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Four Word Focus

January 4, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Happy New Year!! I hope that you have enjoyed all the festivities and are now looking forward to a new year filled with hope and happiness.

The past few days I’ve been catching up on some of the reading waiting for me in my Google Reader (my RSS aggregator of choice).  As would be expect much of it has to do with resolutions, goals and the thoughts that a new year brings.  Resolutions and long drawn out plans are no longer my cup of tea… they used to be but now now longer serve me (feels more like they bind me).

This year I will take an approach similar to Chris Brogan (Reinvest. Package. Flow)…

My focus in 2011 will be four-pronged …

harmony
design
language
on a strong foundation of health

More details on each of these soon…..
What’s your focus for 2011?

Filed Under: actions

DailyLit – Get Your Reading Fix

November 24, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Whilst I’ve been quiet on the work front over the past few months, the time has been put o great use catching up on all the reading for pleasure that I had been missing out on.

Books like Crime and Punishment, Reading By Moonlight and Notorious have passed through my hands.  These as well as re-reads of To Kill A Mockingbird and Zen & The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance have kept my mind occupied when my body wasn’t.

But there are times in life when sitting in a comfy place with book hand are just not feasible.  In years gone by books were published by newspapers and magazines in installments.  These days you can subscribe to a free service called DailyLit that allows you to read books in under 5 minutes a day, in short installments sent via email or RSS. DailyLit’s titles include bestselling and award winning titles, from literary fiction and cooking to business and science fiction.

This would be perfect to read on the iPhone, Blackberry or other smart device while you wait in line, wait on hold or wait to pick up the kids.

When I start back on work hours next year, DailyLit will be high on my list of things to break the work day up into manageable pieces.

Let me know if you sign up and what you think.

Filed Under: reading

Whilst On Sabbatical

October 28, 2010 By 1 Comment

As you may, or may not, know I am on sabbatical for health reasons.  During this time the website will be a place where I may from time to time share some thoughts and photographs that I may take along the way.  When I’m formally back on board then I will update the site with professional details and service offerings.

Until then, be well…
Leah

Filed Under: services

Self Employment Words of Wisdom

September 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Make something worth making.

Sell something worth talking about.

Believe in what you do because you may have to do it for a long time before it catches on.

Don’t listen to the first people who give you feedback.

Don’t give up.

Not for a while, anyway.

Seth Godin

Filed Under: actions

Spring 2010 Desktop Wallpaper and Spring Special

September 1, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Here we are at the 1st day of spring (at least here in the Southern Hemisphere) and on my walk this morning I could almost smell the change in the air.  Slightly warmer, a little more humid and a lot more people our walking.

Change is a constant not just in Mother Nature but also in the nature of every small business.  Clients come and go, the week is busy or not, your service changes, someone asks you to do something new, and staff bring their own twist on change.

There are 2 things that I have for you on this Spring day to do with change.

Desktop Wallpaper for September

Flowers are synonymous with Spring and this sprig from a Marraya  bush reminds me of the freshness and new beginnings that Spring can bring.  I hope that this wallpaper finds its way onto your desktop, brings a change to what you see on your computer and acts as a reminder of the nature of change (and of Spring).

You can download your September 2010 desktop wallpaper with calendar here [1920 x 1280 pixels].

Spring Specials

After spending and Autumn and Winter focusing on improving my health, Spring has brought change for me as well.  Feeling an improved sense of wellbeing I am again taking on a small number (5) clients who are wanting to improve their business or change their approach as a business owner.  The coaching and consulting can focus on areas such as business development, technology and web options, staff development, products and services redesign, self-management or a number of other areas.

With the end of 2010 approaching very quickly I am offering Spring Specials on the 13-Week Focus and 13-Week Intensive programs.  If you, or anyone you know is interested there are more details on the programs here.  I am also happy to have a call a discuss any questions you might have.

This, and all other images on this site, are protected by copyright. If you would like to use it for any purpose please respect my rights and contact me.

Filed Under: wallpaper

Action Time: Changing domain names

August 18, 2010 By 2 Comments

One of the challenges that any business faces when changing a business name or domain name is to continue serving the existing community when the automated systems change.

That is the place that I find myself this week ….

As you may, or may not know, I’ve moved my web presence from workingsolo.com.au to leahmaclean.com.  There is still work to be done on the new site (mainly some new page content and more regular blog articles) but all-in-all it is operational.

The technology that delivers you blog article updates (RSS and email delivery) has been forwarding updates from the new site to those of you that had subscribe at the workingsolo.com.au site.  That will stop at the end of August.

ACTION REQUIRED: If you subscribed for updates at the old site can I ask that you head on over to leahmaclean.com and renew your subscription at the new site.  You will find the links on the right hand side of the page under “Subscribe to Updates”.

If you have a question just let me know.

Filed Under: actions

Create Is The New Consume

August 12, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Today’s borrowed wisdom is from one of my “daily reads”, Hugh Macleod of GapingVoid.

“Another one of my “T-shirt” ideas. When I was a kid, media was not something you created, it was something that you consumed. Then the Internet came along and changed all of that, of course. We soon found out, creating is a lot more fun than consuming.

“And this isn’t just true for media. Making stuff is more fun than buying stuff. That’s because there’s love in making- you can put as much love into the process as you want- the only limitation is the human heart. Whereas with buying stuff- you can love it all you want, but it can’t love you back.

“The Internet has made the unleashing of creativity on a daily basis seem normal, not just the domain of freaks, hipsters and the privileged. And Thank God for that.”

Here’s is a link to Hugh’s site : “Hello from Hugh”.

Filed Under: creativity

August 2010 Desktop Wallpaper

August 3, 2010 By Leave a Comment

There are times when self-employment can feel like you are in the middle of a winter storm (like we had in Sydney last night).  Blown around, buffeted and a little unsure as to what is going to hit you next.

But like all storms that feeling of being washed up against the rocks also passes, the sun breaks through, and your business is back on track.

The image for the August desktop wallpaper was taken this afternoon in the wake of last night’s storm.  There is still some anger in the waves but there is also some warmth from the late afternoon sun.

You can download your August 2010 desktop wallpaper with calendar here [1680 x 1050 pixels].

This, and all other images on this site, are protected by copyright.  If you would like to use it for any purpose please respect my rights and contact me.

Filed Under: wallpaper

10 Qualities of Goal Getters

July 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Are you a goal setter or a goal getter?

I’ve always given much more credence to to the more active “goal getting” rather than the potentially passive goal setting.  It is great to set goals, be they professional or personal, but setting them alone doesn’t get you far.

Here are what I believe to be the 10 most prominent qualities of goal getters.

1. Goal Getters have a clear idea of what they want to achieve.
2. Goal Getters push past limits.
3. Goal Getters ask for the support and assistance of others in achieving their goals.
4. Goal Getters capture their goals in writing or other physical form.
5. Goal Getters have goals that are part of a larger vision.
6. Goal Getters believe in their ability to achieve their goals whilst still grounded in today’s reality.
7. Goal Getters have a strong Personal Foundation.
8. Goal Getters ask for what they need to achieve.
9. Goal Getters use rewards and celebration to assist in achieving goals.
10. Goal Getters set themselves up to achieve.

Filed Under: actions

Follow Through

June 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Follow Through!

The only attitude by which everything is accomplished;
Why is it so rarely sustained.

Why is it do difficult to create ourselves and those we try to influence?

J. W. von Goethe

Filed Under: actions
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