was beating myself up. Nice, right?

“That wonderful, positive energy surge that overcoming obstacles produces is success.”

— Linda Samuels, CPO-CD®

Giving up isn’t my style, yet I was clearly stuck. I did a few things to push forward. I offer them to you. Feel free to try some of these the next time you're feeling challenged.

7 Ideas for Getting Unstuck

• Reach out to a few people to talk over some ideas

• Write despite the fact that the words aren’t gelling

• Let go of any pre-conceived notion of what it should be

• Allow ideas to percolate while sleeping

• Get clarity around the key message

• Read the words out loud

• Write, edit, and write some more

Here’s what happened. The words began flowing. The message came together. I experienced that wonderful, positive energy surge that overcoming obstacles produces. Success.

What does success feel like to you? What helps you when you’re facing a challenge? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Come join the conversation.

One of my great joys is writing. In addition to being a professional organizer, you might know me as a blogger, author, or letter writer. For over 40 years, I’ve also been a journal writer. Since I was 11 years old, I’ve filled many volumes with thoughts, feelings, observations, drawings, and paintings. Journaling has helped me to clarify ideas, capture moments in time, and offer me perspective.

Aside from writing, another joy is revisiting my journals. Particularly when I’m traveling, I enjoy not only writing but also taking the time to read past journal entries. Why go back? It helps me gain perspective, notice growth, identify themes, and discover areas for learning.

Just this past week, while taking a vacation with my husband to the lovely Delaware beach, I did some reading. I want to share a concept that I recently rediscovered. I wrote this as a way to help myself during a particularly full and challenging time. I offer it to you in the hopes that you’ll be able to access it when you need it.

When you're feeling overwhelmed and challenged, instead of saying,

“It’s so hard.”

Shift your perspective by asking,

“What can I learn?”

“What help do I need?”

How do you help yourself when you’re feeling overwhelmed? What has helped you shift your perspective? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Come join the conversation.