My, How time flies!!!

Wow, I am amazed at how slack I have been in the blogging department of late, apologies to my regular readers for my

tardiness. It has been an incredibly rewarding, busy, tiring and fabulous couple of weeks. 

Please indulge me while I share. We always often forget to celebrate our success and I am going to do that here.

Over the past few weeks my publisher "Longacre Press" here in NZ have lined up some wonderful media appearance 

for me to promote my first book "The Accidental Organiser". 

They have been:

* "Campbell Live" - TV3

* Radio National - Kim Hill Program

* Newstalk ZB with Ali Jones

* Newstalk ZB Tauranga.

* KIWI FM - Breakfast with Whammo

* Newstalk ZB Wellington

* Plains FM - Canterbury

* CTV - Good Living Program

* "Otago Daily Times" feature

* "The Press" - At Home section (coming up)

* TVNZ - TVOne - "Good Morning" interview with Brendan Pongia

I think that is all of them, it has been a whirlwind of interviews and meeting people and travel. All really exciting

and hopefully going some way to selling millions of copies of "The Accidental Organiser".

It has taken some great scheduling in the family department to do this. As we are also in the midst of a major

renovation at home. My boys are squished into one small room while we have demolished their old bedroom, 

to make room for a new purpose built library/study and bedroom. We have also celebrate two Birthday's in our 

family, mine and Ben's 9th. So all in all a busy time. However not once did any of this become overwhelming. 

HOW? I hear you ask.

Organisation, communication and cooperation has been the key. So remember if you have busy and 

challenging times ahead take a leaf out of my book and thing "ORGANISE, COMMUNICATE & COOPERATE".

Remember if you have not got your copy of "The Accidental Organiser" yet, CLICK HERE or buy at your local NZ bookseller.

"The Accidental Organiser" in NZ book stores NOW!

I am excited to announce that "The Accidental Organiser" is now available in all good bookstores throughout New Zealand.

However I know that many of my readers are outside New Zealand and keen to get a copy. So I have made it possible by CLICKING HERE for you to buy it on line.

So get into those stores and buy my book, it is being distributed by Random House if your favorite bookstores does not have them in stock yet.

Enjoy, and happy reading.

Super Time Saving Service - That will win you brownie points

A friend of mine has just launched a new business here in Christchurch (and soon to be national!!!, no pressure Jodi).
This is great time saving service, that will also help put you i the good books of your loved ones fro a very long time. Check out Romantic Gestures at www.romanticgestures.co.nz this is a must for anyone wanting or needing something special but do not have the time or imagination to put the wheels in motion.
Well done Jodi, and every success in your business.

I am so Excited!!

NEWSFLASH!!!!!!!!

I have just been announced as a finalist in 2 catagories of "The David Awards"

I am a finalist in the "Outstanding Transitional Business" and the "Most Innovative or Quirky Business".

The awards are announced on the 2nd October 2008. Yippee, it is so great to be recognised.

Challenge Yourself!!!

On Saturday I was interviewed by Kim Hill on Radio New Zealand's "Saturday" Programme.
Click here to check it out and listen. I goes for approx 10 minutes.

"The Accidental Organiser" will hit the shelves here in New Zealand this Friday 12th September, so it is a very exciting week for me. I can hardly believe that I can add Author to my list of accomplishments in life.
I guess it means I should set you all a task to try and accomplish something in the next 12 months that you never thought you were able to.
Go on pick a goal, plan the steps and make it happen. I did and the rewards are amazing. Go on Challenge yourself.

What to do when it seems to much?

We all have days when life just seems to be steamrollering along and we cannot keep up. These are the days when we blow a fuse or lose our cool with those closest to us.
It does not matter how Organised you are, it is important to remember that we are all human and it can get too hard when you feel like there is too much to do and you cannot do it all on your own.
So what are some coping strategies for times such as these in our lives.
* Walk away - sometimes you need to just drop everything and take yourself away from the situation that is about to push you over the edge. Try and walk away before you get pushed over the edge, not after. (or you may say or so something you regret)
* Do not expect perfection - It is important not to put your own expectations onto others. They will have different expectations to yours and they may not understand why you are losing your cool or getting frustrated.
* Lead by example - Walk the talk and be a leader by showing those around you what you would appreciate.
* Acknowledge & reward - When you see things getting done and people pitching in and sharing tasks etc take the time to acknowledge this and maybe introduce a reward system.
* Use a roster system to get chores done - Kids are old enough from about the age of 3 to be given set chores/tasks around the house. Start simply and remember acknowledge and reward.
* Consequences - Along with reward need to come consequences. If assigned chores/tasks are not done have a penalty system in place.
* Simple rules - Imagine if people put tings away when they had finished with them, shut things after opening and cleaned up messes they made without leaving it all laying around with the expectation someone else will do it. Make these the simple rules in your home - Put it away, shut it, clean it up if you own it, did it or made it it is your responsibility to attend to clearing it up.
* Never ever ask someone to do something you would not do yourself.

I hope these are helpful to anyone out there who has trouble trying to stay organised and simplified by feel like everyone around you is doing there best to make it impossible.