(7383,560,'2018-08-24 07:00:09','2018-08-24 07:00:09','<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">As a small business owner, you understand your craft. You are great at getting the job done. I want to ask you, in those areas where your work relies on information from your customer are you struggling? Do you find that you have to go to your client multiple times to get the exact information you need? Do you see confusion between how you interpret information and what the customer actually wants or needs? Do you even know what your customer actually wants and why? Today we are going to talk about developing a business process map to improve customer satisfaction.<!--more--></p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">In my time working with small business owners, I find that most process maps fall into two categories</p>\r\n\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">You have a great initial meeting presentation that gives a great overview of the overall plan and what is going to happen on the project, but once the work actually starts there is no real process map; or</li>\r\n 	<li class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">You follow the plan that was laid out in the initial meeting/consultation, but the overall process map you have isn\'t clearly defined, is extremely clunky, or has a number of <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/broken-processes/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">business leaks</a> including repetitive or unnecessary steps for the Client.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n<h1>Your Process Map is Like a Recipe</h1>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">Most of this is because you understand how to do what you do, but you haven\'t broken it down from point A to point Z. It reminds me of my dad. He is a fabulous cook, but whenever we ask him how he made something he could never tell us. The reason was because he didn\'t use a recipe and there were times he was trying something and would add a little bit of this and a little bit of that. He couldn\'t explain it to us because he just did it without really thinking about it. Cooking is his craft...he just gets it. Well, cooking isn\'t our craft, so we don\'t and we need the recipe - the process map.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">You want to clearly explain the process and all that goes into it in enough detail so that your client understands, but not enough where they are glassy-eyed. You want to ensure you get the information you need to do your job from the Client before you need it and that you explain how the information they provide and the choices they make effect and/or fit together to create the end product. If you don\'t explain it to your customer they won\'t know and having that understanding may change the way you create or design.</p>\r\n\r\n<h1 class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">Understanding your Client\'s Needs</h1>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-7423\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Business-Process-Map-200x300.png\" alt=\"Business Process Map | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" />Additionally, you need to understand how what you are creating fits into the world of your customer. Having that understanding may change the way you create or design something. It may also give you an opportunity to offer a better solution for what your Clients actually need. I can\'t tell you how many times I thought I knew exactly what I wanted but once I spoke with an expert I realized I wasn\'t asking for the right thing or that I wanted something else. It\'s because I really didn\'t know what I didn\'t know.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">This can also be a great opportunity to exceed your client\'s expectations too. If a customer comes to you expecting to order a three-tier wedding cake, because they think that\'s all they can afford, and they leave instead with a five-tier cake that is still in their budget that is a win for the baker and for the customer. The baker didn\'t necessarily provide the customer with free cake, they explained that they can add in two foam layers to give the illusion of a larger cake. The customer may not have known that was a possibility, but because the baker was used to this and had a process for guiding them through the options, they educated the customer, gave more than was expected and won not only a new customer but probably referrals too. They accomplished all of this because they had a clearly defined process...a business recipe.</p>\r\n\r\n<h1 class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">Ensure Your Process Map is Adaptive</h1>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">Once you define your process and determine what your customers actually need, you may find that your process is not very adaptive. Now, in some cases, it doesn\'t make sense to adapt your process, especially if it is detrimental to the overall creation or the end result of the service. In other cases, there is a little wiggle room to move things around. If you don\'t know where this wiggle room is you can\'t know how to adapt for it when it comes up.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">Take for example, you are helping a client set up a new piece of software. Your process has them identifying the number of accounts they need to migrate and in what buckets they are going to fall. The client explains they are going through a system cleanup, so what they give you won\'t be accurate and can you work on setting up another part of the system first. Giving them time to clean up the data prior to migration.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">If you understand what parts of the setup process are reliant on the other parts and which aren\'t then you know you have a little wiggle room and can set up the other pieces first. If you didn\'t know that, you may feel that setting up the Users is a roadblock and begin pushing the client to provide information before you move forward, ultimately halting the project unnecessarily.</p>\r\n\r\n<h1 class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">What is the Overall Purpose of this Action?</h1>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">Before asking a client for anything you should understand the purpose of what you are asking for and ensure you are getting everything you need during the ask, if possible (or lay out the various phases for them in the beginning and what they will be doing or producing in each). Mapping out the creative flow to your Client is imperative to ensure clear communication and helps to ensure your project meets both your needs and your customers. You may have multiple paths but if you don\'t think about and plan for each you will be flailing when you are presented with a roadblock.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">Again, each client is unique, but your process should have a defined path that is followed by small variation paths where appropriate.</p>\r\n\r\n<h1 class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">Remember, You Are the Expert</h1>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">Ultimately, your customers don\'t understand your craft like you do. They just know they want a website built, a cake made or their graphics developed, they don\'t know all the pieces and decisions that must go into it, so it is your responsibility to educate them and break it down so they get it.  As a customer, I need to understand the end gain and how the small pieces fit together to get me the result that I want.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">So now that you know you need to have and understand your process map and also provide your clients with an understanding of your roadmap, do you have one? If you need help defining a streamlined process map or a client facing roadmap, feel free to set up your mapping session today.</p>','Process Map Improves Customer Satisfaction','','publish','open','open','','process-map-development','','','2019-07-27 05:15:59','2019-07-27 05:15:59','',0,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/?p=7383',0,'post','',0);
INSERT INTO `wp_posts` VALUES (7384,1,'2018-06-11 21:45:16','2018-06-11 21:45:16','<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">As a small business owner, you understand your craft. You are great at getting the job done. I want to ask you, in those areas where your work relies on information from your customer are you struggling? Do you find that you have to go to your client multiple times to get the exact information you need? Do you see confusion between how you interpret information and what the customer actually wants or needs? Do you even know what your customer actually wants and why?</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">In my time working with small business owners, I find that most fall into two categories</p>\r\n\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">You have a great initial meeting presentation that gives a great overview of the overall plan and what is going to happen, but once the work actually starts the plan isn\'t followed or it really wasn\'t clearly defined; or</li>\r\n 	<li class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">You follow the plan that was laid out in the initial meeting/consultation, but the overall systems you have aren\'t clearly defined or are extremely clunky, including repetitive or unnecessary steps for the Client.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n<h1>Do you have your business recipe?</h1>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">Most of this is because you understand how to do what you do, but you haven\'t broken it down from point A to point Z. It reminds me of my dad. He is a fabulous cook, but whenever we ask him how he made something he could never tell us. The reason was because he didn\'t use a recipe and there were times he was trying something and would add a little bit of this and a little bit of that. He couldn\'t explain it to us because he just did it without really thinking about it. Cooking is his craft...he just gets it. Well, cooking isn\'t our craft, so we don\'t and we need the recipe.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">You want to clearly explain the process and all that goes into it in enough detail so that your client understands the process, but not enough where they are glassy-eyed. You want to ensure you get the information you need to do your job from the Client before you need it and that you explain how the information they provide and the choices they make effect and/or fit together to create the end product. If you don\'t explain it to your customer they won\'t know.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;bold&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">Having that understanding may change the way you create or design something. [CLICK TO TWEET]</p>\r\n\r\n<h1 class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">Understanding your Client\'s Needs</h1>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">Additionally, you need to understand how what you are creating fits into the world of your customer. Having that understanding may change the way you create or design something. It may also give you an opportunity to offer a better solution for what your Clients actually need. I can\'t tell you how many times I thought I knew exactly what I wanted but once I spoke with an expert I realized I wasn\'t asking for the right thing or that I wanted something else. It\'s because I really didn\'t know what I didn\'t know.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">This can also be a great opportunity to exceed your client\'s expectations too. If a customer comes to you expecting to order a three-tier wedding cake, because they think that\'s all they can afford, and they leave instead with a five-tier cake that is still in their budget that is a win for the baker and for the customer. The baker didn\'t necessarily provide the customer with free cake, they explained that they can add in two foam layers to give the illusion of a larger cake. The customer may not have known that was a possibility, but because the baker was used to this and had a process for guiding them through the options, they educated the customer, gave more than was expected and won not only a new customer but probably referrals too. They accomplished all of this because they had a clearly defined process...a business recipe.</p>\r\n\r\n<h1 class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">Ensure your process is adaptive</h1>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">Once you define your process and determine what your customers actually need, you may find that your process is not very adaptive. Now, in some cases, it doesn\'t make sense to adapt your process, especially if it is detrimental to the overall creation or the end result of the service. In other cases, there is a little wiggle room to move things around. If you don\'t know where this wiggle room is you can\'t know how to adapt for it when it comes up.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">Take for example, you are helping a client set up a new piece of software. Your process has them identifying the number of accounts they need to migrate and in what buckets they are going to fall. The client explains they are going through a system cleanup, so what they give you won\'t be accurate and can you work on setting up another part of the system first. Giving them time to clean up the data prior to migration.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">If you understand what parts of the setup process are reliant on the other parts and which aren\'t then you know you have a little wiggle room and can set up the other pieces first. If you didn\'t know that, you may feel that setting up the Users is a roadblock and begin pushing the client to provide information before you move forward, ultimately halting the project unnecessarily.</p>\r\n\r\n<h1 class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">What is the purpose of this?</h1>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">Before asking a client for anything you should understand the purpose of what you are asking for and ensure you are getting everything you need during the ask, if possible (or lay out the various phases for them in the beginning and what they will be doing or producing in each). Mapping out the creative flow to your Client is imperative to ensure clear communication and helps to ensure your project meets both your needs and your customers. You may have multiple paths but if you don\'t think about and plan for each you will be flailing when you are presented with a roadblock.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">Again, each client is unique, but your process should have a defined path that is followed by small variation paths where appropriate.</p>\r\n\r\n<h1 class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">Remember, you are the expert</h1>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">Ultimately, your customers don\'t understand your craft like you do. They just know they want a website built, a cake made or their graphics developed, they don\'t know all the pieces and decisions that must go into it, so it is your responsibility to educate them and break it down so they get it.  As a customer, I need to understand the end gain and how the small pieces fit together to get me the result that I want.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">So now that you know you need to provide your clients with a roadmap, do you have one? If you need help defining a streamlined roadmap for you and your clients, feel free to set up your mapping session today.</p>','How Do You Start Your Engagements','','inherit','closed','closed','','7383-revision-v1','','','2018-06-11 21:45:16','2018-06-11 21:45:16','',7383,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/7383-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(7385,1,'2018-06-11 22:11:27','2018-06-11 22:11:27','<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">As a small business owner, you understand your craft. You are great at getting the job done. I want to ask you, in those areas where your work relies on information from your customer are you struggling? Do you find that you have to go to your client multiple times to get the exact information you need? Do you see confusion between how you interpret information and what the customer actually wants or needs? Do you even know what your customer actually wants and why?</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">In my time working with small business owners, I find that most process maps fall into two categories</p>\r\n\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">You have a great initial meeting presentation that gives a great overview of the overall plan and what is going to happen on the project, but once the work actually starts there is no real process map; or</li>\r\n 	<li class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">You follow the plan that was laid out in the initial meeting/consultation, but the overall process map you have isn\'t clearly defined, is extremely clunky, or has a number of <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/broken-processes/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">business leaks</a> including repetitive or unnecessary steps for the Client.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n<h1>Your Process Map is Like a Recipe</h1>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">Most of this is because you understand how to do what you do, but you haven\'t broken it down from point A to point Z. It reminds me of my dad. He is a fabulous cook, but whenever we ask him how he made something he could never tell us. The reason was because he didn\'t use a recipe and there were times he was trying something and would add a little bit of this and a little bit of that. He couldn\'t explain it to us because he just did it without really thinking about it. Cooking is his craft...he just gets it. Well, cooking isn\'t our craft, so we don\'t and we need the recipe - the process map.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">You want to clearly explain the process and all that goes into it in enough detail so that your client understands, but not enough where they are glassy-eyed. You want to ensure you get the information you need to do your job from the Client before you need it and that you explain how the information they provide and the choices they make effect and/or fit together to create the end product. If you don\'t explain it to your customer they won\'t know.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;bold&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">Having that understanding may change the way you create or design something. [CLICK TO TWEET]</p>\r\n\r\n<h1 class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">Understanding your Client\'s Needs</h1>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">Additionally, you need to understand how what you are creating fits into the world of your customer. Having that understanding may change the way you create or design something. It may also give you an opportunity to offer a better solution for what your Clients actually need. I can\'t tell you how many times I thought I knew exactly what I wanted but once I spoke with an expert I realized I wasn\'t asking for the right thing or that I wanted something else. It\'s because I really didn\'t know what I didn\'t know.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">This can also be a great opportunity to exceed your client\'s expectations too. If a customer comes to you expecting to order a three-tier wedding cake, because they think that\'s all they can afford, and they leave instead with a five-tier cake that is still in their budget that is a win for the baker and for the customer. The baker didn\'t necessarily provide the customer with free cake, they explained that they can add in two foam layers to give the illusion of a larger cake. The customer may not have known that was a possibility, but because the baker was used to this and had a process for guiding them through the options, they educated the customer, gave more than was expected and won not only a new customer but probably referrals too. They accomplished all of this because they had a clearly defined process...a business recipe.</p>\r\n\r\n<h1 class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">Ensure Your Process Map is Adaptive</h1>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">Once you define your process and determine what your customers actually need, you may find that your process is not very adaptive. Now, in some cases, it doesn\'t make sense to adapt your process, especially if it is detrimental to the overall creation or the end result of the service. In other cases, there is a little wiggle room to move things around. If you don\'t know where this wiggle room is you can\'t know how to adapt for it when it comes up.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">Take for example, you are helping a client set up a new piece of software. Your process has them identifying the number of accounts they need to migrate and in what buckets they are going to fall. The client explains they are going through a system cleanup, so what they give you won\'t be accurate and can you work on setting up another part of the system first. Giving them time to clean up the data prior to migration.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">If you understand what parts of the setup process are reliant on the other parts and which aren\'t then you know you have a little wiggle room and can set up the other pieces first. If you didn\'t know that, you may feel that setting up the Users is a roadblock and begin pushing the client to provide information before you move forward, ultimately halting the project unnecessarily.</p>\r\n\r\n<h1 class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">What is the Overall Purpose of this Action?</h1>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">Before asking a client for anything you should understand the purpose of what you are asking for and ensure you are getting everything you need during the ask, if possible (or lay out the various phases for them in the beginning and what they will be doing or producing in each). Mapping out the creative flow to your Client is imperative to ensure clear communication and helps to ensure your project meets both your needs and your customers. You may have multiple paths but if you don\'t think about and plan for each you will be flailing when you are presented with a roadblock.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">Again, each client is unique, but your process should have a defined path that is followed by small variation paths where appropriate.</p>\r\n\r\n<h1 class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">Remember, You Are the Expert</h1>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">Ultimately, your customers don\'t understand your craft like you do. They just know they want a website built, a cake made or their graphics developed, they don\'t know all the pieces and decisions that must go into it, so it is your responsibility to educate them and break it down so they get it.  As a customer, I need to understand the end gain and how the small pieces fit together to get me the result that I want.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">So now that you know you need to have and understand your process map and also provide your clients with an understanding of your roadmap, do you have one? If you need help defining a streamlined process map or a client facing roadmap, feel free to set up your mapping session today.</p>','How to Develop a Process Map with your Clients in Mind','','inherit','closed','closed','','7383-revision-v1','','','2018-06-11 22:11:27','2018-06-11 22:11:27','',7383,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/7383-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(7387,1,'2018-06-12 17:13:34','2018-06-12 17:13:34','','OLP Bundle Limited Offer','','inherit','open','closed','','the-organizational-roadmap-workshop-3','','','2019-01-17 04:32:39','2019-01-17 04:32:39','',0,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/The-Organizational-Roadmap-Workshop.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(7390,560,'2018-06-26 07:00:33','2018-06-26 07:00:33','The unsubscribe process has always been one that has irritated me as a consumer, but with the introduction of GDPR - General Data Protection Regulation, businesses are now beginning to have a much-needed conversation about unsubscribe links and being transparent regarding how consumer information is being used.\r\n\r\nNow don\'t get me wrong, as a business owner I fully understand the frustration and disappointment you experience when someone unsubscribes from your mailing list, but there could be many reasons why someone no longer wants to receive your information.  In some cases, it is because you didn\'t provide any alternatives.  That is what I want to talk about today, the ways to identify if you have a broken unsubscribe process that could get you an invitation to the email blacklist.\r\n<h1>Is Your Process Following the Law?</h1>\r\nFor those of you who didn\'t know, the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 established the first national standards for sending commercial e-mail.  It has a number of requirements that I encourage you to read, but the sections I want to bring your attention to today are <a href=\"https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/7704\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">15 U.S.C. § 7704</a>(3) Inclusion of return address or comparable mechanism in commercial electronic mail and <a href=\"https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/7704\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">15 U.S.C. § 7704</a>(5) - Inclusion of identifier, opt-out and physical address in commerical electronic mail.  In summary, a few key things you need to provide are:\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>A clear identification that the message is an advertisement or solicitation, however this does not apply if the recipient has given prior affirmative consent to receive the message;</li>\r\n 	<li>A notice of the opportunity to decline further messages from the sender - there is a lot of specific details related to this; and</li>\r\n 	<li>a valid physical postal address of the sender.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h1>My Personal Experience with Bad Unsubscribe Links</h1>\r\nIn attempting to unsubscribe from an email, I experience a lot of frustration when I come across broken unsubscribe links.\r\n\r\nMy normal process as a consumer is to first use the unsubscribe link or to reply to the email requesting that the sender unsubscribe me from their list.  As stated above, providing this ability is the law.  Well, today when I went to unsubscribe, the company\'s unsubscribe link didn\'t work. What was I supposed to do?  In this case, most people do one of two things, they either try to respond to the email or they just mark it as spam or junk mail. Assuming, of course, that it isn\'t a no reply email. If it had been, it would have technically been against the law since the unsubscribe link didn\'t work.\r\n\r\nObviously, as a business owner, you don\'t want your clients or potential clients marking your emails as spam or junk mail as it sends up red flags in the internet world.  This could cause your emails to skip the inboxes of your recipients and end up in the junk folder or worse yet on the email blacklist.\r\n<h1>What Process Changes Do You Need to Make?<img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-7405\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/spam-mail-box-2636258_1920-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Spam Mailbox | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></h1>\r\nNo one wants to end up in the junk folder or on the spam or email blacklist.  That means you aren\'t getting through to your potential customers.  So in light of this, I want to share a few things that you want to avoid:\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li><strong data-redactor-tag=\"strong\" data-verified=\"redactor\">You don\'t provide a way for the recipient to unsubscribe</strong> - this first of all is against the CAN-SPAM law and if you have an internet business with potential EU customers this is against GDPR as well.  You should always provide a way for people to unsubscribe from your list.  Even if your direction is to reply with unsubscribe in the subject. Albeit the latter method isn\'t the most efficient or preferred way but works as long as you remove people manually who send those emails.</li>\r\n 	<li><strong data-redactor-tag=\"strong\" data-verified=\"redactor\">Your link requires the individual to enter an email address</strong> - this is a pet peeve of mine when it comes to the unsubscribing process.  Explain to me why I must enter my email address to unsubscribe from an email that you just sent me?  You should code the link to populate that information.  A recipient should just need to confirm it.  On your end, it may be innocent, but to the recipient, it is suspect behavior.  What is the purpose of asking me to supply an email? I am trying to get off your list.  I see this type of link more times than not when a person is using a simplified mailing system. The system is too simplified or they just aren\'t familiar with the inner workings of it.  Ask your support team of your mailing system how to do it if you don\'t know.</li>\r\n 	<li><strong data-redactor-tag=\"strong\" data-verified=\"redactor\">You only provide an all or nothing path</strong> - You provide an unsubscribe link, but maybe the person just doesn\'t want to hear about the baby topics you send out but want to know about the meal planning info you send out.  Give your recipients a choice if you offer different types of content.  This is something that may seem to be a limitation of your mailing system, but most can give you a workaround if you just ask them.  By having options (Unsubscribe from this topic, unsubscribe from the company or provide a suppression list) you raise the possibility of retaining valuable clients or potential clients that may just not be interested in the baby content you send out.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n<h1>Identification of your Subsidiaries, Associated programs or Alternate Lists</h1>\r\nSomething I am beginning to see with the passing of the GDPR deadline is that many companies are burying an unsubscribe from this and all subsidiaries link in their privacy policy.  A much better way to handle this is to offer one unsubscribe page.  On it show the individual\'s email address and everywhere you use it.  This allows the person to pick and choose what they want to receive.  Since GDPR just passed in May 2018, I suspect that many mailing services are going to be introducing new options for unsubscribing from their lists as a way to combat this issue.\r\n\r\nOne other thing to think about is when consumers want to unsubscribe from a topic or division of your company. This happens when a special program or email is sent under a different division of your company or a different header.  Because the company provides this information, some will change their mind about unsubscribing from everything and instead ensure they are subscribed for what interests them.  If the choices aren\'t given as options they weigh which is more important, what they want or what they don\'t want.\r\n\r\nSo, be clear about your associated programs and divisions. When people are unsubscribing, consider offering a resubscribe link in case they made a mistake.\r\n\r\nFinally, I encourage you to walk through your email process to determine what your customer is actually experiencing.  Set up a testing email account and walk through the process from subscribing through to the unsubscribe process.  You want to see what your customers will experience.  You can also ask someone else to walk through the process for you and provide feedback.\r\n\r\nBy taking these precautions and thinking about your consumer\'s process, you will be more apt to stay off the blacklist.','How to Resolve the Broken Unsubscribe Process','','publish','open','open','','the-broken-unsubscribe-process','','','2019-07-27 05:15:59','2019-07-27 05:15:59','',0,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/?p=7390',0,'post','',0),(7391,1,'2018-06-19 14:48:34','2018-06-19 14:48:34','As a business owner, I always hate to see someone unsubscribe from my mailing list, but I\'d much rather they unsubscribe from my list if it isn\'t meeting their needs and resubscribe later when it makes sense for them.  Well, this week\'s suggestion is to help keep you off the naughty email list as a business owner.\r\n\r\nI thought of this today as I was going through and unsubscribing from an email I had received that no longer met my needs.   My normal habit is to first use the unsubscribe link or other method that by law businesses are supposed to provide on their mass emails.  A personal one on one email doesn\'t require this link, but an email that is sent to multiple people does.  Well, today when I went to unsubscribe, the company\'s unsubscribe link didn\'t work, so what was I supposed to do?  In this case most people do one of two things, they either try to respond to the email (if it isn\'t a no reply email) or they just mark it as spam or junk.\r\n\r\nNo one wants to end up on the spam or junk list because that means you aren\'t getting through and if too many people mark your emails that way it could block all of your emails.  So in light of this, I want to share a few things that can get you on the naughty list:\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li><strong data-redactor-tag=\"strong\" data-verified=\"redactor\">You don\'t provide a way for the recipient to unsubscribe</strong> - this first of all is against the law, you should always provide a way for people to unsubscribe from your list.  Even if your direction is to reply with unsubscribe in the subject. Please note:  the later isn\'t the most efficient or liked way, but it can get the job done as long as you are manually removing the people who send those emails.</li>\r\n 	<li><strong data-redactor-tag=\"strong\" data-verified=\"redactor\">Your link requires the individual to enter an email address</strong> - this is a pet peeve of mine when it comes to \"unsubscribe paths\".  Explain to me why I must enter my email address to unsubscribe from an email that you sent me?  There should be some type of coding that can be done in your link to populate that information so that all the recipient needs to do is confirm it.  On your end it may be innocent, but to the recipient it is suspect behavior.  What is the purpose of asking me to supply an email when I want to get off your list to begin with?  Links that require this are more likely to get blacklisted as spam or junk mail.  I see them more times than not when a person is using an unsophisticated mailing system or they just aren\'t familiar with the inner workings of their system.  Ask your support team how to do it.</li>\r\n 	<li><strong data-redactor-tag=\"strong\" data-verified=\"redactor\">You only provide an all or nothing path</strong> - You provide an unsubscribe link, but maybe the person just doesn\'t want to hear about the fishing topics you send out but want to know about the boating stuff you send out.  Give your recipients a choice if you offer different types of content.  This is something that may seem to be a limitation of your mailing system, but most can give you a work around if you just ask them.  By having two links (Unsubscribe from this topic and unsubscribe from the company) you raise the possibility of retaining valuable clients or potential clients that may just not be interested in the fishing topics you send out (why did I use fishing as my example?!?!?!)</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nFinally, I encourage you to walk through your email process to determine what your customer is actually experiencing.  Set up a testing email account and walk through the process from beginning to end (subscribe through to the unsubscribe process).  You want to see what your customers will experience.  You can also ask someone else to walk through the process for you and provide feedback.','The Broken Process Path:  Unsubscribe Links','','inherit','closed','closed','','7390-revision-v1','','','2018-06-19 14:48:34','2018-06-19 14:48:34','',7390,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/7390-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(7392,1,'2018-06-19 15:16:28','2018-06-19 15:16:28','As a business owner, I always hate to see someone unsubscribe from my mailing list, but I\'d much rather they unsubscribe from my list if it isn\'t meeting their needs and resubscribe later when it makes sense for them.  Well, this week\'s suggestion is to help keep you off the naughty email list as a business owner.\r\n\r\nI thought of this today as I was going through and unsubscribing from an email I had received that no longer met my needs.   My normal habit is to first use the unsubscribe link or another method that by law businesses are supposed to provide on their mass emails.  A personal one on one email doesn\'t require this link, but an email that is sent to multiple people does.  Well, today when I went to unsubscribe, the company\'s unsubscribe link didn\'t work, so what was I supposed to do?  In this case, most people do one of two things, they either try to respond to the email (if it isn\'t a no reply email) or they just mark it as spam or junk.\r\n\r\nNo one wants to end up on the spam or junk list because that means you aren\'t getting through and if too many people mark your emails that way it could block all of your emails.  So in light of this, I want to share a few things that can get you on the naughty list:\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li><strong data-redactor-tag=\"strong\" data-verified=\"redactor\">You don\'t provide a way for the recipient to unsubscribe</strong> - this first of all is against the law, you should always provide a way for people to unsubscribe from your list.  Even if your direction is to reply with unsubscribe in the subject. Please note:  the later isn\'t the most efficient or liked way, but it can get the job done as long as you are manually removing the people who send those emails.</li>\r\n 	<li><strong data-redactor-tag=\"strong\" data-verified=\"redactor\">Your link requires the individual to enter an email address</strong> - this is a pet peeve of mine when it comes to \"unsubscribe paths\".  Explain to me why I must enter my email address to unsubscribe from an email that you sent me?  There should be some type of coding that can be done in your link to populate that information so that all the recipient needs to do is confirm it.  On your end, it may be innocent, but to the recipient, it is suspect behavior.  What is the purpose of asking me to supply an email when I want to get off your list to begin with?  Links that require this are more likely to get blacklisted as spam or junk mail.  I see them more times than not when a person is using an unsophisticated mailing system or they just aren\'t familiar with the inner workings of their system.  Ask your support team how to do it.</li>\r\n 	<li><strong data-redactor-tag=\"strong\" data-verified=\"redactor\">You only provide an all or nothing path</strong> - You provide an unsubscribe link, but maybe the person just doesn\'t want to hear about the fishing topics you send out but want to know about the boating stuff you send out.  Give your recipients a choice if you offer different types of content.  This is something that may seem to be a limitation of your mailing system, but most can give you a workaround if you just ask them.  By having two links (Unsubscribe from this topic and unsubscribe from the company) you raise the possibility of retaining valuable clients or potential clients that may just not be interested in the fishing topics you send out (why did I use fishing as my example?!?!?!)</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nSomething I am beginning to see with the passing of the GDPR deadlines is that many companies are burying an unsubscribe from this and all subsidiaries link in their privacy policy.  I feel a much better way to handle this is to offer that on one unsubscribe page that shows the email address associated and everywhere it is being used, this allows the person to pick and choose what they want to receive.  Since GDPR just passed in May 2018, I suspect that many mailing services are going to be introducing new options for unsubscribing from their lists.\r\n\r\nOne other thing to think about is that many times I\'ve gone to unsubscribe from an email to realize that the company also sent emails regarding topics I still wanted to receive.  This often happens if there is a special program or type of email that is sent under a different division of your company or with a different header.  Because the company provided this information, I changed my mind about unsubscribing from everything and instead ensured I was subscribed for what I was interested in.  If the choices weren\'t given as options then I sometimes would stay and just understand I would need to delete the others.\r\n\r\nSo, be clear about your associated programs and divisions when people are unsubscribing and consider offering a resubscribe link in case they made a mistake.\r\n\r\nFinally, I encourage you to walk through your email process to determine what your customer is actually experiencing.  Set up a testing email account and walk through the process from beginning to end (subscribe through to the unsubscribe process).  You want to see what your customers will experience.  You can also ask someone else to walk through the process for you and provide feedback.','The Broken Process Path:  Unsubscribe Links','','inherit','closed','closed','','7390-revision-v1','','','2018-06-19 15:16:28','2018-06-19 15:16:28','',7390,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/7390-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(7393,1,'2018-06-19 16:06:28','2018-06-19 16:06:28','The unsubscribe process has always been one that has irritated me as a consumer, but with the introduction of GDPR - General Data Protection Regulation, businesses are now beginning to have a much-needed conversation about unsubscribe links and being transparent regarding how consumer information is being used.\r\n\r\nNow don\'t get me wrong, as a business owner I fully understand the frustration and disappointment you experience when someone unsubscribes from your mailing list, but there could be many reasons why someone no longer wants to receive your information.  In some cases, it is because you didn\'t provide any alternatives.  That is what I want to talk about today, the ways to identify if you have a broken unsubscribe process that could end your business up on the naughty spammer list.\r\n<h1>Is Your Process Following the Law?</h1>\r\nFor those of you who didn\'t know, the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 established the first national standards for sending commercial e-mail.  It has a number of requirements that I encourage you to read, but the section I want to bring your attention to today is <a href=\"https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/7704\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">15 U.S.C. § 7704</a>(3) Inclusion of return address or comparable mechanism in commercial electronic mail and <a href=\"https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/7704\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">15 U.S.C. § 7704</a>(5) - Inclusion of identifier, opt-out and physical address in commerical electronic mail.  It states that you must provide:\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>clear identification that the message is an advertisement or solicitation (however this does not apply if the recipient has given prior affirmative consent to receive the message);</li>\r\n 	<li>notice of the opportunity to decline further messages from the sender <a href=\"https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/7704\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">[15 U.S.C. § 7704</a> (3)]; and</li>\r\n 	<li>a valid physical postal address of the sender.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI thought of this today as I was going through and unsubscribing from an email I had received that no longer met my needs.   My normal habit is to first use the unsubscribe link or another method that by law businesses are supposed to provide on their mass emails.  A personal one on one email doesn\'t require this link, but an email that is sent to multiple people does.  Well, today when I went to unsubscribe, the company\'s unsubscribe link didn\'t work, so what was I supposed to do?  In this case, most people do one of two things, they either try to respond to the email (if it isn\'t a no reply email) or they just mark it as spam or junk.\r\n\r\nNo one wants to end up on the spam or junk list because that means you aren\'t getting through and if too many people mark your emails that way it could block all of your emails.  So in light of this, I want to share a few things that can get you on the naughty list:\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li><strong data-redactor-tag=\"strong\" data-verified=\"redactor\">You don\'t provide a way for the recipient to unsubscribe</strong> - this first of all is against the law, you should always provide a way for people to unsubscribe from your list.  Even if your direction is to reply with unsubscribe in the subject. Please note:  the later isn\'t the most efficient or liked way, but it can get the job done as long as you are manually removing the people who send those emails.</li>\r\n 	<li><strong data-redactor-tag=\"strong\" data-verified=\"redactor\">Your link requires the individual to enter an email address</strong> - this is a pet peeve of mine when it comes to \"unsubscribe paths\".  Explain to me why I must enter my email address to unsubscribe from an email that you sent me?  There should be some type of coding that can be done in your link to populate that information so that all the recipient needs to do is confirm it.  On your end, it may be innocent, but to the recipient, it is suspect behavior.  What is the purpose of asking me to supply an email when I want to get off your list to begin with?  Links that require this are more likely to get blacklisted as spam or junk mail.  I see them more times than not when a person is using an unsophisticated mailing system or they just aren\'t familiar with the inner workings of their system.  Ask your support team how to do it.</li>\r\n 	<li><strong data-redactor-tag=\"strong\" data-verified=\"redactor\">You only provide an all or nothing path</strong> - You provide an unsubscribe link, but maybe the person just doesn\'t want to hear about the fishing topics you send out but want to know about the boating stuff you send out.  Give your recipients a choice if you offer different types of content.  This is something that may seem to be a limitation of your mailing system, but most can give you a workaround if you just ask them.  By having two links (Unsubscribe from this topic and unsubscribe from the company) you raise the possibility of retaining valuable clients or potential clients that may just not be interested in the fishing topics you send out (why did I use fishing as my example?!?!?!)</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nSomething I am beginning to see with the passing of the GDPR deadlines is that many companies are burying an unsubscribe from this and all subsidiaries link in their privacy policy.  I feel a much better way to handle this is to offer that on one unsubscribe page that shows the email address associated and everywhere it is being used, this allows the person to pick and choose what they want to receive.  Since GDPR just passed in May 2018, I suspect that many mailing services are going to be introducing new options for unsubscribing from their lists.\r\n\r\nOne other thing to think about is that many times I\'ve gone to unsubscribe from an email to realize that the company also sent emails regarding topics I still wanted to receive.  This often happens if there is a special program or type of email that is sent under a different division of your company or with a different header.  Because the company provided this information, I changed my mind about unsubscribing from everything and instead ensured I was subscribed for what I was interested in.  If the choices weren\'t given as options then I sometimes would stay and just understand I would need to delete the others.\r\n\r\nSo, be clear about your associated programs and divisions when people are unsubscribing and consider offering a resubscribe link in case they made a mistake.\r\n\r\nFinally, I encourage you to walk through your email process to determine what your customer is actually experiencing.  Set up a testing email account and walk through the process from beginning to end (subscribe through to the unsubscribe process).  You want to see what your customers will experience.  You can also ask someone else to walk through the process for you and provide feedback.\r\n\r\n<hr />\r\n\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li><a class=\"external text\" href=\"https://web.archive.org/web/20090207040530/http://www.ftc.gov/os/2005/01/050112canspamfrn.pdf\" rel=\"nofollow\">\"Definitions and Implementation Under the CAN-SPAM Act\"</a> (PDF). FTC. Archived from <a class=\"external text\" href=\"http://www.ftc.gov/os/2005/01/050112canspamfrn.pdf\" rel=\"nofollow\">the original</a>(PDF) on February 7, 2009<span class=\"reference-accessdate\">. Retrieved <span class=\"nowrap\">March 21,</span> 2009</span>.</li>\r\n</ol>','The Broken Unsubscribe Process','','inherit','closed','closed','','7390-revision-v1','','','2018-06-19 16:06:28','2018-06-19 16:06:28','',7390,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/7390-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(7394,1,'2018-06-19 17:21:33','2018-06-19 17:21:33','The unsubscribe process has always been one that has irritated me as a consumer, but with the introduction of GDPR - General Data Protection Regulation, businesses are now beginning to have a much-needed conversation about unsubscribe links and being transparent regarding how consumer information is being used.\r\n\r\nNow don\'t get me wrong, as a business owner I fully understand the frustration and disappointment you experience when someone unsubscribes from your mailing list, but there could be many reasons why someone no longer wants to receive your information.  In some cases, it is because you didn\'t provide any alternatives.  That is what I want to talk about today, the ways to identify if you have a broken unsubscribe process that could end your business up on the email blacklist.\r\n<h1>Is Your Process Following the Law?</h1>\r\nFor those of you who didn\'t know, the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 established the first national standards for sending commercial e-mail.  It has a number of requirements that I encourage you to read, but the section I want to bring your attention to today is <a href=\"https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/7704\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">15 U.S.C. § 7704</a>(3) Inclusion of return address or comparable mechanism in commercial electronic mail and <a href=\"https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/7704\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">15 U.S.C. § 7704</a>(5) - Inclusion of identifier, opt-out and physical address in commerical electronic mail.  In summary, a few key things you need provide are:\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>A clear identification that the message is an advertisement or solicitation, however this does not apply if the recipient has given prior affirmative consent to receive the message;</li>\r\n 	<li>A notice of the opportunity to decline further messages from the sender - there is a lot of specific details related to this; and</li>\r\n 	<li>a valid physical postal address of the sender.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h1>My Personal Experience with Bad Unsubscribe Links</h1>\r\nToday, as I was attempting to unsubscribe from an email that I no longer needed to receive, I experienced a lot of frustration because I was met with a broken unsubscribe process, which is what prompted me to write this blog post.\r\n\r\nMy normal process as a consumer is to first use the unsubscribe link or to reply to the email requesting that the sender unsubscribe me from their list.  As you read above, providing this ability is required by law.  Well, today when I went to unsubscribe, the company\'s unsubscribe link didn\'t work, so what was I supposed to do?  In this case, most people do one of two things, they either try to respond to the email (assuming it isn\'t a no reply email, which technically is against the law since the unsubscribe link didn\'t work) or they just mark it as spam or junk mail.\r\n\r\nObviously, as a business owner you don\'t want your clients or potential clients marking your emails as spam or junk mail as it sends up red flags in the internet world, which could cause your emails to not arrive in the inboxes of your recipients or worse could get you a seat on the email blacklist.\r\n<h1>What Process Changes Do You Need to Make?</h1>\r\nNo one wants to end up in the junk folder or on the spam or email blacklist because that means you aren\'t getting through to your potential customers.  So in light of this, I want to share a few things that you want to avoid:\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li><strong data-redactor-tag=\"strong\" data-verified=\"redactor\">You don\'t provide a way for the recipient to unsubscribe</strong> - this first of all is against the Can-Spam law and if you have an internet business with potential EU customers this is against GPDR as well.  You should always provide a way for people to unsubscribe from your list.  Even if your direction is to reply with unsubscribe in the subject. Albeit the latter method isn\'t the most efficient or preferred way, but it can get the job done as long as you are manually removing the people who send those emails.</li>\r\n 	<li><strong data-redactor-tag=\"strong\" data-verified=\"redactor\">Your link requires the individual to enter an email address</strong> - this is a pet peeve of mine when it comes to the unsubscribing processes.  Explain to me why I must enter my email address to unsubscribe from an email that you sent me?  There should be some type of coding that can be done in your link to populate that information so that all the recipient needs to do is confirm it.  On your end, it may be innocent, but to the recipient, it is suspect behavior.  What is the purpose of asking me to supply an email when I want to get off your list to begin with?  Links that require this are more likely to get marked as spam or junk mail.  I see them more times than not when a person is using a simplified mailing system or they just aren\'t familiar with the inner workings of their system.  Ask your support team how to do it if you don\'t know.</li>\r\n 	<li><strong data-redactor-tag=\"strong\" data-verified=\"redactor\">You only provide an all or nothing path</strong> - You provide an unsubscribe link, but maybe the person just doesn\'t want to hear about the baby topics you send out but want to know about the meal planning info you send out.  Give your recipients a choice if you offer different types of content.  This is something that may seem to be a limitation of your mailing system, but most can give you a workaround if you just ask them.  By having two links (Unsubscribe from this topic and unsubscribe from the company) you raise the possibility of retaining valuable clients or potential clients that may just not be interested in the baby content you send out.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\nSomething I am beginning to see with the passing of the GDPR deadlines is that many companies are burying an unsubscribe from this and all subsidiaries link in their privacy policy.  I feel a much better way to handle this is to offer that on one unsubscribe page that shows the email address associated and everywhere it is being used, this allows the person to pick and choose what they want to receive.  Since GDPR just passed in May 2018, I suspect that many mailing services are going to be introducing new options for unsubscribing from their lists.\r\n\r\nOne other thing to think about is that many times I\'ve gone to unsubscribe from an email to realize that the company also sent emails regarding topics I still wanted to receive.  This often happens if there is a special program or type of email that is sent under a different division of your company or with a different header.  Because the company provided this information, I changed my mind about unsubscribing from everything and instead ensured I was subscribed for what I was interested in.  If the choices weren\'t given as options then I sometimes would stay and just understand I would need to delete the others.\r\n\r\nSo, be clear about your associated programs and divisions when people are unsubscribing and consider offering a resubscribe link in case they made a mistake.\r\n\r\nFinally, I encourage you to walk through your email process to determine what your customer is actually experiencing.  Set up a testing email account and walk through the process from beginning to end (subscribe through to the unsubscribe process).  You want to see what your customers will experience.  You can also ask someone else to walk through the process for you and provide feedback.\r\n\r\n<hr />\r\n\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li><a class=\"external text\" href=\"https://web.archive.org/web/20090207040530/http://www.ftc.gov/os/2005/01/050112canspamfrn.pdf\" rel=\"nofollow\">\"Definitions and Implementation Under the CAN-SPAM Act\"</a> (PDF). FTC. Archived from <a class=\"external text\" href=\"http://www.ftc.gov/os/2005/01/050112canspamfrn.pdf\" rel=\"nofollow\">the original</a>(PDF) on February 7, 2009<span class=\"reference-accessdate\">. Retrieved <span class=\"nowrap\">March 21,</span> 2009</span>.</li>\r\n</ol>','The Broken Unsubscribe Process','','inherit','closed','closed','','7390-revision-v1','','','2018-06-19 17:21:33','2018-06-19 17:21:33','',7390,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/7390-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(7395,1,'2018-06-19 17:31:19','2018-06-19 17:31:19','The unsubscribe process has always been one that has irritated me as a consumer, but with the introduction of GDPR - General Data Protection Regulation, businesses are now beginning to have a much-needed conversation about unsubscribe links and being transparent regarding how consumer information is being used.\r\n\r\nNow don\'t get me wrong, as a business owner I fully understand the frustration and disappointment you experience when someone unsubscribes from your mailing list, but there could be many reasons why someone no longer wants to receive your information.  In some cases, it is because you didn\'t provide any alternatives.  That is what I want to talk about today, the ways to identify if you have a broken unsubscribe process that could end your business up on the email blacklist.\r\n<h1>Is Your Process Following the Law?</h1>\r\nFor those of you who didn\'t know, the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 established the first national standards for sending commercial e-mail.  It has a number of requirements that I encourage you to read, but the sections I want to bring your attention to today are <a href=\"https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/7704\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">15 U.S.C. § 7704</a>(3) Inclusion of return address or comparable mechanism in commercial electronic mail and <a href=\"https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/7704\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">15 U.S.C. § 7704</a>(5) - Inclusion of identifier, opt-out and physical address in commerical electronic mail.  In summary, a few key things you need to provide are:\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>A clear identification that the message is an advertisement or solicitation, however this does not apply if the recipient has given prior affirmative consent to receive the message;</li>\r\n 	<li>A notice of the opportunity to decline further messages from the sender - there is a lot of specific details related to this; and</li>\r\n 	<li>a valid physical postal address of the sender.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h1>My Personal Experience with Bad Unsubscribe Links</h1>\r\nToday, as I was attempting to unsubscribe from an email that I no longer needed to receive, I experienced a lot of frustration because I was met with a broken unsubscribe process, which is what prompted me to write this blog post.\r\n\r\nMy normal process as a consumer is to first use the unsubscribe link or to reply to the email requesting that the sender unsubscribe me from their list.  As you read above, providing this ability is required by law.  Well, today when I went to unsubscribe, the company\'s unsubscribe link didn\'t work, so what was I supposed to do?  In this case, most people do one of two things, they either try to respond to the email (assuming it isn\'t a no reply email, which technically is against the law since the unsubscribe link didn\'t work) or they just mark it as spam or junk mail.\r\n\r\nObviously, as a business owner, you don\'t want your clients or potential clients marking your emails as spam or junk mail as it sends up red flags in the internet world, which could cause your emails to not arrive in the inboxes of your recipients or worse could get you a seat on the email blacklist.\r\n<h1>What Process Changes Do You Need to Make?</h1>\r\nNo one wants to end up in the junk folder or on the spam or email blacklist because that means you aren\'t getting through to your potential customers.  So in light of this, I want to share a few things that you want to avoid:\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li><strong data-redactor-tag=\"strong\" data-verified=\"redactor\">You don\'t provide a way for the recipient to unsubscribe</strong> - this first of all is against the CAN-SPAM law and if you have an internet business with potential EU customers this is against GPDR as well.  You should always provide a way for people to unsubscribe from your list.  Even if your direction is to reply with unsubscribe in the subject. Albeit the latter method isn\'t the most efficient or preferred way, but it can get the job done as long as you are manually removing the people who send those emails.</li>\r\n 	<li><strong data-redactor-tag=\"strong\" data-verified=\"redactor\">Your link requires the individual to enter an email address</strong> - this is a pet peeve of mine when it comes to the unsubscribing process.  Explain to me why I must enter my email address to unsubscribe from an email that you just sent me?  There should be some type of coding that can be done in your link to populate that information so that all the recipient needs to do is confirm it.  On your end, it may be innocent, but to the recipient, it is suspect behavior.  What is the purpose of asking me to supply an email when I want to get off your list to begin with?  Links that require this are more likely to get marked as spam or junk mail.  I see them more times than not when a person is using a simplified mailing system or they just aren\'t familiar with the inner workings of their system.  Ask your support team how to do it if you don\'t know.</li>\r\n 	<li><strong data-redactor-tag=\"strong\" data-verified=\"redactor\">You only provide an all or nothing path</strong> - You provide an unsubscribe link, but maybe the person just doesn\'t want to hear about the baby topics you send out but want to know about the meal planning info you send out.  Give your recipients a choice if you offer different types of content.  This is something that may seem to be a limitation of your mailing system, but most can give you a workaround if you just ask them.  By having options (Unsubscribe from this topic, unsubscribe from the company or provide a suppression list) you raise the possibility of retaining valuable clients or potential clients that may just not be interested in the baby content you send out.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n<h1>Identification of your Subsidiaries, Associated programs or Alternate Lists</h1>\r\nSomething I am beginning to see with the passing of the GDPR deadlines is that many companies are burying an unsubscribe from this and all subsidiaries link in their privacy policy.  I feel a much better way to handle this is to offer that on one unsubscribe page that shows the email address associated and everywhere it is being used, this allows the person to pick and choose what they want to receive.  Since GDPR just passed in May 2018, I suspect that many mailing services are going to be introducing new options for unsubscribing from their lists as a way to combat this issue.\r\n\r\nOne other thing to think about is that many times I\'ve gone to unsubscribe from an email to realize that the company also sent emails regarding topics I still wanted to receive.  This often happens if there is a special program or type of email that is sent under a different division of your company or with a different header.  Because the company provided this information, I changed my mind about unsubscribing from everything and instead ensured I was subscribed for what I was interested in.  If the choices weren\'t given as options then I sometimes would stay and just understand I would need to delete the others.\r\n\r\nSo, be clear about your associated programs and divisions when people are unsubscribing and consider offering a resubscribe link in case they made a mistake.\r\n\r\nFinally, I encourage you to walk through your email process to determine what your customer is actually experiencing.  Set up a testing email account and walk through the process from beginning to end (subscribe through to the unsubscribe process).  You want to see what your customers will experience.  You can also ask someone else to walk through the process for you and provide feedback.\r\n\r\nBy taking these precautions and thinking about your process from the side of your consumer you will be more apt to stay off the blacklist.','The Broken Unsubscribe Process','','inherit','closed','closed','','7390-revision-v1','','','2018-06-19 17:31:19','2018-06-19 17:31:19','',7390,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/7390-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(7396,1,'2018-06-19 17:34:17','2018-06-19 17:34:17','The unsubscribe process has always been one that has irritated me as a consumer, but with the introduction of GDPR - General Data Protection Regulation, businesses are now beginning to have a much-needed conversation about unsubscribe links and being transparent regarding how consumer information is being used.\r\n\r\nNow don\'t get me wrong, as a business owner I fully understand the frustration and disappointment you experience when someone unsubscribes from your mailing list, but there could be many reasons why someone no longer wants to receive your information.  In some cases, it is because you didn\'t provide any alternatives.  That is what I want to talk about today, the ways to identify if you have a broken unsubscribe process that could end your business up on the email blacklist.\r\n<h1>Is Your Process Following the Law?</h1>\r\nFor those of you who didn\'t know, the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 established the first national standards for sending commercial e-mail.  It has a number of requirements that I encourage you to read, but the sections I want to bring your attention to today are <a href=\"https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/7704\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">15 U.S.C. § 7704</a>(3) Inclusion of return address or comparable mechanism in commercial electronic mail and <a href=\"https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/7704\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">15 U.S.C. § 7704</a>(5) - Inclusion of identifier, opt-out and physical address in commerical electronic mail.  In summary, a few key things you need to provide are:\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>A clear identification that the message is an advertisement or solicitation, however this does not apply if the recipient has given prior affirmative consent to receive the message;</li>\r\n 	<li>A notice of the opportunity to decline further messages from the sender - there is a lot of specific details related to this; and</li>\r\n 	<li>a valid physical postal address of the sender.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h1>My Personal Experience with Bad Unsubscribe Links</h1>\r\nToday, as I was attempting to unsubscribe from an email that I no longer needed to receive, I experienced a lot of frustration because I was met with a broken unsubscribe process, which is what prompted me to write this blog post.\r\n\r\nMy normal process as a consumer is to first use the unsubscribe link or to reply to the email requesting that the sender unsubscribe me from their list.  As you read above, providing this ability is required by law.  Well, today when I went to unsubscribe, the company\'s unsubscribe link didn\'t work, so what was I supposed to do?  In this case, most people do one of two things, they either try to respond to the email (assuming it isn\'t a no reply email, which technically is against the law since the unsubscribe link didn\'t work) or they just mark it as spam or junk mail.\r\n\r\nObviously, as a business owner, you don\'t want your clients or potential clients marking your emails as spam or junk mail as it sends up red flags in the internet world, which could cause your emails to not arrive in the inboxes of your recipients or worse could get you a seat on the email blacklist.\r\n<h1>What Process Changes Do You Need to Make?</h1>\r\nNo one wants to end up in the junk folder or on the spam or email blacklist because that means you aren\'t getting through to your potential customers.  So in light of this, I want to share a few things that you want to avoid:\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li><strong data-redactor-tag=\"strong\" data-verified=\"redactor\">You don\'t provide a way for the recipient to unsubscribe</strong> - this first of all is against the CAN-SPAM law and if you have an internet business with potential EU customers this is against GPDR as well.  You should always provide a way for people to unsubscribe from your list.  Even if your direction is to reply with unsubscribe in the subject. Albeit the latter method isn\'t the most efficient or preferred way, but it can get the job done as long as you are manually removing the people who send those emails.</li>\r\n 	<li><strong data-redactor-tag=\"strong\" data-verified=\"redactor\">Your link requires the individual to enter an email address</strong> - this is a pet peeve of mine when it comes to the unsubscribing process.  Explain to me why I must enter my email address to unsubscribe from an email that you just sent me?  There should be some type of coding that can be done in your link to populate that information so that all the recipient needs to do is confirm it.  On your end, it may be innocent, but to the recipient, it is suspect behavior.  What is the purpose of asking me to supply an email when I want to get off your list to begin with?  Links that require this are more likely to get marked as spam or junk mail.  I see them more times than not when a person is using a simplified mailing system or they just aren\'t familiar with the inner workings of their system.  Ask your support team how to do it if you don\'t know.</li>\r\n 	<li><strong data-redactor-tag=\"strong\" data-verified=\"redactor\">You only provide an all or nothing path</strong> - You provide an unsubscribe link, but maybe the person just doesn\'t want to hear about the baby topics you send out but want to know about the meal planning info you send out.  Give your recipients a choice if you offer different types of content.  This is something that may seem to be a limitation of your mailing system, but most can give you a workaround if you just ask them.  By having options (Unsubscribe from this topic, unsubscribe from the company or provide a suppression list) you raise the possibility of retaining valuable clients or potential clients that may just not be interested in the baby content you send out.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n<h1>Identification of your Subsidiaries, Associated programs or Alternate Lists</h1>\r\nSomething I am beginning to see with the passing of the GDPR deadlines is that many companies are burying an unsubscribe from this and all subsidiaries link in their privacy policy.  I feel a much better way to handle this is to offer that on one unsubscribe page that shows the email address associated and everywhere it is being used, this allows the person to pick and choose what they want to receive.  Since GDPR just passed in May 2018, I suspect that many mailing services are going to be introducing new options for unsubscribing from their lists as a way to combat this issue.\r\n\r\nOne other thing to think about is that many times I\'ve gone to unsubscribe from an email to realize that the company also sent emails regarding topics I still wanted to receive.  This often happens if there is a special program or type of email that is sent under a different division of your company or with a different header.  Because the company provided this information, I changed my mind about unsubscribing from everything and instead ensured I was subscribed for what I was interested in.  If the choices weren\'t given as options then I sometimes would stay and just understand I would need to delete the others.\r\n\r\nSo, be clear about your associated programs and divisions when people are unsubscribing and consider offering a resubscribe link in case they made a mistake.\r\n\r\nFinally, I encourage you to walk through your email process to determine what your customer is actually experiencing.  Set up a testing email account and walk through the process from beginning to end (subscribe through to the unsubscribe process).  You want to see what your customers will experience.  You can also ask someone else to walk through the process for you and provide feedback.\r\n\r\nBy taking these precautions and thinking about your process from the side of your consumer you will be more apt to stay off the blacklist.','How to Resolve the Broken Unsubscribe Process','','inherit','closed','closed','','7390-revision-v1','','','2018-06-19 17:34:17','2018-06-19 17:34:17','',7390,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/7390-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(7397,1,'2018-06-19 19:52:22','2018-06-19 19:52:22','<ul>\r\n 	<li><a href=\"https://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/courses/OLP-MC-718\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Masterclass: Organize Your Home Like a Pro</strong></a>\r\nAre you frustrated with the state of your home? Do you wish you could get it organized once and for all, so you can spend time doing more important things? Learn how to reduce the overwhelm in your home through organizing\r\nClass Starts June 24, 2018</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>THBMethod Masterclass - THB C.H.A.N.G.E Academy\r\n</strong>This Masterclass walks you step-by-step through the concepts and techniques taught in the THB Method Overview Workshop.\r\nJuly 5, 2018</li>\r\n</ul>','Events, Promotions and Product Launches','','inherit','closed','closed','','66-revision-v1','','','2018-06-19 19:52:22','2018-06-19 19:52:22','',66,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/66-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(7398,1,'2018-06-19 19:55:57','2018-06-19 19:55:57','<ul>\r\n 	<li><a href=\"https://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/courses/OLP-MC-718\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Masterclass: Organize Your Home Like a Pro</strong></a>\r\nAre you frustrated with the state of your home? Do you wish you could get it organized once and for all, so you can spend time doing more important things? Learn how to reduce the overwhelm in your home through organizing (Online Class)\r\nClass Starts June 24, 2018</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>THBMethod Masterclass - THB C.H.A.N.G.E Academy\r\n</strong>This Masterclass walks you step-by-step through the concepts and techniques taught in the THB Method Overview Workshop.\r\nJuly 5, 2018</li>\r\n</ul>','Events, Promotions and Product Launches','','inherit','closed','closed','','66-revision-v1','','','2018-06-19 19:55:57','2018-06-19 19:55:57','',66,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/66-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(7399,1,'2018-06-19 19:56:14','2018-06-19 19:56:14','<ul>\r\n 	<li><a href=\"https://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/courses/OLP-MC-718\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Masterclass: Organize Your Home Like a Pro</strong></a>\r\nAre you frustrated with the state of your home? Do you wish you could get it organized once and for all, so you can spend time doing more important things? Learn how to reduce the overwhelm in your home through organizing (Virtual Class)\r\nClass Starts June 24, 2018</li>\r\n 	<li><strong>THBMethod Masterclass - THB C.H.A.N.G.E Academy\r\n</strong>This Masterclass walks you step-by-step through the concepts and techniques taught in the THB Method Overview Workshop.\r\nJuly 5, 2018</li>\r\n</ul>','Events, Promotions and Product Launches','','inherit','closed','closed','','66-revision-v1','','','2018-06-19 19:56:14','2018-06-19 19:56:14','',66,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/66-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(7403,1,'2018-06-25 22:05:26','2018-06-25 22:05:26','','Broken Unsubscribe Process | The Happiness Bucket','','inherit','open','closed','','wordpress-post-768-x-480-template-2-2','','','2018-06-25 22:05:54','2018-06-25 22:05:54','',7390,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Wordpress-Post-768-x-480-Template-2.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(7404,1,'2018-06-25 22:06:02','2018-06-25 22:06:02','The unsubscribe process has always been one that has irritated me as a consumer, but with the introduction of GDPR - General Data Protection Regulation, businesses are now beginning to have a much-needed conversation about unsubscribe links and being transparent regarding how consumer information is being used.\r\n\r\nNow don\'t get me wrong, as a business owner I fully understand the frustration and disappointment you experience when someone unsubscribes from your mailing list, but there could be many reasons why someone no longer wants to receive your information.  In some cases, it is because you didn\'t provide any alternatives.  That is what I want to talk about today, the ways to identify if you have a broken unsubscribe process that could end your business up on the email blacklist.\r\n<h1>Is Your Process Following the Law?</h1>\r\nFor those of you who didn\'t know, the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 established the first national standards for sending commercial e-mail.  It has a number of requirements that I encourage you to read, but the sections I want to bring your attention to today are <a href=\"https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/7704\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">15 U.S.C. § 7704</a>(3) Inclusion of return address or comparable mechanism in commercial electronic mail and <a href=\"https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/7704\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">15 U.S.C. § 7704</a>(5) - Inclusion of identifier, opt-out and physical address in commerical electronic mail.  In summary, a few key things you need to provide are:\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>A clear identification that the message is an advertisement or solicitation, however this does not apply if the recipient has given prior affirmative consent to receive the message;</li>\r\n 	<li>A notice of the opportunity to decline further messages from the sender - there is a lot of specific details related to this; and</li>\r\n 	<li>a valid physical postal address of the sender.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h1>My Personal Experience with Bad Unsubscribe Links</h1>\r\nToday, as I was attempting to unsubscribe from an email that I no longer needed to receive, I experienced a lot of frustration because I was met with a broken unsubscribe process, which is what prompted me to write this blog post.\r\n\r\nMy normal process as a consumer is to first use the unsubscribe link or to reply to the email requesting that the sender unsubscribe me from their list.  As you read above, providing this ability is required by law.  Well, today when I went to unsubscribe, the company\'s unsubscribe link didn\'t work, so what was I supposed to do?  In this case, most people do one of two things, they either try to respond to the email (assuming it isn\'t a no reply email, which technically is against the law since the unsubscribe link didn\'t work) or they just mark it as spam or junk mail.\r\n\r\nObviously, as a business owner, you don\'t want your clients or potential clients marking your emails as spam or junk mail as it sends up red flags in the internet world, which could cause your emails to not arrive in the inboxes of your recipients or worse could get you a seat on the email blacklist.\r\n<h1>What Process Changes Do You Need to Make?</h1>\r\nNo one wants to end up in the junk folder or on the spam or email blacklist because that means you aren\'t getting through to your potential customers.  So in light of this, I want to share a few things that you want to avoid:\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li><strong data-redactor-tag=\"strong\" data-verified=\"redactor\">You don\'t provide a way for the recipient to unsubscribe</strong> - this first of all is against the CAN-SPAM law and if you have an internet business with potential EU customers this is against GDPR as well.  You should always provide a way for people to unsubscribe from your list.  Even if your direction is to reply with unsubscribe in the subject. Albeit the latter method isn\'t the most efficient or preferred way, but it can get the job done as long as you are manually removing the people who send those emails.</li>\r\n 	<li><strong data-redactor-tag=\"strong\" data-verified=\"redactor\">Your link requires the individual to enter an email address</strong> - this is a pet peeve of mine when it comes to the unsubscribing process.  Explain to me why I must enter my email address to unsubscribe from an email that you just sent me?  There should be some type of coding that can be done in your link to populate that information so that all the recipient needs to do is confirm it.  On your end, it may be innocent, but to the recipient, it is suspect behavior.  What is the purpose of asking me to supply an email when I want to get off your list to begin with?  Links that require this are more likely to get marked as spam or junk mail.  I see them more times than not when a person is using a simplified mailing system or they just aren\'t familiar with the inner workings of their system.  Ask your support team of your mailing system how to do it if you don\'t know.</li>\r\n 	<li><strong data-redactor-tag=\"strong\" data-verified=\"redactor\">You only provide an all or nothing path</strong> - You provide an unsubscribe link, but maybe the person just doesn\'t want to hear about the baby topics you send out but want to know about the meal planning info you send out.  Give your recipients a choice if you offer different types of content.  This is something that may seem to be a limitation of your mailing system, but most can give you a workaround if you just ask them.  By having options (Unsubscribe from this topic, unsubscribe from the company or provide a suppression list) you raise the possibility of retaining valuable clients or potential clients that may just not be interested in the baby content you send out.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n<h1>Identification of your Subsidiaries, Associated programs or Alternate Lists</h1>\r\nSomething I am beginning to see with the passing of the GDPR deadline is that many companies are burying an unsubscribe from this and all subsidiaries link in their privacy policy.  I feel a much better way to handle this is to offer that on one unsubscribe page that shows the email address associated and everywhere it is being used, this allows the person to pick and choose what they want to receive.  Since GDPR just passed in May 2018, I suspect that many mailing services are going to be introducing new options for unsubscribing from their lists as a way to combat this issue.\r\n\r\nOne other thing to think about is that many times I\'ve gone to unsubscribe from an email to realize that the company also sent emails regarding topics I still wanted to receive.  This often happens if there is a special program or type of email that is sent under a different division of your company or with a different header.  Because the company provided this information, I changed my mind about unsubscribing from everything and instead ensured I was subscribed for what I was interested in.  If the choices weren\'t given as options then I sometimes would stay and just understand I would need to delete the others.\r\n\r\nSo, be clear about your associated programs and divisions when people are unsubscribing and consider offering a resubscribe link in case they made a mistake.\r\n\r\nFinally, I encourage you to walk through your email process to determine what your customer is actually experiencing.  Set up a testing email account and walk through the process from beginning to end (subscribe through to the unsubscribe process).  You want to see what your customers will experience.  You can also ask someone else to walk through the process for you and provide feedback.\r\n\r\nBy taking these precautions and thinking about your process from the side of your consumer you will be more apt to stay off the blacklist.','How to Resolve the Broken Unsubscribe Process','','inherit','closed','closed','','7390-revision-v1','','','2018-06-25 22:06:02','2018-06-25 22:06:02','',7390,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/7390-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(7405,1,'2018-06-25 22:14:01','2018-06-25 22:14:01','','Spam Mailbox | The Happiness Bucket','','inherit','open','closed','','spam-mail-box-2636258_1920','','','2018-06-25 22:14:35','2018-06-25 22:14:35','',7390,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/spam-mail-box-2636258_1920.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(7406,1,'2018-06-25 22:14:51','2018-06-25 22:14:51','The unsubscribe process has always been one that has irritated me as a consumer, but with the introduction of GDPR - General Data Protection Regulation, businesses are now beginning to have a much-needed conversation about unsubscribe links and being transparent regarding how consumer information is being used.\r\n\r\nNow don\'t get me wrong, as a business owner I fully understand the frustration and disappointment you experience when someone unsubscribes from your mailing list, but there could be many reasons why someone no longer wants to receive your information.  In some cases, it is because you didn\'t provide any alternatives.  That is what I want to talk about today, the ways to identify if you have a broken unsubscribe process that could end your business up on the email blacklist.\r\n<h1>Is Your Process Following the Law?</h1>\r\nFor those of you who didn\'t know, the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 established the first national standards for sending commercial e-mail.  It has a number of requirements that I encourage you to read, but the sections I want to bring your attention to today are <a href=\"https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/7704\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">15 U.S.C. § 7704</a>(3) Inclusion of return address or comparable mechanism in commercial electronic mail and <a href=\"https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/7704\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">15 U.S.C. § 7704</a>(5) - Inclusion of identifier, opt-out and physical address in commerical electronic mail.  In summary, a few key things you need to provide are:\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>A clear identification that the message is an advertisement or solicitation, however this does not apply if the recipient has given prior affirmative consent to receive the message;</li>\r\n 	<li>A notice of the opportunity to decline further messages from the sender - there is a lot of specific details related to this; and</li>\r\n 	<li>a valid physical postal address of the sender.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h1>My Personal Experience with Bad Unsubscribe Links</h1>\r\nToday, as I was attempting to unsubscribe from an email that I no longer needed to receive, I experienced a lot of frustration because I was met with a broken unsubscribe process, which is what prompted me to write this blog post.\r\n\r\nMy normal process as a consumer is to first use the unsubscribe link or to reply to the email requesting that the sender unsubscribe me from their list.  As you read above, providing this ability is required by law.  Well, today when I went to unsubscribe, the company\'s unsubscribe link didn\'t work, so what was I supposed to do?  In this case, most people do one of two things, they either try to respond to the email (assuming it isn\'t a no reply email, which technically is against the law since the unsubscribe link didn\'t work) or they just mark it as spam or junk mail.\r\n\r\nObviously, as a business owner, you don\'t want your clients or potential clients marking your emails as spam or junk mail as it sends up red flags in the internet world, which could cause your emails to not arrive in the inboxes of your recipients or worse could get you a seat on the email blacklist.\r\n<h1>What Process Changes Do You Need to Make?<img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-7405\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/spam-mail-box-2636258_1920-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Spam Mailbox | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></h1>\r\nNo one wants to end up in the junk folder or on the spam or email blacklist because that means you aren\'t getting through to your potential customers.  So in light of this, I want to share a few things that you want to avoid:\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li><strong data-redactor-tag=\"strong\" data-verified=\"redactor\">You don\'t provide a way for the recipient to unsubscribe</strong> - this first of all is against the CAN-SPAM law and if you have an internet business with potential EU customers this is against GDPR as well.  You should always provide a way for people to unsubscribe from your list.  Even if your direction is to reply with unsubscribe in the subject. Albeit the latter method isn\'t the most efficient or preferred way, but it can get the job done as long as you are manually removing the people who send those emails.</li>\r\n 	<li><strong data-redactor-tag=\"strong\" data-verified=\"redactor\">Your link requires the individual to enter an email address</strong> - this is a pet peeve of mine when it comes to the unsubscribing process.  Explain to me why I must enter my email address to unsubscribe from an email that you just sent me?  There should be some type of coding that can be done in your link to populate that information so that all the recipient needs to do is confirm it.  On your end, it may be innocent, but to the recipient, it is suspect behavior.  What is the purpose of asking me to supply an email when I want to get off your list to begin with?  Links that require this are more likely to get marked as spam or junk mail.  I see them more times than not when a person is using a simplified mailing system or they just aren\'t familiar with the inner workings of their system.  Ask your support team of your mailing system how to do it if you don\'t know.</li>\r\n 	<li><strong data-redactor-tag=\"strong\" data-verified=\"redactor\">You only provide an all or nothing path</strong> - You provide an unsubscribe link, but maybe the person just doesn\'t want to hear about the baby topics you send out but want to know about the meal planning info you send out.  Give your recipients a choice if you offer different types of content.  This is something that may seem to be a limitation of your mailing system, but most can give you a workaround if you just ask them.  By having options (Unsubscribe from this topic, unsubscribe from the company or provide a suppression list) you raise the possibility of retaining valuable clients or potential clients that may just not be interested in the baby content you send out.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n<h1>Identification of your Subsidiaries, Associated programs or Alternate Lists</h1>\r\nSomething I am beginning to see with the passing of the GDPR deadline is that many companies are burying an unsubscribe from this and all subsidiaries link in their privacy policy.  I feel a much better way to handle this is to offer that on one unsubscribe page that shows the email address associated and everywhere it is being used, this allows the person to pick and choose what they want to receive.  Since GDPR just passed in May 2018, I suspect that many mailing services are going to be introducing new options for unsubscribing from their lists as a way to combat this issue.\r\n\r\nOne other thing to think about is that many times I\'ve gone to unsubscribe from an email to realize that the company also sent emails regarding topics I still wanted to receive.  This often happens if there is a special program or type of email that is sent under a different division of your company or with a different header.  Because the company provided this information, I changed my mind about unsubscribing from everything and instead ensured I was subscribed for what I was interested in.  If the choices weren\'t given as options then I sometimes would stay and just understand I would need to delete the others.\r\n\r\nSo, be clear about your associated programs and divisions when people are unsubscribing and consider offering a resubscribe link in case they made a mistake.\r\n\r\nFinally, I encourage you to walk through your email process to determine what your customer is actually experiencing.  Set up a testing email account and walk through the process from beginning to end (subscribe through to the unsubscribe process).  You want to see what your customers will experience.  You can also ask someone else to walk through the process for you and provide feedback.\r\n\r\nBy taking these precautions and thinking about your process from the side of your consumer you will be more apt to stay off the blacklist.','How to Resolve the Broken Unsubscribe Process','','inherit','closed','closed','','7390-revision-v1','','','2018-06-25 22:14:51','2018-06-25 22:14:51','',7390,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/7390-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(7407,1,'2018-06-25 22:43:23','2018-06-25 22:43:23','The unsubscribe process has always been one that has irritated me as a consumer, but with the introduction of GDPR - General Data Protection Regulation, businesses are now beginning to have a much-needed conversation about unsubscribe links and being transparent regarding how consumer information is being used.\r\n\r\nNow don\'t get me wrong, as a business owner I fully understand the frustration and disappointment you experience when someone unsubscribes from your mailing list, but there could be many reasons why someone no longer wants to receive your information.  In some cases, it is because you didn\'t provide any alternatives.  That is what I want to talk about today, the ways to identify if you have a broken unsubscribe process that could end your business up on the email blacklist.\r\n<h1>Is Your Process Following the Law?</h1>\r\nFor those of you who didn\'t know, the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 established the first national standards for sending commercial e-mail.  It has a number of requirements that I encourage you to read, but the sections I want to bring your attention to today are <a href=\"https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/7704\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">15 U.S.C. § 7704</a>(3) Inclusion of return address or comparable mechanism in commercial electronic mail and <a href=\"https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/7704\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">15 U.S.C. § 7704</a>(5) - Inclusion of identifier, opt-out and physical address in commerical electronic mail.  In summary, a few key things you need to provide are:\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>A clear identification that the message is an advertisement or solicitation, however this does not apply if the recipient has given prior affirmative consent to receive the message;</li>\r\n 	<li>A notice of the opportunity to decline further messages from the sender - there is a lot of specific details related to this; and</li>\r\n 	<li>a valid physical postal address of the sender.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h1>My Personal Experience with Bad Unsubscribe Links</h1>\r\nToday, as I was attempting to unsubscribe from an email, I experienced a lot of frustration because I was met with a broken unsubscribe process.\r\n\r\nMy normal process as a consumer is to first use the unsubscribe link or to reply to the email requesting that the sender unsubscribe me from their list.  As you read above, providing this ability is required by law.  Well, today when I went to unsubscribe, the company\'s unsubscribe link didn\'t work. What was I supposed to do?  In this case, most people do one of two things, they either try to respond to the email or they just mark it as spam or junk mail. Assuming, of course, that it isn\'t a no reply email. If it had been, it would have technically been against the law since the unsubscribe link didn\'t work.\r\n\r\nObviously, as a business owner, you don\'t want your clients or potential clients marking your emails as spam or junk mail as it sends up red flags in the internet world, which could cause your emails to not arrive in the inboxes of your recipients or worse could get you a seat on the email blacklist.\r\n<h1>What Process Changes Do You Need to Make?<img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-7405\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/spam-mail-box-2636258_1920-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Spam Mailbox | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></h1>\r\nNo one wants to end up in the junk folder or on the spam or email blacklist.  That means you aren\'t getting through to your potential customers.  So in light of this, I want to share a few things that you want to avoid:\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li><strong data-redactor-tag=\"strong\" data-verified=\"redactor\">You don\'t provide a way for the recipient to unsubscribe</strong> - this first of all is against the CAN-SPAM law and if you have an internet business with potential EU customers this is against GDPR as well.  You should always provide a way for people to unsubscribe from your list.  Even if your direction is to reply with unsubscribe in the subject. Albeit the latter method isn\'t the most efficient or preferred way but works as long as you remove people manually who send those emails.</li>\r\n 	<li><strong data-redactor-tag=\"strong\" data-verified=\"redactor\">Your link requires the individual to enter an email address</strong> - this is a pet peeve of mine when it comes to the unsubscribing process.  Explain to me why I must enter my email address to unsubscribe from an email that you just sent me?  You should code the link to populate that information.  A recipient should just need to confirm it.  On your end, it may be innocent, but to the recipient, it is suspect behavior.  What is the purpose of asking me to supply an email? I am trying to get off your list.  Links that require this are more likely to get marked as spam or junk mail.  I see them more times than not when a person is using a simplified mailing system or they just aren\'t familiar with the inner workings of their system.  Ask your support team of your mailing system how to do it if you don\'t know.</li>\r\n 	<li><strong data-redactor-tag=\"strong\" data-verified=\"redactor\">You only provide an all or nothing path</strong> - You provide an unsubscribe link, but maybe the person just doesn\'t want to hear about the baby topics you send out but want to know about the meal planning info you send out.  Give your recipients a choice if you offer different types of content.  This is something that may seem to be a limitation of your mailing system, but most can give you a workaround if you just ask them.  By having options (Unsubscribe from this topic, unsubscribe from the company or provide a suppression list) you raise the possibility of retaining valuable clients or potential clients that may just not be interested in the baby content you send out.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n<h1>Identification of your Subsidiaries, Associated programs or Alternate Lists</h1>\r\nSomething I am beginning to see with the passing of the GDPR deadline is that many companies are burying an unsubscribe from this and all subsidiaries link in their privacy policy.  I feel a much better way to handle this is to offer that on one unsubscribe page that shows the email address associated and everywhere it is being used, this allows the person to pick and choose what they want to receive.  Since GDPR just passed in May 2018, I suspect that many mailing services are going to be introducing new options for unsubscribing from their lists as a way to combat this issue.\r\n\r\nOne other thing to think about is when consumers want to unsubscribe from a topic or division of your company. This happens when a special program or email is sent under a different division of your company or a different header.  Because the company provides this information, some will change their mind about unsubscribing from everything and instead ensure they are subscribed for what interests them.  If the choices aren\'t given as options they weigh which is more important, what they want or what they don\'t want.\r\n\r\nSo, be clear about your associated programs and divisions. When people are unsubscribing, consider offering a resubscribe link in case they made a mistake.\r\n\r\nFinally, I encourage you to walk through your email process to determine what your customer is actually experiencing.  Set up a testing email account and walk through the process from subscribing through to the unsubscribe process.  You want to see what your customers will experience.  You can also ask someone else to walk through the process for you and provide feedback.\r\n\r\nBy taking these precautions and thinking about your consumer\'s process, you will be more apt to stay off the blacklist.','How to Resolve the Broken Unsubscribe Process','','inherit','closed','closed','','7390-revision-v1','','','2018-06-25 22:43:23','2018-06-25 22:43:23','',7390,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/7390-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(7408,1,'2018-06-25 22:55:27','2018-06-25 22:55:27','The unsubscribe process has always been one that has irritated me as a consumer, but with the introduction of GDPR - General Data Protection Regulation, businesses are now beginning to have a much-needed conversation about unsubscribe links and being transparent regarding how consumer information is being used.\r\n\r\nNow don\'t get me wrong, as a business owner I fully understand the frustration and disappointment you experience when someone unsubscribes from your mailing list, but there could be many reasons why someone no longer wants to receive your information.  In some cases, it is because you didn\'t provide any alternatives.  That is what I want to talk about today, the ways to identify if you have a broken unsubscribe process that could get you an invitation to the email blacklist.\r\n<h1>Is Your Process Following the Law?</h1>\r\nFor those of you who didn\'t know, the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 established the first national standards for sending commercial e-mail.  It has a number of requirements that I encourage you to read, but the sections I want to bring your attention to today are <a href=\"https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/7704\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">15 U.S.C. § 7704</a>(3) Inclusion of return address or comparable mechanism in commercial electronic mail and <a href=\"https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/7704\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">15 U.S.C. § 7704</a>(5) - Inclusion of identifier, opt-out and physical address in commerical electronic mail.  In summary, a few key things you need to provide are:\r\n<ul>\r\n 	<li>A clear identification that the message is an advertisement or solicitation, however this does not apply if the recipient has given prior affirmative consent to receive the message;</li>\r\n 	<li>A notice of the opportunity to decline further messages from the sender - there is a lot of specific details related to this; and</li>\r\n 	<li>a valid physical postal address of the sender.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<h1>My Personal Experience with Bad Unsubscribe Links</h1>\r\nIn attempting to unsubscribe from an email, I experience a lot of frustration when I come across broken unsubscribe links.\r\n\r\nMy normal process as a consumer is to first use the unsubscribe link or to reply to the email requesting that the sender unsubscribe me from their list.  As stated above, providing this ability is the law.  Well, today when I went to unsubscribe, the company\'s unsubscribe link didn\'t work. What was I supposed to do?  In this case, most people do one of two things, they either try to respond to the email or they just mark it as spam or junk mail. Assuming, of course, that it isn\'t a no reply email. If it had been, it would have technically been against the law since the unsubscribe link didn\'t work.\r\n\r\nObviously, as a business owner, you don\'t want your clients or potential clients marking your emails as spam or junk mail as it sends up red flags in the internet world.  This could cause your emails to skip the inboxes of your recipients and end up in the junk folder or worse yet on the email blacklist.\r\n<h1>What Process Changes Do You Need to Make?<img class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-7405\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/spam-mail-box-2636258_1920-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Spam Mailbox | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /></h1>\r\nNo one wants to end up in the junk folder or on the spam or email blacklist.  That means you aren\'t getting through to your potential customers.  So in light of this, I want to share a few things that you want to avoid:\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li><strong data-redactor-tag=\"strong\" data-verified=\"redactor\">You don\'t provide a way for the recipient to unsubscribe</strong> - this first of all is against the CAN-SPAM law and if you have an internet business with potential EU customers this is against GDPR as well.  You should always provide a way for people to unsubscribe from your list.  Even if your direction is to reply with unsubscribe in the subject. Albeit the latter method isn\'t the most efficient or preferred way but works as long as you remove people manually who send those emails.</li>\r\n 	<li><strong data-redactor-tag=\"strong\" data-verified=\"redactor\">Your link requires the individual to enter an email address</strong> - this is a pet peeve of mine when it comes to the unsubscribing process.  Explain to me why I must enter my email address to unsubscribe from an email that you just sent me?  You should code the link to populate that information.  A recipient should just need to confirm it.  On your end, it may be innocent, but to the recipient, it is suspect behavior.  What is the purpose of asking me to supply an email? I am trying to get off your list.  I see this type of link more times than not when a person is using a simplified mailing system. The system is too simplified or they just aren\'t familiar with the inner workings of it.  Ask your support team of your mailing system how to do it if you don\'t know.</li>\r\n 	<li><strong data-redactor-tag=\"strong\" data-verified=\"redactor\">You only provide an all or nothing path</strong> - You provide an unsubscribe link, but maybe the person just doesn\'t want to hear about the baby topics you send out but want to know about the meal planning info you send out.  Give your recipients a choice if you offer different types of content.  This is something that may seem to be a limitation of your mailing system, but most can give you a workaround if you just ask them.  By having options (Unsubscribe from this topic, unsubscribe from the company or provide a suppression list) you raise the possibility of retaining valuable clients or potential clients that may just not be interested in the baby content you send out.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n<h1>Identification of your Subsidiaries, Associated programs or Alternate Lists</h1>\r\nSomething I am beginning to see with the passing of the GDPR deadline is that many companies are burying an unsubscribe from this and all subsidiaries link in their privacy policy.  A much better way to handle this is to offer one unsubscribe page.  On it show the individual\'s email address and everywhere you use it.  This allows the person to pick and choose what they want to receive.  Since GDPR just passed in May 2018, I suspect that many mailing services are going to be introducing new options for unsubscribing from their lists as a way to combat this issue.\r\n\r\nOne other thing to think about is when consumers want to unsubscribe from a topic or division of your company. This happens when a special program or email is sent under a different division of your company or a different header.  Because the company provides this information, some will change their mind about unsubscribing from everything and instead ensure they are subscribed for what interests them.  If the choices aren\'t given as options they weigh which is more important, what they want or what they don\'t want.\r\n\r\nSo, be clear about your associated programs and divisions. When people are unsubscribing, consider offering a resubscribe link in case they made a mistake.\r\n\r\nFinally, I encourage you to walk through your email process to determine what your customer is actually experiencing.  Set up a testing email account and walk through the process from subscribing through to the unsubscribe process.  You want to see what your customers will experience.  You can also ask someone else to walk through the process for you and provide feedback.\r\n\r\nBy taking these precautions and thinking about your consumer\'s process, you will be more apt to stay off the blacklist.','How to Resolve the Broken Unsubscribe Process','','inherit','closed','closed','','7390-revision-v1','','','2018-06-25 22:55:27','2018-06-25 22:55:27','',7390,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/7390-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(7412,560,'2018-08-22 07:00:45','2018-08-22 07:00:45','<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-doc-id=\"4817100000000352001\">Starting any journey can be a very stressful and scary thing. First, you are changing a pattern or process that you have known for a while. You also may not know what to expect and that in itself can be extremely disconcerting. This is mainly because change isn\'t easy and you are really focusing on making changes in your life, not anyone else\'s. You aren\'t dependent on anyone but yourself to make these changes happen which means you can\'t blame someone else for your success or failure. It\'s all on you.  So I am going to talk to you about how to start a weight loss journey, specifically how I began my ketogenic lifestyle weightloss journey.<!--more--></p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-7427\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/ClubKetoPinnableGraphic-200x300.png\" alt=\"How to Start a Keto Lifestyle| The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" />Yes, you can plan to go on a journey with someone else, but in the end it is all reliant on your willpower and drive to succeed. That is scary and refreshing at the same time right?</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">Well, as you guys know I am on my very own weight loss journey and I decided to share it with you so you can see that I don\'t just teach you to do these things I am doing and living by everything I share with you. You can follow my journey by connecting on my Instagram account <a href=\"https://www.instagram.com/truthstoryofdana/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Truth Story of Dana</a> or by connecting on my <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/DanaLaRiealMorales/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">coaching facebook page</a>.</p>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"iframe-container\"> <span style=\"font-size: 30px; font-weight: bold;\">My Weight Loss Journey</span></div>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">This isn\'t my first run at a weight loss journey, in fact...back in 2010 I inadvertently began one while I was training for the half marathon. My goal at the time was to complete the half marathon by any means necessary, but a bonus benefit of focusing on that goal was that I lost weight and went from a size 20 to a size 14/16. I was amazed at how easy it was, because I didn\'t change my eating habits I just trained...and truth be told, I didn\'t even train like I was supposed to, but that\'s a story for another day.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">After that, I got married and subsequently got pregnant, but only gained 20 lbs with my pregnancy. I salsa danced up until I was 7 months, so I\'m sure that helped keep some of the weight off. After the birth of little bit I lost what I had gained and a little more because I was breastfeeding...I was the same size I had been in college. Then...(deep breath) I discovered vanilla oreos!!!! yes (shaking my head), I not only discovered them I was devouring them on a regular basis!!!! Looking back it was a crying shame how many of those little cookies I ate in a week. Lets just say I was woofing down a family pack every week to week and a half! Between that and me no longer salsa dancing the weight began to pile on and five years later I weighed my heaviest at 275!!!</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">I remember the day I stepped on that scale and saw that number it was devastating! Now, understand I knew before that day I needed to do something.  I was uncomfortable and just didn\'t feel attractive.  My clothes weren\'t fitting right and I knew I either had to lose weight or go up another size.  Ultimately, that was the straw that broke the camels back and I knew I had to kick it into gear and make a change. I needed to be about it and not just talk about it.</p>\r\n\r\n<h1 data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">My Mindset Stage</h1>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">As you guys know I teach about the <a href=\"https://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/courses/organizational-roadmap\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">five stages of organizing</a>, and one of the most important steps is the mindset stage.  The entire four to six months before I bit the bullet I was getting inspiration and affirmations from people around me.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">[Inspiration #1] A long-time acquaintance and Change Academy Member (and his wife) posted pictures of their amazing weight loss journey. [Inspiration #2] One of my Alum (and Change Academy Member) had a health scare and began watching his diet and exercising and [Inspiration #3] my co-worker and friend (and his wife) began his ketogenic lifestyle and I was able to see his 100 lb weight loss in person.</p>\r\n\r\n<blockquote>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">Inspirations are around every corner, you just have to open your eyes to see them.</p>\r\n</blockquote>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">I realized that I was teaching you how to live a faithful life and take action on your change journey and I wasn\'t doing that when it came to my health. It was time to make a change and for accountability purposes I decided I would share it with you.</p>\r\n\r\n<h1 class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">My Ketogenic Lifestyle</h1>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">So if you have been following my <a href=\"https://www.instagram.com/truthstoryofdana/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Instagram account</a> or our <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/DanaLaRiealMorales/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Facebook page</a> you know that I have been sharing most of my meals and lessons with you in the form of posts and videos. Well now Walter Thompson and I have opened <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/clubketo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Club Keto</a> to provide instructions and help for those beginning their Ketogenic lifestyle, because it can get overwhelming and confusing.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">I am participating in dirty keto, which means I focus on my net carb intake and although I keep an eye on the other macros I don\'t stress on them and I don\'t worry about the ingredients in what I\'m eating. As long as I maintain my carb counts I\'m good.</p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_7413\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\"]<img class=\"wp-image-7413 size-medium\" title=\"Weight loss journey with Keto\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Keto-1-Mth-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Weight Loss Journey Keto Results 1 Month\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /> One month on ketogenic weigh loss journey. Photo on the right is from May, but didn\'t start journey until June 28th. The swelling in my face is down and you can really see it in my chin area.[/caption]\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">I started my journey on June 28, 2018. I started actually as a test and just never stopped because I saw the weight falling off within the first four days and my cognitive function and energy levels were so high that I didn\'t want to stop. As of August 20, 2018, I had lost 18 lbs and 2.7 inches (actually more inches but I didn\'t measure until I\'d been on three weeks). My jeans can be taken off without unbuttoning or unzipping them, my face is even thinner than my first result photo (see image to the right) and as I mentioned my thinking is sharper and my energy level is so much higher. I just feel better and I\'m not even near my goal yet.</p>\r\n<p data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">As of January 2019, I officially reached my goal of getting back in my wedding dress.  I went from a size 22 to a size 16.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">I share my story as an inspiration to you, because sometimes you need to see that someone else did it...and learn from their wins and their mistakes. Walter and I hold nothing back in <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/ClubKeto\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Club Keto</a> because I don\'t think it does any good to paint incomplete stories.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">I hope you join us over in the club so you can begin your journey too...and don\'t worry even if you aren\'t doing keto and are doing some other weight loss journey, join us over in the Club...we can still support you in what you are doing!</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\"><span class=\"EOP\"> </span></p>','Weight Loss Journey - How to Start Keto Lifestyle','','publish','open','open','','weight-loss-journey','','','2019-07-27 05:15:59','2019-07-27 05:15:59','',0,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/?p=7412',0,'post','',0),(7413,1,'2018-08-20 14:53:28','2018-08-20 14:53:28','','Keto Results 1 Month','','inherit','open','closed','','keto-1-mth','','','2018-08-20 14:53:56','2018-08-20 14:53:56','',7412,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Keto-1-Mth.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(7414,1,'2018-08-20 15:05:32','2018-08-20 15:05:32','<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-doc-id=\"4817100000000352001\">Starting any journey can be a very stressful and scary thing. First, you are changing a pattern or process that you have known for a while. You also may not know what to expect and that in itself can be extremely disconcerting. Well in this post, we are all in the soul bucket and to be honest, this is something that you experience a lot.  It\'s mainly because you are really focusing on making changes in your life. The key is that you aren\'t dependent on anyone but yourself to make these changes happen which means you can\'t blame someone else for your success or failure. It\'s all on you.  So I am going to talk to you about how to start a weight loss journey, specifically how I began mine.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">Yes, you can plan to go on a journey with someone else, but in the end it is all reliant on your willpower and drive to succeed. That is scary and refreshing at the same time right?</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">Well, as you guys know I am on my very own weight loss journey and I decided to share it with you so you can see that I don\'t just teach you to do these things I am doing and living by everything I share with you. You can follow my journey by connecting on my Instagram account <a href=\"https://www.instagram.com/truthstoryofdana/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Truth Story of Dana</a> or by connecting on my <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/DanaLaRiealMorales/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">coaching facebook page</a>.</p>\r\n\r\n<h1 class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">My Weight Loss Journey</h1>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">This isn\'t my first run at a weight loss journey, in fact...back in 2010 I inadvertently began one while I was training for the half marathon. My goal at the time was to complete the half marathon by any means necessary, but a bonus benefit of focusing on that goal was that I lost weight and went from a size 20 to a size 14/16. I was amazed at how easy it was, because I didn\'t change my eating habits I just trained...and truth be told, I didn\'t even train like I was supposed to, but that\'s a story for another day.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">After that, I got married and subsequently got pregnant, but only gained 20 lbs with my pregnancy. I salsa danced up until I was 7 months, so I\'m sure that helped keep some of the weight off. After the birth of little bit I lost what I had gained and a little more because I was breastfeeding...I was the same size I had been in college. Then...(deep breath) I discovered vanilla oreos!!!! yes (shaking my head), I not only discovered them I was devouring them on a regular basis!!!! Looking back it was a crying shame how many of those little cookies I ate in a week. Lets just say I was woofing down a family pack every week to week and a half! Between that and me no longer salsa dancing the weight began to pile on and five years later I weighed my heaviest at 275!!!</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">I remember the day I stepped on that scale and saw that number it was devastating! Now, understand I knew before that day I needed to do something.  I was uncomfortable and just didn\'t feel attractive.  My clothes weren\'t fitting right and I knew I either had to lose weight or go up another size.  Ultimately, that was the straw that broke the camels back and I knew I had to kick it into gear and make a change. I needed to be about it and not just talk about it.</p>\r\n\r\n<h1 data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">My Mindset Stage</h1>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">As you guys know I teach about the <a href=\"https://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/courses/organizational-roadmap\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">five stages of organizing</a>, and one of the most important steps is the mindset stage.  The entire four to six months before I bit the bullet I was getting inspiration and affirmations from people around me.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">[Inspiration #1] A long-time acquaintance and Change Academy Member (and his wife) posted pictures of their amazing weight loss journey. [Inspiration #2] One of my Alum (and Change Academy Member) had a health scare and began watching his diet and exercising and [Inspiration #3] my co-worker and friend (and his wife) began his ketogenic lifestyle and I was able to see his 100 lb weight loss in person.</p>\r\n\r\n<blockquote>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">Inspirations are around every corner, you just have to open your eyes to see them.</p>\r\n</blockquote>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">I realized that I was teaching you how to live a faithful life and take action on your change journey and I wasn\'t doing that when it came to my health. It was time to make a change and for accountability purposes I decided I would share it with you.</p>\r\n\r\n<h1 class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">My Ketogenic Lifestyle</h1>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">So if you have been following my <a href=\"https://www.instagram.com/truthstoryofdana/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Instagram account</a> or our <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/DanaLaRiealMorales/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Facebook page</a> you know that I have been sharing most of my meals and lessons with you in the form of posts and videos. Well now, I have opened <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/clubketo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Club Keto</a> to provide you instructions and help for those beginning their Ketogenic lifestyle, because it can get overwhelming and confusing.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">I am participating in dirty keto, which means I focus on my net carb intake and although I keep an eye on the other macros I don\'t stress on them and I don\'t worry about the ingredients in what I\'m eating. As long as I maintain my carb counts I\'m good.</p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_7413\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\"]<img class=\"wp-image-7413 size-medium\" title=\"Weight loss journey with Keto\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Keto-1-Mth-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Weight Loss Journey Keto Results 1 Month\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /> One month on ketogenic weigh loss journey. Photo on the right is from May, but didn\'t start journey until June 28th. The swelling in my face is down and you can really see it in my chin area.[/caption]\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">I started my journey on June 28, 2018. I started actually as a test and just never stopped because I saw the weight falling off within the first four days and my cognitive function and energy levels were so high that I didn\'t want to stop. As of August 20, 2018, I have lost 18 lbs and 2.7 inches (actually more inches but I didn\'t measure until I\'d been on three weeks). My jeans can be taken off without unbuttoning or unzipping them, my face is even thinner than my first result photo (see image to the right) and as I mentioned my thinking is sharper and my energy level is so much higher. I just feel better and I\'m not even near my goal yet.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">I share my story as an inspiration to you, because sometimes you need to see that someone else did it...and learn from their wins and their mistakes. I don\'t hold anything back in <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/ClubKeto\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Club Keto</a> because I don\'t think it does any good to paint incomplete stories.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">I hope you join me over in the club so you can begin your journey too...and don\'t worry even if you aren\'t doing keto and are doing some other weight loss journey, join us over in the Club...we can still support you in what you are doing!</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\"><span class=\"EOP\"> </span></p>','Weight Loss Journey - How to Start Keto Lifestyle','','inherit','closed','closed','','7412-revision-v1','','','2018-08-20 15:05:32','2018-08-20 15:05:32','',7412,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/7412-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(7415,1,'2018-08-20 15:12:18','2018-08-20 15:12:18','<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-doc-id=\"4817100000000352001\">Starting any journey can be a very stressful and scary thing. First, you are changing a pattern or process that you have known for a while. You also may not know what to expect and that in itself can be extremely disconcerting. Well in this post, we are all in the soul bucket and to be honest, this is something that you experience a lot.  It\'s mainly because you are really focusing on making changes in your life. The key is that you aren\'t dependent on anyone but yourself to make these changes happen which means you can\'t blame someone else for your success or failure. It\'s all on you.  So I am going to talk to you about how to start a weight loss journey, specifically how I began mine.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">Yes, you can plan to go on a journey with someone else, but in the end it is all reliant on your willpower and drive to succeed. That is scary and refreshing at the same time right?</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">Well, as you guys know I am on my very own weight loss journey and I decided to share it with you so you can see that I don\'t just teach you to do these things I am doing and living by everything I share with you. You can follow my journey by connecting on my Instagram account <a href=\"https://www.instagram.com/truthstoryofdana/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Truth Story of Dana</a> or by connecting on my <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/DanaLaRiealMorales/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">coaching facebook page</a>.</p>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"thinkific-product-card\" data-btn-txt=\"Enter the Club Today!\" data-btn-txt-color=\"#ffff00\" data-btn-bg-color=\"#e100b1\" data-card-type=\"card\" data-link-type=\"checkout\" data-product=\"346545\" data-embed-version=\"0.0.2\" data-card-txt-color=\"#000000\" data-card-bg-color=\"#ffffff\" data-store-url=\"https://courses.thinkific.com/embeds/products/show\">\r\n<div class=\"iframe-container\"></div>\r\n<script type=\"text/javascript\">document.getElementById(\"thinkific-product-embed\") || document.write(\'<script id=\"thinkific-product-embed\" type=\"text/javascript\" src=\"https://assets.thinkific.com/js/embeds/product-cards-client.min.js\"><\\/script>\');</script><noscript><a href=\"https://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/enroll/346545?et=free\" target=\"_blank\">Enter the Club Today!</a></noscript>\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n<div class=\"iframe-container\"> <span style=\"font-size: 30px; font-weight: bold;\">My Weight Loss Journey</span></div>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">This isn\'t my first run at a weight loss journey, in fact...back in 2010 I inadvertently began one while I was training for the half marathon. My goal at the time was to complete the half marathon by any means necessary, but a bonus benefit of focusing on that goal was that I lost weight and went from a size 20 to a size 14/16. I was amazed at how easy it was, because I didn\'t change my eating habits I just trained...and truth be told, I didn\'t even train like I was supposed to, but that\'s a story for another day.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">After that, I got married and subsequently got pregnant, but only gained 20 lbs with my pregnancy. I salsa danced up until I was 7 months, so I\'m sure that helped keep some of the weight off. After the birth of little bit I lost what I had gained and a little more because I was breastfeeding...I was the same size I had been in college. Then...(deep breath) I discovered vanilla oreos!!!! yes (shaking my head), I not only discovered them I was devouring them on a regular basis!!!! Looking back it was a crying shame how many of those little cookies I ate in a week. Lets just say I was woofing down a family pack every week to week and a half! Between that and me no longer salsa dancing the weight began to pile on and five years later I weighed my heaviest at 275!!!</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">I remember the day I stepped on that scale and saw that number it was devastating! Now, understand I knew before that day I needed to do something.  I was uncomfortable and just didn\'t feel attractive.  My clothes weren\'t fitting right and I knew I either had to lose weight or go up another size.  Ultimately, that was the straw that broke the camels back and I knew I had to kick it into gear and make a change. I needed to be about it and not just talk about it.</p>\r\n\r\n<h1 data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">My Mindset Stage</h1>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">As you guys know I teach about the <a href=\"https://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/courses/organizational-roadmap\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">five stages of organizing</a>, and one of the most important steps is the mindset stage.  The entire four to six months before I bit the bullet I was getting inspiration and affirmations from people around me.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">[Inspiration #1] A long-time acquaintance and Change Academy Member (and his wife) posted pictures of their amazing weight loss journey. [Inspiration #2] One of my Alum (and Change Academy Member) had a health scare and began watching his diet and exercising and [Inspiration #3] my co-worker and friend (and his wife) began his ketogenic lifestyle and I was able to see his 100 lb weight loss in person.</p>\r\n\r\n<blockquote>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">Inspirations are around every corner, you just have to open your eyes to see them.</p>\r\n</blockquote>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">I realized that I was teaching you how to live a faithful life and take action on your change journey and I wasn\'t doing that when it came to my health. It was time to make a change and for accountability purposes I decided I would share it with you.</p>\r\n\r\n<h1 class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">My Ketogenic Lifestyle</h1>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">So if you have been following my <a href=\"https://www.instagram.com/truthstoryofdana/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Instagram account</a> or our <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/DanaLaRiealMorales/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Facebook page</a> you know that I have been sharing most of my meals and lessons with you in the form of posts and videos. Well now, I have opened <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/clubketo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Club Keto</a> to provide you instructions and help for those beginning their Ketogenic lifestyle, because it can get overwhelming and confusing.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">I am participating in dirty keto, which means I focus on my net carb intake and although I keep an eye on the other macros I don\'t stress on them and I don\'t worry about the ingredients in what I\'m eating. As long as I maintain my carb counts I\'m good.</p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_7413\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\"]<img class=\"wp-image-7413 size-medium\" title=\"Weight loss journey with Keto\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Keto-1-Mth-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Weight Loss Journey Keto Results 1 Month\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /> One month on ketogenic weigh loss journey. Photo on the right is from May, but didn\'t start journey until June 28th. The swelling in my face is down and you can really see it in my chin area.[/caption]\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">I started my journey on June 28, 2018. I started actually as a test and just never stopped because I saw the weight falling off within the first four days and my cognitive function and energy levels were so high that I didn\'t want to stop. As of August 20, 2018, I have lost 18 lbs and 2.7 inches (actually more inches but I didn\'t measure until I\'d been on three weeks). My jeans can be taken off without unbuttoning or unzipping them, my face is even thinner than my first result photo (see image to the right) and as I mentioned my thinking is sharper and my energy level is so much higher. I just feel better and I\'m not even near my goal yet.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">I share my story as an inspiration to you, because sometimes you need to see that someone else did it...and learn from their wins and their mistakes. I don\'t hold anything back in <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/ClubKeto\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Club Keto</a> because I don\'t think it does any good to paint incomplete stories.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">I hope you join me over in the club so you can begin your journey too...and don\'t worry even if you aren\'t doing keto and are doing some other weight loss journey, join us over in the Club...we can still support you in what you are doing!</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\"><span class=\"EOP\"> </span></p>','Weight Loss Journey - How to Start Keto Lifestyle','','inherit','closed','closed','','7412-revision-v1','','','2018-08-20 15:12:18','2018-08-20 15:12:18','',7412,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/7412-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(7416,1,'2018-08-20 15:12:52','2018-08-20 15:12:52','<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-doc-id=\"4817100000000352001\">Starting any journey can be a very stressful and scary thing. First, you are changing a pattern or process that you have known for a while. You also may not know what to expect and that in itself can be extremely disconcerting. Well in this post, we are all in the soul bucket and to be honest, this is something that you experience a lot.  It\'s mainly because you are really focusing on making changes in your life. The key is that you aren\'t dependent on anyone but yourself to make these changes happen which means you can\'t blame someone else for your success or failure. It\'s all on you.  So I am going to talk to you about how to start a weight loss journey, specifically how I began mine.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">Yes, you can plan to go on a journey with someone else, but in the end it is all reliant on your willpower and drive to succeed. That is scary and refreshing at the same time right?</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">Well, as you guys know I am on my very own weight loss journey and I decided to share it with you so you can see that I don\'t just teach you to do these things I am doing and living by everything I share with you. You can follow my journey by connecting on my Instagram account <a href=\"https://www.instagram.com/truthstoryofdana/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Truth Story of Dana</a> or by connecting on my <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/DanaLaRiealMorales/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">coaching facebook page</a>.</p>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"iframe-container\"> <span style=\"font-size: 30px; font-weight: bold;\">My Weight Loss Journey</span></div>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">This isn\'t my first run at a weight loss journey, in fact...back in 2010 I inadvertently began one while I was training for the half marathon. My goal at the time was to complete the half marathon by any means necessary, but a bonus benefit of focusing on that goal was that I lost weight and went from a size 20 to a size 14/16. I was amazed at how easy it was, because I didn\'t change my eating habits I just trained...and truth be told, I didn\'t even train like I was supposed to, but that\'s a story for another day.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">After that, I got married and subsequently got pregnant, but only gained 20 lbs with my pregnancy. I salsa danced up until I was 7 months, so I\'m sure that helped keep some of the weight off. After the birth of little bit I lost what I had gained and a little more because I was breastfeeding...I was the same size I had been in college. Then...(deep breath) I discovered vanilla oreos!!!! yes (shaking my head), I not only discovered them I was devouring them on a regular basis!!!! Looking back it was a crying shame how many of those little cookies I ate in a week. Lets just say I was woofing down a family pack every week to week and a half! Between that and me no longer salsa dancing the weight began to pile on and five years later I weighed my heaviest at 275!!!</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">I remember the day I stepped on that scale and saw that number it was devastating! Now, understand I knew before that day I needed to do something.  I was uncomfortable and just didn\'t feel attractive.  My clothes weren\'t fitting right and I knew I either had to lose weight or go up another size.  Ultimately, that was the straw that broke the camels back and I knew I had to kick it into gear and make a change. I needed to be about it and not just talk about it.</p>\r\n\r\n<h1 data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">My Mindset Stage</h1>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">As you guys know I teach about the <a href=\"https://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/courses/organizational-roadmap\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">five stages of organizing</a>, and one of the most important steps is the mindset stage.  The entire four to six months before I bit the bullet I was getting inspiration and affirmations from people around me.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">[Inspiration #1] A long-time acquaintance and Change Academy Member (and his wife) posted pictures of their amazing weight loss journey. [Inspiration #2] One of my Alum (and Change Academy Member) had a health scare and began watching his diet and exercising and [Inspiration #3] my co-worker and friend (and his wife) began his ketogenic lifestyle and I was able to see his 100 lb weight loss in person.</p>\r\n\r\n<blockquote>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">Inspirations are around every corner, you just have to open your eyes to see them.</p>\r\n</blockquote>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">I realized that I was teaching you how to live a faithful life and take action on your change journey and I wasn\'t doing that when it came to my health. It was time to make a change and for accountability purposes I decided I would share it with you.</p>\r\n\r\n<h1 class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">My Ketogenic Lifestyle</h1>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">So if you have been following my <a href=\"https://www.instagram.com/truthstoryofdana/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Instagram account</a> or our <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/DanaLaRiealMorales/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Facebook page</a> you know that I have been sharing most of my meals and lessons with you in the form of posts and videos. Well now, I have opened <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/clubketo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Club Keto</a> to provide you instructions and help for those beginning their Ketogenic lifestyle, because it can get overwhelming and confusing.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">I am participating in dirty keto, which means I focus on my net carb intake and although I keep an eye on the other macros I don\'t stress on them and I don\'t worry about the ingredients in what I\'m eating. As long as I maintain my carb counts I\'m good.</p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_7413\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\"]<img class=\"wp-image-7413 size-medium\" title=\"Weight loss journey with Keto\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Keto-1-Mth-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Weight Loss Journey Keto Results 1 Month\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /> One month on ketogenic weigh loss journey. Photo on the right is from May, but didn\'t start journey until June 28th. The swelling in my face is down and you can really see it in my chin area.[/caption]\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">I started my journey on June 28, 2018. I started actually as a test and just never stopped because I saw the weight falling off within the first four days and my cognitive function and energy levels were so high that I didn\'t want to stop. As of August 20, 2018, I have lost 18 lbs and 2.7 inches (actually more inches but I didn\'t measure until I\'d been on three weeks). My jeans can be taken off without unbuttoning or unzipping them, my face is even thinner than my first result photo (see image to the right) and as I mentioned my thinking is sharper and my energy level is so much higher. I just feel better and I\'m not even near my goal yet.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">I share my story as an inspiration to you, because sometimes you need to see that someone else did it...and learn from their wins and their mistakes. I don\'t hold anything back in <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/ClubKeto\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Club Keto</a> because I don\'t think it does any good to paint incomplete stories.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">I hope you join me over in the club so you can begin your journey too...and don\'t worry even if you aren\'t doing keto and are doing some other weight loss journey, join us over in the Club...we can still support you in what you are doing!</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\"><span class=\"EOP\"> </span></p>','Weight Loss Journey - How to Start Keto Lifestyle','','inherit','closed','closed','','7412-revision-v1','','','2018-08-20 15:12:52','2018-08-20 15:12:52','',7412,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/7412-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(7417,1,'2018-08-20 15:42:10','2018-08-20 15:42:10','','Keto Weight Loss Journey','','inherit','open','closed','','keto-weight-loss-journey','','','2018-08-20 15:42:29','2018-08-20 15:42:29','',7412,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Keto-Weight-Loss-Journey.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(7418,1,'2018-08-20 15:43:29','2018-08-20 15:43:29','<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-doc-id=\"4817100000000352001\">Starting any journey can be a very stressful and scary thing. First, you are changing a pattern or process that you have known for a while. You also may not know what to expect and that in itself can be extremely disconcerting. Well in this post, we are all in the soul bucket and to be honest, this is something that you experience a lot.  It\'s mainly because you are really focusing on making changes in your life. The key is that you aren\'t dependent on anyone but yourself to make these changes happen which means you can\'t blame someone else for your success or failure. It\'s all on you.  So I am going to talk to you about how to start a weight loss journey, specifically how I began mine.<!--more--></p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">Yes, you can plan to go on a journey with someone else, but in the end it is all reliant on your willpower and drive to succeed. That is scary and refreshing at the same time right?</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">Well, as you guys know I am on my very own weight loss journey and I decided to share it with you so you can see that I don\'t just teach you to do these things I am doing and living by everything I share with you. You can follow my journey by connecting on my Instagram account <a href=\"https://www.instagram.com/truthstoryofdana/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Truth Story of Dana</a> or by connecting on my <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/DanaLaRiealMorales/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">coaching facebook page</a>.</p>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"iframe-container\"> <span style=\"font-size: 30px; font-weight: bold;\">My Weight Loss Journey</span></div>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">This isn\'t my first run at a weight loss journey, in fact...back in 2010 I inadvertently began one while I was training for the half marathon. My goal at the time was to complete the half marathon by any means necessary, but a bonus benefit of focusing on that goal was that I lost weight and went from a size 20 to a size 14/16. I was amazed at how easy it was, because I didn\'t change my eating habits I just trained...and truth be told, I didn\'t even train like I was supposed to, but that\'s a story for another day.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">After that, I got married and subsequently got pregnant, but only gained 20 lbs with my pregnancy. I salsa danced up until I was 7 months, so I\'m sure that helped keep some of the weight off. After the birth of little bit I lost what I had gained and a little more because I was breastfeeding...I was the same size I had been in college. Then...(deep breath) I discovered vanilla oreos!!!! yes (shaking my head), I not only discovered them I was devouring them on a regular basis!!!! Looking back it was a crying shame how many of those little cookies I ate in a week. Lets just say I was woofing down a family pack every week to week and a half! Between that and me no longer salsa dancing the weight began to pile on and five years later I weighed my heaviest at 275!!!</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">I remember the day I stepped on that scale and saw that number it was devastating! Now, understand I knew before that day I needed to do something.  I was uncomfortable and just didn\'t feel attractive.  My clothes weren\'t fitting right and I knew I either had to lose weight or go up another size.  Ultimately, that was the straw that broke the camels back and I knew I had to kick it into gear and make a change. I needed to be about it and not just talk about it.</p>\r\n\r\n<h1 data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">My Mindset Stage</h1>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">As you guys know I teach about the <a href=\"https://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/courses/organizational-roadmap\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">five stages of organizing</a>, and one of the most important steps is the mindset stage.  The entire four to six months before I bit the bullet I was getting inspiration and affirmations from people around me.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">[Inspiration #1] A long-time acquaintance and Change Academy Member (and his wife) posted pictures of their amazing weight loss journey. [Inspiration #2] One of my Alum (and Change Academy Member) had a health scare and began watching his diet and exercising and [Inspiration #3] my co-worker and friend (and his wife) began his ketogenic lifestyle and I was able to see his 100 lb weight loss in person.</p>\r\n\r\n<blockquote>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">Inspirations are around every corner, you just have to open your eyes to see them.</p>\r\n</blockquote>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">I realized that I was teaching you how to live a faithful life and take action on your change journey and I wasn\'t doing that when it came to my health. It was time to make a change and for accountability purposes I decided I would share it with you.</p>\r\n\r\n<h1 class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">My Ketogenic Lifestyle</h1>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">So if you have been following my <a href=\"https://www.instagram.com/truthstoryofdana/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Instagram account</a> or our <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/DanaLaRiealMorales/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Facebook page</a> you know that I have been sharing most of my meals and lessons with you in the form of posts and videos. Well now, I have opened <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/clubketo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Club Keto</a> to provide you instructions and help for those beginning their Ketogenic lifestyle, because it can get overwhelming and confusing.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">I am participating in dirty keto, which means I focus on my net carb intake and although I keep an eye on the other macros I don\'t stress on them and I don\'t worry about the ingredients in what I\'m eating. As long as I maintain my carb counts I\'m good.</p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_7413\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\"]<img class=\"wp-image-7413 size-medium\" title=\"Weight loss journey with Keto\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Keto-1-Mth-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Weight Loss Journey Keto Results 1 Month\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /> One month on ketogenic weigh loss journey. Photo on the right is from May, but didn\'t start journey until June 28th. The swelling in my face is down and you can really see it in my chin area.[/caption]\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">I started my journey on June 28, 2018. I started actually as a test and just never stopped because I saw the weight falling off within the first four days and my cognitive function and energy levels were so high that I didn\'t want to stop. As of August 20, 2018, I have lost 18 lbs and 2.7 inches (actually more inches but I didn\'t measure until I\'d been on three weeks). My jeans can be taken off without unbuttoning or unzipping them, my face is even thinner than my first result photo (see image to the right) and as I mentioned my thinking is sharper and my energy level is so much higher. I just feel better and I\'m not even near my goal yet.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">I share my story as an inspiration to you, because sometimes you need to see that someone else did it...and learn from their wins and their mistakes. I don\'t hold anything back in <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/ClubKeto\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Club Keto</a> because I don\'t think it does any good to paint incomplete stories.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">I hope you join me over in the club so you can begin your journey too...and don\'t worry even if you aren\'t doing keto and are doing some other weight loss journey, join us over in the Club...we can still support you in what you are doing!</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\"><span class=\"EOP\"> </span></p>','Weight Loss Journey - How to Start Keto Lifestyle','','inherit','closed','closed','','7412-revision-v1','','','2018-08-20 15:43:29','2018-08-20 15:43:29','',7412,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/7412-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(7419,1,'2019-02-22 17:54:16','2019-02-22 17:54:16','<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-doc-id=\"4817100000000352001\">Starting any journey can be a very stressful and scary thing. First, you are changing a pattern or process that you have known for a while. You also may not know what to expect and that in itself can be extremely disconcerting. This is mainly because change isn\'t easy and you are really focusing on making changes in your life, not anyone else\'s. You aren\'t dependent on anyone but yourself to make these changes happen which means you can\'t blame someone else for your success or failure. It\'s all on you.  So I am going to talk to you about how to start a weight loss journey, specifically how I began my ketogenic lifestyle weightloss journey.<!--more--></p>\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-7427\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/ClubKetoPinnableGraphic-200x300.png\" alt=\"How to Start a Keto Lifestyle| The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" />Yes, you can plan to go on a journey with someone else, but in the end it is all reliant on your willpower and drive to succeed. That is scary and refreshing at the same time right?</p>\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">Well, as you guys know I am on my very own weight loss journey and I decided to share it with you so you can see that I don\'t just teach you to do these things I am doing and living by everything I share with you. You can follow my journey by connecting on my Instagram account <a href=\"https://www.instagram.com/truthstoryofdana/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Truth Story of Dana</a> or by connecting on my <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/DanaLaRiealMorales/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">coaching facebook page</a>.</p>\n\n<div class=\"iframe-container\"> <span style=\"font-size: 30px; font-weight: bold;\">My Weight Loss Journey</span></div>\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">This isn\'t my first run at a weight loss journey, in fact...back in 2010 I inadvertently began one while I was training for the half marathon. My goal at the time was to complete the half marathon by any means necessary, but a bonus benefit of focusing on that goal was that I lost weight and went from a size 20 to a size 14/16. I was amazed at how easy it was, because I didn\'t change my eating habits I just trained...and truth be told, I didn\'t even train like I was supposed to, but that\'s a story for another day.</p>\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">After that, I got married and subsequently got pregnant, but only gained 20 lbs with my pregnancy. I salsa danced up until I was 7 months, so I\'m sure that helped keep some of the weight off. After the birth of little bit I lost what I had gained and a little more because I was breastfeeding...I was the same size I had been in college. Then...(deep breath) I discovered vanilla oreos!!!! yes (shaking my head), I not only discovered them I was devouring them on a regular basis!!!! Looking back it was a crying shame how many of those little cookies I ate in a week. Lets just say I was woofing down a family pack every week to week and a half! Between that and me no longer salsa dancing the weight began to pile on and five years later I weighed my heaviest at 275!!!</p>\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">I remember the day I stepped on that scale and saw that number it was devastating! Now, understand I knew before that day I needed to do something.  I was uncomfortable and just didn\'t feel attractive.  My clothes weren\'t fitting right and I knew I either had to lose weight or go up another size.  Ultimately, that was the straw that broke the camels back and I knew I had to kick it into gear and make a change. I needed to be about it and not just talk about it.</p>\n\n<h1 data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">My Mindset Stage</h1>\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">As you guys know I teach about the <a href=\"https://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/courses/organizational-roadmap\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">five stages of organizing</a>, and one of the most important steps is the mindset stage.  The entire four to six months before I bit the bullet I was getting inspiration and affirmations from people around me.</p>\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">[Inspiration #1] A long-time acquaintance and Change Academy Member (and his wife) posted pictures of their amazing weight loss journey. [Inspiration #2] One of my Alum (and Change Academy Member) had a health scare and began watching his diet and exercising and [Inspiration #3] my co-worker and friend (and his wife) began his ketogenic lifestyle and I was able to see his 100 lb weight loss in person.</p>\n\n<blockquote>\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">Inspirations are around every corner, you just have to open your eyes to see them.</p>\n</blockquote>\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">I realized that I was teaching you how to live a faithful life and take action on your change journey and I wasn\'t doing that when it came to my health. It was time to make a change and for accountability purposes I decided I would share it with you.</p>\n\n<h1 class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">My Ketogenic Lifestyle</h1>\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">So if you have been following my <a href=\"https://www.instagram.com/truthstoryofdana/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Instagram account</a> or our <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/DanaLaRiealMorales/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Facebook page</a> you know that I have been sharing most of my meals and lessons with you in the form of posts and videos. Well now Walter Thompson and I have opened <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/clubketo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Club Keto</a> to provide instructions and help for those beginning their Ketogenic lifestyle, because it can get overwhelming and confusing.</p>\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">I am participating in dirty keto, which means I focus on my net carb intake and although I keep an eye on the other macros I don\'t stress on them and I don\'t worry about the ingredients in what I\'m eating. As long as I maintain my carb counts I\'m good.</p>\n\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_7413\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\"]<img class=\"wp-image-7413 size-medium\" title=\"Weight loss journey with Keto\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Keto-1-Mth-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Weight Loss Journey Keto Results 1 Month\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /> One month on ketogenic weigh loss journey. Photo on the right is from May, but didn\'t start journey until June 28th. The swelling in my face is down and you can really see it in my chin area.[/caption]\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">I started my journey on June 28, 2018. I started actually as a test and just never stopped because I saw the weight falling off within the first four days and my cognitive function and energy levels were so high that I didn\'t want to stop. As of August 20, 2018, I had lost 18 lbs and 2.7 inches (actually more inches but I didn\'t measure until I\'d been on three weeks). My jeans can be taken off without unbuttoning or unzipping them, my face is even thinner than my first result photo (see image to the right) and as I mentioned my thinking is sharper and my energy level is so much higher. I just feel better and I\'m not even near my goal yet.</p>\n<p data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">As of January 2019, I officially reached my goal of getting back in my wedding dress.  I went from a size 22 to a size 16.</p>\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">I share my story as an inspiration to you, because sometimes you need to see that someone else did it...and learn from their wins and their mistakes. Walter and I don\'t hold anything back in <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/ClubKeto\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Club Keto</a> because I don\'t think it does any good to paint incomplete stories.</p>\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">I hope you join me over in the club so you can begin your journey too...and don\'t worry even if you aren\'t doing keto and are doing some other weight loss journey, join us over in the Club...we can still support you in what you are doing!</p>\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\"><span class=\"EOP\"> </span></p>','Weight Loss Journey - How to Start Keto Lifestyle','','inherit','closed','closed','','7412-autosave-v1','','','2019-02-22 17:54:16','2019-02-22 17:54:16','',7412,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/7412-autosave-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(7420,1,'2018-08-20 15:46:50','2018-08-20 15:46:50','<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-doc-id=\"4817100000000352001\">Starting any journey can be a very stressful and scary thing. First, you are changing a pattern or process that you have known for a while. You also may not know what to expect and that in itself can be extremely disconcerting. This is mainly because change isn\'t easy and you are really focusing on making changes in your life, not anyone else\'s. You aren\'t dependent on anyone but yourself to make these changes happen which means you can\'t blame someone else for your success or failure. It\'s all on you.  So I am going to talk to you about how to start a weight loss journey, specifically how I began my ketogenic lifestyle weightloss journey.<!--more--></p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">Yes, you can plan to go on a journey with someone else, but in the end it is all reliant on your willpower and drive to succeed. That is scary and refreshing at the same time right?</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">Well, as you guys know I am on my very own weight loss journey and I decided to share it with you so you can see that I don\'t just teach you to do these things I am doing and living by everything I share with you. You can follow my journey by connecting on my Instagram account <a href=\"https://www.instagram.com/truthstoryofdana/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Truth Story of Dana</a> or by connecting on my <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/DanaLaRiealMorales/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">coaching facebook page</a>.</p>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"iframe-container\"> <span style=\"font-size: 30px; font-weight: bold;\">My Weight Loss Journey</span></div>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">This isn\'t my first run at a weight loss journey, in fact...back in 2010 I inadvertently began one while I was training for the half marathon. My goal at the time was to complete the half marathon by any means necessary, but a bonus benefit of focusing on that goal was that I lost weight and went from a size 20 to a size 14/16. I was amazed at how easy it was, because I didn\'t change my eating habits I just trained...and truth be told, I didn\'t even train like I was supposed to, but that\'s a story for another day.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">After that, I got married and subsequently got pregnant, but only gained 20 lbs with my pregnancy. I salsa danced up until I was 7 months, so I\'m sure that helped keep some of the weight off. After the birth of little bit I lost what I had gained and a little more because I was breastfeeding...I was the same size I had been in college. Then...(deep breath) I discovered vanilla oreos!!!! yes (shaking my head), I not only discovered them I was devouring them on a regular basis!!!! Looking back it was a crying shame how many of those little cookies I ate in a week. Lets just say I was woofing down a family pack every week to week and a half! Between that and me no longer salsa dancing the weight began to pile on and five years later I weighed my heaviest at 275!!!</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">I remember the day I stepped on that scale and saw that number it was devastating! Now, understand I knew before that day I needed to do something.  I was uncomfortable and just didn\'t feel attractive.  My clothes weren\'t fitting right and I knew I either had to lose weight or go up another size.  Ultimately, that was the straw that broke the camels back and I knew I had to kick it into gear and make a change. I needed to be about it and not just talk about it.</p>\r\n\r\n<h1 data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">My Mindset Stage</h1>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">As you guys know I teach about the <a href=\"https://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/courses/organizational-roadmap\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">five stages of organizing</a>, and one of the most important steps is the mindset stage.  The entire four to six months before I bit the bullet I was getting inspiration and affirmations from people around me.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">[Inspiration #1] A long-time acquaintance and Change Academy Member (and his wife) posted pictures of their amazing weight loss journey. [Inspiration #2] One of my Alum (and Change Academy Member) had a health scare and began watching his diet and exercising and [Inspiration #3] my co-worker and friend (and his wife) began his ketogenic lifestyle and I was able to see his 100 lb weight loss in person.</p>\r\n\r\n<blockquote>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">Inspirations are around every corner, you just have to open your eyes to see them.</p>\r\n</blockquote>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">I realized that I was teaching you how to live a faithful life and take action on your change journey and I wasn\'t doing that when it came to my health. It was time to make a change and for accountability purposes I decided I would share it with you.</p>\r\n\r\n<h1 class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">My Ketogenic Lifestyle</h1>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">So if you have been following my <a href=\"https://www.instagram.com/truthstoryofdana/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Instagram account</a> or our <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/DanaLaRiealMorales/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Facebook page</a> you know that I have been sharing most of my meals and lessons with you in the form of posts and videos. Well now, I have opened <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/clubketo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Club Keto</a> to provide you instructions and help for those beginning their Ketogenic lifestyle, because it can get overwhelming and confusing.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">I am participating in dirty keto, which means I focus on my net carb intake and although I keep an eye on the other macros I don\'t stress on them and I don\'t worry about the ingredients in what I\'m eating. As long as I maintain my carb counts I\'m good.</p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_7413\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\"]<img class=\"wp-image-7413 size-medium\" title=\"Weight loss journey with Keto\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Keto-1-Mth-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Weight Loss Journey Keto Results 1 Month\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /> One month on ketogenic weigh loss journey. Photo on the right is from May, but didn\'t start journey until June 28th. The swelling in my face is down and you can really see it in my chin area.[/caption]\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">I started my journey on June 28, 2018. I started actually as a test and just never stopped because I saw the weight falling off within the first four days and my cognitive function and energy levels were so high that I didn\'t want to stop. As of August 20, 2018, I have lost 18 lbs and 2.7 inches (actually more inches but I didn\'t measure until I\'d been on three weeks). My jeans can be taken off without unbuttoning or unzipping them, my face is even thinner than my first result photo (see image to the right) and as I mentioned my thinking is sharper and my energy level is so much higher. I just feel better and I\'m not even near my goal yet.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">I share my story as an inspiration to you, because sometimes you need to see that someone else did it...and learn from their wins and their mistakes. I don\'t hold anything back in <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/ClubKeto\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Club Keto</a> because I don\'t think it does any good to paint incomplete stories.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">I hope you join me over in the club so you can begin your journey too...and don\'t worry even if you aren\'t doing keto and are doing some other weight loss journey, join us over in the Club...we can still support you in what you are doing!</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\"><span class=\"EOP\"> </span></p>','Weight Loss Journey - How to Start Keto Lifestyle','','inherit','closed','closed','','7412-revision-v1','','','2018-08-20 15:46:50','2018-08-20 15:46:50','',7412,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/7412-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(7421,1,'2018-08-20 18:37:05','2018-08-20 18:37:05','','How to Develop a Process Map | The Happiness Bucket','','inherit','open','closed','','how-to-develop-a-process-map','','','2018-08-20 18:37:29','2018-08-20 18:37:29','',7383,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/How-to-Develop-a-Process-Map.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(7422,1,'2018-08-20 18:44:32','2018-08-20 18:44:32','<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">As a small business owner, you understand your craft. You are great at getting the job done. I want to ask you, in those areas where your work relies on information from your customer are you struggling? Do you find that you have to go to your client multiple times to get the exact information you need? Do you see confusion between how you interpret information and what the customer actually wants or needs? Do you even know what your customer actually wants and why? Today we are going to talk about developing a business process map to improve customer satisfaction.<!--more--></p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">In my time working with small business owners, I find that most process maps fall into two categories</p>\r\n\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">You have a great initial meeting presentation that gives a great overview of the overall plan and what is going to happen on the project, but once the work actually starts there is no real process map; or</li>\r\n 	<li class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">You follow the plan that was laid out in the initial meeting/consultation, but the overall process map you have isn\'t clearly defined, is extremely clunky, or has a number of <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/broken-processes/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">business leaks</a> including repetitive or unnecessary steps for the Client.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n<h1>Your Process Map is Like a Recipe</h1>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">Most of this is because you understand how to do what you do, but you haven\'t broken it down from point A to point Z. It reminds me of my dad. He is a fabulous cook, but whenever we ask him how he made something he could never tell us. The reason was because he didn\'t use a recipe and there were times he was trying something and would add a little bit of this and a little bit of that. He couldn\'t explain it to us because he just did it without really thinking about it. Cooking is his craft...he just gets it. Well, cooking isn\'t our craft, so we don\'t and we need the recipe - the process map.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">You want to clearly explain the process and all that goes into it in enough detail so that your client understands, but not enough where they are glassy-eyed. You want to ensure you get the information you need to do your job from the Client before you need it and that you explain how the information they provide and the choices they make effect and/or fit together to create the end product. If you don\'t explain it to your customer they won\'t know.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;bold&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">Having that understanding may change the way you create or design something. [CLICK TO TWEET]</p>\r\n\r\n<h1 class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">Understanding your Client\'s Needs</h1>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">Additionally, you need to understand how what you are creating fits into the world of your customer. Having that understanding may change the way you create or design something. It may also give you an opportunity to offer a better solution for what your Clients actually need. I can\'t tell you how many times I thought I knew exactly what I wanted but once I spoke with an expert I realized I wasn\'t asking for the right thing or that I wanted something else. It\'s because I really didn\'t know what I didn\'t know.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">This can also be a great opportunity to exceed your client\'s expectations too. If a customer comes to you expecting to order a three-tier wedding cake, because they think that\'s all they can afford, and they leave instead with a five-tier cake that is still in their budget that is a win for the baker and for the customer. The baker didn\'t necessarily provide the customer with free cake, they explained that they can add in two foam layers to give the illusion of a larger cake. The customer may not have known that was a possibility, but because the baker was used to this and had a process for guiding them through the options, they educated the customer, gave more than was expected and won not only a new customer but probably referrals too. They accomplished all of this because they had a clearly defined process...a business recipe.</p>\r\n\r\n<h1 class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">Ensure Your Process Map is Adaptive</h1>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">Once you define your process and determine what your customers actually need, you may find that your process is not very adaptive. Now, in some cases, it doesn\'t make sense to adapt your process, especially if it is detrimental to the overall creation or the end result of the service. In other cases, there is a little wiggle room to move things around. If you don\'t know where this wiggle room is you can\'t know how to adapt for it when it comes up.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">Take for example, you are helping a client set up a new piece of software. Your process has them identifying the number of accounts they need to migrate and in what buckets they are going to fall. The client explains they are going through a system cleanup, so what they give you won\'t be accurate and can you work on setting up another part of the system first. Giving them time to clean up the data prior to migration.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">If you understand what parts of the setup process are reliant on the other parts and which aren\'t then you know you have a little wiggle room and can set up the other pieces first. If you didn\'t know that, you may feel that setting up the Users is a roadblock and begin pushing the client to provide information before you move forward, ultimately halting the project unnecessarily.</p>\r\n\r\n<h1 class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">What is the Overall Purpose of this Action?</h1>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">Before asking a client for anything you should understand the purpose of what you are asking for and ensure you are getting everything you need during the ask, if possible (or lay out the various phases for them in the beginning and what they will be doing or producing in each). Mapping out the creative flow to your Client is imperative to ensure clear communication and helps to ensure your project meets both your needs and your customers. You may have multiple paths but if you don\'t think about and plan for each you will be flailing when you are presented with a roadblock.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">Again, each client is unique, but your process should have a defined path that is followed by small variation paths where appropriate.</p>\r\n\r\n<h1 class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">Remember, You Are the Expert</h1>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">Ultimately, your customers don\'t understand your craft like you do. They just know they want a website built, a cake made or their graphics developed, they don\'t know all the pieces and decisions that must go into it, so it is your responsibility to educate them and break it down so they get it.  As a customer, I need to understand the end gain and how the small pieces fit together to get me the result that I want.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">So now that you know you need to have and understand your process map and also provide your clients with an understanding of your roadmap, do you have one? If you need help defining a streamlined process map or a client facing roadmap, feel free to set up your mapping session today.</p>','Process Map Improves Customer Satisfaction','','inherit','closed','closed','','7383-revision-v1','','','2018-08-20 18:44:32','2018-08-20 18:44:32','',7383,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/7383-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(7423,1,'2018-08-20 19:40:17','2018-08-20 19:40:17','','Business Process Map | The Happiness Bucket','','inherit','open','closed','','business-process-map','','','2018-08-20 19:40:39','2018-08-20 19:40:39','',7383,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Business-Process-Map.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(7424,1,'2019-02-20 21:58:34','2019-02-20 21:58:34','<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">As a small business owner, you understand your craft. You are great at getting the job done. I want to ask you, in those areas where your work relies on information from your customer are you struggling? Do you find that you have to go to your client multiple times to get the exact information you need? Do you see confusion between how you interpret information and what the customer actually wants or needs? Do you even know what your customer actually wants and why? Today we are going to talk about developing a business process map to improve customer satisfaction.<!--more--></p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">In my time working with small business owners, I find that most process maps fall into two categories</p>\r\n\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">You have a great initial meeting presentation that gives a great overview of the overall plan and what is going to happen on the project, but once the work actually starts there is no real process map; or</li>\r\n 	<li class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">You follow the plan that was laid out in the initial meeting/consultation, but the overall process map you have isn\'t clearly defined, is extremely clunky, or has a number of <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/broken-processes/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">business leaks</a> including repetitive or unnecessary steps for the Client.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n<h1>Your Process Map is Like a Recipe</h1>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">Most of this is because you understand how to do what you do, but you haven\'t broken it down from point A to point Z. It reminds me of my dad. He is a fabulous cook, but whenever we ask him how he made something he could never tell us. The reason was because he didn\'t use a recipe and there were times he was trying something and would add a little bit of this and a little bit of that. He couldn\'t explain it to us because he just did it without really thinking about it. Cooking is his craft...he just gets it. Well, cooking isn\'t our craft, so we don\'t and we need the recipe - the process map.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">You want to clearly explain the process and all that goes into it in enough detail so that your client understands, but not enough where they are glassy-eyed. You want to ensure you get the information you need to do your job from the Client before you need it and that you explain how the information they provide and the choices they make effect and/or fit together to create the end product. If you don\'t explain it to your customer they won\'t know and having that understanding may change the way you create or design.</p>\r\n\r\n<h1 class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">Understanding your Client\'s Needs</h1>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-7423\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Business-Process-Map-200x300.png\" alt=\"Business Process Map | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" />Additionally, you need to understand how what you are creating fits into the world of your customer. Having that understanding may change the way you create or design something. It may also give you an opportunity to offer a better solution for what your Clients actually need. I can\'t tell you how many times I thought I knew exactly what I wanted but once I spoke with an expert I realized I wasn\'t asking for the right thing or that I wanted something else. It\'s because I really didn\'t know what I didn\'t know.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">This can also be a great opportunity to exceed your client\'s expectations too. If a customer comes to you expecting to order a three-tier wedding cake, because they think that\'s all they can afford, and they leave instead with a five-tier cake that is still in their budget that is a win for the baker and for the customer. The baker didn\'t necessarily provide the customer with free cake, they explained that they can add in two foam layers to give the illusion of a larger cake. The customer may not have known that was a possibility, but because the baker was used to this and had a process for guiding them through the options, they educated the customer, gave more than was expected and won not only a new customer but probably referrals too. They accomplished all of this because they had a clearly defined process...a business recipe.</p>\r\n\r\n<h1 class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">Ensure Your Process Map is Adaptive</h1>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">Once you define your process and determine what your customers actually need, you may find that your process is not very adaptive. Now, in some cases, it doesn\'t make sense to adapt your process, especially if it is detrimental to the overall creation or the end result of the service. In other cases, there is a little wiggle room to move things around. If you don\'t know where this wiggle room is you can\'t know how to adapt for it when it comes up.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">Take for example, you are helping a client set up a new piece of software. Your process has them identifying the number of accounts they need to migrate and in what buckets they are going to fall. The client explains they are going through a system cleanup, so what they give you won\'t be accurate and can you work on setting up another part of the system first. Giving them time to clean up the data prior to migration.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">If you understand what parts of the setup process are reliant on the other parts and which aren\'t then you know you have a little wiggle room and can set up the other pieces first. If you didn\'t know that, you may feel that setting up the Users is a roadblock and begin pushing the client to provide information before you move forward, ultimately halting the project unnecessarily.</p>\r\n\r\n<h1 class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">What is the Overall Purpose of this Action?</h1>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">Before asking a client for anything you should understand the purpose of what you are asking for and ensure you are getting everything you need during the ask, if possible (or lay out the various phases for them in the beginning and what they will be doing or producing in each). Mapping out the creative flow to your Client is imperative to ensure clear communication and helps to ensure your project meets both your needs and your customers. You may have multiple paths but if you don\'t think about and plan for each you will be flailing when you are presented with a roadblock.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">Again, each client is unique, but your process should have a defined path that is followed by small variation paths where appropriate.</p>\r\n\r\n<h1 class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">Remember, You Are the Expert</h1>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">Ultimately, your customers don\'t understand your craft like you do. They just know they want a website built, a cake made or their graphics developed, they don\'t know all the pieces and decisions that must go into it, so it is your responsibility to educate them and break it down so they get it.  As a customer, I need to understand the end gain and how the small pieces fit together to get me the result that I want.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">So now that you know you need to have and understand your process map and also provide your clients with an understanding of your roadmap, do you have one? If you need help defining a streamlined process map or a client facing roadmap, feel free to set up your mapping session today.</p>','Process Map Improves Customer Satisfaction','','inherit','closed','closed','','7383-autosave-v1','','','2019-02-20 21:58:34','2019-02-20 21:58:34','',7383,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/7383-autosave-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(7425,1,'2018-08-20 19:40:54','2018-08-20 19:40:54','<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">As a small business owner, you understand your craft. You are great at getting the job done. I want to ask you, in those areas where your work relies on information from your customer are you struggling? Do you find that you have to go to your client multiple times to get the exact information you need? Do you see confusion between how you interpret information and what the customer actually wants or needs? Do you even know what your customer actually wants and why? Today we are going to talk about developing a business process map to improve customer satisfaction.<!--more--></p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">In my time working with small business owners, I find that most process maps fall into two categories</p>\r\n\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">You have a great initial meeting presentation that gives a great overview of the overall plan and what is going to happen on the project, but once the work actually starts there is no real process map; or</li>\r\n 	<li class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">You follow the plan that was laid out in the initial meeting/consultation, but the overall process map you have isn\'t clearly defined, is extremely clunky, or has a number of <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/broken-processes/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">business leaks</a> including repetitive or unnecessary steps for the Client.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n<h1>Your Process Map is Like a Recipe</h1>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">Most of this is because you understand how to do what you do, but you haven\'t broken it down from point A to point Z. It reminds me of my dad. He is a fabulous cook, but whenever we ask him how he made something he could never tell us. The reason was because he didn\'t use a recipe and there were times he was trying something and would add a little bit of this and a little bit of that. He couldn\'t explain it to us because he just did it without really thinking about it. Cooking is his craft...he just gets it. Well, cooking isn\'t our craft, so we don\'t and we need the recipe - the process map.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">You want to clearly explain the process and all that goes into it in enough detail so that your client understands, but not enough where they are glassy-eyed. You want to ensure you get the information you need to do your job from the Client before you need it and that you explain how the information they provide and the choices they make effect and/or fit together to create the end product. If you don\'t explain it to your customer they won\'t know.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;bold&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">Having that understanding may change the way you create or design something. [CLICK TO TWEET]</p>\r\n\r\n<h1 class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">Understanding your Client\'s Needs</h1>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-7423\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Business-Process-Map-200x300.png\" alt=\"Business Process Map | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" />Additionally, you need to understand how what you are creating fits into the world of your customer. Having that understanding may change the way you create or design something. It may also give you an opportunity to offer a better solution for what your Clients actually need. I can\'t tell you how many times I thought I knew exactly what I wanted but once I spoke with an expert I realized I wasn\'t asking for the right thing or that I wanted something else. It\'s because I really didn\'t know what I didn\'t know.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">This can also be a great opportunity to exceed your client\'s expectations too. If a customer comes to you expecting to order a three-tier wedding cake, because they think that\'s all they can afford, and they leave instead with a five-tier cake that is still in their budget that is a win for the baker and for the customer. The baker didn\'t necessarily provide the customer with free cake, they explained that they can add in two foam layers to give the illusion of a larger cake. The customer may not have known that was a possibility, but because the baker was used to this and had a process for guiding them through the options, they educated the customer, gave more than was expected and won not only a new customer but probably referrals too. They accomplished all of this because they had a clearly defined process...a business recipe.</p>\r\n\r\n<h1 class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">Ensure Your Process Map is Adaptive</h1>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">Once you define your process and determine what your customers actually need, you may find that your process is not very adaptive. Now, in some cases, it doesn\'t make sense to adapt your process, especially if it is detrimental to the overall creation or the end result of the service. In other cases, there is a little wiggle room to move things around. If you don\'t know where this wiggle room is you can\'t know how to adapt for it when it comes up.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">Take for example, you are helping a client set up a new piece of software. Your process has them identifying the number of accounts they need to migrate and in what buckets they are going to fall. The client explains they are going through a system cleanup, so what they give you won\'t be accurate and can you work on setting up another part of the system first. Giving them time to clean up the data prior to migration.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">If you understand what parts of the setup process are reliant on the other parts and which aren\'t then you know you have a little wiggle room and can set up the other pieces first. If you didn\'t know that, you may feel that setting up the Users is a roadblock and begin pushing the client to provide information before you move forward, ultimately halting the project unnecessarily.</p>\r\n\r\n<h1 class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">What is the Overall Purpose of this Action?</h1>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">Before asking a client for anything you should understand the purpose of what you are asking for and ensure you are getting everything you need during the ask, if possible (or lay out the various phases for them in the beginning and what they will be doing or producing in each). Mapping out the creative flow to your Client is imperative to ensure clear communication and helps to ensure your project meets both your needs and your customers. You may have multiple paths but if you don\'t think about and plan for each you will be flailing when you are presented with a roadblock.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">Again, each client is unique, but your process should have a defined path that is followed by small variation paths where appropriate.</p>\r\n\r\n<h1 class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">Remember, You Are the Expert</h1>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">Ultimately, your customers don\'t understand your craft like you do. They just know they want a website built, a cake made or their graphics developed, they don\'t know all the pieces and decisions that must go into it, so it is your responsibility to educate them and break it down so they get it.  As a customer, I need to understand the end gain and how the small pieces fit together to get me the result that I want.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">So now that you know you need to have and understand your process map and also provide your clients with an understanding of your roadmap, do you have one? If you need help defining a streamlined process map or a client facing roadmap, feel free to set up your mapping session today.</p>','Process Map Improves Customer Satisfaction','','inherit','closed','closed','','7383-revision-v1','','','2018-08-20 19:40:54','2018-08-20 19:40:54','',7383,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/7383-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(7426,1,'2018-08-20 19:42:27','2018-08-20 19:42:27','<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">As a small business owner, you understand your craft. You are great at getting the job done. I want to ask you, in those areas where your work relies on information from your customer are you struggling? Do you find that you have to go to your client multiple times to get the exact information you need? Do you see confusion between how you interpret information and what the customer actually wants or needs? Do you even know what your customer actually wants and why? Today we are going to talk about developing a business process map to improve customer satisfaction.<!--more--></p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">In my time working with small business owners, I find that most process maps fall into two categories</p>\r\n\r\n<ol>\r\n 	<li class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">You have a great initial meeting presentation that gives a great overview of the overall plan and what is going to happen on the project, but once the work actually starts there is no real process map; or</li>\r\n 	<li class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">You follow the plan that was laid out in the initial meeting/consultation, but the overall process map you have isn\'t clearly defined, is extremely clunky, or has a number of <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/broken-processes/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">business leaks</a> including repetitive or unnecessary steps for the Client.</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n<h1>Your Process Map is Like a Recipe</h1>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">Most of this is because you understand how to do what you do, but you haven\'t broken it down from point A to point Z. It reminds me of my dad. He is a fabulous cook, but whenever we ask him how he made something he could never tell us. The reason was because he didn\'t use a recipe and there were times he was trying something and would add a little bit of this and a little bit of that. He couldn\'t explain it to us because he just did it without really thinking about it. Cooking is his craft...he just gets it. Well, cooking isn\'t our craft, so we don\'t and we need the recipe - the process map.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">You want to clearly explain the process and all that goes into it in enough detail so that your client understands, but not enough where they are glassy-eyed. You want to ensure you get the information you need to do your job from the Client before you need it and that you explain how the information they provide and the choices they make effect and/or fit together to create the end product. If you don\'t explain it to your customer they won\'t know and having that understanding may change the way you create or design.</p>\r\n\r\n<h1 class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">Understanding your Client\'s Needs</h1>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-7423\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Business-Process-Map-200x300.png\" alt=\"Business Process Map | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" />Additionally, you need to understand how what you are creating fits into the world of your customer. Having that understanding may change the way you create or design something. It may also give you an opportunity to offer a better solution for what your Clients actually need. I can\'t tell you how many times I thought I knew exactly what I wanted but once I spoke with an expert I realized I wasn\'t asking for the right thing or that I wanted something else. It\'s because I really didn\'t know what I didn\'t know.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">This can also be a great opportunity to exceed your client\'s expectations too. If a customer comes to you expecting to order a three-tier wedding cake, because they think that\'s all they can afford, and they leave instead with a five-tier cake that is still in their budget that is a win for the baker and for the customer. The baker didn\'t necessarily provide the customer with free cake, they explained that they can add in two foam layers to give the illusion of a larger cake. The customer may not have known that was a possibility, but because the baker was used to this and had a process for guiding them through the options, they educated the customer, gave more than was expected and won not only a new customer but probably referrals too. They accomplished all of this because they had a clearly defined process...a business recipe.</p>\r\n\r\n<h1 class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">Ensure Your Process Map is Adaptive</h1>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">Once you define your process and determine what your customers actually need, you may find that your process is not very adaptive. Now, in some cases, it doesn\'t make sense to adapt your process, especially if it is detrimental to the overall creation or the end result of the service. In other cases, there is a little wiggle room to move things around. If you don\'t know where this wiggle room is you can\'t know how to adapt for it when it comes up.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">Take for example, you are helping a client set up a new piece of software. Your process has them identifying the number of accounts they need to migrate and in what buckets they are going to fall. The client explains they are going through a system cleanup, so what they give you won\'t be accurate and can you work on setting up another part of the system first. Giving them time to clean up the data prior to migration.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">If you understand what parts of the setup process are reliant on the other parts and which aren\'t then you know you have a little wiggle room and can set up the other pieces first. If you didn\'t know that, you may feel that setting up the Users is a roadblock and begin pushing the client to provide information before you move forward, ultimately halting the project unnecessarily.</p>\r\n\r\n<h1 class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">What is the Overall Purpose of this Action?</h1>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">Before asking a client for anything you should understand the purpose of what you are asking for and ensure you are getting everything you need during the ask, if possible (or lay out the various phases for them in the beginning and what they will be doing or producing in each). Mapping out the creative flow to your Client is imperative to ensure clear communication and helps to ensure your project meets both your needs and your customers. You may have multiple paths but if you don\'t think about and plan for each you will be flailing when you are presented with a roadblock.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">Again, each client is unique, but your process should have a defined path that is followed by small variation paths where appropriate.</p>\r\n\r\n<h1 class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;ff&quot;:&quot;arial,roboto,sans-serif&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;10.50&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fs&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fv&quot;:&quot;normal&quot;,&quot;fgc&quot;:&quot;rgb(51, 51, 51)&quot;,&quot;td&quot;:&quot;none&quot;,&quot;cs&quot;:&quot;0pt&quot;,&quot;bgc&quot;:&quot;rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)&quot;,&quot;va&quot;:&quot;baseline&quot;}\">Remember, You Are the Expert</h1>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">Ultimately, your customers don\'t understand your craft like you do. They just know they want a website built, a cake made or their graphics developed, they don\'t know all the pieces and decisions that must go into it, so it is your responsibility to educate them and break it down so they get it.  As a customer, I need to understand the end gain and how the small pieces fit together to get me the result that I want.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph heading0\" data-header=\"0\">So now that you know you need to have and understand your process map and also provide your clients with an understanding of your roadmap, do you have one? If you need help defining a streamlined process map or a client facing roadmap, feel free to set up your mapping session today.</p>','Process Map Improves Customer Satisfaction','','inherit','closed','closed','','7383-revision-v1','','','2018-08-20 19:42:27','2018-08-20 19:42:27','',7383,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/7383-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(7427,1,'2018-08-20 19:59:49','2018-08-20 19:59:49','','How to Start a Keto Lifestyle| The Happiness Bucket','','inherit','open','closed','','clubketopinnablegraphic','','','2018-08-20 20:00:27','2018-08-20 20:00:27','',7412,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/ClubKetoPinnableGraphic.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(7428,1,'2018-08-20 20:00:36','2018-08-20 20:00:36','<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-doc-id=\"4817100000000352001\">Starting any journey can be a very stressful and scary thing. First, you are changing a pattern or process that you have known for a while. You also may not know what to expect and that in itself can be extremely disconcerting. This is mainly because change isn\'t easy and you are really focusing on making changes in your life, not anyone else\'s. You aren\'t dependent on anyone but yourself to make these changes happen which means you can\'t blame someone else for your success or failure. It\'s all on you.  So I am going to talk to you about how to start a weight loss journey, specifically how I began my ketogenic lifestyle weightloss journey.<!--more--></p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-7427\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/ClubKetoPinnableGraphic-200x300.png\" alt=\"How to Start a Keto Lifestyle| The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" />Yes, you can plan to go on a journey with someone else, but in the end it is all reliant on your willpower and drive to succeed. That is scary and refreshing at the same time right?</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">Well, as you guys know I am on my very own weight loss journey and I decided to share it with you so you can see that I don\'t just teach you to do these things I am doing and living by everything I share with you. You can follow my journey by connecting on my Instagram account <a href=\"https://www.instagram.com/truthstoryofdana/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Truth Story of Dana</a> or by connecting on my <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/DanaLaRiealMorales/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">coaching facebook page</a>.</p>\r\n\r\n<div class=\"iframe-container\"> <span style=\"font-size: 30px; font-weight: bold;\">My Weight Loss Journey</span></div>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">This isn\'t my first run at a weight loss journey, in fact...back in 2010 I inadvertently began one while I was training for the half marathon. My goal at the time was to complete the half marathon by any means necessary, but a bonus benefit of focusing on that goal was that I lost weight and went from a size 20 to a size 14/16. I was amazed at how easy it was, because I didn\'t change my eating habits I just trained...and truth be told, I didn\'t even train like I was supposed to, but that\'s a story for another day.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">After that, I got married and subsequently got pregnant, but only gained 20 lbs with my pregnancy. I salsa danced up until I was 7 months, so I\'m sure that helped keep some of the weight off. After the birth of little bit I lost what I had gained and a little more because I was breastfeeding...I was the same size I had been in college. Then...(deep breath) I discovered vanilla oreos!!!! yes (shaking my head), I not only discovered them I was devouring them on a regular basis!!!! Looking back it was a crying shame how many of those little cookies I ate in a week. Lets just say I was woofing down a family pack every week to week and a half! Between that and me no longer salsa dancing the weight began to pile on and five years later I weighed my heaviest at 275!!!</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">I remember the day I stepped on that scale and saw that number it was devastating! Now, understand I knew before that day I needed to do something.  I was uncomfortable and just didn\'t feel attractive.  My clothes weren\'t fitting right and I knew I either had to lose weight or go up another size.  Ultimately, that was the straw that broke the camels back and I knew I had to kick it into gear and make a change. I needed to be about it and not just talk about it.</p>\r\n\r\n<h1 data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">My Mindset Stage</h1>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">As you guys know I teach about the <a href=\"https://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/courses/organizational-roadmap\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">five stages of organizing</a>, and one of the most important steps is the mindset stage.  The entire four to six months before I bit the bullet I was getting inspiration and affirmations from people around me.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">[Inspiration #1] A long-time acquaintance and Change Academy Member (and his wife) posted pictures of their amazing weight loss journey. [Inspiration #2] One of my Alum (and Change Academy Member) had a health scare and began watching his diet and exercising and [Inspiration #3] my co-worker and friend (and his wife) began his ketogenic lifestyle and I was able to see his 100 lb weight loss in person.</p>\r\n\r\n<blockquote>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;}\">Inspirations are around every corner, you just have to open your eyes to see them.</p>\r\n</blockquote>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">I realized that I was teaching you how to live a faithful life and take action on your change journey and I wasn\'t doing that when it came to my health. It was time to make a change and for accountability purposes I decided I would share it with you.</p>\r\n\r\n<h1 class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">My Ketogenic Lifestyle</h1>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">So if you have been following my <a href=\"https://www.instagram.com/truthstoryofdana/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Instagram account</a> or our <a href=\"https://www.facebook.com/DanaLaRiealMorales/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Facebook page</a> you know that I have been sharing most of my meals and lessons with you in the form of posts and videos. Well now, I have opened <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/clubketo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Club Keto</a> to provide you instructions and help for those beginning their Ketogenic lifestyle, because it can get overwhelming and confusing.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">I am participating in dirty keto, which means I focus on my net carb intake and although I keep an eye on the other macros I don\'t stress on them and I don\'t worry about the ingredients in what I\'m eating. As long as I maintain my carb counts I\'m good.</p>\r\n\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_7413\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\"]<img class=\"wp-image-7413 size-medium\" title=\"Weight loss journey with Keto\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Keto-1-Mth-300x300.jpg\" alt=\"Weight Loss Journey Keto Results 1 Month\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" /> One month on ketogenic weigh loss journey. Photo on the right is from May, but didn\'t start journey until June 28th. The swelling in my face is down and you can really see it in my chin area.[/caption]\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">I started my journey on June 28, 2018. I started actually as a test and just never stopped because I saw the weight falling off within the first four days and my cognitive function and energy levels were so high that I didn\'t want to stop. As of August 20, 2018, I have lost 18 lbs and 2.7 inches (actually more inches but I didn\'t measure until I\'d been on three weeks). My jeans can be taken off without unbuttoning or unzipping them, my face is even thinner than my first result photo (see image to the right) and as I mentioned my thinking is sharper and my energy level is so much higher. I just feel better and I\'m not even near my goal yet.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">I share my story as an inspiration to you, because sometimes you need to see that someone else did it...and learn from their wins and their mistakes. I don\'t hold anything back in <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/ClubKeto\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Club Keto</a> because I don\'t think it does any good to paint incomplete stories.</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\">I hope you join me over in the club so you can begin your journey too...and don\'t worry even if you aren\'t doing keto and are doing some other weight loss journey, join us over in the Club...we can still support you in what you are doing!</p>\r\n<p class=\"zw-paragraph\" data-textformat=\"{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;text&quot;,&quot;fw&quot;:&quot;none&quot;}\"><span class=\"EOP\"> </span></p>','Weight Loss Journey - How to Start Keto Lifestyle','','inherit','closed','closed','','7412-revision-v1','','','2018-08-20 20:00:36','2018-08-20 20:00:36','',7412,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/7412-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(7436,1,'2018-10-19 16:44:13','2018-10-19 16:44:13','<div data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;-2px&quot;}\">This is a collection of The Happiness Bucket\'s available resources.  I encourage you to take advantage of them to help better organize your space, life, soul, and business.  Some of these resources are available free of charge and some have a nominal cost associated with them.  I assure you that no matter which you choose, you will gain invaluable knowledge along the way.  Please let me know if you have any questions or if there are any resources you would like to see that aren\'t listed here.  Happy Organizing!!!</div>\r\n<div data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;-2px&quot;}\"></div>\r\n<div data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;-2px&quot;}\">\r\n\r\n<hr />\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n<div id=\"pl-5606\" class=\"panel-layout\">\r\n<div id=\"pg-5606-0\" class=\"panel-grid panel-has-style\" style=\"text-align: center;\" data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;-2px&quot;}\">  <a href=\"http://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/courses/organizational-roadmap\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-6951\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/OrganizationalRoadmapWorkshop-150x150.png\" alt=\"Organizational Roadmap Workshop | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" /></a>  <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/roadmap-checklist/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-6982\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Organizational-Roadmap-Checklist-1-150x150.png\" alt=\"Organizational Roadmap Checklist | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" /> </a> <a href=\"http://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/courses/getting-organized\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-7435\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Getting-Organized-150x150.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" /></a></div>\r\n<div data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;-2px&quot;}\">\r\n\r\n<hr />\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n<div class=\"panel-grid panel-has-style\" style=\"text-align: center;\" data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;-2px&quot;}\"><a href=\"http://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/courses/ca-budgeting-101\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-6949\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Budgeting-Masterclass-150x150.png\" alt=\"Budgeting Masterclass | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" /></a>  <a href=\"https://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/courses/ResourceLibrary\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-6952\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Resource-Library-150x150.png\" alt=\"Resource Library | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" /></a>  <a href=\"https://gum.co/sEes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-6958\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Business-Leaks-Guide-150x150.png\" alt=\"Business Leaks Guide | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\n<hr />\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n<div class=\"panel-grid panel-has-style\" style=\"text-align: center;\" data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;-2px&quot;}\"><a href=\"https://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/courses/THBBusinessToolbox\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-7255\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Website-Course-Images-800-x-800-3-150x150.png\" alt=\"THB Business Toolbox | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" /></a>  <a href=\"https://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/courses/THBMethodWorkshop\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-6952\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Website-Course-Images-800-x-800-1.png\" alt=\"THBMethod Overview Workshop | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" /></a>  <a href=\"https://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/courses/agile-masterclass\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-6958\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Website-Course-Images-800-x-800-300x300.png\" alt=\"THBMethod Masterclass | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\n<hr />','Resources','','inherit','closed','closed','','5606-revision-v1','','','2018-10-19 16:44:13','2018-10-19 16:44:13','',5606,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/5606-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(7437,1,'2018-10-19 16:51:58','2018-10-19 16:51:58','','ClubKeto | The Happiness Bucket','','inherit','open','closed','','clubketo','','','2018-10-19 16:52:38','2018-10-19 16:52:38','',5606,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/ClubKeto.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(7438,1,'2018-10-19 16:52:08','2018-10-19 16:52:08','','Getting Organized | The Happiness Bucket','','inherit','open','closed','','gettingorganized','','','2018-10-19 17:11:24','2018-10-19 17:11:24','',5606,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/GettingOrganized.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(7439,1,'2018-10-19 17:10:41','2018-10-19 17:10:41','','5 Stages of Organizing | The Happiness Bucket','','inherit','open','closed','','5-stages-of-organizing','','','2018-10-19 17:12:33','2018-10-19 17:12:33','',5606,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/5-Stages-of-Organizing.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(7440,1,'2018-10-19 17:10:47','2018-10-19 17:10:47','','The Declutter Club Challenge | The Happiness Bucket','','inherit','open','closed','','the-declutter-club-challenge','','','2018-10-19 17:15:04','2018-10-19 17:15:04','',5606,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/The-Declutter-Club-Challenge.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(7442,1,'2018-10-19 20:49:22','2018-10-19 20:49:22','<div data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;-2px&quot;}\">This is a collection of The Happiness Bucket\'s available resources.  I encourage you to take advantage of them to help better organize your space, life, soul, and business.  Some of these resources are available free of charge and some have a nominal cost associated with them.  I assure you that no matter which you choose, you will gain invaluable knowledge along the way.  Please let me know if you have any questions or if there are any resources you would like to see that aren\'t listed here.  Happy Organizing!!!</div>\r\n<div data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;-2px&quot;}\"></div>\r\n<div data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;-2px&quot;}\"></div>\r\n<div data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;-2px&quot;}\">\r\n\r\n<hr />\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n<div id=\"pl-5606\" class=\"panel-layout\">\r\n<div data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;-2px&quot;}\"></div>\r\n<div class=\"panel-grid panel-has-style\" style=\"text-align: center;\" data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;-2px&quot;}\"><a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/clubketo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-7437\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/ClubKeto-150x150.png\" alt=\"ClubKeto | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" /></a>  <a href=\"http://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/courses/organizational-roadmap\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-7439\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/5-Stages-of-Organizing-150x150.png\" alt=\"5 Stages of Organizing | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" /></a>  <a href=\"http://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/courses/getting-organized\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-7438\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/GettingOrganized-150x150.png\" alt=\"Getting Organized | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" /></a></div>\r\n<div data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;-2px&quot;}\"></div>\r\n<div class=\"panel-grid panel-has-style\" style=\"text-align: center;\" data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;-2px&quot;}\"><a href=\"http://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/courses/TDC\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-7440\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/The-Declutter-Club-Challenge-150x150.png\" alt=\"The Declutter Club Challenge | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" /></a>  <a href=\"https://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/courses/THBBusinessToolbox\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-7255\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Website-Course-Images-800-x-800-3-150x150.png\" alt=\"THB Business Toolbox | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" /></a>  <a href=\"https://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/courses/ResourceLibrary\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-6952\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Resource-Library-150x150.png\" alt=\"Resource Library | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" /></a></div>\r\n<div data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;-2px&quot;}\"></div>\r\n<div class=\"panel-grid panel-has-style\" style=\"text-align: center;\" data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;-2px&quot;}\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-6982\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Organizational-Roadmap-Checklist-1-150x150.png\" alt=\"Organizational Roadmap Checklist | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" />   <a href=\"http://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/courses/ca-budgeting-101\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-6949\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Budgeting-Masterclass-150x150.png\" alt=\"Budgeting Masterclass | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" /></a>    <a href=\"https://gum.co/sEes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-6958\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Business-Leaks-Guide-150x150.png\" alt=\"Business Leaks Guide | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\n<hr />\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n<div class=\"panel-grid panel-has-style\" style=\"text-align: center;\" data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;-2px&quot;}\">  <a href=\"https://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/courses/THBMethodWorkshop\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-6952\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Website-Course-Images-800-x-800-1.png\" alt=\"THBMethod Overview Workshop | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\n<hr />','Resources','','inherit','closed','closed','','5606-revision-v1','','','2018-10-19 20:49:22','2018-10-19 20:49:22','',5606,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/5606-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(7443,1,'2018-10-19 20:52:14','2018-10-19 20:52:14','<div data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;-2px&quot;}\">This is a collection of The Happiness Bucket\'s available resources.  I encourage you to take advantage of them to help better organize your space, life, soul, and business.  Some of these resources are available free of charge and some have a nominal cost associated with them.  I assure you that no matter which you choose, you will gain invaluable knowledge along the way.  Please let me know if you have any questions or if there are any resources you would like to see that aren\'t listed here.  Happy Organizing!!!</div>\r\n<div data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;-2px&quot;}\"></div>\r\n<div data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;-2px&quot;}\"></div>\r\n<div data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;-2px&quot;}\">\r\n\r\n<hr />\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n<div id=\"pl-5606\" class=\"panel-layout\">\r\n<div data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;-2px&quot;}\"></div>\r\n<div class=\"panel-grid panel-has-style\" style=\"text-align: center;\" data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;-2px&quot;}\"><a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/clubketo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-7437\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/ClubKeto-150x150.png\" alt=\"ClubKeto | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" /></a>   <a href=\"http://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/courses/organizational-roadmap\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-7439\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/5-Stages-of-Organizing-150x150.png\" alt=\"5 Stages of Organizing | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" /></a>   <a href=\"http://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/courses/getting-organized\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-7438\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/GettingOrganized-150x150.png\" alt=\"Getting Organized | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" /></a></div>\r\n<div data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;-2px&quot;}\"></div>\r\n<div class=\"panel-grid panel-has-style\" style=\"text-align: center;\" data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;-2px&quot;}\"><a href=\"http://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/courses/TDC\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-7440\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/The-Declutter-Club-Challenge-150x150.png\" alt=\"The Declutter Club Challenge | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" /> </a>  <a href=\"https://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/courses/THBBusinessToolbox\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-7255\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Website-Course-Images-800-x-800-3-150x150.png\" alt=\"THB Business Toolbox | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" /></a>   <a href=\"https://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/courses/ResourceLibrary\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-6952\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Resource-Library-150x150.png\" alt=\"Resource Library | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" /></a></div>\r\n<div data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;-2px&quot;}\"></div>\r\n<div class=\"panel-grid panel-has-style\" style=\"text-align: center;\" data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;-2px&quot;}\">   <a href=\"http://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/courses/ca-budgeting-101\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-6949\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Budgeting-Masterclass-150x150.png\" alt=\"Budgeting Masterclass | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" /></a>    <a href=\"https://gum.co/sEes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-6958\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Business-Leaks-Guide-150x150.png\" alt=\"Business Leaks Guide | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\n<hr />\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n<div class=\"panel-grid panel-has-style\" style=\"text-align: center;\" data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;-2px&quot;}\">  <a href=\"https://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/courses/THBMethodWorkshop\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-6952\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Website-Course-Images-800-x-800-1.png\" alt=\"THBMethod Overview Workshop | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" /></a></div>\r\n\r\n<hr />','Resources','','inherit','closed','closed','','5606-revision-v1','','','2018-10-19 20:52:14','2018-10-19 20:52:14','',5606,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/5606-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(7444,1,'2018-10-19 21:09:58','2018-10-19 21:09:58','<div data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;-2px&quot;}\">This is a collection of The Happiness Bucket\'s available resources.  I encourage you to take advantage of them to help better organize your space, life, soul, and business.  Some of these resources are available free of charge and some have a nominal cost associated with them.  I assure you that no matter which you choose, you will gain invaluable knowledge along the way.  Please let me know if you have any questions or if there are any resources you would like to see that aren\'t listed here.  Happy Organizing!!!</div>\r\n<div data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;-2px&quot;}\"></div>\r\n<div data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;-2px&quot;}\"></div>\r\n<div data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;-2px&quot;}\">\r\n\r\n<hr />\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n<div id=\"pl-5606\" class=\"panel-layout\">\r\n<div data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;-2px&quot;}\"></div>\r\n<div class=\"panel-grid panel-has-style\" style=\"text-align: center;\" data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;-2px&quot;}\"><a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/clubketo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-7437\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/ClubKeto-150x150.png\" alt=\"ClubKeto | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" /></a>   <a href=\"http://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/courses/organizational-roadmap\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-7439\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/5-Stages-of-Organizing-150x150.png\" alt=\"5 Stages of Organizing | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" /></a>   <a href=\"http://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/courses/getting-organized\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-7438\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/GettingOrganized-150x150.png\" alt=\"Getting Organized | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" /></a></div>\r\n<div data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;-2px&quot;}\"></div>\r\n<div class=\"panel-grid panel-has-style\" style=\"text-align: center;\" data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;-2px&quot;}\"><a href=\"http://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/courses/TDC\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-7440\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/The-Declutter-Club-Challenge-150x150.png\" alt=\"The Declutter Club Challenge | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" /> </a>  <a href=\"https://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/courses/THBBusinessToolbox\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-7255\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Website-Course-Images-800-x-800-3-150x150.png\" alt=\"THB Business Toolbox | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" /></a>   <a href=\"https://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/courses/ResourceLibrary\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-6952\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Resource-Library-150x150.png\" alt=\"Resource Library | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" /></a></div>\r\n<div data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;-2px&quot;}\"></div>\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\" data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;-2px&quot;}\"><a href=\"https://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/courses/THBMethodWorkshop\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-6952\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Website-Course-Images-800-x-800-1.png\" alt=\"THBMethod Overview Workshop | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" /></a>   <img class=\"alignnone wp-image-6949\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Budgeting-Masterclass-150x150.png\" alt=\"Budgeting Masterclass | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" />   <a href=\"https://gum.co/sEes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-6958\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Business-Leaks-Guide-150x150.png\" alt=\"Business Leaks Guide | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" /></a></div>\r\n</div>','Resources','','inherit','closed','closed','','5606-revision-v1','','','2018-10-19 21:09:58','2018-10-19 21:09:58','',5606,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/5606-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(7446,1,'2018-10-22 20:23:26','2018-10-22 20:23:26','','Declutter Club | The Happiness Bucket','','inherit','open','closed','','declutter-club','','','2018-10-22 20:26:50','2018-10-22 20:26:50','',0,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Declutter-Club.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(7447,1,'2018-10-22 20:23:34','2018-10-22 20:23:34','','ClubKeto | The Happiness Bucket','','inherit','open','closed','','clubketo-2','','','2018-10-22 20:23:56','2018-10-22 20:23:56','',0,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/ClubKeto-2.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(7448,1,'2018-10-22 20:30:09','2018-10-22 20:30:09','','Declutter Club | The Happiness Bucket','','inherit','open','closed','','declutterclub','','','2018-10-22 20:30:36','2018-10-22 20:30:36','',0,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/DeclutterClub.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(7449,1,'2018-10-22 20:43:58','2018-10-22 20:43:58','<ul>\r\n 	<li><a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/clubketo\"><strong>ClubKeto Live</strong></a>\r\nJoin me as I talk with Walter and Jasmine Thompson who will share their ketogenic lifestyle journey providing tips and tricks they have learned along the way. (Live Class - replay available in Club Keto)\r\nOctober 18 at 8:00 pm CST</li>\r\n</ul>','Events, Promotions and Product Launches','','inherit','closed','closed','','66-revision-v1','','','2018-10-22 20:43:58','2018-10-22 20:43:58','',66,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/66-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(7450,1,'2018-10-22 20:44:14','2018-10-22 20:44:14','<ul>\r\n 	<li><a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/clubketo\"><strong>Club Keto Live</strong></a>\r\nJoin me as I talk with Walter and Jasmine Thompson who will share their ketogenic lifestyle journey providing tips and tricks they have learned along the way. (Live Class - replay available in Club Keto)\r\nOctober 18 at 8:00 pm CST</li>\r\n</ul>','Events, Promotions and Product Launches','','inherit','closed','closed','','66-revision-v1','','','2018-10-22 20:44:14','2018-10-22 20:44:14','',66,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/66-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(7451,1,'2018-10-22 20:46:01','2018-10-22 20:46:01','','Walter and Jasmine Thompson | The Happiness Bucket','','inherit','open','closed','','jasmineandwalter','','','2018-10-22 20:46:36','2018-10-22 20:46:36','',66,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Jasmineandwalter.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(7452,1,'2018-10-22 20:47:53','2018-10-22 20:47:53','<a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/clubketo\"><strong>Club Keto Live <img class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-7451 alignright\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Jasmineandwalter-150x150.png\" alt=\"Walter and Jasmine Thompson | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" /></strong></a>\r\nJoin me as I talk with Walter and Jasmine Thompson who will share their ketogenic lifestyle journey providing tips and tricks they have learned along the way. (Live Class - replay available in Club Keto)\r\nOctober 18 at 8:00 pm CST\r\n-','Events, Promotions and Product Launches','','inherit','closed','closed','','66-revision-v1','','','2018-10-22 20:47:53','2018-10-22 20:47:53','',66,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/66-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(7454,1,'2018-11-07 19:43:08','2018-11-07 19:43:08','','Budgeting Masterclass | The Happiness Bucket','','inherit','open','closed','','website-course-images-800-x-800-4','','','2018-11-07 19:43:47','2018-11-07 19:43:47','',5606,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Website-Course-Images-800-x-800-3.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(7455,1,'2018-11-07 19:44:59','2018-11-07 19:44:59','<div data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;-2px&quot;}\">This is a collection of The Happiness Bucket\'s available resources.  I encourage you to take advantage of them to help better organize your space, life, soul, and business.  Some of these resources are available free of charge and some have a nominal cost associated with them.  I assure you that no matter which you choose, you will gain invaluable knowledge along the way.  Please let me know if you have any questions or if there are any resources you would like to see that aren\'t listed here.  Happy Organizing!!!</div>\r\n<div data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;-2px&quot;}\"></div>\r\n<div data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;-2px&quot;}\"></div>\r\n<div data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;-2px&quot;}\">\r\n\r\n<hr />\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n<div id=\"pl-5606\" class=\"panel-layout\">\r\n<div data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;-2px&quot;}\"></div>\r\n<div class=\"panel-grid panel-has-style\" style=\"text-align: center;\" data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;-2px&quot;}\"><a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/clubketo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-7437\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/ClubKeto-150x150.png\" alt=\"ClubKeto | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" /></a>   <a href=\"http://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/courses/organizational-roadmap\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-7439\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/5-Stages-of-Organizing-150x150.png\" alt=\"5 Stages of Organizing | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" /></a>   <a href=\"http://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/courses/getting-organized\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-7438\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/GettingOrganized-150x150.png\" alt=\"Getting Organized | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" /></a></div>\r\n<div data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;-2px&quot;}\"></div>\r\n<div class=\"panel-grid panel-has-style\" style=\"text-align: center;\" data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;-2px&quot;}\"><a href=\"http://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/courses/TDC\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-7440\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/The-Declutter-Club-Challenge-150x150.png\" alt=\"The Declutter Club Challenge | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" /> </a>  <a href=\"https://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/courses/THBBusinessToolbox\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-7255\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Website-Course-Images-800-x-800-3-150x150.png\" alt=\"THB Business Toolbox | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" /></a>   <a href=\"https://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/courses/ResourceLibrary\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-6952\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Resource-Library-150x150.png\" alt=\"Resource Library | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" /></a></div>\r\n<div data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;-2px&quot;}\"></div>\r\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\" data-style=\"{&quot;padding&quot;:&quot;-2px&quot;}\"><a href=\"https://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/courses/THBMethodWorkshop\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-6952\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Website-Course-Images-800-x-800-1.png\" alt=\"THBMethod Overview Workshop | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" /></a>  <a href=\"http://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/courses/ca-budgeting-101\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-7454\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Website-Course-Images-800-x-800-3-150x150.png\" alt=\"Budgeting Masterclass | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" /></a>   <a href=\"https://gum.co/sEes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img class=\"alignnone wp-image-6958\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Business-Leaks-Guide-150x150.png\" alt=\"Business Leaks Guide | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" /></a></div>\r\n</div>','Resources','','inherit','closed','closed','','5606-revision-v1','','','2018-11-07 19:44:59','2018-11-07 19:44:59','',5606,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/5606-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(7457,1,'2018-11-07 22:06:32','2018-11-07 22:06:32','The never ending purging cycle...where does all the clutter come from?  Do you feel like you are having to purge stuff every few months because there is just too much???  Well, I have good news...I have a solution to help you eliminate clutter, but if I\'m honest...it never goes completely away, but it is definitely something that is manageable with the right systems in place.\r\n\r\nNow, if you have followed me for a while you have heard me refer to the <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/organizational-roadmap\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">organizational roadmap stages</a>, but I want to specifically break down one important area - how to apply the key questions to help you eliminate the clutter coming into your space.\r\n<h1>Observation of Clutter Causes</h1>\r\nThere is usually a specific area that plagues you and your family on a regular basis and it is important that you observe and/or discuss how these items come into your home and/or how they become a problem.  This is really the first step in identifying the problem for you.  You see until you review what got you there in the first place you can\'t really address it.  Instead you will be placing temporary solutions (actually more clutter) in the space, creating sometimes more problems instead of solutions.\r\n<h1>Ask the Key Questions to Eliminate Clutter</h1>\r\n<img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-6218\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/KeyQuestions-200x300.png\" alt=\"Eliminate Clutter - Ask these key questions | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" />To begin this process you need to ask yourself the key questions - who, what, when, where and why.  These questions help to remove the opinions and the guesswork and get to the facts of what needs to be done to eliminate clutter from your space. I also encourage you to ask the questions until you can\'t ask anymore...sometimes that may mean going four or five levels deep.\r\n\r\nFor example, if paper is an issue for you and those around you, I\'d find out what all the sources are of the paper entering the space.  Where does it come from? How does it enter the space?  What type of paper is it?  Why are you keeping it?  Who needs it? How often do they need it?  Who normally brings it in?  When does it seem to be at it\'s worst? etc. etc.  The answers to these questions give you a foundational view into the problem at hand.  It also lets you know where you can consolidate or eliminate issues. Keep asking questions until you can\'t ask any more.\r\n\r\nI used paper as the example here because this was one of the main areas of frustration when we moved into our home.  It seemed to always multiply and congregate on our dining room table and kitchen cabinets (ha like it\'s a person) and only got worse once our daughter started school.  We were able to identify and isolate the main problem, create a system that worked for our family and identify a purging plan.  We also identified ways we could reduce the paper coming into the house.  The key questions were especially helpful in identifying what paper clutter we could eliminate, where we stored each type of paper and how long we stored it.\r\n\r\nI encourage you to evaluate your situation today and apply my <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/roadmap-checklist/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">organizational roadmap concepts</a> to determine where you can reduce or eliminate clutter from your life.  If you would like more detailed direction as to how to eliminate clutter and organize your space, I encourage you to signup for my <a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/GettingOrganized\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Organize Like a Pro Course</a>.','How to Eliminate Clutter by Asking Key Questions','','inherit','closed','closed','','5829-revision-v1','','','2018-11-07 22:06:32','2018-11-07 22:06:32','',5829,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/5829-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(7458,1,'2018-11-07 22:09:19','2018-11-07 22:09:19','Many of you probably didn\'t know but I was actually a customer service representative for the Internal Revenue Service back in the day.  It was a great experience and made me realize the mistakes that people make on a regular basis as it relates to their personal income tax.  I decided it would be good for me to share some of the most common issues I used to and still do see (almost twenty years later), to help you avoid them.\r\n\r\nNow I know that many of you get anxious and itching to file your taxes in January, because that is like an instant payday to you.  I mean I totally get it, but seriously people CALM DOWN!!!!  I promise you taking a little time and ensuring you have crossed the T\'s and dotted the I\'s can save you not only time but money and frustration.  Ok now before I provide you with these tips I want to put out a disclaimer:  I am not a tax professional.  I am providing you information based on my own experiences as a CSR for those filing personal tax returns and want you to use your own judgement as to whether or not you should implement these tips in your own life.\r\n\r\nAlright, now that that\'s out of the way, lets get to it:\r\n<h2>1.  Don\'t File Too Fast</h2>\r\nMany of you only worked at one place, so you get your W2 and you want to go ahead and file.  I say, \"whoaaaaaa nelly\"!!!  Do you really have all the documents you need to file?  You need to really think about what assets/liabilities you have and ensure you properly account for them in all the places on your tax form.  You\'d hate to receive your refund and then have to pay back money or amend your return because you omitted something in error.  By law, all tax documents should be postmarked by Jan 31st...so at least wait until Feb 5th. to ensure you have what you need.\r\n<h2>2.  Avoid Anticipation Loans</h2>\r\nNow, I don\'t want any of these companies trying to sue me for telling the truth here.  The truth is that by going to these places you are essentially taking out a loan on your own money!  Did you know by filing electronically you can get your money in as quick as 7 days?!?!  Why pay someone to do the same thing that you can do for free?  Just go directly to the source, file your taxes electronically...provide them with an account number and they will deposit your money into it directly.  If you want to <a href=\"https://sa.www4.irs.gov/irfof/lang/en/irfofgetstatus.jsp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">get the status of your refund</a>, you can go to the IRS website directly.\r\n<h2>3.  Mind Who You Claim</h2>\r\nIf you have a person that may be claimable by someone else you need to ensure you can claim them before you put them on your taxes.  Just because they live with you during the year does not mean you can claim them.  It\'s based on five tests:  Relationship, age, residency, support and joint return and the answers aren\'t necessarily what you may think.  Divorce decrees and/or written declarations can also change the rules.  Chapter 3 of <a title=\"Publication 17\" href=\"http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p17.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IRS Publication 17</a> details this out.  If all else fails <a href=\"https://www.irs.gov/help/telephone-assistance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">call and ask</a> a CSR, but be honest in your responses so they can give you the real answer.  Claiming someone on your taxes that someone else should claim could delay your refund or cause you to owe money back.  This is true if the actual person you are claiming files and claim\'s them self.\r\n<h2>4.  Get Help Preparing Your Taxes</h2>\r\nFor those who make $54,000 or less you can receive free help at a <a href=\"http://irs.treasury.gov/freetaxprep/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">VITA site</a>.  Those over the age of 60 can participate in the Tax Counseling for the elderly program and there are some things for a few other specific groups as well.  For everyone else don\'t be afraid to call 1-800-829-1040, the IRS help line, to get assistance.  Also, use <a title=\"Publication 17\" href=\"http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p17.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IRS Publication 17 </a>to assist you in preparing your taxes.\r\n<h2>5.  Use Free Online Filing Options</h2>\r\nYou should use the <a title=\"E-File Through IRS\" href=\"https://www.irs.gov/uac/Free-File:-Do-Your-Federal-Taxes-for-Free\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IRS Free File links</a> to identify all available offers.  Many \"other\" sites have tricky extras that end up costing you when using their links.  Make sure you read and understand (especially the fine print) before clicking the button of sites outside of the list the IRS provides and even read those too.\r\n<h2>6.  Appropriately Apply Deductions and Credits</h2>\r\n<img class=\"alignleft wp-image-5751 \" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/tax-filing-683x1024.png\" alt=\"Organize for Tax Filing - Common Mistakes\" width=\"306\" height=\"459\" />\r\n\r\nThere are many deductions and credits out there that people miss because they don\'t educate themselves.  The online filing sites ask questions that help determine whether you are or aren\'t eligible for specific deductions and credits.  If you are using a preparer and the deduction or credit seems too good to be true, always ask for a detailed explanation of how they came up with it or what makes you eligible.  Every deduction and credit has an <a href=\"https://www.irs.gov/publications\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IRS Publication</a> associated with it.  It doesn\'t take an extremely long time to review them...empower yourself!\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2>7.  Get a Copy of <a title=\"Publication 17\" href=\"http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p17.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IRS Publication 17</a></h2>\r\nIt explains most of the scenarios you will need to have covered.  If when reading it refers to another publication, just get it or download it from the website, they are all there.  This is a great place to start when researching changes in the tax code each year too.\r\n<h2>8.  Keep Good Records</h2>\r\nYou always want to make sure you have records of anything you plan on claiming...or have a way of proving it if you are ever audited.  Most people have a general idea of what those things are so start keeping a running file of those items be that electronic or physical.  If you know you will have a lot of receipts, have a way of categorizing them to make it easier come tax time.  If filing a 1040 Form (aka F1040), make sure you keep a charitable donation and gift log as well.  In some cases the standard deduction was more beneficial for me, but you never know until you crunch the numbers...so plan for it just in case.\r\n<h2>9.  Know Tax Year Changes</h2>\r\nWe all experience life happenings, some of the biggest ones are caused by natural disasters, job loss, home loss and other national happenings.  Along with these changes comes changes to the tax rules, some good and some bad.  Please educate yourselves so you don\'t miss out or make a mistake when it comes to <a href=\"https://www.irs.gov/Credits-&amp;-Deductions\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">credits and deductions</a>.  Don\'t let this one scare you, you have the ability to do this on your own.  Again, most of the information you need to know is covered in Publication 17.  Just be aware so you can ensure there isn\'t a credit, deduction or additional tax that you didn\'t have to pay in years past (marriage/divorce, birth/death, new home, etc.) or new ones that you do.\r\n<h2>10.  Don\'t Miss the Deadline</h2>\r\nWhatever you do, do not miss the April 15th deadline if you owe!  File an extension, but don\'t just try to ignore it as though it\'s going to go away because it is not.  In fact, all that\'s going to happen is interest and penalties will continue to add up (these are calculated daily!).   If it is just a matter of you don\'t have the money, it\'s okay!!!  Just call and tell them you want to make an arrangement to pay.  They will set you up on a payment plan that works for your budget...no matter the amount.  I actually had to do this myself the year I was categorized as an Independent Contractor and didn\'t realize I had to pay my own taxes (I was young).  The letter I received from the IRS stated that I owed $20,000 and I of course went into a mass panic.  The key to this story is that I was able to make arrangements and pay it off.  It took me about 10 or so years, but I did it...and you can too.\r\n<h1>A Few Bonus Tax Tips</h1>\r\nOk, so after writing #10 above, I felt obligated to add a couple of bonus tips for you small business owners...\r\n<h2>Bonus 1:  Know Small Business Requirements</h2>\r\nMake sure you know what taxes you owe, both for your Federal and State taxes.  As a person who experienced the stress of owing the Government, you want to make sure you know and understand your requirements as a business owner, especially all of you who are independent contractors.  If you don\'t pay quarterly taxes you need to ensure you are taking the appropriate taxes out of the money you make from every sell.  If not, you risk getting shocked at the end of the year.\r\n<h2>Bonus 2:  Business Tax and Sale Log</h2>\r\nNow for some small businesses you haven\'t made enough sells to justify purchasing an accounting software for your business.  There are mixed feelings about this, but I say do what is best for your business.  If you are diligent about keeping track of what is going in and out of your business, you can do it by hand without a problem.  Of course the more successful you are, the more complicated your in-take and out-take procedures and processes are and the riskier and more difficult it becomes.\r\n<h2>Bonus 3:  Know What You Are Filing</h2>\r\nEven if you have your taxes prepared by someone else, you should always have a clear understanding and approve of what is being filed on your behalf.  You are ultimately responsible, whether someone else made the decision to do it or not.  By signing the last line on your physical and electronic return, you are certifying that you are taking the responsibility for everything on the document, so take it seriously.  Don\'t let someone rush you through the explanation of your taxes. If you are paying them, you are paying for their time...so use it.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI hope you found these tips helpful!  Please let me know if you do by sharing, liking and/or commenting on this post below, I\'d love your feedback.','Organize your Tax Filing Process with these 10 Tax Filing Tips','','inherit','closed','closed','','145-revision-v1','','','2018-11-07 22:09:19','2018-11-07 22:09:19','',145,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/145-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(7460,1,'2018-11-07 22:38:20','2018-11-07 22:38:20','I think many of you can relate to me when I say that during October, life got away from me. I was so extremely busy that I didn\'t complete very many projects around the house. Well, I\'m back in the grind now. Things are getting back to normal and all those things I neglected are now back in my sights. Clutter and unorganized spaces beware!\r\n\r\nI started my re-entry into my Decluttering world by collecting all my receipts from various projects and day to day activities. In doing some research on the best method/process for storing receipts until I am ready to deal with them, I ran across a post by <a title=\"Organized Receipts\" href=\"http://www.simplyorganized.me/2012/10/organized-receipts.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Simply Organized</a> who created a receipt box.  I also ran across another blogger who used a small expandable file to collect all her receipts (can\'t remember her name but will add later if I do).  Both of these ladies separated their receipts by store or purpose... How perfect is that? I often need to find a specific receipt and in my previous system I\'d have to hunt through them all to find the one I needed which was inevitably at the back.\r\n\r\nI lucked up because I had an old expandable in the house that wasn\'t being used. The velcro was a little skewed but since it is probably 10 - 15 years old I won\'t complain lol. Talk about recycling an item!\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/20121104-232543.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/20121104-232543.jpg\" alt=\"20121104-232543.jpg\" /></a>\r\n\r\nI sorted the receipts I had readily available to determine what categories I needed. I then created categories for the items represented and also for some of the most common stores I frequent and a few projects I have. I ended up filling every slot.\r\n\r\nMy life of receipts is so organized now! The good thing is I can add the store items to my price book easily as time permits and I have them all readily available. Woo hoo order is restored....well for one thing that is.... But hey we conquer clutter one thing at a time.\r\n\r\nOn to the next clutter corner...my to do box.\r\n\r\n<a href=\"http://thehappinessbucket.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/the-happiness-bucket-transparent7.png\"><img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-1025\" title=\"The-Happiness-Bucket transparent\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/the-happiness-bucket-transparent7.png?w=300\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"125\" /></a>','Restoring Order by Battling Paper Clutter','','inherit','closed','closed','','1412-revision-v1','','','2018-11-07 22:38:20','2018-11-07 22:38:20','',1412,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/1412-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(7466,560,'2019-07-27 05:15:59','0000-00-00 00:00:00','hello everybody this is dayna morales with the happiness bucket and I\'m so happy that you are joining me today for our first scope ever I\'m so excited I\'m a little nervous but this is something that I\'ve wanted to do for a while we have been looking at ways to really get the information out there the different information out there for people to ingest because our clients our followers you all are very busy hi hot stuff how are you doing thanks for joining us today but our clients are very busy individuals and they have a lot going on and so we\'ve been looking for ways that we could reach you in a new format the happiness bucket educates and assists busy individuals with organizing their space their life in their soul and so we\'re really excited about helping people get to their next level helping them reach their ultimate happiness okay and so um what do what does all that mean it ultimately means that we assist people holistically we deal with the entire person and not just their space because what most people think about when they think about organizing is that they think about you know homes and offices and ain\'t moving stuff around and getting it perfectly set up in your home and that is a big bulk of what we do but what we also do is we assist individuals with clearing the noise and the clutter from their minds allowing them to really focus on what truly makes them happy because you know once we get your home or your space organized and get all of that clutter and that noise out of that space then you\'re left with okay this was my existence for so long what is gonna make me happy I have time to do things I I have desires and things that I want to accomplish in my life and so we assist our followers and our viewers with identifying with is and reaching towards that in obtaining that in their lives and ultimately living their happiest life and and going on their happiness journey and so we like to go on those journeys with you and and assist you in achieving that okay so that is ultimately what the happiness bucket is about so without further ado I want to get into the meat of what today\'s scope is about and today we are talking about the keys to organizing and decluttering and be successful in organizing and decluttering and so this is a very simple well simple to me because I do this all the time but it\'s a pretty simple concept once you really understand it okay and so ultimately when I talk to an to individuals about organizing and decluttering the what I hear most common from them is you know what I try to organize and I try you know they don\'t really say the clutter but I try to organize my home and I\'m always organizing over and over again and it just never stays that way and i feel myself constantly organizing my home and what i like to say is you know organizing your home should really only be done once and then maintained over time right so ultimately organizing is about creating systems in your home that enable you to recover that is ultimately what organizing is about i\'m going to say that one more time organizing is about creating systems in your home that enable you to recover and so i\'m going to explain that because for me that is the ultimate key to being successful with organized and and decluttering in your home so what is a system a system is something that is organically created for you it is unique to you and your family in your space it is very unique for you guys so in other words I cannot create you I have my system my family we have our system in our home I cannot pick up my system and place it in your home and think that it\'s going to work perfectly it is not because it is unique to the Morales household okay so you can use my system as an inspiration but ultimately you have to develop your own system that is unique to your environment it is an organic system something that is is developed organically some of the actions and things that you all do in your home and so you know my system has evolved when I was single I had a completely different system and it was a lot easier because it was just me I didn\'t have to take into account other people in our in my space and so that system changed a little bit when I got married we were in the same space but there was another person that had to be considered within that system and so we developed a system for my married life well then we had a child and moved we happen to do that at the same time but we marry got married and moved I\'m sorry we moved and had a baby at the same time and so that was a completely different system in our new home because our old system no longer really worked in our new home and so that\'s what I\'m talking about this system is very key to your organizing understanding what that system is and how it organically is created okay and so what do I mean when I say and it enables you to recover you know organizing is you know the system is important for your organizing journey but also being able to recover means that yes I have a system but that doesn\'t mean that my home is not going to get in disarray it doesn\'t mean that I\'m not going to have mrs. in my home what it means is that you\'re living right that you are actually living in your home you\'re not a statue in your home and so it is going to get messy there are going to be things that you have to pick up or clean up from time to time but being able to recover means that if someone called me right now instead you know what Dana I am in the neighborhood and I plan to be there at twelve thirty or I plan on going to be there and my response will be sure come on now is my house perfectly organized I mean not organized is it clean and perfect and pristine right now no it is not do I have my system established in my home yes I do would I be able to immediately after this periscope get up and pick up the space based on my system pick up the space and get it organized to a point where someone walking in thinks its pristine sure I can in I I could do that but the main living space could be have organic systems developed in my home that enabled me to recover quickly in order to continue to live my life so in essence my if my house is a mess from top to bottom it still does not take me all day to get my home back into organized status right or and I hate to use organizing that in that in that way because your home if it is truly organized using a true system then it\'s still organized it\'s just a matter of you having to recover you have to put the stuff back where it belongs it doesn\'t mean that it\'s disorganized it just means that things are not where they belong so there\'s there\'s a fine line there\'s the line of I need to clean up my home and there\'s the line of i need to actually create a system and organize my home those are two totally different things and so for those who have read the book i cannot think of the title right now but is a big right now the comp the continent mari method where in the book she talks about you once you are organized you no longer have to do that that is the same concept it is once you truly are organized and you have things in a place you have a you know a unique place for every single thing then you don\'t have to continue to do that you may have to adjust it from time to time which we call maintenance but you don\'t have to constantly do reorganization you ultimately are just recovering and maintaining so those are the keys to organizing and decluttering and I probably shouldn\'t even put the cluttering in that title because you that has nothing I mean decluttering it\'s part of that as part of creating your system and getting to the ultimate system but organizing it\'s more than just having pretty boxes on the shelf that\'s beautiful and I love I\'m visual and I love to see those things but ultimately you can you can be organized without having that stuff organization does not have to cost you a dime organization is more about the concepts and the thought processes behind how you place things in your home ok so I hope you found this information helpful it got a little deep a little bit but hopefully you understand the point and I\'m going to repeat it one more time here organization is about developing systems in your home that enable you to recover','','','draft','open','open','','','','','2019-07-27 05:15:59','2019-07-27 05:15:59','',0,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/?p=7466',0,'post','',0),(7467,560,'2019-07-27 05:15:59','0000-00-00 00:00:00','Today we are talking about the keys to organizing and decluttering and how to be successful in organizing and decluttering and so this is a very simple concept once you really understand it. What I hear most common when speaking to people about organizing is, “I try to organize and I try to organize my home, but I feel like I\'m always organizing over and over again and it just never stays that way.\r\n\r\nThe truth is that organizing your home should really only be done once and then it is just maintained over time. You may decide to change your organizational system OR redecorate, but the act of truly getting organized should only be done once.\r\n\r\nOrganizing is about creating systems in your home that enable you to recover. For me that is the ultimate key to being successful with organizing and decluttering your home. So then you ask, “What is a system”? A system is something that is organically created for you, it is unique to you and your family. So in other words I cannot recreate my family’s system in your house. I cannot pick up my system and place it in your home and think that it\'s going to work perfectly it is not because it is unique to the Morales household.\r\n\r\nNow, you can use my system as an inspiration in your home, but ultimately you have to develop your own system that is unique to your environment it is an organic system something that is developed organically.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><iframe src=\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/lf4n2nS9534?start=165\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"></iframe></p>\r\nWhen I was single I had a completely different system and it was a lot easier because it was just me I didn\'t have to take into account other people in my space and so that system changed a little bit when I got married we were in the same space but there was another person that had to be considered within that system and so we developed a system for my married life well then we had a child and moved. This required us to develop new systems and adapt some that were transferrable to our new home. The system you choose to create is very important for your overall success. Understanding what that system is and how it is organically created.\r\n\r\nLets talk about recovery. What do I mean when I say and it enables you to recover? Well, I have a system, but that doesn\'t mean that my home is not going to get in disarray it doesn\'t mean that I\'m not going to have messes in my home. What it means is that you are choosing to live. You\'re not a statue in your home, so it is going to get messy. There are going to be things that you have to pick up or clean up from time to time but being able to recover means that if someone called me right now and said Dana I am in the neighborhood and was hoping to stop by in thirty minutes, is that ok? My response can be sure come on without having a coronary.\r\n\r\nMy home does not stay in a state of perfectness. It is organized but it is also lived in. I have my system established in my home, so if this scenario happened, I could immediately pick up the space based on my systems and get it organized to a point where someone walking in thinks its pristine.\r\nThe reason I’m able to do this is because I have organic systems developed in my home that enabled me to recover quickly in order to continue to live my life. In essence if my house is a mess from top to bottom it still does not take me all day to get my home back into organized status right or and I hate to use organizing that in that in that way because your home if it is truly organized using a true system then it\'s still organized it\'s just a matter of you having to recover you have to put the stuff back where it belongs it doesn\'t mean that it\'s disorganized it just means that things are not where they belong so there\'s a fine line there\'s the line of I need to clean up my home and there\'s the line of i need to actually create a system and organize my home those are two totally different things.\r\n\r\nOnce you truly are organized and you have a unique place for every single thing then you don\'t have to continue to do that you may have to adjust it from time to time which I call maintenance but you don\'t have to constantly reorganize. You ultimately are just recovering and maintaining so those are the keys to organizing and decluttering.\r\n\r\nRemember, organization does not have to cost you a dime organization is more about the concepts and the thought processes behind how you place things in your home.\r\n\r\nI hope you found this information helpful and you understand the point. Organization is about developing systems in your home that enable you to recover.','The Keys to Organizing in Your Home','','draft','open','open','','keys-to-organizing','','','2019-07-27 05:15:59','2019-07-27 05:15:59','',0,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/?p=7467',0,'post','',0),(7468,1,'2018-11-19 19:04:27','2018-11-19 19:04:27','“I was thinking one day and I realized that if I just had somebody behind me all the way to motivate me I could make a big difference. Nobody came along like that so I just became that person for myself.”\r\nUnknown\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nToday we are talking about the keys to organizing and decluttering and how to be successful in organizing and decluttering and so this is a very simple concept once you really understand it. What I hear most common when speaking to people about organizing is, “I try to organize and I try to organize my home, but I feel like I\'m always organizing over and over again and it just never stays that way.\r\n\r\nThe truth is that organizing your home should really only be done once and then it is just maintained over time. You may decide to change your organizational system OR redecorate, but the act of truly getting organized should only be done once.\r\n\r\nOrganizing is about creating systems in your home that enable you to recover. For me that is the ultimate key to being successful with organizing and decluttering your home. So then you ask, “What is a system”? A system is something that is organically created for you, it is unique to you and your family. So in other words I cannot recreate my family’s system in your house. I cannot pick up my system and place it in your home and think that it\'s going to work perfectly it is not because it is unique to the Morales household.\r\n\r\nNow, you can use my system as an inspiration in your home, but ultimately you have to develop your own system that is unique to your environment it is an organic system something that is developed organically.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><iframe src=\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/lf4n2nS9534?start=165\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"></iframe></p>\r\nWhen I was single I had a completely different system and it was a lot easier because it was just me I didn\'t have to take into account other people in my space and so that system changed a little bit when I got married we were in the same space but there was another person that had to be considered within that system and so we developed a system for my married life well then we had a child and moved. This required us to develop new systems and adapt some that were transferrable to our new home. The system you choose to create is very important for your overall success. Understanding what that system is and how it is organically created.\r\n\r\nLets talk about recovery. What do I mean when I say and it enables you to recover? Well, I have a system, but that doesn\'t mean that my home is not going to get in disarray it doesn\'t mean that I\'m not going to have messes in my home. What it means is that you are choosing to live. You\'re not a statue in your home, so it is going to get messy. There are going to be things that you have to pick up or clean up from time to time but being able to recover means that if someone called me right now and said Dana I am in the neighborhood and was hoping to stop by in thirty minutes, is that ok? My response can be sure come on without having a coronary.\r\n\r\nMy home does not stay in a state of perfectness. It is organized but it is also lived in. I have my system established in my home, so if this scenario happened, I could immediately pick up the space based on my systems and get it organized to a point where someone walking in thinks its pristine.\r\nThe reason I’m able to do this is because I have organic systems developed in my home that enabled me to recover quickly in order to continue to live my life. In essence if my house is a mess from top to bottom it still does not take me all day to get my home back into organized status right or and I hate to use organizing that in that in that way because your home if it is truly organized using a true system then it\'s still organized it\'s just a matter of you having to recover you have to put the stuff back where it belongs it doesn\'t mean that it\'s disorganized it just means that things are not where they belong so there\'s a fine line there\'s the line of I need to clean up my home and there\'s the line of i need to actually create a system and organize my home those are two totally different things.\r\n\r\nOnce you truly are organized and you have a unique place for every single thing then you don\'t have to continue to do that you may have to adjust it from time to time which I call maintenance but you don\'t have to constantly reorganize. You ultimately are just recovering and maintaining so those are the keys to organizing and decluttering.\r\n\r\nRemember, organization does not have to cost you a dime organization is more about the concepts and the thought processes behind how you place things in your home.\r\n\r\nI hope you found this information helpful and you understand the point. Organization is about developing systems in your home that enable you to recover.','The Keys to Organizing in Your Home','','inherit','closed','closed','','7467-revision-v1','','','2018-11-19 19:04:27','2018-11-19 19:04:27','',7467,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/7467-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(7469,1,'2018-11-19 19:05:13','2018-11-19 19:05:13','Today we are talking about the keys to organizing and decluttering and how to be successful in organizing and decluttering and so this is a very simple concept once you really understand it. What I hear most common when speaking to people about organizing is, “I try to organize and I try to organize my home, but I feel like I\'m always organizing over and over again and it just never stays that way.\r\n\r\nThe truth is that organizing your home should really only be done once and then it is just maintained over time. You may decide to change your organizational system OR redecorate, but the act of truly getting organized should only be done once.\r\n\r\nOrganizing is about creating systems in your home that enable you to recover. For me that is the ultimate key to being successful with organizing and decluttering your home. So then you ask, “What is a system”? A system is something that is organically created for you, it is unique to you and your family. So in other words I cannot recreate my family’s system in your house. I cannot pick up my system and place it in your home and think that it\'s going to work perfectly it is not because it is unique to the Morales household.\r\n\r\nNow, you can use my system as an inspiration in your home, but ultimately you have to develop your own system that is unique to your environment it is an organic system something that is developed organically.\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><iframe src=\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/lf4n2nS9534?start=165\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"></iframe></p>\r\nWhen I was single I had a completely different system and it was a lot easier because it was just me I didn\'t have to take into account other people in my space and so that system changed a little bit when I got married we were in the same space but there was another person that had to be considered within that system and so we developed a system for my married life well then we had a child and moved. This required us to develop new systems and adapt some that were transferrable to our new home. The system you choose to create is very important for your overall success. Understanding what that system is and how it is organically created.\r\n\r\nLets talk about recovery. What do I mean when I say and it enables you to recover? Well, I have a system, but that doesn\'t mean that my home is not going to get in disarray it doesn\'t mean that I\'m not going to have messes in my home. What it means is that you are choosing to live. You\'re not a statue in your home, so it is going to get messy. There are going to be things that you have to pick up or clean up from time to time but being able to recover means that if someone called me right now and said Dana I am in the neighborhood and was hoping to stop by in thirty minutes, is that ok? My response can be sure come on without having a coronary.\r\n\r\nMy home does not stay in a state of perfectness. It is organized but it is also lived in. I have my system established in my home, so if this scenario happened, I could immediately pick up the space based on my systems and get it organized to a point where someone walking in thinks its pristine.\r\nThe reason I’m able to do this is because I have organic systems developed in my home that enabled me to recover quickly in order to continue to live my life. In essence if my house is a mess from top to bottom it still does not take me all day to get my home back into organized status right or and I hate to use organizing that in that in that way because your home if it is truly organized using a true system then it\'s still organized it\'s just a matter of you having to recover you have to put the stuff back where it belongs it doesn\'t mean that it\'s disorganized it just means that things are not where they belong so there\'s a fine line there\'s the line of I need to clean up my home and there\'s the line of i need to actually create a system and organize my home those are two totally different things.\r\n\r\nOnce you truly are organized and you have a unique place for every single thing then you don\'t have to continue to do that you may have to adjust it from time to time which I call maintenance but you don\'t have to constantly reorganize. You ultimately are just recovering and maintaining so those are the keys to organizing and decluttering.\r\n\r\nRemember, organization does not have to cost you a dime organization is more about the concepts and the thought processes behind how you place things in your home.\r\n\r\nI hope you found this information helpful and you understand the point. Organization is about developing systems in your home that enable you to recover.','The Keys to Organizing in Your Home','','inherit','closed','closed','','7467-revision-v1','','','2018-11-19 19:05:13','2018-11-19 19:05:13','',7467,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/7467-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(7470,560,'2019-01-11 01:33:53','2019-01-11 01:33:53','<iframe src=\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/PJd6S5RxoIg\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"></iframe>\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','System Implementation the Right Way','','draft','open','open','','system-implementation','','','2019-07-27 05:15:26','2019-07-27 05:15:26','',0,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/?p=7470',0,'post','',0),(7471,1,'2018-11-19 21:58:59','2018-11-19 21:58:59','','What\'s the Difference Between Organizing Tools and Systems?','','inherit','closed','closed','','7470-revision-v1','','','2018-11-19 21:58:59','2018-11-19 21:58:59','',7470,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/7470-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(7474,560,'2019-07-27 05:15:26','0000-00-00 00:00:00','hello everybody is dayna morales with the happiness buckets productivity tool box and today\'s training tip is going to be about mind mapping mind mapping is really a graphical way to represent your ideas and your concepts on paper so or on the computer whichever medium you want to use but ultimately it\'s just another way to brainstorm and to get the ideas out of your head and onto paper I really recommend that people specifically small business owners or anyone who\'s trying to produce a product or look at a process or implement a new implement a new product that you go through this process this is something that is really heavily used in project management and it\'s not necessarily mind mapping in general but just the brainstorming process and really breaking down the project into workable tasks so that\'s what I want to kind of talk to you about today and walk you through the tech this specific technique of mind mapping to help get you to those granular tasks that you can focus on so the ultimately the reason why I love this this method or this process is because it allows you to get the ideas and the thoughts out of your head and on paper which then allows you to see where you\'re missing some key components or where you need to think more deeply about something so for example I\'d like to use the example of a wedding because everybody can kind of relate to that so if if I say come on let\'s sit down and plan a wedding for some that would be completely and totally overwhelming you wouldn\'t know where to start or you\'d be afraid you\'re missing something or what should come first or any of that and so what I say is ok let\'s start planning the wedding but we\'re going to use mind mapping to do that so I can show you how this process works so what I have done here and what you see here on the screen is actually am I a free mind mapping tool now let me just say this my mapping you do not have to have any kind of tool you don\'t have to go by any software you don\'t have to do anything like that I just needed a way to graphically show you without showing you a piece of paper right and so I knew there were tools out here so i just googled free mind mapping tool and found this one and popped it up so we\'re going to give mine mop calm a shout out because that\'s who came up first and it looks like it\'s gonna work i have never used this software oh we\'re just gonna jump right in and and make sure that hopefully it\'ll work the way it\'s supposed to work for me today so in most my mapping tools or even if you\'re just joining us on your own you want to have just your nucleus your center um topic or whatever you are trying to do so in this particular example i use planning your wedding right and you can say you know Bob and James wedding whatever you want to say here but ultimately I\'m just going to a wedding for now and so you want to branch off of that so you have your Center idea and then you\'re going to say ok now I need to branch off of that so what do you need when you have a wedding ok you need to have a location you need to have food you need to have and all of this is coming off of the main right you need to have people attendees ok what else you need to have a dress or well that\'s off of that let me click here you need to have a tire for the party ok that made me think about ok under people we can branch off of that and say ok we meet we have the the wedding party and then we also have the people who are attending right the actual attendees and then under attendees we have two different lists we have really four different lists if you know about weddings you have the bride\'s list and you have the groom\'s list one the bride\'s you have hers and her parents but I\'m not even going to go there right now we\'ve got the groom\'s list and then you have the parent the bride\'s parents list and some of you are laughing because you dealt with with this and so you know why i\'m adding this here right so you have your attendees okay so your location you need your reception location and you need your ceremony location sometimes those are one in the same but sometimes they\'re not so there needs to be a thought process in that you need let\'s see what else we\'ve got food so from food we know we need cake right and the cake you have your main cake and you also have a groom\'s cake right and then additional food so are you having a a some kind of you know a sit-down dinner or is this a branch I don\'t know how to replicate that but just say attending food choice just cuz I don\'t really know how you know is it a brunch or is it whatever you can say see beverages and maybe you don\'t know so here you can say beverages alcohol or non alcohol or maybe you have both but that\'s just something for you to think about so this is the way the Chi Mon meant no granted right now I\'m struggling because I have never used this program and so I\'m having to click and and do this a little slower one on camera but ultimately on a piece of paper you can see where this cold pretty quickly so you\'re just branching off a wedding what are the things you need for a wedding and you\'re putting those down so like even right now is just thinking okay you need your your table you\'re thinking about your table your decor I should call that the cool right and so we\'re thinking what kind of decor do we want you\'ve got your tables oh that\'s another parent node will fill that one in later okay so you\'ve got your table decorations you have your venue entry may not need that but you want to think about it you need your cake table before right gift table and we\'re going to say this is the guest guest tables let\'s differentiate this okay so then this branching off of here we know that you need a guest book right and there may be some other other things that you want to branch off of here you know any of these so this is pretty much how you go about doing a mind map and you\'re just building off of these so based on those first few things that I came up with then it started branching off and as I thought of other things you know as I start you know reception ceremony ok what does i have in our reception or what do you need at your reception what do i need to think about you know with the parties the attendees I need to think okay from the wedding party I need to think about wedding gifts so this is the way that you start building off of your mind map and how you can can pretty much think through your entire process your entire project implementation a new product launch anything that you have going on you can do a mind map and make sure that you have all of the granular pieces now this to me is the first step because I think an important second secondary step is first of all you need to walk away from this you need to to do your initial mind map take a break a day or two maybe a couple of hours or a day or two and then come back to it and read through it and see if anything else triggers you when you look at it so are you thinking about anything else that\'s may be needed so the first thing you know while I was sitting here talking to you I was thinking okay we have our attendees we have all of this but ultimately somewhere in here we\'re going to need to get invitations so we know our attendees list but we need invitations as well and like in this particular case I\'m not really sure where it should fall should it fall under the core or the people that I\'m going to put it here and then you know figure out you know all of the different things that you need when it comes to your invitation okay and so you just build off of it so you\'ll start thinking more and more so that\'s kind of second layer so the first layer is you are just going to do a brain dump and get it all out you\'re going to walk away come back to your second layer which is to just bring you know read what you have and see if anything else comes up just in your own mind of you know you thought about it some more you looked at something and realize oh yeah what about this the third layer and this is a really important layer in my opinion is that you need to get someone out someone else to look at it so specifically in this case maybe you get your parents or you know your mother or your groom or someone else to really think about it who wasn\'t involved in the initial process right get someone else to look at it and see if they see any holes this is one of the things that I do with my clients is that on that third layer right they\'ve kind of gone through the initial process and then they provide it to me so I say go ahead you know do your mind map let\'s brainstorm get it on paper and then we\'re going to come together and I\'m going to look at your mind map and see where I see hold and what it is if you\'re trying to do and and that helps them build out the process and determine you know what all they need to take care of to make this successful this also helps you to find your overall timeline because if you see you have all of this you need to start thinking through okay so how can I knock these out I need to get answers to these so then I can say okay how many people are we really going to have because all the locations require us to know kind of a general count you know when you\'re looking at them so if you think you\'re going to have anywhere from a hundred different set of locations than if you give you a perfect example when I my husband and I were getting married we have set a you know we said we\'re going to have a hundred and fifty people we\'re we don\'t think it means you didn\'t want a really large wedding well hello lesson learn which is why I added this bride\'s parents and groom\'s parents because my parents came up well my parents ie my mother came up with this whole long list of people I didn\'t even know that she wanted to invite to the wedding and so our wedding balloons from a hundred and chain the number or the type of location that I can have my event at right and so luckily for me it did you know we had kind of planned for we kind of knew those numbers before going in and finalizing a location but that\'s important for you to know especially if you have your eyes set on a specific location for your event or whatever it is that you\'re doing let\'s say you\'re doing a live event and you have it at a little quaint place that only can hold have to make that kind of a well known fact in your in your public publications that\'s not the work for I want to use your advertisements that you only have waiting list if you choose to have one or you say there\'s not going to be any walk up sells or you know whatever your answer to that is you know that you only decide instead of having one event maybe you have three different events at different time slots to allow for more people so those are things that you need to think through ahead of time so hopefully you find this helpful and you can now sit down and do your your mind map so one thing that I am going to do for our facebook group members is if you create your mind map and and post it in the group i will add you know first of all I think it\'s just beneficial for you to add it to the group so that others can provide their feedback to you because I\'m not just the wrong you know I don\'t not the only one who can provide feedback I think that you you should do that and get feedback from your peers right but I will commit to responding to those who post in the facebook group it\'s a week after I post this in the group I will respond to anyone posts a mind map there and I will respond to those and let you know where I see holes okay so hopefully you found this helpful and until the next time I\'ll talk to you later bye','','','draft','open','open','','','','','2019-07-27 05:15:26','2019-07-27 05:15:26','',0,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/?p=7474',0,'post','',0),(7477,1,'2018-11-20 16:36:11','2018-11-20 16:36:11','<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">We have all encountered the awkward situation when a family member offers you something that you really don\'t want or need, but to prevent hurt feelings you begrudgingly accept it into your home or worse yet get a storage facility to house said belongings, when what you really want to do is get rid of it.  <!--more-->I have done it myself and later was upset for accepting something I knew I didn\'t want. Yes, I know what some of you are saying...you\'d rather sacrifice your space than hurt your family member\'s feelings.  I definitely understand that thought process, but I also think honesty is best for everyone.</p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Begin the \"get rid of it\" Conversation</h2>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">I truly believe that there is a way to begin the conversation with your loved one(s) so you don\'t intentionally hurt their feelings. I also encourage you to start the conversation as early as possible, this gives them time to process what you are saying.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">My parents and I have regularly discussed death in our family, but we are a military family so this is par for the course.  You are prepared to know things may change in the blink of an eye, although you pray it doesn\'t.  Well, once my father retired we continued these discussions and also began discussing how to handle their belongings upon their death.  I used it as an opportunity to ask what they wanted us to do with their stuff...making sure to mention specific pieces so we could open the discussion.  One such item was the china cabinet that my parents had, which was older than me.  It <img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5569\" src=\"http://development.thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/dining-room-740231_640-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Dining Cabinet\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" />was beautiful, but I didn\'t feel it suited my decor and I also didn\'t have space for it in my home. After determining that no one wanted it, she decided to try and sell it so she could get something that better suited their current needs. [stay tuned for the final results of my parent\'s new dining room]</p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Use the Conversation Flip Technique</h2>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Using the conversation flip is a great tactic to use when your loved ones are trying to give or save something for you that you don\'t want.  Ask the question, \"Why are you getting rid of it?\", then use some of the same words they use to explain why you can\'t use it either.  For example your mom says, \"I\'m moving into a one bedroom nursing facility so I can\'t take it with me, I want you to take it.\" Your response could be, \"You know mom I definitely understand that, and as beautiful as I feel it is I just don\'t feel like we have the room in our home either.  Why don\'t you see if there is a nursing facility or other organization that could use it and appreciate it as much as we do?\" Then talk about the memories you have of the item.</p>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2>How to Avoid Hurt Feelings</h2>\r\n<img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5570 alignright\" style=\"text-align: justify;\" src=\"http://development.thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Getting-Rid-200x300.png\" alt=\"Getting Rid of Your Parent\'s Stuff\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" />\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The key is to start the conversation before it is necessary. Mention it in passing so when the time  comes it isn\'t a shock to your loved one. Over time, you will find a diplomatic way to not accept other people\'s stuff into your space (those things you don\'t want nor need) and no one will be left  with a broken heart. I think many times we are assuming that is how the other person would feel, when honestly they just want it out of their house. Now, there are some situations where you would be completely correct and the individual\'s feelings would be hurt...and I get it. So, if you have gotten suckered...I mean agree to take something you know you don\'t want or need, I suggest you set a time limit as to how long it will remain in your home or space out of guilt.</p>\r\n\r\n<h2>After Loved Ones Are Gone</h2>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Now, for those who had the unfortunate experience of inheriting a loved one\'s possessions after they have passed away I can only imagine how difficult this may be for you.  I would suggest trying to select a few key pieces that mean the most to you and letting go of the rest, once you have mourned. To bring a house full of furniture to a home that is already packed to the hilt, or to get a storage facility to store it forever (because that is usually what happens) is not giving the items any more honor than if you sold them or donated them to a charity that could really use them.  Stop and really look at the items and determine why you want to keep them. If it is for memory sake only, I encourage you to work towards giving them to a place or a person who could really use them...THIS will be honoring your loved one in the best way possible. Identify an organization or cause that was important to your loved one and donate items to them.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">All in all, I believe the key is starting the conversation before you need it. This will help set the mindset (Stage 1 of my Organizational Roadmap), so when the time comes you are ready and willing to let go of those items that no longer serve a purpose in your life or the life of your loved one.</p>','How to Get Rid of Our Parent\'s Stuff and Not Add to Our Clutter','','inherit','closed','closed','','3507-revision-v1','','','2018-11-20 16:36:11','2018-11-20 16:36:11','',3507,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/3507-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(7478,1,'2018-11-20 16:41:21','2018-11-20 16:41:21','<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">We have all encountered the awkward situation when a family member offers you something that you really don\'t want or need, but to prevent hurt feelings you begrudgingly accept it into your home or worse yet get a storage facility to house said belongings, when what you really want to do is get rid of it.  <!--more-->I have done it myself and later was upset for accepting something I knew I didn\'t want. Yes, I know what some of you are saying...you\'d rather sacrifice your space than hurt your family member\'s feelings.  I definitely understand that thought process, but I also think honesty is best for everyone.</p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Begin the \"get rid of it\" Conversation</h2>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">I truly believe that there is a way to begin the conversation with your loved one(s) so you don\'t intentionally hurt their feelings. I also encourage you to start the conversation as early as possible, this gives them time to process what you are saying.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">My parents and I have regularly discussed death in our family, but we are a military family so this is par for the course.  You are prepared to know things may change in the blink of an eye, although you pray it doesn\'t.  Well, once my father retired we continued these discussions and also began discussing how to handle their belongings upon their death.  I used it as an opportunity to ask what they wanted us to do with their stuff...making sure to mention specific pieces so we could open the discussion.  One such item was the china cabinet that my parents had, which was older than me.  It <img class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-5569\" src=\"http://development.thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/dining-room-740231_640-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"Dining Cabinet\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" />was beautiful, but I didn\'t feel it suited my decor and I also didn\'t have space for it in my home. After determining that no one wanted it, she decided to try and sell it so she could get something that better suited their current needs. [stay tuned for the final results of my parent\'s new dining room]</p>\r\n\r\n<h2>Use the Conversation Flip Technique</h2>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Using the conversation flip is a great tactic to use when your loved ones are trying to give or save something for you that you don\'t want.  Ask the question, \"Why are you getting rid of it?\", then use some of the same words they use to explain why you can\'t use it either.  For example your mom says, \"I\'m moving into a one bedroom nursing facility so I can\'t take it with me, I want you to take it.\" Your response could be, \"You know mom I definitely understand that, and as beautiful as I feel it is I just don\'t feel like we have the room in our home either.  Why don\'t you see if there is a nursing facility or other organization that could use it and appreciate it as much as we do?\" Then talk about the memories you have of the item.</p>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2>How to Avoid Hurt Feelings</h2>\r\n<img class=\"size-medium wp-image-5570 alignright\" style=\"text-align: justify;\" src=\"http://development.thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Getting-Rid-200x300.png\" alt=\"Getting Rid of Your Parent\'s Stuff\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" />\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">The key is to start the conversation before it is necessary. Mention it in passing so when the time  comes it isn\'t a shock to your loved one. Over time, you will find a diplomatic way to not accept other people\'s stuff into your space (those things you don\'t want nor need) and no one will be left  with a broken heart. I think many times we are assuming that is how the other person would feel, when honestly they just want it out of their house. Now, there are some situations where you would be completely correct and the individual\'s feelings would be hurt...and I get it. So, if you have gotten suckered...I mean agree to take something you know you don\'t want or need, I suggest you set a time limit as to how long it will remain in your home or space out of guilt.</p>\r\n\r\n<h2>After Loved Ones Are Gone</h2>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">Now, for those who had the unfortunate experience of inheriting a loved one\'s possessions after they have passed away I can only imagine how difficult this may be for you.  I would suggest trying to select a few key pieces that mean the most to you and letting go of the rest, once you have mourned. To bring a house full of furniture to a home that is already packed to the hilt, or to get a storage facility to store it forever (because that is usually what happens) is not giving the items any more honor than if you sold them or donated them to a charity that could really use them.  Stop and really look at the items and determine why you want to keep them. If it is for memory sake only, I encourage you to work towards giving them to a place or a person who could really use them...THIS will be honoring your loved one in the best way possible. Identify an organization or cause that was important to your loved one and donate items to them.</p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\">All in all, I believe the key is starting the conversation before you need it. This will help set the mindset (Stage 1 of my <a href=\"https://thechangeacademy.thinkific.com/courses/organizational-roadmap\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Organizational Roadmap</a>), so when the time comes you are ready and willing to let go of those items that no longer serve a purpose in your life or the life of your loved one.</p>','How to Get Rid of Our Parent\'s Stuff and Not Add to Our Clutter','','inherit','closed','closed','','3507-revision-v1','','','2018-11-20 16:41:21','2018-11-20 16:41:21','',3507,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/3507-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(7482,560,'2019-01-03 02:36:11','2019-01-03 02:36:11','<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>And How it is Saying More than You Think</strong></p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<hr />\r\n\r\nIt’s that time of year when Managers and Directors all of the world are conducting reviews of their employees. They are letting you know what they liked about your work product and your personality and what they didn’t like.\r\n\r\nOne question that inevitably shows up on evaluations is “Do they keep a clean and tidy work-space” or something to that extent. Many people overlook the importance of this question in their day to day job, because let’s face it, if I’m getting the job done why does it matter what my work-space looks like?\r\n<h2>Is Your Disorganization Affecting Your Office Relationships?</h2>\r\nMany many years ago, I went for a job interview and upon approaching this Attorney\'s office I was met with an office I could barely enter. I literally had to turn sideways to enter the office and even in doing so was scared I would knock over the stack of papers that was teetering on the Attorney\'s desk corner.\r\n\r\nAlthough my interviewer at the time seemed to be extremely nice, I could barely focus on the words coming out of her mouth because I was processing all of the things I saw in the environment I was in. Now granted I was processing the items thinking if hired how I could organize the space, but most people wouldn\'t be doing that. More than likely they would be sitting stiffly wondering when they could get out of there!\r\n\r\nUltimately, I was hired to assist this individual and within a week her office was neat and tidy to the point that other Attorneys were taking field trips to see her space. Apparently, she was notorious for having a messy office.\r\n\r\nShe later confided in me that she hired me mainly because I didn\'t balk at the state of her space. I shared with her I didn\'t balk because I knew if hired it wouldn\'t stay that way. The beauty is that the change we made in her environment also changed the way Attorneys interacted with her. They began coming by her office instead of just calling or emailing her when they worked together.\r\n\r\nThe point that I\'m trying to make here is that it does matter what your space looks like, because it tends to affect your office relationships. No, I’m not talking about romantic relationships…I’m talking about your interpersonal relationships with your co-workers. So imagine for just a minute, I need to discuss an issue with you.\r\n\r\nYour office is always a mess to the point of needing a path to find a seat. Do you have to remove papers from my line of sight to see you or from the chair itself so I can sit down? How welcoming do you think that makes me feel? How much time do you think I am going to spend with you truly troubleshooting the issue at hand?\r\n\r\nI can answer that without hesitation, very little.\r\n\r\nWhat is going to happen is I will avoid your office like the plague because it’s more than just the uncomfortable feeling I get when I am in your space. I feel claustrophobic and that something could topple over with even a slight miscalculation in my step. My breathing may become a little irregular because I\'m going to breathe as little as possible while in your office because I fear what I might smell if I inhale too deeply.\r\n<h2>Is There More To Your Messy Office?</h2>\r\nYou see, a lot of times when a person’s office/space is cluttered there are also other health risks that sneak up on you. You can’t correctly clean the space because there is too much stuff and the cleaning staff isn’t going to move it because that is a liability.\r\n\r\nHow about that abandoned cup of coffee or food fragment from last week that inadvertently got pushed up against the wall behind the latest stack of papers. Got Mold?\r\n\r\nYes, you think I exaggerate, but sadly I do not. In my time working in office spaces I have experienced and seen a lot.\r\n\r\nAnother risk of having a messy office is that you often will misplace important documents (think original signatures and contracts) or missed deadlines, which ultimately can cost you a lot in the end.\r\n\r\nOf the people that are notoriously late or ill-prepared what state is their office in?\r\n\r\n<img class=\"wp-image-7483 aligncenter\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/board-1273117_1920-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"The Truth About Your Messy Office - The Next Step | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"542\" height=\"361\" />\r\n<h2>Your Organization Action Plan</h2>\r\nSo, this year, I encourage you to spend a little time cleaning your space. Remove the clutter that is not serving a purpose in your day to day work life. Create systems that allow you to easily find what you need when you need it. If you are an out of sight out of mind type of person, create a system that allows you to keep out what you are currently working on (meaning that day or week) and putting up the things you are not.\r\n\r\nThis can easily be done by reviewing your tasks for the next day and retrieving those items before you leave for the day. This achieves two things (1) you know before you come in what you need to work on and (2) you put away anything you don’t immediately need the next day.\r\n\r\nWhen selecting what you \"need\" make sure you are only getting out what you truly \"need\" to do the work you are doing, and not keeping the five redwell files out just because they are associated with the Client\'s file. Create what I like to call a working file which is essentially a file folder or redwell (expandable for those outside the legal community) which keeps the current items for that Client accessible and the rest stay in your filing cabinet for access if needed.\r\n\r\nAlso, don\'t be afraid to go paperless for items that are no longer needed on a regular basis. If the Client is archived, scan the hard-copy papers and shred the originals (unless they contain an original signature or have to be maintained for legal purposes). If scanning the files, create a mirror of your hard-copy files in electronic form, so you always know where to look when trying to locate something. Ultimately, create your process around the rules you set for your office.\r\n\r\nFor the Attorney I told you about earlier, the rule we established was that I maintained all of her non-active files. She only kept active files in her office filing cabinet, and the only files that stayed out on her desk were active that week. She had a bin where she placed paper that needed to be filed back in the Client files and I handled that for her. All of her electronic files mirrored her hard-copy files and had a specific naming convention that made locating things easier.\r\n<h2><strong>Addressing your Tchotchkes</strong></h2>\r\nAnother area that you need to focus on is all the tchotchkes you have laying around. Do you need ten mugs from your Clients? Or all those photos on your tabletops? It\'s okay to have nice decor in your office but when it starts to become a distraction or take up valuable real estate in your space you should rethink it.\r\n\r\nA rule of thumb I use with Clients is that they should keep their immediate work zone clear of tchotchkes and only place these items above and on the outskirts of their work zone. This allows you to see them when you are taking a visual break to stretch your eyes, but they aren\'t distracting you when you are working.\r\n<blockquote>To identify your work zone, sit facing forward anything in your immediate line of sight without moving your head up or down is part of your work zone. Now swivel your head to the left and right. What you see when you do this is also included in your work zone.</blockquote>\r\nSo ultimately, cleaning and organizing your office space is vitally important and it affects many things in your life. Once you go through this organizing process your office will be void of the mountains of paper that aren’t really helpful or needed any longer. Guests will feel welcomed into your space and you can take a breath because when you face the facts you know that your DIY Fort O’ Paper was just stressing you out anyway.\r\n\r\nI encourage you to continue to work on removing the clutter from your life in the coming year. Take it one day at a time. You will begin to see the positive changes to both your work product and your life.\r\n\r\nDana is a Professional Organizer, Project Manager and Life Coach in Nashville, TN.  Join the <a href=\"https://app.convertkit.com/landing_pages/247793?v=7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow noreferrer\">Happiness Deposits</a> newsletter for more organizing tips related to space, life, soul and business.','The Truth About Your Messy Office','','publish','open','open','','the-truth-about-your-messy-office','','','2019-07-27 05:15:26','2019-07-27 05:15:26','',0,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/?p=7482',0,'post','',0),(7483,1,'2019-01-03 02:11:16','2019-01-03 02:11:16','','The Truth About Your Messy Office - The Next Step | The Happiness Bucket','','inherit','open','closed','','board-1273117_1920','','','2019-01-03 02:12:27','2019-01-03 02:12:27','',7482,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/board-1273117_1920.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(7484,1,'2019-01-03 02:30:50','2019-01-03 02:30:50','<h2><strong>And How it is Saying More than You Think</strong></h2>\r\nIt’s that time of year when Managers and Directors all of the world are conducting reviews of their employees. They are letting you know what they liked about your work product and your personality and what they didn’t like.\r\n\r\nOne question that inevitably shows up on evaluations is “Do they keep a clean and tidy work-space” or something to that extent. Many people overlook the importance of this question in their day to day job, because let’s face it, if I’m getting the job done why does it matter what my work-space looks like?\r\n<h2>Is Your Disorganization Affecting Your Office Relationships?</h2>\r\nMany many years ago, I went for a job interview and upon approaching this Attorney\'s office I was met with an office I could barely enter. I literally had to turn sideways to enter the office and even in doing so was scared I would knock over the stack of papers that was teetering on the Attorney\'s desk corner.\r\n\r\nAlthough my interviewer at the time seemed to be extremely nice, I could barely focus on the words coming out of her mouth because I was processing all of the things I saw in the environment I was in. Now granted I was processing the items thinking if hired how I could organize the space, but most people wouldn\'t be doing that. More than likely they would be sitting stiffly wondering when they could get out of there!\r\n\r\nUltimately, I was hired to assist this individual and within a week her office was neat and tidy to the point that other Attorneys were taking field trips to see her space. Apparently, she was notorious for having a messy office.\r\n\r\nShe later confided in me that she hired me mainly because I didn\'t balk at the state of her space. I shared with her I didn\'t balk because I knew if hired it wouldn\'t stay that way. The beauty is that the change we made in her environment also changed the way Attorneys interacted with her. They began coming by her office instead of just calling or emailing her when they worked together.\r\n\r\nThe point that I\'m trying to make here is that it does matter what your space looks like, because it tends to affect your office relationships. No, I’m not talking about romantic relationships…I’m talking about your interpersonal relationships with your co-workers. So imagine for just a minute, I need to discuss an issue with you.\r\n\r\nYour office is always a mess to the point of needing a path to find a seat. Do you have to remove papers from my line of sight to see you or from the chair itself so I can sit down? How welcoming do you think that makes me feel? How much time do you think I am going to spend with you truly troubleshooting the issue at hand?\r\n\r\nI can answer that without hesitation, very little.\r\n\r\nWhat is going to happen is I will avoid your office like the plague because it’s more than just the uncomfortable feeling I get when I am in your space. I feel claustrophobic and that something could topple over with even a slight miscalculation in my step. My breathing may become a little irregular because I\'m going to breathe as little as possible while in your office because I fear what I might smell if I inhale too deeply.\r\n<h2>Is There More To Your Messy Office?</h2>\r\nYou see, a lot of times when a person’s office/space is cluttered there are also other health risks that sneak up on you. You can’t correctly clean the space because there is too much stuff and the cleaning staff isn’t going to move it because that is a liability.\r\n\r\nHow about that abandoned cup of coffee or food fragment from last week that inadvertently got pushed up against the wall behind the latest stack of papers. Got Mold?\r\n\r\nYes, you think I exaggerate, but sadly I do not. In my time working in office spaces I have experienced and seen a lot.\r\n\r\nAnother risk of having a messy office is that you often will misplace important documents (think original signatures and contracts) or missed deadlines, which ultimately can cost you a lot in the end.\r\n\r\nOf the people that are notoriously late or ill-prepared what state is their office in?\r\n\r\n<img class=\"wp-image-7483  aligncenter\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/board-1273117_1920-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"The Truth About Your Messy Office - The Next Step | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"542\" height=\"361\" />\r\n<h2>Your Organization Action Plan</h2>\r\nSo, this year, I encourage you to spend a little time cleaning your space. Remove the clutter that is not serving a purpose in your day to day work life. Create systems that allow you to easily find what you need when you need it. If you are an out of sight out of mind type of person, create a system that allows you to keep out what you are currently working on (meaning that day or week) and putting up the things you are not.\r\n\r\nThis can easily be done by reviewing your tasks for the next day and retrieving those items before you leave for the day. This achieves two things (1) you know before you come in what you need to work on and (2) you put away anything you don’t immediately need the next day.\r\n\r\nWhen selecting what you \"need\" make sure you are only getting out what you truly \"need\" to do the work you are doing, and not keeping the five redwell files out just because they are associated with the Client\'s file. Create what I like to call a working file which is essentially a file folder or redwell (expandable for those outside the legal community) which keeps the current items for that Client accessible and the rest stay in your filing cabinet for access if needed.\r\n\r\nAlso, don\'t be afraid to go paperless for items that are no longer needed on a regular basis. If the Client is archived, scan the hard-copy papers and shred the originals (unless they contain an original signature or have to be maintained for legal purposes). If scanning the files, create a mirror of your hard-copy files in electronic form, so you always know where to look when trying to locate something. Ultimately, create your process around the rules you set for your office.\r\n\r\nFor the Attorney I told you about earlier, the rule we established was that I maintained all of her non-active files. She only kept active files in her office filing cabinet, and the only files that stayed out on her desk were active that week. She had a bin where she placed paper that needed to be filed back in the Client files and I handled that for her. All of her electronic files mirrored her hard-copy files and had a specific naming convention that made locating things easier.\r\n<h2><strong>Addressing your Tchotchkes</strong></h2>\r\nAnother area that you need to focus on is all the tchotchkes you have laying around. Do you need ten mugs from your Clients? Or all those photos on your tabletops? It\'s okay to have nice decor in your office but when it starts to become a distraction or take up valuable real estate in your space you should rethink it.\r\n\r\nA rule of thumb I use with Clients is that they should keep their immediate work zone clear of tchotchkes and only place these items above and on the outskirts of their work zone. This allows you to see them when you are taking a visual break to stretch your eyes, but they aren\'t distracting you when you are working.\r\n<blockquote>To identify your work zone, sit facing forward anything in your immediate line of sight without moving your head up or down is part of your work zone. Now swivel your head to the left and right. What you see when you do this is also included in your work zone.</blockquote>\r\nSo ultimately, cleaning and organizing your office space is vitally important and it affects many things in your life. Once you go through this organizing process your office will be void of the mountains of paper that aren’t really helpful or needed any longer. Guests will feel welcomed into your space and you can take a breath because when you face the facts you know that your DIY Fort O’ Paper was just stressing you out anyway.\r\n\r\nI encourage you to continue to work on removing the clutter from your life in the coming year. Take it one day at a time. You will begin to see the positive changes to both your work product and your life.\r\n\r\nDana is a Professional Organizer, Project Manager and Life Coach in Nashville, TN.  Join the <a href=\"https://app.convertkit.com/landing_pages/247793?v=7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Happiness Deposits</a> newsletter for more organizing tips related to space, life, soul and business.','The Truth About Your Messy Office','','inherit','closed','closed','','7482-revision-v1','','','2019-01-03 02:30:50','2019-01-03 02:30:50','',7482,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/7482-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(7485,1,'2019-01-03 02:32:02','2019-01-03 02:32:02','<h2>And How it is Saying More than You Think</h2>\r\nIt’s that time of year when Managers and Directors all of the world are conducting reviews of their employees. They are letting you know what they liked about your work product and your personality and what they didn’t like.\r\n\r\nOne question that inevitably shows up on evaluations is “Do they keep a clean and tidy work-space” or something to that extent. Many people overlook the importance of this question in their day to day job, because let’s face it, if I’m getting the job done why does it matter what my work-space looks like?\r\n<h2>Is Your Disorganization Affecting Your Office Relationships?</h2>\r\nMany many years ago, I went for a job interview and upon approaching this Attorney\'s office I was met with an office I could barely enter. I literally had to turn sideways to enter the office and even in doing so was scared I would knock over the stack of papers that was teetering on the Attorney\'s desk corner.\r\n\r\nAlthough my interviewer at the time seemed to be extremely nice, I could barely focus on the words coming out of her mouth because I was processing all of the things I saw in the environment I was in. Now granted I was processing the items thinking if hired how I could organize the space, but most people wouldn\'t be doing that. More than likely they would be sitting stiffly wondering when they could get out of there!\r\n\r\nUltimately, I was hired to assist this individual and within a week her office was neat and tidy to the point that other Attorneys were taking field trips to see her space. Apparently, she was notorious for having a messy office.\r\n\r\nShe later confided in me that she hired me mainly because I didn\'t balk at the state of her space. I shared with her I didn\'t balk because I knew if hired it wouldn\'t stay that way. The beauty is that the change we made in her environment also changed the way Attorneys interacted with her. They began coming by her office instead of just calling or emailing her when they worked together.\r\n\r\nThe point that I\'m trying to make here is that it does matter what your space looks like, because it tends to affect your office relationships. No, I’m not talking about romantic relationships…I’m talking about your interpersonal relationships with your co-workers. So imagine for just a minute, I need to discuss an issue with you.\r\n\r\nYour office is always a mess to the point of needing a path to find a seat. Do you have to remove papers from my line of sight to see you or from the chair itself so I can sit down? How welcoming do you think that makes me feel? How much time do you think I am going to spend with you truly troubleshooting the issue at hand?\r\n\r\nI can answer that without hesitation, very little.\r\n\r\nWhat is going to happen is I will avoid your office like the plague because it’s more than just the uncomfortable feeling I get when I am in your space. I feel claustrophobic and that something could topple over with even a slight miscalculation in my step. My breathing may become a little irregular because I\'m going to breathe as little as possible while in your office because I fear what I might smell if I inhale too deeply.\r\n<h2>Is There More To Your Messy Office?</h2>\r\nYou see, a lot of times when a person’s office/space is cluttered there are also other health risks that sneak up on you. You can’t correctly clean the space because there is too much stuff and the cleaning staff isn’t going to move it because that is a liability.\r\n\r\nHow about that abandoned cup of coffee or food fragment from last week that inadvertently got pushed up against the wall behind the latest stack of papers. Got Mold?\r\n\r\nYes, you think I exaggerate, but sadly I do not. In my time working in office spaces I have experienced and seen a lot.\r\n\r\nAnother risk of having a messy office is that you often will misplace important documents (think original signatures and contracts) or missed deadlines, which ultimately can cost you a lot in the end.\r\n\r\nOf the people that are notoriously late or ill-prepared what state is their office in?\r\n\r\n<img class=\"wp-image-7483 aligncenter\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/board-1273117_1920-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"The Truth About Your Messy Office - The Next Step | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"542\" height=\"361\" />\r\n<h2>Your Organization Action Plan</h2>\r\nSo, this year, I encourage you to spend a little time cleaning your space. Remove the clutter that is not serving a purpose in your day to day work life. Create systems that allow you to easily find what you need when you need it. If you are an out of sight out of mind type of person, create a system that allows you to keep out what you are currently working on (meaning that day or week) and putting up the things you are not.\r\n\r\nThis can easily be done by reviewing your tasks for the next day and retrieving those items before you leave for the day. This achieves two things (1) you know before you come in what you need to work on and (2) you put away anything you don’t immediately need the next day.\r\n\r\nWhen selecting what you \"need\" make sure you are only getting out what you truly \"need\" to do the work you are doing, and not keeping the five redwell files out just because they are associated with the Client\'s file. Create what I like to call a working file which is essentially a file folder or redwell (expandable for those outside the legal community) which keeps the current items for that Client accessible and the rest stay in your filing cabinet for access if needed.\r\n\r\nAlso, don\'t be afraid to go paperless for items that are no longer needed on a regular basis. If the Client is archived, scan the hard-copy papers and shred the originals (unless they contain an original signature or have to be maintained for legal purposes). If scanning the files, create a mirror of your hard-copy files in electronic form, so you always know where to look when trying to locate something. Ultimately, create your process around the rules you set for your office.\r\n\r\nFor the Attorney I told you about earlier, the rule we established was that I maintained all of her non-active files. She only kept active files in her office filing cabinet, and the only files that stayed out on her desk were active that week. She had a bin where she placed paper that needed to be filed back in the Client files and I handled that for her. All of her electronic files mirrored her hard-copy files and had a specific naming convention that made locating things easier.\r\n<h2><strong>Addressing your Tchotchkes</strong></h2>\r\nAnother area that you need to focus on is all the tchotchkes you have laying around. Do you need ten mugs from your Clients? Or all those photos on your tabletops? It\'s okay to have nice decor in your office but when it starts to become a distraction or take up valuable real estate in your space you should rethink it.\r\n\r\nA rule of thumb I use with Clients is that they should keep their immediate work zone clear of tchotchkes and only place these items above and on the outskirts of their work zone. This allows you to see them when you are taking a visual break to stretch your eyes, but they aren\'t distracting you when you are working.\r\n<blockquote>To identify your work zone, sit facing forward anything in your immediate line of sight without moving your head up or down is part of your work zone. Now swivel your head to the left and right. What you see when you do this is also included in your work zone.</blockquote>\r\nSo ultimately, cleaning and organizing your office space is vitally important and it affects many things in your life. Once you go through this organizing process your office will be void of the mountains of paper that aren’t really helpful or needed any longer. Guests will feel welcomed into your space and you can take a breath because when you face the facts you know that your DIY Fort O’ Paper was just stressing you out anyway.\r\n\r\nI encourage you to continue to work on removing the clutter from your life in the coming year. Take it one day at a time. You will begin to see the positive changes to both your work product and your life.\r\n\r\nDana is a Professional Organizer, Project Manager and Life Coach in Nashville, TN.  Join the <a href=\"https://app.convertkit.com/landing_pages/247793?v=7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Happiness Deposits</a> newsletter for more organizing tips related to space, life, soul and business.','The Truth About Your Messy Office','','inherit','closed','closed','','7482-revision-v1','','','2019-01-03 02:32:02','2019-01-03 02:32:02','',7482,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/7482-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(7486,1,'2019-01-03 02:32:46','2019-01-03 02:32:46','<h4>And How it is Saying More than You Think</h4>\r\nIt’s that time of year when Managers and Directors all of the world are conducting reviews of their employees. They are letting you know what they liked about your work product and your personality and what they didn’t like.\r\n\r\nOne question that inevitably shows up on evaluations is “Do they keep a clean and tidy work-space” or something to that extent. Many people overlook the importance of this question in their day to day job, because let’s face it, if I’m getting the job done why does it matter what my work-space looks like?\r\n<h2>Is Your Disorganization Affecting Your Office Relationships?</h2>\r\nMany many years ago, I went for a job interview and upon approaching this Attorney\'s office I was met with an office I could barely enter. I literally had to turn sideways to enter the office and even in doing so was scared I would knock over the stack of papers that was teetering on the Attorney\'s desk corner.\r\n\r\nAlthough my interviewer at the time seemed to be extremely nice, I could barely focus on the words coming out of her mouth because I was processing all of the things I saw in the environment I was in. Now granted I was processing the items thinking if hired how I could organize the space, but most people wouldn\'t be doing that. More than likely they would be sitting stiffly wondering when they could get out of there!\r\n\r\nUltimately, I was hired to assist this individual and within a week her office was neat and tidy to the point that other Attorneys were taking field trips to see her space. Apparently, she was notorious for having a messy office.\r\n\r\nShe later confided in me that she hired me mainly because I didn\'t balk at the state of her space. I shared with her I didn\'t balk because I knew if hired it wouldn\'t stay that way. The beauty is that the change we made in her environment also changed the way Attorneys interacted with her. They began coming by her office instead of just calling or emailing her when they worked together.\r\n\r\nThe point that I\'m trying to make here is that it does matter what your space looks like, because it tends to affect your office relationships. No, I’m not talking about romantic relationships…I’m talking about your interpersonal relationships with your co-workers. So imagine for just a minute, I need to discuss an issue with you.\r\n\r\nYour office is always a mess to the point of needing a path to find a seat. Do you have to remove papers from my line of sight to see you or from the chair itself so I can sit down? How welcoming do you think that makes me feel? How much time do you think I am going to spend with you truly troubleshooting the issue at hand?\r\n\r\nI can answer that without hesitation, very little.\r\n\r\nWhat is going to happen is I will avoid your office like the plague because it’s more than just the uncomfortable feeling I get when I am in your space. I feel claustrophobic and that something could topple over with even a slight miscalculation in my step. My breathing may become a little irregular because I\'m going to breathe as little as possible while in your office because I fear what I might smell if I inhale too deeply.\r\n<h2>Is There More To Your Messy Office?</h2>\r\nYou see, a lot of times when a person’s office/space is cluttered there are also other health risks that sneak up on you. You can’t correctly clean the space because there is too much stuff and the cleaning staff isn’t going to move it because that is a liability.\r\n\r\nHow about that abandoned cup of coffee or food fragment from last week that inadvertently got pushed up against the wall behind the latest stack of papers. Got Mold?\r\n\r\nYes, you think I exaggerate, but sadly I do not. In my time working in office spaces I have experienced and seen a lot.\r\n\r\nAnother risk of having a messy office is that you often will misplace important documents (think original signatures and contracts) or missed deadlines, which ultimately can cost you a lot in the end.\r\n\r\nOf the people that are notoriously late or ill-prepared what state is their office in?\r\n\r\n<img class=\"wp-image-7483 aligncenter\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/board-1273117_1920-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"The Truth About Your Messy Office - The Next Step | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"542\" height=\"361\" />\r\n<h2>Your Organization Action Plan</h2>\r\nSo, this year, I encourage you to spend a little time cleaning your space. Remove the clutter that is not serving a purpose in your day to day work life. Create systems that allow you to easily find what you need when you need it. If you are an out of sight out of mind type of person, create a system that allows you to keep out what you are currently working on (meaning that day or week) and putting up the things you are not.\r\n\r\nThis can easily be done by reviewing your tasks for the next day and retrieving those items before you leave for the day. This achieves two things (1) you know before you come in what you need to work on and (2) you put away anything you don’t immediately need the next day.\r\n\r\nWhen selecting what you \"need\" make sure you are only getting out what you truly \"need\" to do the work you are doing, and not keeping the five redwell files out just because they are associated with the Client\'s file. Create what I like to call a working file which is essentially a file folder or redwell (expandable for those outside the legal community) which keeps the current items for that Client accessible and the rest stay in your filing cabinet for access if needed.\r\n\r\nAlso, don\'t be afraid to go paperless for items that are no longer needed on a regular basis. If the Client is archived, scan the hard-copy papers and shred the originals (unless they contain an original signature or have to be maintained for legal purposes). If scanning the files, create a mirror of your hard-copy files in electronic form, so you always know where to look when trying to locate something. Ultimately, create your process around the rules you set for your office.\r\n\r\nFor the Attorney I told you about earlier, the rule we established was that I maintained all of her non-active files. She only kept active files in her office filing cabinet, and the only files that stayed out on her desk were active that week. She had a bin where she placed paper that needed to be filed back in the Client files and I handled that for her. All of her electronic files mirrored her hard-copy files and had a specific naming convention that made locating things easier.\r\n<h2><strong>Addressing your Tchotchkes</strong></h2>\r\nAnother area that you need to focus on is all the tchotchkes you have laying around. Do you need ten mugs from your Clients? Or all those photos on your tabletops? It\'s okay to have nice decor in your office but when it starts to become a distraction or take up valuable real estate in your space you should rethink it.\r\n\r\nA rule of thumb I use with Clients is that they should keep their immediate work zone clear of tchotchkes and only place these items above and on the outskirts of their work zone. This allows you to see them when you are taking a visual break to stretch your eyes, but they aren\'t distracting you when you are working.\r\n<blockquote>To identify your work zone, sit facing forward anything in your immediate line of sight without moving your head up or down is part of your work zone. Now swivel your head to the left and right. What you see when you do this is also included in your work zone.</blockquote>\r\nSo ultimately, cleaning and organizing your office space is vitally important and it affects many things in your life. Once you go through this organizing process your office will be void of the mountains of paper that aren’t really helpful or needed any longer. Guests will feel welcomed into your space and you can take a breath because when you face the facts you know that your DIY Fort O’ Paper was just stressing you out anyway.\r\n\r\nI encourage you to continue to work on removing the clutter from your life in the coming year. Take it one day at a time. You will begin to see the positive changes to both your work product and your life.\r\n\r\nDana is a Professional Organizer, Project Manager and Life Coach in Nashville, TN.  Join the <a href=\"https://app.convertkit.com/landing_pages/247793?v=7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Happiness Deposits</a> newsletter for more organizing tips related to space, life, soul and business.','The Truth About Your Messy Office','','inherit','closed','closed','','7482-revision-v1','','','2019-01-03 02:32:46','2019-01-03 02:32:46','',7482,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/7482-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(7487,1,'2019-01-03 02:33:17','2019-01-03 02:33:17','<h4><em>And How it is Saying More than You Think</em></h4>\r\nIt’s that time of year when Managers and Directors all of the world are conducting reviews of their employees. They are letting you know what they liked about your work product and your personality and what they didn’t like.\r\n\r\nOne question that inevitably shows up on evaluations is “Do they keep a clean and tidy work-space” or something to that extent. Many people overlook the importance of this question in their day to day job, because let’s face it, if I’m getting the job done why does it matter what my work-space looks like?\r\n<h2>Is Your Disorganization Affecting Your Office Relationships?</h2>\r\nMany many years ago, I went for a job interview and upon approaching this Attorney\'s office I was met with an office I could barely enter. I literally had to turn sideways to enter the office and even in doing so was scared I would knock over the stack of papers that was teetering on the Attorney\'s desk corner.\r\n\r\nAlthough my interviewer at the time seemed to be extremely nice, I could barely focus on the words coming out of her mouth because I was processing all of the things I saw in the environment I was in. Now granted I was processing the items thinking if hired how I could organize the space, but most people wouldn\'t be doing that. More than likely they would be sitting stiffly wondering when they could get out of there!\r\n\r\nUltimately, I was hired to assist this individual and within a week her office was neat and tidy to the point that other Attorneys were taking field trips to see her space. Apparently, she was notorious for having a messy office.\r\n\r\nShe later confided in me that she hired me mainly because I didn\'t balk at the state of her space. I shared with her I didn\'t balk because I knew if hired it wouldn\'t stay that way. The beauty is that the change we made in her environment also changed the way Attorneys interacted with her. They began coming by her office instead of just calling or emailing her when they worked together.\r\n\r\nThe point that I\'m trying to make here is that it does matter what your space looks like, because it tends to affect your office relationships. No, I’m not talking about romantic relationships…I’m talking about your interpersonal relationships with your co-workers. So imagine for just a minute, I need to discuss an issue with you.\r\n\r\nYour office is always a mess to the point of needing a path to find a seat. Do you have to remove papers from my line of sight to see you or from the chair itself so I can sit down? How welcoming do you think that makes me feel? How much time do you think I am going to spend with you truly troubleshooting the issue at hand?\r\n\r\nI can answer that without hesitation, very little.\r\n\r\nWhat is going to happen is I will avoid your office like the plague because it’s more than just the uncomfortable feeling I get when I am in your space. I feel claustrophobic and that something could topple over with even a slight miscalculation in my step. My breathing may become a little irregular because I\'m going to breathe as little as possible while in your office because I fear what I might smell if I inhale too deeply.\r\n<h2>Is There More To Your Messy Office?</h2>\r\nYou see, a lot of times when a person’s office/space is cluttered there are also other health risks that sneak up on you. You can’t correctly clean the space because there is too much stuff and the cleaning staff isn’t going to move it because that is a liability.\r\n\r\nHow about that abandoned cup of coffee or food fragment from last week that inadvertently got pushed up against the wall behind the latest stack of papers. Got Mold?\r\n\r\nYes, you think I exaggerate, but sadly I do not. In my time working in office spaces I have experienced and seen a lot.\r\n\r\nAnother risk of having a messy office is that you often will misplace important documents (think original signatures and contracts) or missed deadlines, which ultimately can cost you a lot in the end.\r\n\r\nOf the people that are notoriously late or ill-prepared what state is their office in?\r\n\r\n<img class=\"wp-image-7483 aligncenter\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/board-1273117_1920-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"The Truth About Your Messy Office - The Next Step | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"542\" height=\"361\" />\r\n<h2>Your Organization Action Plan</h2>\r\nSo, this year, I encourage you to spend a little time cleaning your space. Remove the clutter that is not serving a purpose in your day to day work life. Create systems that allow you to easily find what you need when you need it. If you are an out of sight out of mind type of person, create a system that allows you to keep out what you are currently working on (meaning that day or week) and putting up the things you are not.\r\n\r\nThis can easily be done by reviewing your tasks for the next day and retrieving those items before you leave for the day. This achieves two things (1) you know before you come in what you need to work on and (2) you put away anything you don’t immediately need the next day.\r\n\r\nWhen selecting what you \"need\" make sure you are only getting out what you truly \"need\" to do the work you are doing, and not keeping the five redwell files out just because they are associated with the Client\'s file. Create what I like to call a working file which is essentially a file folder or redwell (expandable for those outside the legal community) which keeps the current items for that Client accessible and the rest stay in your filing cabinet for access if needed.\r\n\r\nAlso, don\'t be afraid to go paperless for items that are no longer needed on a regular basis. If the Client is archived, scan the hard-copy papers and shred the originals (unless they contain an original signature or have to be maintained for legal purposes). If scanning the files, create a mirror of your hard-copy files in electronic form, so you always know where to look when trying to locate something. Ultimately, create your process around the rules you set for your office.\r\n\r\nFor the Attorney I told you about earlier, the rule we established was that I maintained all of her non-active files. She only kept active files in her office filing cabinet, and the only files that stayed out on her desk were active that week. She had a bin where she placed paper that needed to be filed back in the Client files and I handled that for her. All of her electronic files mirrored her hard-copy files and had a specific naming convention that made locating things easier.\r\n<h2><strong>Addressing your Tchotchkes</strong></h2>\r\nAnother area that you need to focus on is all the tchotchkes you have laying around. Do you need ten mugs from your Clients? Or all those photos on your tabletops? It\'s okay to have nice decor in your office but when it starts to become a distraction or take up valuable real estate in your space you should rethink it.\r\n\r\nA rule of thumb I use with Clients is that they should keep their immediate work zone clear of tchotchkes and only place these items above and on the outskirts of their work zone. This allows you to see them when you are taking a visual break to stretch your eyes, but they aren\'t distracting you when you are working.\r\n<blockquote>To identify your work zone, sit facing forward anything in your immediate line of sight without moving your head up or down is part of your work zone. Now swivel your head to the left and right. What you see when you do this is also included in your work zone.</blockquote>\r\nSo ultimately, cleaning and organizing your office space is vitally important and it affects many things in your life. Once you go through this organizing process your office will be void of the mountains of paper that aren’t really helpful or needed any longer. Guests will feel welcomed into your space and you can take a breath because when you face the facts you know that your DIY Fort O’ Paper was just stressing you out anyway.\r\n\r\nI encourage you to continue to work on removing the clutter from your life in the coming year. Take it one day at a time. You will begin to see the positive changes to both your work product and your life.\r\n\r\nDana is a Professional Organizer, Project Manager and Life Coach in Nashville, TN.  Join the <a href=\"https://app.convertkit.com/landing_pages/247793?v=7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Happiness Deposits</a> newsletter for more organizing tips related to space, life, soul and business.','The Truth About Your Messy Office','','inherit','closed','closed','','7482-revision-v1','','','2019-01-03 02:33:17','2019-01-03 02:33:17','',7482,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/7482-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(7488,1,'2019-01-03 02:34:18','2019-01-03 02:34:18','<h4 style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>And How it is Saying More than You Think</em></h4>\r\nIt’s that time of year when Managers and Directors all of the world are conducting reviews of their employees. They are letting you know what they liked about your work product and your personality and what they didn’t like.\r\n\r\nOne question that inevitably shows up on evaluations is “Do they keep a clean and tidy work-space” or something to that extent. Many people overlook the importance of this question in their day to day job, because let’s face it, if I’m getting the job done why does it matter what my work-space looks like?\r\n<h2>Is Your Disorganization Affecting Your Office Relationships?</h2>\r\nMany many years ago, I went for a job interview and upon approaching this Attorney\'s office I was met with an office I could barely enter. I literally had to turn sideways to enter the office and even in doing so was scared I would knock over the stack of papers that was teetering on the Attorney\'s desk corner.\r\n\r\nAlthough my interviewer at the time seemed to be extremely nice, I could barely focus on the words coming out of her mouth because I was processing all of the things I saw in the environment I was in. Now granted I was processing the items thinking if hired how I could organize the space, but most people wouldn\'t be doing that. More than likely they would be sitting stiffly wondering when they could get out of there!\r\n\r\nUltimately, I was hired to assist this individual and within a week her office was neat and tidy to the point that other Attorneys were taking field trips to see her space. Apparently, she was notorious for having a messy office.\r\n\r\nShe later confided in me that she hired me mainly because I didn\'t balk at the state of her space. I shared with her I didn\'t balk because I knew if hired it wouldn\'t stay that way. The beauty is that the change we made in her environment also changed the way Attorneys interacted with her. They began coming by her office instead of just calling or emailing her when they worked together.\r\n\r\nThe point that I\'m trying to make here is that it does matter what your space looks like, because it tends to affect your office relationships. No, I’m not talking about romantic relationships…I’m talking about your interpersonal relationships with your co-workers. So imagine for just a minute, I need to discuss an issue with you.\r\n\r\nYour office is always a mess to the point of needing a path to find a seat. Do you have to remove papers from my line of sight to see you or from the chair itself so I can sit down? How welcoming do you think that makes me feel? How much time do you think I am going to spend with you truly troubleshooting the issue at hand?\r\n\r\nI can answer that without hesitation, very little.\r\n\r\nWhat is going to happen is I will avoid your office like the plague because it’s more than just the uncomfortable feeling I get when I am in your space. I feel claustrophobic and that something could topple over with even a slight miscalculation in my step. My breathing may become a little irregular because I\'m going to breathe as little as possible while in your office because I fear what I might smell if I inhale too deeply.\r\n<h2>Is There More To Your Messy Office?</h2>\r\nYou see, a lot of times when a person’s office/space is cluttered there are also other health risks that sneak up on you. You can’t correctly clean the space because there is too much stuff and the cleaning staff isn’t going to move it because that is a liability.\r\n\r\nHow about that abandoned cup of coffee or food fragment from last week that inadvertently got pushed up against the wall behind the latest stack of papers. Got Mold?\r\n\r\nYes, you think I exaggerate, but sadly I do not. In my time working in office spaces I have experienced and seen a lot.\r\n\r\nAnother risk of having a messy office is that you often will misplace important documents (think original signatures and contracts) or missed deadlines, which ultimately can cost you a lot in the end.\r\n\r\nOf the people that are notoriously late or ill-prepared what state is their office in?\r\n\r\n<img class=\"wp-image-7483 aligncenter\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/board-1273117_1920-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"The Truth About Your Messy Office - The Next Step | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"542\" height=\"361\" />\r\n<h2>Your Organization Action Plan</h2>\r\nSo, this year, I encourage you to spend a little time cleaning your space. Remove the clutter that is not serving a purpose in your day to day work life. Create systems that allow you to easily find what you need when you need it. If you are an out of sight out of mind type of person, create a system that allows you to keep out what you are currently working on (meaning that day or week) and putting up the things you are not.\r\n\r\nThis can easily be done by reviewing your tasks for the next day and retrieving those items before you leave for the day. This achieves two things (1) you know before you come in what you need to work on and (2) you put away anything you don’t immediately need the next day.\r\n\r\nWhen selecting what you \"need\" make sure you are only getting out what you truly \"need\" to do the work you are doing, and not keeping the five redwell files out just because they are associated with the Client\'s file. Create what I like to call a working file which is essentially a file folder or redwell (expandable for those outside the legal community) which keeps the current items for that Client accessible and the rest stay in your filing cabinet for access if needed.\r\n\r\nAlso, don\'t be afraid to go paperless for items that are no longer needed on a regular basis. If the Client is archived, scan the hard-copy papers and shred the originals (unless they contain an original signature or have to be maintained for legal purposes). If scanning the files, create a mirror of your hard-copy files in electronic form, so you always know where to look when trying to locate something. Ultimately, create your process around the rules you set for your office.\r\n\r\nFor the Attorney I told you about earlier, the rule we established was that I maintained all of her non-active files. She only kept active files in her office filing cabinet, and the only files that stayed out on her desk were active that week. She had a bin where she placed paper that needed to be filed back in the Client files and I handled that for her. All of her electronic files mirrored her hard-copy files and had a specific naming convention that made locating things easier.\r\n<h2><strong>Addressing your Tchotchkes</strong></h2>\r\nAnother area that you need to focus on is all the tchotchkes you have laying around. Do you need ten mugs from your Clients? Or all those photos on your tabletops? It\'s okay to have nice decor in your office but when it starts to become a distraction or take up valuable real estate in your space you should rethink it.\r\n\r\nA rule of thumb I use with Clients is that they should keep their immediate work zone clear of tchotchkes and only place these items above and on the outskirts of their work zone. This allows you to see them when you are taking a visual break to stretch your eyes, but they aren\'t distracting you when you are working.\r\n<blockquote>To identify your work zone, sit facing forward anything in your immediate line of sight without moving your head up or down is part of your work zone. Now swivel your head to the left and right. What you see when you do this is also included in your work zone.</blockquote>\r\nSo ultimately, cleaning and organizing your office space is vitally important and it affects many things in your life. Once you go through this organizing process your office will be void of the mountains of paper that aren’t really helpful or needed any longer. Guests will feel welcomed into your space and you can take a breath because when you face the facts you know that your DIY Fort O’ Paper was just stressing you out anyway.\r\n\r\nI encourage you to continue to work on removing the clutter from your life in the coming year. Take it one day at a time. You will begin to see the positive changes to both your work product and your life.\r\n\r\nDana is a Professional Organizer, Project Manager and Life Coach in Nashville, TN.  Join the <a href=\"https://app.convertkit.com/landing_pages/247793?v=7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Happiness Deposits</a> newsletter for more organizing tips related to space, life, soul and business.','The Truth About Your Messy Office','','inherit','closed','closed','','7482-revision-v1','','','2019-01-03 02:34:18','2019-01-03 02:34:18','',7482,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/7482-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(7489,1,'2019-01-03 02:34:58','2019-01-03 02:34:58','<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><em>And How it is Saying More than You Think</em></h4>\r\n\r\n<hr />\r\n\r\nIt’s that time of year when Managers and Directors all of the world are conducting reviews of their employees. They are letting you know what they liked about your work product and your personality and what they didn’t like.\r\n\r\nOne question that inevitably shows up on evaluations is “Do they keep a clean and tidy work-space” or something to that extent. Many people overlook the importance of this question in their day to day job, because let’s face it, if I’m getting the job done why does it matter what my work-space looks like?\r\n<h2>Is Your Disorganization Affecting Your Office Relationships?</h2>\r\nMany many years ago, I went for a job interview and upon approaching this Attorney\'s office I was met with an office I could barely enter. I literally had to turn sideways to enter the office and even in doing so was scared I would knock over the stack of papers that was teetering on the Attorney\'s desk corner.\r\n\r\nAlthough my interviewer at the time seemed to be extremely nice, I could barely focus on the words coming out of her mouth because I was processing all of the things I saw in the environment I was in. Now granted I was processing the items thinking if hired how I could organize the space, but most people wouldn\'t be doing that. More than likely they would be sitting stiffly wondering when they could get out of there!\r\n\r\nUltimately, I was hired to assist this individual and within a week her office was neat and tidy to the point that other Attorneys were taking field trips to see her space. Apparently, she was notorious for having a messy office.\r\n\r\nShe later confided in me that she hired me mainly because I didn\'t balk at the state of her space. I shared with her I didn\'t balk because I knew if hired it wouldn\'t stay that way. The beauty is that the change we made in her environment also changed the way Attorneys interacted with her. They began coming by her office instead of just calling or emailing her when they worked together.\r\n\r\nThe point that I\'m trying to make here is that it does matter what your space looks like, because it tends to affect your office relationships. No, I’m not talking about romantic relationships…I’m talking about your interpersonal relationships with your co-workers. So imagine for just a minute, I need to discuss an issue with you.\r\n\r\nYour office is always a mess to the point of needing a path to find a seat. Do you have to remove papers from my line of sight to see you or from the chair itself so I can sit down? How welcoming do you think that makes me feel? How much time do you think I am going to spend with you truly troubleshooting the issue at hand?\r\n\r\nI can answer that without hesitation, very little.\r\n\r\nWhat is going to happen is I will avoid your office like the plague because it’s more than just the uncomfortable feeling I get when I am in your space. I feel claustrophobic and that something could topple over with even a slight miscalculation in my step. My breathing may become a little irregular because I\'m going to breathe as little as possible while in your office because I fear what I might smell if I inhale too deeply.\r\n<h2>Is There More To Your Messy Office?</h2>\r\nYou see, a lot of times when a person’s office/space is cluttered there are also other health risks that sneak up on you. You can’t correctly clean the space because there is too much stuff and the cleaning staff isn’t going to move it because that is a liability.\r\n\r\nHow about that abandoned cup of coffee or food fragment from last week that inadvertently got pushed up against the wall behind the latest stack of papers. Got Mold?\r\n\r\nYes, you think I exaggerate, but sadly I do not. In my time working in office spaces I have experienced and seen a lot.\r\n\r\nAnother risk of having a messy office is that you often will misplace important documents (think original signatures and contracts) or missed deadlines, which ultimately can cost you a lot in the end.\r\n\r\nOf the people that are notoriously late or ill-prepared what state is their office in?\r\n\r\n<img class=\"wp-image-7483 aligncenter\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/board-1273117_1920-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"The Truth About Your Messy Office - The Next Step | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"542\" height=\"361\" />\r\n<h2>Your Organization Action Plan</h2>\r\nSo, this year, I encourage you to spend a little time cleaning your space. Remove the clutter that is not serving a purpose in your day to day work life. Create systems that allow you to easily find what you need when you need it. If you are an out of sight out of mind type of person, create a system that allows you to keep out what you are currently working on (meaning that day or week) and putting up the things you are not.\r\n\r\nThis can easily be done by reviewing your tasks for the next day and retrieving those items before you leave for the day. This achieves two things (1) you know before you come in what you need to work on and (2) you put away anything you don’t immediately need the next day.\r\n\r\nWhen selecting what you \"need\" make sure you are only getting out what you truly \"need\" to do the work you are doing, and not keeping the five redwell files out just because they are associated with the Client\'s file. Create what I like to call a working file which is essentially a file folder or redwell (expandable for those outside the legal community) which keeps the current items for that Client accessible and the rest stay in your filing cabinet for access if needed.\r\n\r\nAlso, don\'t be afraid to go paperless for items that are no longer needed on a regular basis. If the Client is archived, scan the hard-copy papers and shred the originals (unless they contain an original signature or have to be maintained for legal purposes). If scanning the files, create a mirror of your hard-copy files in electronic form, so you always know where to look when trying to locate something. Ultimately, create your process around the rules you set for your office.\r\n\r\nFor the Attorney I told you about earlier, the rule we established was that I maintained all of her non-active files. She only kept active files in her office filing cabinet, and the only files that stayed out on her desk were active that week. She had a bin where she placed paper that needed to be filed back in the Client files and I handled that for her. All of her electronic files mirrored her hard-copy files and had a specific naming convention that made locating things easier.\r\n<h2><strong>Addressing your Tchotchkes</strong></h2>\r\nAnother area that you need to focus on is all the tchotchkes you have laying around. Do you need ten mugs from your Clients? Or all those photos on your tabletops? It\'s okay to have nice decor in your office but when it starts to become a distraction or take up valuable real estate in your space you should rethink it.\r\n\r\nA rule of thumb I use with Clients is that they should keep their immediate work zone clear of tchotchkes and only place these items above and on the outskirts of their work zone. This allows you to see them when you are taking a visual break to stretch your eyes, but they aren\'t distracting you when you are working.\r\n<blockquote>To identify your work zone, sit facing forward anything in your immediate line of sight without moving your head up or down is part of your work zone. Now swivel your head to the left and right. What you see when you do this is also included in your work zone.</blockquote>\r\nSo ultimately, cleaning and organizing your office space is vitally important and it affects many things in your life. Once you go through this organizing process your office will be void of the mountains of paper that aren’t really helpful or needed any longer. Guests will feel welcomed into your space and you can take a breath because when you face the facts you know that your DIY Fort O’ Paper was just stressing you out anyway.\r\n\r\nI encourage you to continue to work on removing the clutter from your life in the coming year. Take it one day at a time. You will begin to see the positive changes to both your work product and your life.\r\n\r\nDana is a Professional Organizer, Project Manager and Life Coach in Nashville, TN.  Join the <a href=\"https://app.convertkit.com/landing_pages/247793?v=7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Happiness Deposits</a> newsletter for more organizing tips related to space, life, soul and business.','The Truth About Your Messy Office','','inherit','closed','closed','','7482-revision-v1','','','2019-01-03 02:34:58','2019-01-03 02:34:58','',7482,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/7482-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(7490,1,'2019-01-03 02:35:41','2019-01-03 02:35:41','<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>And How it is Saying More than You Think</strong></p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<hr />\r\n\r\nIt’s that time of year when Managers and Directors all of the world are conducting reviews of their employees. They are letting you know what they liked about your work product and your personality and what they didn’t like.\r\n\r\nOne question that inevitably shows up on evaluations is “Do they keep a clean and tidy work-space” or something to that extent. Many people overlook the importance of this question in their day to day job, because let’s face it, if I’m getting the job done why does it matter what my work-space looks like?\r\n<h2>Is Your Disorganization Affecting Your Office Relationships?</h2>\r\nMany many years ago, I went for a job interview and upon approaching this Attorney\'s office I was met with an office I could barely enter. I literally had to turn sideways to enter the office and even in doing so was scared I would knock over the stack of papers that was teetering on the Attorney\'s desk corner.\r\n\r\nAlthough my interviewer at the time seemed to be extremely nice, I could barely focus on the words coming out of her mouth because I was processing all of the things I saw in the environment I was in. Now granted I was processing the items thinking if hired how I could organize the space, but most people wouldn\'t be doing that. More than likely they would be sitting stiffly wondering when they could get out of there!\r\n\r\nUltimately, I was hired to assist this individual and within a week her office was neat and tidy to the point that other Attorneys were taking field trips to see her space. Apparently, she was notorious for having a messy office.\r\n\r\nShe later confided in me that she hired me mainly because I didn\'t balk at the state of her space. I shared with her I didn\'t balk because I knew if hired it wouldn\'t stay that way. The beauty is that the change we made in her environment also changed the way Attorneys interacted with her. They began coming by her office instead of just calling or emailing her when they worked together.\r\n\r\nThe point that I\'m trying to make here is that it does matter what your space looks like, because it tends to affect your office relationships. No, I’m not talking about romantic relationships…I’m talking about your interpersonal relationships with your co-workers. So imagine for just a minute, I need to discuss an issue with you.\r\n\r\nYour office is always a mess to the point of needing a path to find a seat. Do you have to remove papers from my line of sight to see you or from the chair itself so I can sit down? How welcoming do you think that makes me feel? How much time do you think I am going to spend with you truly troubleshooting the issue at hand?\r\n\r\nI can answer that without hesitation, very little.\r\n\r\nWhat is going to happen is I will avoid your office like the plague because it’s more than just the uncomfortable feeling I get when I am in your space. I feel claustrophobic and that something could topple over with even a slight miscalculation in my step. My breathing may become a little irregular because I\'m going to breathe as little as possible while in your office because I fear what I might smell if I inhale too deeply.\r\n<h2>Is There More To Your Messy Office?</h2>\r\nYou see, a lot of times when a person’s office/space is cluttered there are also other health risks that sneak up on you. You can’t correctly clean the space because there is too much stuff and the cleaning staff isn’t going to move it because that is a liability.\r\n\r\nHow about that abandoned cup of coffee or food fragment from last week that inadvertently got pushed up against the wall behind the latest stack of papers. Got Mold?\r\n\r\nYes, you think I exaggerate, but sadly I do not. In my time working in office spaces I have experienced and seen a lot.\r\n\r\nAnother risk of having a messy office is that you often will misplace important documents (think original signatures and contracts) or missed deadlines, which ultimately can cost you a lot in the end.\r\n\r\nOf the people that are notoriously late or ill-prepared what state is their office in?\r\n\r\n<img class=\"wp-image-7483 aligncenter\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/board-1273117_1920-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"The Truth About Your Messy Office - The Next Step | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"542\" height=\"361\" />\r\n<h2>Your Organization Action Plan</h2>\r\nSo, this year, I encourage you to spend a little time cleaning your space. Remove the clutter that is not serving a purpose in your day to day work life. Create systems that allow you to easily find what you need when you need it. If you are an out of sight out of mind type of person, create a system that allows you to keep out what you are currently working on (meaning that day or week) and putting up the things you are not.\r\n\r\nThis can easily be done by reviewing your tasks for the next day and retrieving those items before you leave for the day. This achieves two things (1) you know before you come in what you need to work on and (2) you put away anything you don’t immediately need the next day.\r\n\r\nWhen selecting what you \"need\" make sure you are only getting out what you truly \"need\" to do the work you are doing, and not keeping the five redwell files out just because they are associated with the Client\'s file. Create what I like to call a working file which is essentially a file folder or redwell (expandable for those outside the legal community) which keeps the current items for that Client accessible and the rest stay in your filing cabinet for access if needed.\r\n\r\nAlso, don\'t be afraid to go paperless for items that are no longer needed on a regular basis. If the Client is archived, scan the hard-copy papers and shred the originals (unless they contain an original signature or have to be maintained for legal purposes). If scanning the files, create a mirror of your hard-copy files in electronic form, so you always know where to look when trying to locate something. Ultimately, create your process around the rules you set for your office.\r\n\r\nFor the Attorney I told you about earlier, the rule we established was that I maintained all of her non-active files. She only kept active files in her office filing cabinet, and the only files that stayed out on her desk were active that week. She had a bin where she placed paper that needed to be filed back in the Client files and I handled that for her. All of her electronic files mirrored her hard-copy files and had a specific naming convention that made locating things easier.\r\n<h2><strong>Addressing your Tchotchkes</strong></h2>\r\nAnother area that you need to focus on is all the tchotchkes you have laying around. Do you need ten mugs from your Clients? Or all those photos on your tabletops? It\'s okay to have nice decor in your office but when it starts to become a distraction or take up valuable real estate in your space you should rethink it.\r\n\r\nA rule of thumb I use with Clients is that they should keep their immediate work zone clear of tchotchkes and only place these items above and on the outskirts of their work zone. This allows you to see them when you are taking a visual break to stretch your eyes, but they aren\'t distracting you when you are working.\r\n<blockquote>To identify your work zone, sit facing forward anything in your immediate line of sight without moving your head up or down is part of your work zone. Now swivel your head to the left and right. What you see when you do this is also included in your work zone.</blockquote>\r\nSo ultimately, cleaning and organizing your office space is vitally important and it affects many things in your life. Once you go through this organizing process your office will be void of the mountains of paper that aren’t really helpful or needed any longer. Guests will feel welcomed into your space and you can take a breath because when you face the facts you know that your DIY Fort O’ Paper was just stressing you out anyway.\r\n\r\nI encourage you to continue to work on removing the clutter from your life in the coming year. Take it one day at a time. You will begin to see the positive changes to both your work product and your life.\r\n\r\nDana is a Professional Organizer, Project Manager and Life Coach in Nashville, TN.  Join the <a href=\"https://app.convertkit.com/landing_pages/247793?v=7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Happiness Deposits</a> newsletter for more organizing tips related to space, life, soul and business.','The Truth About Your Messy Office','','inherit','closed','closed','','7482-revision-v1','','','2019-01-03 02:35:41','2019-01-03 02:35:41','',7482,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/7482-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(7491,1,'2019-01-03 02:52:14','2019-01-03 02:52:14','','WomanComputer | The Happiness Bucket','','inherit','open','closed','','womancomputer','','','2019-01-03 02:52:49','2019-01-03 02:52:49','',7482,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/WomanComputer.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(7492,560,'2019-01-03 03:37:57','2019-01-03 03:37:57','How many days have you walked into work already frazzled from the crazy traffic or having a hectic morning leaving the house? What about those days when you discover something was due or there was a meeting that you forgot about? We all have these things that come up, but by instituting these 10 daily tips you can ensure your day will be more organized enabling you to handle these inevitable unknowns with grace and less stress.\r\n<h2>Identifying the Productive Part of Your Day</h2>\r\n<img class=\"alignright wp-image-7569\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Ensure-Your-Day-200x300.png\" alt=\"Ensure Your Day will be organized and less stressful | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"345\" height=\"519\" />\r\n\r\nOne way to be more organized is to determine your most productive part of the day.  Once you do you want to schedule your important project work and meetings during this time. I have known for years that I am not a morning person. It takes me a while for my engine to start running at full capacity. Knowing this I try not to schedule any meetings or important tasks on my calendar before 10 am. This ensures those things get the best part of me. Your high peak time may be different, and that\'s okay, just identify when that time is and make it known. Use your low peak times to complete more repetitive or administrative tasks that require limited focus.\r\n<h2>Set Specific Times to Check Email Each Day</h2>\r\nI know in this electronic age this is taboo for some of you. I heard the collective gasp of dismay, but I encourage you to try it. Remember this is all about being more organized.\r\n\r\nThe pattern I follow is that I check mail during my least productive time of the day (early morning), before lunch and after lunch and then before I leave for the day. I am not shy about letting people know this either. The rule is if it is important...call me. Outside of those times, I am able to focus on the task at hand instead of playing find the latest email in my inbox.\r\n<h2>Turn Off Sound Notifications</h2>\r\nSounds are extremely intrusive, especially when they are coming from your computer or your phone. My number one tip to be more organized is to turn off the notifications for emails and texts on your computer and cell phone.  I do this specifically while I am in the office and/or working on major tasks.\r\n\r\nThis is by far one of the biggest productivity killers because it keeps you from being present. For iPhone users (I\'m not sure about other phones), you could consider turning on the do not disturb feature, which will help limit distractions when you are working on a major task (Note: You can set rules for favorite numbers so you can get calls from specific people or if there is an emergency).\r\n\r\nFor those of you who find the idea of silencing your phone hard, try getting it out of your line of sight. Put it in your coat pocket, bag or purse so you aren\'t constantly checking it.\r\n<h2>Turn Off Popup Notifications</h2>\r\nAre you seeing a theme here? We are eliminating those habit forming distractions that prevent us from being more organized.\r\n\r\nOk so, you know that big box that pops up telling you that you have mail. This is a productivity killer! Unless you are expecting an important email, there is no need for this popup to be activated. If you are an email watcher I would encourage you to even turn off the small little email and/or chime that appears in your toolbar when new mail arrives.\r\n\r\nBy following the second step above you will not miss anything.  Encourage people to only email you with non-emergency items and to call you if there is something that needs your attention right away.\r\n<h2>Close Social Media, Streaming and other Websites</h2>\r\nThese are also high ranking productivity killers. You say oh I’ll just listen to the game or the commentary while I do XYZ, but really you are splitting your focus. There is no way to fully focus on a task if you have part of your brain focused on what Mike Greenberg said on SportsCenter. I won\'t even get into how easy it is to waste time when making a \"quick post\" on social media. Unless your job is to monitor these things, I recommend saving it for lunch or after hours.\r\n<h2>Remove Clutter from your Workspace</h2>\r\nAll the extra trinkets and things on your desk take up space physically, mentally and visually. I know you want to personalize your desk…and that is fine. However, if you want to be more organized and productive, don’t go overboard. If you must have them, place them in areas that are the least distracting and don’t take up precious real estate on the workspace of your desk.\r\n\r\nDon\'t over complicate clutter removal. Start on one side of your desk and work your way across removing anything you don\'t need to do your job. In your direct line of sight you should keep it to one personal item in each direction you look at the most (on the left, in the front and to the right). If you have a lot of photos or other mementos, consider placing them behind you or above your line of sight. This requires you to really focus on looking at them versus them taking up your visual space at all times.\r\n<h2>Designate Daily Key Tasks</h2>\r\nEach day, pick three to four key tasks that you must complete. I would recommend two big ones and two small unless you know the big one will take a long time. This ensures you have forward momentum in your day because we all know there is nothing like marking something off your list. If you finish all four tasks before the day ends, you can always add on more.\r\n<h2>End Your Day With a Clean Desk/Space</h2>\r\nYou should always close out your day by cleaning/straightening your space and desk. This allows you to not only reflect on what you were able to accomplish for the day but also to make a high-level plan for the next day. It also creates an environment of creativity for the following work day. When you come in you will be ready to hit the ground running, even if you are only checking emails.\r\n<h2>Start and End Your Day With a Planning Period</h2>\r\nI like to do mine at the end of the day and then revisit it at the beginning of the day. This planning period allows me to process what tasks need to be done next. I can also prep my desk for the next day as recommended above. When I come in, I review my plan one more time to ensure nothing has changed. This allows me to be more organized and productive because I know exactly where to begin on the following day.\r\n<h2>Treat Important Tasks Like Important Meetings</h2>\r\nBlock these tasks off in your calendar like you would a meeting and prep for it in the same way. This encourages you to use this designated time to focus on that task. You will be amazed at how an hour of focused time can make a difference in how efficiently you are able to complete a task. Make sure to give it the same importance as you would with a Client meeting. Don’t push it or cut it short unless absolutely necessary - would you do that to a Client?\r\n\r\nI hope you found these tips useful and that they will help you to be more organized. Please share below any additional or adaptive tips you may have to increase your productivity and stress levels.\r\n\r\n**********************************************************************\r\n\r\nDana is a Holistic Process Strategist, Professional Organizer, a Certified Project Manager and Life Coach in Nashville, TN.  Join the <a href=\"https://app.convertkit.com/landing_pages/247793?v=7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow noreferrer\">Happiness Deposits</a> newsletter for more organizing tips related to space, life, soul and business.','How to Ensure Your Day Will Be More Organized and Less Stressful','','publish','open','open','','be-more-organized','','','2019-07-27 05:15:26','2019-07-27 05:15:26','',0,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/?p=7492',0,'post','',0),(7494,1,'2019-01-03 03:30:40','2019-01-03 03:30:40','How many days have you walked into work already frazzled from the crazy traffic or having a hectic morning leaving the house. What about those days when you discover something was due or there was a meeting that you forgot about? We all have these things that come up, but by instituting these 10 daily tips you can ensure your day will be more organized enabling you to handle these inevitable unknowns with grace and less stress.\r\n<h2>Identify Your Productive Part of the Day</h2>\r\nDetermine when your most productive part of the day is and schedule your important project work and meetings during this time. I have known for years that I am not a morning person. It takes me a while for my engine to start running at full capacity. Knowing this I try not to schedule any meetings or important tasks on my calendar before 10 am. This ensures those things get the best part of me. Your high peak time may be different, and that\'s okay, just identify when that time is and make it known. Use your low peak times to complete more repetitive or administrative tasks that require limited focus.\r\n<h2>Set Specific Times to Check Email Each Day</h2>\r\nI know in this electronic age this is taboo for some of you. I heard the collective gasp of dismay, but I encourage you to try it. The pattern I follow is that I check mail during my least productive time of the day (early morning), before lunch and after lunch and then before I leave for the day. I am not shy about letting people know this either. The rule is if it is important...call me. Outside of those times, I am able to focus on the task at hand instead of playing find the latest email in my inbox.\r\n<h2>Turn Off Sound Notifications</h2>\r\nSounds are extremely intrusive, especially when they are coming from your computer or your phone. Turn off the notifications for emails and texts on your computer and cell phone while in the office and/or working on major tasks. This is by far one of the biggest productivity killers because it keeps you from being present. For iPhone users (I\'m not sure about other phones), you could consider turning on the do not disturb feature, which will help limit distractions when you are working on a major task (Note: You can set rules for favorite numbers so you can get calls from specific people or if there is an emergency). For those of you who find the idea of silencing your phone hard, try getting it out of your line of sight. Put it in your coat pocket, bag or purse so you aren\'t constantly checking it.\r\n<h2>Turn Off Popup Notifications</h2>\r\nAre you seeing a theme here? You know that big box that pops up telling you that you have mail. This is a productivity killer! Unless you are expecting an important email, there is no need for this popup to be activated. If you are an email watcher I would encourage you to even turn off the small little email and/or chime that appears in your toolbar when new mail arrives. By following the second step above you will not miss anything.  Encourage people to only email you with non-emergency items and to call you if there is something that needs your attention right away.\r\n<h2>Close Social Media, Streaming and other Websites</h2>\r\nThese are also high ranking productivity killers. You say oh I’ll just listen to the game or the commentary while I do XYZ, but really you are splitting your focus. There is no way to fully focus on a task if you have part of your brain focused on what Mike Greenberg said on SportsCenter. I won\'t even get into how easy it is to waste time when making a \"quick post\" on social media. Unless your job is to monitor these things, I recommend saving it for lunch or after hours.\r\n<h2>Remove Clutter from your Workspace</h2>\r\nAll the extra trinkets and things on your desk take up space physically, mentally and visually. I know you want to personalize your desk…and that is fine, just don’t go overboard. If you must have them, place them in areas that are the least distracting and don’t take up precious real estate on the workspace of your desk. Don\'t over complicate clutter removal. Start on one side of your desk and work your way across removing anything you don\'t need to do your job. In your direct line of sight you should try to keep it to one personal item in each direction you look at the most (on the left, in the front and to the right). If you have a lot of photos or other mementos, consider placing them behind you or above your line of sight. This requires you to really focus on looking at them versus them taking up your visual space at all times.\r\n<div class=\"slate-resizable-image-embed slate-image-embed__resize-full-width\" contenteditable=\"false\" data-imgsrc=\"https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/C5112AQHsWK0AIsjl4A/article-inline_image-shrink_400_744/0?e=1551916800&amp;v=beta&amp;t=qNBE6gE6h-29puwdmgClIIvUtRkfdObqY-zTAqLY4CY\"><img class=\"slate-image-embed__resize-full-width\" src=\"https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/C5112AQHsWK0AIsjl4A/article-inline_image-shrink_400_744/0?e=1551916800&amp;v=beta&amp;t=qNBE6gE6h-29puwdmgClIIvUtRkfdObqY-zTAqLY4CY\" data-media-urn=\"urn:li:digitalmediaAsset:C5112AQHsWK0AIsjl4A\" /><button class=\"slate-image-embed__link-button\"></button></div>\r\n<h2>Designate Daily Key Tasks</h2>\r\nEach day, pick three to four key tasks that you must complete. I would recommend two big ones and two small unless you know the big one will take a long time. This ensures you have forward momentum in your day because we all know there is nothing like marking something off your list. If you finish all four tasks before the day ends, you can always add on more.\r\n<h2>End Your Day With a Clean Desk/Space</h2>\r\nYou should always close out your day by cleaning/straightening your space and desk. This allows you to not only reflect on what you were able to accomplish for the day but also to make a high-level plan for the next day. It also creates an environment of creativity for the following work day. When you come in you will be ready to hit the ground running, even if you are only checking emails.\r\n<h2>Start and End Your Day With a Planning Period</h2>\r\nI like to do mine at the end of the day and then revisit it at the beginning of the day. This planning period allows me to process what tasks need to be done next and I can also prep my desk for the next day as recommended above. When I come in I review my plan one more time to ensure nothing has changed. This allows my productivity to kick in faster because I know exactly where to begin on the following day.\r\n<h2>Treat Important Tasks Like Important Meetings</h2>\r\nBlock these tasks off in your calendar like you would a meeting and prep for it in the same way. This encourages you to use this designated time to focus on that task. You will be amazed at how an hour of focused time can make a difference in how efficiently you are able to complete a task. Make sure to give it the same importance as you would with a Client meeting. Don’t push it or cut it short unless absolutely necessary - would you do that to a Client?\r\n\r\nI hope you found these tips useful and that they will help you to be more organized. Please share below any additional or adaptive tips you may have to increase your productivity and stress levels.\r\n\r\n**********************************************************************\r\n\r\nDana is a Professional Organizer, a Certified Project Manager and Life Coach in Nashville, TN.  Join the <a href=\"https://app.convertkit.com/landing_pages/247793?v=7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Happiness Deposits</a> newsletter for more organizing tips related to space, life, soul and business.','How to Ensure Your Day Will Be More Organized and Less Stressful','','inherit','closed','closed','','7492-revision-v1','','','2019-01-03 03:30:40','2019-01-03 03:30:40','',7492,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/7492-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(7495,1,'2019-01-03 03:34:26','2019-01-03 03:34:26','','Reduce your Stress | The Happiness Bucket','','inherit','open','closed','','reduce-your-stress','','','2019-01-03 03:36:27','2019-01-03 03:36:27','',7492,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Reduce-your-Stress.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(7496,1,'2019-01-03 03:34:48','2019-01-03 03:34:48','','Messy Office | The Happiness Bucket','','inherit','open','closed','','messy-office','','','2019-01-03 03:35:29','2019-01-03 03:35:29','',7492,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Messy-Office.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(7497,1,'2019-01-07 16:52:41','2019-01-07 16:52:41','Many of you probably didn\'t know but I was actually a customer service representative (CSR) for the Internal Revenue Service back in the day.  It was a great experience and made me realize the mistakes that people make on a regular basis as it relates to their personal income tax.  I decided it would be good for me to share some of the most common issues I used to and still do see (almost twenty years later), to help you avoid them.\r\n\r\nNow I know that many of you get anxious and itching to file your taxes in January, because that is like an instant payday to you.  I mean I totally get it, but seriously people CALM DOWN!!!!  I promise you taking a little time and ensuring you have crossed the T\'s and dotted the I\'s can save you not only time but money and frustration.\r\n\r\nOk now before I provide you with these tips I want to put out a disclaimer:  I am not a tax professional.  I am providing you information based on my own experiences as a CSR for those filing personal tax returns and want you to use your own judgement as to whether or not you should implement these tips in your own life.\r\n\r\nAlright, now that that\'s out of the way, lets get to it:\r\n<h2>1.  Don\'t File Too Fast</h2>\r\nMany of you only worked at one place, so you get your W2 and you want to go ahead and file.  I say, \"whoaaaaaa nelly\"!!!  Do you really have all the documents you need to file?  You need to really think about what assets and liabilities you have and ensure you properly account for them in all the places on your tax form.  You\'d hate to receive your refund and then have to pay back money or amend your return because you omitted something in error.  By law, all tax documents should be postmarked by Jan 31st...so at least wait until Feb 5th. to ensure you have what you need.\r\n<h2>2.  Avoid Anticipation Loans</h2>\r\nNow, I don\'t want any of these companies trying to sue me for telling the truth here.  The truth is that by going to these places you are essentially taking out a loan on your own money!  Did you know by filing electronically you can get your money in as quick as 7 days?!?!  Why pay someone to do the same thing that you can do for free?  Just go directly to the source, file your taxes electronically...provide them with an account number and they will deposit your money into it directly.  If you want to <a href=\"https://sa.www4.irs.gov/irfof/lang/en/irfofgetstatus.jsp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">get the status of your refund</a>, you can go to the IRS website directly.\r\n<h2>3.  Mind Who You Claim</h2>\r\nIf you have a person that may be claimable by someone else you need to ensure you can claim them before you put them on your taxes.  Just because they live with you during the year does not mean you can claim them.  It\'s based on five tests:  Relationship, age, residency, support and joint return and the answers aren\'t necessarily what you may think. Divorce decrees and/or written declarations can also change the rules. Chapter 3 of <a title=\"Publication 17\" href=\"http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p17.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IRS Publication 17</a> details this out.\r\n\r\nIf all else fails <a href=\"https://www.irs.gov/help/telephone-assistance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">call and ask</a> a CSR, but be honest in your responses so they can give you the real answer.  Claiming someone on your taxes that someone else should claim could delay your refund or cause you to owe money back.  This is also true if the actual person you are claiming files and claim\'s them self.\r\n<h2>4.  Get Help Preparing Your Taxes</h2>\r\nFor those who make $54,000 or less you can receive free help at a <a href=\"https://www.irs.gov/individuals/free-tax-return-preparation-for-you-by-volunteers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">VITA site</a>.  Those over the age of 60 can participate in the Tax Counseling for the elderly program and there are some things for a few other specific groups as well.  For everyone else don\'t be afraid to call 1-800-829-1040, the IRS help line, to get assistance (after the government shutdown ends).  Also, use <a title=\"Publication 17\" href=\"http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p17.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IRS Publication 17 </a>to assist you in preparing your taxes.\r\n<h2>5.  Use Free Online Filing Options</h2>\r\nYou should use the <a title=\"E-File Through IRS\" href=\"https://www.irs.gov/uac/Free-File:-Do-Your-Federal-Taxes-for-Free\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IRS Free File links</a> to identify all available offers.  Many \"other\" sites have tricky extras that end up costing you when using their links.  Make sure you read and understand (especially the fine print) before clicking the button of sites outside of the list the IRS provides and even read those too.\r\n<h2>6.  Appropriately Apply Deductions and Credits</h2>\r\n<img class=\"alignleft wp-image-5751 \" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/tax-filing-683x1024.png\" alt=\"Organize for Tax Filing - Common Mistakes\" width=\"306\" height=\"459\" />\r\n\r\nThere are many deductions and credits out there that people miss because they don\'t educate themselves.  The online filing sites ask questions that help determine whether you are or aren\'t eligible for specific deductions and credits.  If you are using a preparer and the deduction or credit seems too good to be true, always ask for a detailed explanation of how they came up with it or what makes you eligible.  Every deduction and credit has an <a href=\"https://www.irs.gov/publications\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IRS Publication</a> associated with it.  It doesn\'t take an extremely long time to review them...empower yourself!\r\n\r\nAdditionally, you can review the <a href=\"https://taxchanges.us/?source=ttk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">latest changes to the IRS regulations here</a> from the Taxpayer Advocates Office.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2>7.  Get a Copy of <a title=\"Publication 17\" href=\"http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p17.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IRS Publication 17</a></h2>\r\nIt explains most of the scenarios you will need to have covered.  If when reading it refers to another publication, just get it or download it from the website, they are all there.  This is a great place to start when researching changes in the tax code each year too.\r\n<h2>8.  Keep Good Records</h2>\r\nYou always want to make sure you have records of anything you plan on claiming...or have a way of proving it if you are ever audited.  Most people have a general idea of what those things are so start keeping a running file of those items, be that electronic or physical.  If you know you will have a lot of receipts, have a way of categorizing them to make it easier come tax time.\r\n\r\nJust to note, everyone now files a Form 1040, (<a href=\"https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-1040\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">see recent changes</a>).  Additionally, with the new tax law changes the standard deduction will probably be more beneficial for most people, but you never know until you crunch the numbers...so plan for it until you identify what is best for you.\r\n<h2>9.  Know Tax Year Changes</h2>\r\nWe all experience life happenings, some of the biggest ones are caused by natural disasters, job loss, home loss and other national happenings.  Along with these changes comes changes to the tax rules, some good and some bad.  Please educate yourselves so you don\'t miss out or make a mistake when it comes to <a href=\"https://www.irs.gov/Credits-&amp;-Deductions\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">credits and deductions</a>.\r\n\r\nDon\'t let this one scare you, you have the ability to do this on your own.  Again, most of the information you need to know is covered in Publication 17 or you can check out the <a href=\"https://taxchanges.us/?source=ttk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Taxpayer Advocate Office\'s list of changes here</a>.  One tip is to look for the green or red arrows to identify items you need to pay close attention to.\r\n\r\nThe key is for you to be aware so you can ensure there isn\'t a credit, deduction or additional tax that you didn\'t have to pay in years past (marriage/divorce, birth/death, new home, etc.) or new ones that you do.  Don\'t leave money on the table.\r\n<h2>10.  Don\'t Miss the Deadline</h2>\r\nWhatever you do, do not miss the April 15th deadline if you owe!  File an extension, but don\'t just try to ignore it as though it\'s going to go away because it is not.  In fact, all that\'s going to happen is interest and penalties will continue to add up (these are calculated daily!).   If it is just a matter of you don\'t have the money, it\'s okay!!!  Just call and tell them you want to make an arrangement to pay.  They will set you up on a payment plan that works for your budget...no matter the amount.  I actually had to do this myself shortly after college when I was categorized as an Independent Contractor and didn\'t realize I had to pay my own taxes (I was young).  The letter I received from the IRS stated that I owed $20,000 and I of course went into a mass panic.  The key to this story is that I was able to make arrangements and pay it off.  It took me a while, but I did it...and you can too.\r\n<h1>A Few Bonus Tax Tips</h1>\r\nOk, so after writing #10 above, I felt obligated to add a couple of bonus tips for you small business owners...\r\n<h2>Bonus 1:  Know Small Business Requirements</h2>\r\nMake sure you know what taxes you owe, both for your Federal and State taxes.  As a person who experienced the stress of owing the Government, you want to make sure you know and understand your requirements as a business owner, especially all of you who are independent contractors.  If you don\'t pay quarterly taxes you need to ensure you are taking the appropriate taxes out of the money you make from every sell.  If not, you risk getting shocked at the end of the year.\r\n<h2>Bonus 2:  Business Tax and Sale Log</h2>\r\nNow for some small businesses you haven\'t made enough sells to justify purchasing an accounting software for your business.  There are mixed feelings about this, but I say do what is best for your business.  If you are diligent about keeping track of what is going in and out of your business, you can do it by hand without a problem.  Of course the more successful you are, the more complicated your in-take and out-take procedures and processes are and the riskier and more difficult it becomes.\r\n<h2>Bonus 3:  Know What You Are Filing</h2>\r\nEven if you have your taxes prepared by someone else, you should always have a clear understanding and approve of what is being filed on your behalf.  You are ultimately responsible, whether someone else made the decision to do it or not.  By signing the last line on your physical and electronic return, you are certifying that you are taking the responsibility for everything on the document, so take it seriously.  Don\'t let someone rush you through the explanation of your taxes. If you are paying them, you are paying for their time...so use it.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI hope you found these tips helpful!  Please let me know if you do by sharing, liking and/or commenting on this post below, I\'d love your feedback.','Organize your Tax Filing Process with these 10 Tax Filing Tips','','inherit','closed','closed','','145-revision-v1','','','2019-01-07 16:52:41','2019-01-07 16:52:41','',145,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/145-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(7498,1,'2019-01-07 16:55:55','2019-01-07 16:55:55','Many of you probably didn\'t know but I was actually a customer service representative (CSR) for the Internal Revenue Service back in the day.  It was a great experience and made me realize the mistakes that people make on a regular basis as it relates to their personal income tax.  I decided it would be good for me to share some of the most common issues I used to and still do see (almost twenty years later), to help you avoid them.\r\n\r\nNow I know that many of you get anxious and itching to file your taxes in January, because that is like an instant payday to you.  I mean I totally get it, but seriously people CALM DOWN!!!!  I promise you taking a little time and ensuring you have crossed the T\'s and dotted the I\'s can save you not only time but money and frustration.\r\n\r\nOk now before I provide you with these tips I want to put out a disclaimer:  I am not a tax professional.  I am providing you information based on my own experiences as a CSR for those filing personal tax returns and want you to use your own judgement as to whether or not you should implement these tips in your own life.\r\n\r\nAlright, now that that\'s out of the way, lets get to it:\r\n<h2>1.  Don\'t File Too Fast</h2>\r\nMany of you only worked at one place, so you get your W2 and you want to go ahead and file.  I say, \"whoaaaaaa nelly\"!!!  Do you really have all the documents you need to file?  You need to really think about what assets and liabilities you have and ensure you properly account for them in all the places on your tax form.  You\'d hate to receive your refund and then have to pay back money or amend your return because you omitted something in error.  By law, all tax documents should be postmarked by Jan 31st...so at least wait until Feb 5th. to ensure you have what you need.\r\n<h2>2.  Avoid Anticipation Loans</h2>\r\nNow, I don\'t want any of these companies trying to sue me for telling the truth here.  The truth is that by going to these places you are essentially taking out a loan on your own money!  Did you know by filing electronically you can get your money in as quick as 7 days?!?!  Why pay someone to do the same thing that you can do for free?  Just go directly to the source, file your taxes electronically...provide them with an account number and they will deposit your money into it directly.  If you want to <a href=\"https://sa.www4.irs.gov/irfof/lang/en/irfofgetstatus.jsp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">get the status of your refund</a>, you can go to the IRS website directly.\r\n<h2>3.  Mind Who You Claim</h2>\r\nIf you have a person that may be claimable by someone else you need to ensure you can claim them before you put them on your taxes.  Just because they live with you during the year does not mean you can claim them.  It\'s based on five tests:  Relationship, age, residency, support and joint return and the answers aren\'t necessarily what you may think. Divorce decrees and/or written declarations can also change the rules. Chapter 3 of <a title=\"Publication 17\" href=\"http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p17.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IRS Publication 17</a> details this out.\r\n\r\nIf all else fails <a href=\"https://www.irs.gov/help/telephone-assistance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">call and ask</a> a CSR, but be honest in your responses so they can give you the real answer.  Claiming someone on your taxes that someone else should claim could delay your refund or cause you to owe money back.  This is also true if the actual person you are claiming files and claim\'s them self.\r\n<h2>4.  Get Help Preparing Your Taxes</h2>\r\nFor those who make $54,000 or less you can receive free help at a <a href=\"https://www.irs.gov/individuals/free-tax-return-preparation-for-you-by-volunteers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">VITA site</a>.  Those over the age of 60 can participate in the Tax Counseling for the elderly program and there are some things for a few other specific groups as well.  For everyone else don\'t be afraid to call 1-800-829-1040, the IRS help line, to get assistance (after the government shutdown ends).  Also, use <a title=\"Publication 17\" href=\"http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p17.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IRS Publication 17 </a>to assist you in preparing your taxes.\r\n<h2>5.  Use Free Online Filing Options</h2>\r\nYou should use the <a title=\"E-File Through IRS\" href=\"https://www.irs.gov/uac/Free-File:-Do-Your-Federal-Taxes-for-Free\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IRS Free File links</a> to identify all available offers.  Many \"other\" sites have tricky extras that end up costing you when using their links.  Make sure you read and understand (especially the fine print) before clicking the button of sites outside of the list the IRS provides and even read those too.\r\n<h2>6.  Appropriately Apply Deductions and Credits</h2>\r\n<img class=\"alignleft wp-image-5751 \" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/tax-filing-683x1024.png\" alt=\"Organize for Tax Filing - Common Mistakes\" width=\"306\" height=\"459\" />\r\n\r\nThere are many deductions and credits out there that people miss because they don\'t educate themselves.  The online filing sites ask questions that help determine whether you are or aren\'t eligible for specific deductions and credits.  If you are using a preparer and the deduction or credit seems too good to be true, always ask for a detailed explanation of how they came up with it or what makes you eligible.  Every deduction and credit has an <a href=\"https://www.irs.gov/publications\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IRS Publication</a> associated with it.  It doesn\'t take an extremely long time to review them...empower yourself!\r\n\r\nAdditionally, you can review the <a href=\"https://taxchanges.us/?source=ttk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">latest changes to the IRS regulations here</a> from the Taxpayer Advocates Office.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2>7.  Get a Copy of <a title=\"Publication 17\" href=\"http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p17.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IRS Publication 17</a></h2>\r\nIt explains most of the scenarios you will need to have covered.  If when reading it refers to another publication, just get it or download it from the website, they are all there.  This is a great place to start when researching changes in the tax code each year too.\r\n<h2>8.  Keep Good Records</h2>\r\nYou always want to make sure you have records of anything you plan on claiming...or have a way of proving it if you are ever audited.  Most people have a general idea of what those things are so start keeping a running file of those items, be that electronic or physical.  If you know you will have a lot of receipts, have a way of categorizing them to make it easier come tax time.\r\n\r\nJust to note, everyone now files a Form 1040, (<a href=\"https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-1040\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">see recent changes</a>).  Additionally, with the new tax law changes the standard deduction will probably be more beneficial for most people, but you never know until you crunch the numbers...so plan for it until you identify what is best for you.\r\n<h2>9.  Know Tax Year Changes</h2>\r\nWe all experience life happenings, some of the biggest ones are caused by natural disasters, job loss, home loss and other national happenings.  Along with these changes comes changes to the tax rules, some good and some bad.  Please educate yourselves so you don\'t miss out or make a mistake when it comes to <a href=\"https://www.irs.gov/Credits-&amp;-Deductions\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">credits and deductions</a>.\r\n\r\nDon\'t let this one scare you, you have the ability to do this on your own.  Again, most of the information you need to know is covered in Publication 17 or you can check out the <a href=\"https://taxchanges.us/?source=ttk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Taxpayer Advocate Office\'s list of changes here</a>.  One tip is to look for the green or red arrows to identify items you need to pay close attention to.\r\n\r\nThe key is for you to be aware so you can ensure there isn\'t a credit, deduction or additional tax that you didn\'t have to pay in years past (marriage/divorce, birth/death, new home, etc.) or new ones that you do.  Don\'t leave money on the table.\r\n<h2>10.  Don\'t Miss the Deadline</h2>\r\nWhatever you do, do not miss the April 15th deadline if you owe!  File an extension, but don\'t just try to ignore it as though it\'s going to go away because it is not.  In fact, all that\'s going to happen is interest and penalties will continue to add up (these are calculated daily!).   If it is just a matter of you don\'t have the money, it\'s okay!!!  Just call and tell them you want to make an arrangement to pay.  They will set you up on a payment plan that works for your budget...no matter the amount.  I actually had to do this myself shortly after college when I was categorized as an Independent Contractor and didn\'t realize I had to pay my own taxes (I was young).  The letter I received from the IRS stated that I owed $20,000 and I of course went into a mass panic.  The key to this story is that I was able to make arrangements and pay it off.  It took me a while, but I did it...and you can too.\r\n<h1>A Few Bonus Tax Tips</h1>\r\nOk, so after writing #10 above, I felt obligated to add a couple of bonus tips for you small business owners...\r\n<h2>Bonus 1:  Know Small Business Requirements</h2>\r\nMake sure you know what taxes you owe, both for your Federal and State taxes.  As a person who experienced the stress of owing the Government, you want to make sure you know and understand your requirements as a business owner, especially all of you who are independent contractors.  If you don\'t pay quarterly taxes you need to ensure you are taking the appropriate taxes out of the money you make from every sell.  If not, you risk getting shocked at the end of the year.\r\n<h2>Bonus 2:  Business Tax and Sale Log</h2>\r\nNow for some small businesses you haven\'t made enough sells to justify purchasing an accounting software for your business.  There are mixed feelings about this, but I say do what is best for your business.  If you are diligent about keeping track of what is going in and out of your business, you can do it by hand without a problem.  Of course the more successful you are, the more complicated your in-take and out-take procedures and processes are and the riskier and more difficult it becomes.\r\n<h2>Bonus 3:  Know What You Are Filing</h2>\r\nEven if you have your taxes prepared by someone else, you should always have a clear understanding and approve of what is being filed on your behalf.  You are ultimately responsible, whether someone else made the decision to do it or not.  By signing the last line on your physical and electronic return, you are certifying that you are taking the responsibility for everything on the document, so take it seriously.  Don\'t let someone rush you through the explanation of your taxes. If you are paying them, you are paying for their time...so use it.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI hope you found these tips helpful!  Please let me know if you do by sharing, liking and/or commenting on this post below, I\'d love your feedback.','10 Tax Filing Tips to Help Organize Your Filing Process','','inherit','closed','closed','','145-revision-v1','','','2019-01-07 16:55:55','2019-01-07 16:55:55','',145,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/145-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(7499,1,'2019-01-07 16:56:26','2019-01-07 16:56:26','Many of you probably didn\'t know but I was actually a customer service representative (CSR) for the Internal Revenue Service back in the day.  It was a great experience and made me realize the mistakes that people make on a regular basis as it relates to their personal income tax.  I decided it would be good for me to share some of the most common issues I used to and still do see (almost twenty years later), to help you avoid them.\r\n\r\nNow I know that many of you get anxious and itching to file your taxes in January, because that is like an instant payday to you.  I mean I totally get it, but seriously people CALM DOWN!!!!  I promise you taking a little time and ensuring you have crossed the T\'s and dotted the I\'s can save you not only time but money and frustration.\r\n\r\nOk now before I provide you with these tips I want to put out a disclaimer:  I am not a tax professional.  I am providing you information based on my own experiences as a CSR for those filing personal tax returns and want you to use your own judgement as to whether or not you should implement these tips in your own life.\r\n\r\nAlright, now that that\'s out of the way, lets get to it:\r\n<h2>1.  Don\'t File Too Fast</h2>\r\nMany of you only worked at one place, so you get your W2 and you want to go ahead and file.  I say, \"whoaaaaaa nelly\"!!!  Do you really have all the documents you need to file?  You need to really think about what assets and liabilities you have and ensure you properly account for them in all the places on your tax form.  You\'d hate to receive your refund and then have to pay back money or amend your return because you omitted something in error.  By law, all tax documents should be postmarked by Jan 31st...so at least wait until Feb 5th. to ensure you have what you need.\r\n<h2>2.  Avoid Anticipation Loans</h2>\r\nNow, I don\'t want any of these companies trying to sue me for telling the truth here.  The truth is that by going to these places you are essentially taking out a loan on your own money!  Did you know by filing electronically you can get your money in as quick as 7 days?!?!  Why pay someone to do the same thing that you can do for free?  Just go directly to the source, file your taxes electronically...provide them with an account number and they will deposit your money into it directly.  If you want to <a href=\"https://sa.www4.irs.gov/irfof/lang/en/irfofgetstatus.jsp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">get the status of your refund</a>, you can go to the IRS website directly.\r\n<h2>3.  Mind Who You Claim</h2>\r\nIf you have a person that may be claimable by someone else you need to ensure you can claim them before you put them on your taxes.  Just because they live with you during the year does not mean you can claim them.  It\'s based on five tests:  Relationship, age, residency, support and joint return and the answers aren\'t necessarily what you may think. Divorce decrees and/or written declarations can also change the rules. Chapter 3 of <a title=\"Publication 17\" href=\"http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p17.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IRS Publication 17</a> details this out.\r\n\r\nIf all else fails <a href=\"https://www.irs.gov/help/telephone-assistance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">call and ask</a> a CSR, but be honest in your responses so they can give you the real answer.  Claiming someone on your taxes that someone else should claim could delay your refund or cause you to owe money back.  This is also true if the actual person you are claiming files and claim\'s them self.\r\n<h2>4.  Get Help Preparing Your Taxes</h2>\r\nFor those who make $54,000 or less you can receive free help at a <a href=\"https://www.irs.gov/individuals/free-tax-return-preparation-for-you-by-volunteers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">VITA site</a>.  Those over the age of 60 can participate in the Tax Counseling for the elderly program and there are some things for a few other specific groups as well.  For everyone else don\'t be afraid to call 1-800-829-1040, the IRS help line, to get assistance (after the government shutdown ends).  Also, use <a title=\"Publication 17\" href=\"http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p17.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IRS Publication 17 </a>to assist you in preparing your taxes.\r\n<h2>5.  Use Free Online Filing Options</h2>\r\nYou should use the <a title=\"E-File Through IRS\" href=\"https://www.irs.gov/uac/Free-File:-Do-Your-Federal-Taxes-for-Free\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IRS Free File links</a> to identify all available offers.  Many \"other\" sites have tricky extras that end up costing you when using their links.  Make sure you read and understand (especially the fine print) before clicking the button of sites outside of the list the IRS provides and even read those too.\r\n<h2>6.  Appropriately Apply Deductions and Credits</h2>\r\n<img class=\"alignleft wp-image-5751 \" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/tax-filing-683x1024.png\" alt=\"Organize for Tax Filing - Common Mistakes\" width=\"306\" height=\"459\" />\r\n\r\nThere are many deductions and credits out there that people miss because they don\'t educate themselves.  The online filing sites ask questions that help determine whether you are or aren\'t eligible for specific deductions and credits.  If you are using a preparer and the deduction or credit seems too good to be true, always ask for a detailed explanation of how they came up with it or what makes you eligible.  Every deduction and credit has an <a href=\"https://www.irs.gov/publications\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IRS Publication</a> associated with it.  It doesn\'t take an extremely long time to review them...empower yourself!\r\n\r\nAdditionally, you can review the <a href=\"https://taxchanges.us/?source=ttk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">latest changes to the IRS regulations here</a> from the Taxpayer Advocates Office.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2>7.  Get a Copy of <a title=\"Publication 17\" href=\"http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p17.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IRS Publication 17</a></h2>\r\nIt explains most of the scenarios you will need to have covered.  If when reading it refers to another publication, just get it or download it from the website, they are all there.  This is a great place to start when researching changes in the tax code each year too.\r\n<h2>8.  Keep Good Records</h2>\r\nYou always want to make sure you have records of anything you plan on claiming...or have a way of proving it if you are ever audited.  Most people have a general idea of what those things are so start keeping a running file of those items, be that electronic or physical.  If you know you will have a lot of receipts, have a way of categorizing them to make it easier come tax time.\r\n\r\nJust to note, everyone now files a Form 1040, (<a href=\"https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-1040\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">see recent changes</a>).  Additionally, with the new tax law changes the standard deduction will probably be more beneficial for most people, but you never know until you crunch the numbers...so plan for it until you identify what is best for you.\r\n<h2>9.  Know Tax Year Changes</h2>\r\nWe all experience life happenings, some of the biggest ones are caused by natural disasters, job loss, home loss and other national happenings.  Along with these changes comes changes to the tax rules, some good and some bad.  Please educate yourselves so you don\'t miss out or make a mistake when it comes to <a href=\"https://www.irs.gov/Credits-&amp;-Deductions\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">credits and deductions</a>.\r\n\r\nDon\'t let this one scare you, you have the ability to do this on your own.  Again, most of the information you need to know is covered in Publication 17 or you can check out the <a href=\"https://taxchanges.us/?source=ttk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Taxpayer Advocate Office\'s list of changes here</a>.  One tip is to look for the green or red arrows to identify items you need to pay close attention to.\r\n\r\nThe key is for you to be aware so you can ensure there isn\'t a credit, deduction or additional tax that you didn\'t have to pay in years past (marriage/divorce, birth/death, new home, etc.) or new ones that you do.  Don\'t leave money on the table.\r\n<h2>10.  Don\'t Miss the Deadline</h2>\r\nWhatever you do, do not miss the April 15th deadline if you owe!  File an extension, but don\'t just try to ignore it as though it\'s going to go away because it is not.  In fact, all that\'s going to happen is interest and penalties will continue to add up (these are calculated daily!).   If it is just a matter of you don\'t have the money, it\'s okay!!!  Just call and tell them you want to make an arrangement to pay.  They will set you up on a payment plan that works for your budget...no matter the amount.  I actually had to do this myself shortly after college when I was categorized as an Independent Contractor and didn\'t realize I had to pay my own taxes (I was young).  The letter I received from the IRS stated that I owed $20,000 and I of course went into a mass panic.  The key to this story is that I was able to make arrangements and pay it off.  It took me a while, but I did it...and you can too.\r\n<h1>A Few Bonus Tax Tips</h1>\r\nOk, so after writing #10 above, I felt obligated to add a couple of bonus tips for you small business owners...\r\n<h2>Bonus 1:  Know Small Business Requirements</h2>\r\nMake sure you know what taxes you owe, both for your Federal and State taxes.  As a person who experienced the stress of owing the Government, you want to make sure you know and understand your requirements as a business owner, especially all of you who are independent contractors.  If you don\'t pay quarterly taxes you need to ensure you are taking the appropriate taxes out of the money you make from every sell.  If not, you risk getting shocked at the end of the year.\r\n<h2>Bonus 2:  Business Tax and Sale Log</h2>\r\nNow for some small businesses you haven\'t made enough sells to justify purchasing an accounting software for your business.  There are mixed feelings about this, but I say do what is best for your business.  If you are diligent about keeping track of what is going in and out of your business, you can do it by hand without a problem.  Of course the more successful you are, the more complicated your in-take and out-take procedures and processes are and the riskier and more difficult it becomes.\r\n<h2>Bonus 3:  Know What You Are Filing</h2>\r\nEven if you have your taxes prepared by someone else, you should always have a clear understanding and approve of what is being filed on your behalf.  You are ultimately responsible, whether someone else made the decision to do it or not.  By signing the last line on your physical and electronic return, you are certifying that you are taking the responsibility for everything on the document, so take it seriously.  Don\'t let someone rush you through the explanation of your taxes. If you are paying them, you are paying for their time...so use it.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI hope you found these tips helpful!  Please let me know if you do by sharing, liking and/or commenting on this post below, I\'d love your feedback.','10 Tax Filing Tips to Help Organize Your Filing Process with the IRS','','inherit','closed','closed','','145-revision-v1','','','2019-01-07 16:56:26','2019-01-07 16:56:26','',145,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/145-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(7500,1,'2019-01-07 17:36:43','2019-01-07 17:36:43','Many of you probably didn\'t know but I was actually a customer service representative (CSR) for the Internal Revenue Service back in the day.  It was a great experience and made me realize the mistakes that people make on a regular basis as it relates to their personal income tax.  I decided it would be good for me to share some of the most common issues I used to and still do see (almost twenty years later), to help you avoid them.\r\n\r\nNow I know that many of you get anxious and itching to file your taxes in January, because that is like an instant payday to you.  I mean I totally get it, but seriously people CALM DOWN!!!!  I promise you taking a little time and ensuring you have crossed the T\'s and dotted the I\'s can save you not only time but money and frustration.\r\n\r\nOk now before I provide you with these tips I want to put out a disclaimer:  I am not a tax professional.  I am providing you information based on my own experiences as a CSR for those filing personal tax returns and want you to use your own judgement as to whether or not you should implement these tips in your own life.\r\n\r\nAlright, now that that\'s out of the way, lets get to it:\r\n<h2>1.  Don\'t File Too Fast</h2>\r\nMany of you only worked at one place, so you get your W2 and you want to go ahead and file.  I say, \"whoaaaaaa nelly\"!!!  Do you really have all the documents you need to file?  You need to really think about what assets and liabilities you have and ensure you properly account for them in all the places on your tax form.  You\'d hate to receive your refund and then have to pay back money or amend your return because you omitted something in error.  By law, all tax documents should be postmarked by Jan 31st...so at least wait until Feb 5th. to ensure you have what you need.\r\n<h2>2.  Avoid Anticipation Loans</h2>\r\nNow, I don\'t want any of these companies trying to sue me for telling the truth here.  The truth is that by going to these places you are essentially taking out a loan on your own money!  Did you know by filing electronically you can get your money in as quick as 7 days?!?!  Why pay someone to do the same thing that you can do for free?  Just go directly to the source, file your taxes electronically...provide them with an account number and they will deposit your money into it directly.  If you want to <a href=\"https://sa.www4.irs.gov/irfof/lang/en/irfofgetstatus.jsp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">get the status of your refund</a>, you can go to the IRS website directly.\r\n<h2>3.  Mind Who You Claim</h2>\r\nIf you have a person that may be claimable by someone else you need to ensure you can claim them before you put them on your taxes.  Just because they live with you during the year does not mean you can claim them.  It\'s based on five tests:  Relationship, age, residency, support and joint return and the answers aren\'t necessarily what you may think. Divorce decrees and/or written declarations can also change the rules. Chapter 3 of <a title=\"Publication 17\" href=\"http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p17.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IRS Publication 17</a> details this out.\r\n\r\nIf all else fails <a href=\"https://www.irs.gov/help/telephone-assistance\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">call and ask</a> a CSR, but be honest in your responses so they can give you the real answer.  Claiming someone on your taxes that someone else should claim could delay your refund or cause you to owe money back.  This is also true if the actual person you are claiming files and claim\'s them self.\r\n<h2>4.  Get Help Preparing Your Taxes</h2>\r\nFor those who make $54,000 or less you can receive free help at a <a href=\"https://www.irs.gov/individuals/free-tax-return-preparation-for-you-by-volunteers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">VITA site</a>.  Those over the age of 60 can participate in the Tax Counseling for the elderly program and there are some things for a few other specific groups as well.  For everyone else don\'t be afraid to call 1-800-829-1040, the IRS help line, to get assistance (after the government shutdown ends).  Also, use <a title=\"Publication 17\" href=\"http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p17.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IRS Publication 17 </a>to assist you in preparing your taxes.\r\n<h2>5.  Use Free Online Filing Options</h2>\r\nYou should use the <a title=\"E-File Through IRS\" href=\"https://www.irs.gov/uac/Free-File:-Do-Your-Federal-Taxes-for-Free\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IRS Free File links</a> to identify all available offers.  Many \"other\" sites have tricky extras that end up costing you when using their links.  Make sure you read and understand (especially the fine print) before clicking the button of sites outside of the list the IRS provides and even read those too.\r\n<h2>6.  Appropriately Apply Deductions and Credits</h2>\r\n<img class=\"alignleft wp-image-5751 \" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/tax-filing-683x1024.png\" alt=\"Organize for Tax Filing - Common Mistakes\" width=\"306\" height=\"459\" />\r\n\r\nThere are many deductions and credits out there that people miss because they don\'t educate themselves.  The online filing sites ask questions that help determine whether you are or aren\'t eligible for specific deductions and credits.  If you are using a preparer and the deduction or credit seems too good to be true, always ask for a detailed explanation of how they came up with it or what makes you eligible.  Every deduction and credit has an <a href=\"https://www.irs.gov/publications\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IRS Publication</a> associated with it.  It doesn\'t take an extremely long time to review them...empower yourself!\r\n\r\nAdditionally, you can review the <a href=\"https://taxchanges.us/?source=ttk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">latest changes to the IRS regulations here</a> from the Taxpayer Advocates Office.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2>7.  Get a Copy of <a title=\"Publication 17\" href=\"http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p17.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">IRS Publication 17</a></h2>\r\nIt explains most of the scenarios you will need to have covered.  If when reading it refers to another publication, just get it or download it from the website, they are all there.  This is a great place to start when researching changes in the tax code each year too.\r\n<h2>8.  Keep Good Records</h2>\r\nYou always want to make sure you have records of anything you plan on claiming...or have a way of proving it if you are ever audited.  Most people have a general idea of what those things are so start keeping a running file of those items, be that electronic or physical.  If you know you will have a lot of receipts, have a way of categorizing them to make it easier come tax time.\r\n\r\nJust to note, everyone now files a Form 1040, (<a href=\"https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-1040\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">see recent changes</a>).  Additionally, with the new tax law changes the standard deduction will probably be more beneficial for most people, but you never know until you crunch the numbers...so plan for it until you identify what is best for you.\r\n<h2>9.  Know Tax Year Changes</h2>\r\nWe all experience life happenings, some of the biggest ones are caused by natural disasters, job loss, home loss and other national happenings.  Along with these changes comes changes to the tax rules, some good and some bad.  Please educate yourselves so you don\'t miss out or make a mistake when it comes to <a href=\"https://www.irs.gov/Credits-&amp;-Deductions\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">credits and deductions</a>. (i.e., If you claim the <a title=\"Earned Income Tax Credit\" href=\"https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/individuals/earned-income-tax-credit\" data-entity-substitution=\"canonical\" data-entity-type=\"node\" data-entity-uuid=\"4acaffc8-4b32-479f-af7c-6bc23902a13f\">Earned Income Tax Credit</a> or <a title=\"Does My Child/Dependent Qualify for the Child Tax Credit or the Credit for Other Dependents?  \" href=\"https://www.irs.gov/help/ita/does-my-childdependent-qualify-for-the-child-tax-credit-or-the-credit-for-other-dependents\" data-entity-substitution=\"canonical\" data-entity-type=\"node\" data-entity-uuid=\"6b0e6fb6-274b-40df-963f-02bae20a5ede\">Additional Child Tax Credit</a>, the IRS cannot issue refunds before mid-February).\r\n\r\nDon\'t let this one scare you, you have the ability to do this on your own.  Again, most of the information you need to know is covered in Publication 17 or you can check out the <a href=\"https://taxchanges.us/?source=ttk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Taxpayer Advocate Office\'s list of changes here</a>.  One tip is to look for the green or red arrows to identify items you need to pay close attention to.\r\n\r\nThe key is for you to be aware so you can ensure there isn\'t a credit, deduction or additional tax that you didn\'t have to pay in years past (marriage/divorce, birth/death, new home, etc.) or new ones that you do.  Don\'t leave money on the table.\r\n<h2>10.  Don\'t Miss the Deadline</h2>\r\nWhatever you do, do not miss the April 15th deadline if you owe!  File an extension, but don\'t just try to ignore it as though it\'s going to go away because it is not.  In fact, all that\'s going to happen is interest and penalties will continue to add up (these are calculated daily!).   If it is just a matter of you don\'t have the money, it\'s okay!!!  Just call and tell them you want to make an arrangement to pay.  They will set you up on a payment plan that works for your budget...no matter the amount.  I actually had to do this myself shortly after college when I was categorized as an Independent Contractor and didn\'t realize I had to pay my own taxes (I was young).  The letter I received from the IRS stated that I owed $20,000 and I of course went into a mass panic.  The key to this story is that I was able to make arrangements and pay it off.  It took me a while, but I did it...and you can too.\r\n<h1>A Few Bonus Tax Tips</h1>\r\nOk, so after writing #10 above, I felt obligated to add a couple of bonus tips for you small business owners...\r\n<h2>Bonus 1:  Know Small Business Requirements</h2>\r\nMake sure you know what taxes you owe, both for your Federal and State taxes.  As a person who experienced the stress of owing the Government, you want to make sure you know and understand your requirements as a business owner, especially all of you who are independent contractors.  If you don\'t pay quarterly taxes you need to ensure you are taking the appropriate taxes out of the money you make from every sell.  If not, you risk getting shocked at the end of the year.\r\n<h2>Bonus 2:  Business Tax and Sale Log</h2>\r\nNow for some small businesses you haven\'t made enough sells to justify purchasing an accounting software for your business.  There are mixed feelings about this, but I say do what is best for your business.  If you are diligent about keeping track of what is going in and out of your business, you can do it by hand without a problem.  Of course the more successful you are, the more complicated your in-take and out-take procedures and processes are and the riskier and more difficult it becomes.\r\n<h2>Bonus 3:  Know What You Are Filing</h2>\r\nEven if you have your taxes prepared by someone else, you should always have a clear understanding and approve of what is being filed on your behalf.  You are ultimately responsible, whether someone else made the decision to do it or not.  By signing the last line on your physical and electronic return, you are certifying that you are taking the responsibility for everything on the document, so take it seriously.  Don\'t let someone rush you through the explanation of your taxes. If you are paying them, you are paying for their time...so use it.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nI hope you found these tips helpful!  Please let me know if you do by sharing, liking and/or commenting on this post below, I\'d love your feedback.','10 Tax Filing Tips to Help Organize Your Filing Process with the IRS','','inherit','closed','closed','','145-revision-v1','','','2019-01-07 17:36:43','2019-01-07 17:36:43','',145,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/145-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(7501,560,'2019-01-08 18:55:34','2019-01-08 18:55:34','In observing and working with small businesses, I have found that many are missing some basic business processes.  These omissions can be detrimental to their success as a business and a business owner. Now, I know many of us learn on the job, but there are a few business processes that are important for you to get right, straight out the gate.\r\n\r\n<img class=\"wp-image-7570 alignleft\" src=\"http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/5-proactive-business-processes-200x300.png\" alt=\"5 proactive business processes for small businesses | The Happiness Bucket\" width=\"323\" height=\"485\" />\r\n\r\nIf you find you need to resolve a number of these areas in your business don\'t worry. Business processes aren’t necessarily a small business owner’s specialty, your craft is.  The good thing is it is my specialty and I’m gonna help you through it all.\r\n\r\nBy making a few of these small changes in your processes, you can go from being a reactive business to a proactive one. Driving potential customers to your product or service, instead of to your competitors.\r\n\r\nSo lets get into these 5 business process tips:\r\n<h1>Anticipate Your Customer’s Needs</h1>\r\nWhen you are creating processes in your business, you should do so by anticipating your customer’s needs, before they even know they need it.\r\n\r\nFirst, you should identify who your target market or ideal customer is and what types of questions they typically ask. This will help you identify the answers to those questions ahead of time, so they don\'t have to ask. Take for example you are a website developer.\r\n\r\nLets assume you are working with a Client who has never participated in a website development project. You may need to hold your client\'s hand so they understand the process from start to finish. If you are working with a customer who has had a website developed before, they will have a different understanding of the process. Your experience with them may be on a more technical level. Additionally, the development of a small website is different from a large website.\r\n\r\nYou also have to use your emotional intelligence to pickup on the things that aren\'t said. If you are explaining a concept and there are confused faces in the room, this may be a sign.  Your explanation may need to be more basic. You also might need to approach it from a different direction so your customer understands. The truth is that many times customers don\'t know what they don\'t know.\r\n\r\nIdentify the areas of angst or problems that you typically have with customers and ensure your Client fully understands them. Don\'t be afraid to explain it back to them or to ask them to put it into their own words. Sometimes you may think the Client understands, but when they explain their understanding of the concept or process isn\'t accurate.\r\n\r\nBy taking this small step, it makes your customers feel understood, supported and safe doing business with you.\r\n<h1>Create Business Policies</h1>\r\nMany customers want to know their risk level upfront before they commit to doing business with you. Think about the things you want to put into place to protect not only your business, but your customers too. What things would you want to know about a company if you were the customer? Ensure you have those same policies and guidelines in place.\r\n\r\nAnother good way to identify your necessary or missing policies is to think about all the things you liked or didn\'t like about your last experience as a customer.  What about during your last failed engagement with a Client, where was the confusion? What areas do you feel could have been clarified at the beginning of the engagement?\r\n\r\nIn most cases, policies are presented during the contract signing process. I encourage you to consider providing them to your customer as early as possible during the wooing period. It reaffirms the know, trust and like factor.  The company that is more forthcoming regarding their policies, is often more likely to gain the business.\r\n<h1>A Real Life Example - Chick-Fil-A</h1>\r\nAn example of this concept is Chic-fil-a. Their policies are well known and they have nothing to do with what they are selling. Most of their customers know they are closed on Sunday and why.\r\n\r\nAs a customer, you know that their employees respond with, \"my pleasure\" when you are being served and it is delivered in a way that you truly believe it is their pleasure. They also play Christian music in their restaurants. These policies aren\'t liked by everyone, but if you want their product you understand that these are the restaurant\'s policies. You can choose to frequent them or not.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<h2>Frequently Asked Questions</h2>\r\nThis leads me to another area where you can anticipate need, which is by having a frequently asked questions (FAQ) list. You can easily build this list from the questions people regularly ask. You can choose where you provide access to this information, it may be once a person shows interest in your service/product that you provide it to them, or you may just list it on your website for easy access. I find this usually depends on your industry and whether or not you provide a service or a product. I personally don’t think there is a right or wrong answer, just do what works best for you and makes you and your customer feel comfortable.\r\n\r\nAgain, think through your last experience as a customer and gleam from that. What were your steps to selecting the vendor you did? Did you research them or approach them with a list of questions? Now, go through a mock session as your Client (or better yet get a person who can serve as your Client to walk through your process) and identify where there are holes that you can fill with a FAQ.\r\n<h2>Identify Customer Requirements</h2>\r\nPlace yourself in the position of your customer and try to think through the expectation or requirements they may have for your service or product. A landscaper needs a customer to make specific decisions or provide specific information. This information will help them complete the job as expected by the customer. For example, how low do you want the grass cut, are there restrictions in your neighborhood, how often should you come, etc. By obtaining this information ahead of time, it sets the expectations and the requirements for the job. Creating customer information forms or questionnaires can help identify and capture these requirements from the customer.\r\n\r\nAnother thing you have to be careful of is not assuming all customers are the same. Meaning that once the form or questionnaire is completed, that you actually review and discuss it with them to ensure you are interpreting their responses correctly. You also want to ensure the customer signs off on the summary of requirements before you begin work and identify how changes to the requirements will be handled.\r\n<h2>Quality Assurance</h2>\r\nThis is an area that is often missed. Testing and looking for quality within your product or service is critical for retaining clients. You should test your processes in both a controlled and uncontrolled environment. Walk through your processes as though you are your ideal customer, to ensure you have thought through all the possible scenarios (or the top three) that could come up. Once you feel comfortable with your processes, have someone else walk through it without your assistance to see if they notice anything that isn’t right or to see if they have any questions about the process.\r\n\r\nYou should also build in quality checks periodically even though your underlying process may not have changed. This is because platforms change all the time, and it may affect your process without you even knowing it. An example of this is when social media sites update their platforms. They change image sizes, algorithms and where things are located. If you aren\'t doing periodic checks you may be directing potential clients one way only for that way not to be working any longer.\r\n\r\nIn Summary, you can\'t always anticipate everything in your business, but you can do some preventive maintenance on your business processes so you are 90% proactive and 10% reactive. If you follow these five easy steps you will make your potential Client\'s experience an enjoyable one which will increase the likelihood that they will become Clients and that you will be able to retain their business.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\nDana is a Holistic Organizer, Certified Project Manager and Life Coach in Nashville, TN.  Join the <a href=\"https://app.convertkit.com/landing_pages/247793?v=7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow noreferrer\">Happiness Deposits</a> newsletter for more organizing tips related to space, life, soul and business.','5 Proactive Business Processes All Small Businesses Should Implement','','publish','open','open','','5-proactive-business-processes','','','2019-07-27 05:15:26','2019-07-27 05:15:26','',0,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/?p=7501',0,'post','',0),(7502,1,'2019-01-07 17:57:58','2019-01-07 17:57:58','Today, we are making a deposit in our business bucket, because I’m seeing something that needs to be addressed. In observing and working with small businesses around the area and online, I have found that many are missing some basic business processes that can be detrimental to their success as a business owner. Now, I know many of us learn on the job, myself included…but there are a few business processes that are important for you to get right, straight out the gate.\r\n\r\nNow, don’t fret if you find that you need to resolve a number of these areas in your business. Business processes aren’t necessarily a small business owner’s specialty, your craft is…but don’t worry because it is my specialty and I’m gonna help you through it all. By making a few of these small changes in your processes, you can turn from being a reactive business to a proactive one and drive potential customers to your product or service, instead of to your competitors.\r\n\r\nSo lets get into these 5 business process tips:\r\n<h2>Anticipate Your Customer’s Needs</h2>\r\nWhen you are creating processes in your business, you should do so by anticipating your customer’s needs, before they even know they need it.\r\n\r\nThe first thing you should do is identify who your target market or ideal customer is and what types of questions they typically ask. This will help you identify the answers to those questions ahead of time, so they don\'t have to ask. Take for example you are a website developer.\r\n\r\nIf you are working with a Client who has never participated in a website development project you may need to hand hold your client so they understand the process from start to finish. If you are working with a customer who has had a website developed before, they will have a different understanding of the process. Your experience with them may be on a more technical level. A small website is developed differently from a large website.\r\n\r\nIn anticipating your customer\'s needs, you also have to use your emotional intelligence to pickup on the things that aren\'t necessarily said. If you are explaining a concept and there are confused faces all around or crickets heard in the room, this may be a sign that your explanation needs to be made on a more basic level or that you will need to approach it from a different direction so your customer understands. Many times customers don\'t know what they don\'t know.\r\n\r\nIdentify the areas of angst or problems that you typically have with customers and ensure your Client fully understands them. Don\'t be afraid to explain it back to them or to ask them to put it into their own words. Sometimes you may think the Client understands, but when they explain their understanding of the concept or process it isn\'t accurate.\r\n\r\nBy taking this small step, it makes your customers feel understood, supported and safe doing business with you.\r\n<h2>Create Business Policies</h2>\r\nMany customers want to know their risk level upfront before they commit to doing business with you. Think about the things you want to put into place to protect not only your business, but your customers too. A few of the common policies you need to have in place are: refund/return/cancellation policy, payment policy, travel policy, etc. Think about the things you would want to know about a company if you were the customer and ensure you have those same policies and guidelines in place.\r\n\r\nI think about Chic-fil-a and how I really enjoy going to that restaurant. What stands out to me (other than the delicious waffle fries and chicken) is that their policies are well known and they have nothing to do with what they are selling. Most of their customers know that they are closed on Sunday and why. They know as a customer that their employees respond with, \"my pleasure\" when you are being served and it is delivered in a way that you truly believe it is their pleasure. They also play Christian music in their restaurants. Now, these policies aren\'t liked by everyone, but if you want their product you understand that these are the restaurant\'s policies and you can choose to frequent them or not.\r\n\r\nNow, in many cases these policies are presented during the contract signing process, but I encourage you to provide them to your customer as early as possible during the wooing period. Now I know some marketers and sales departments may not agree with me, but as a Project Manager and a Customer I can tell you that the company that is more forthcoming regarding their policies, is more likely to gain my business because I feel that they are putting everything out on the table.\r\n\r\nA good way to identify your necessary or missing policies is to think about all the things you liked or didn\'t like about your last experience as a customer or even during your last failed engagement with a Client, where was the confusion? What areas do you feel could have been clarified at the beginning of the engagement?\r\n<h2>Frequently Asked Questions</h2>\r\nThis leads me to another area where you can anticipate need, which is by having a frequently asked questions (FAQ) list. You can easily build this list from the questions people regularly ask you. You can choose where you provide access to this information, it may be once a person shows interest in your service/product that you provide it to them, or you may just list it on your website for easy access. I find this usually depends on your industry and whether or not you provide a service or a product. I personally don’t think there is a right or wrong answer, just do what works best for you and makes you and your customer feel comfortable.\r\n\r\nAgain, think through your last experience as a customer and gleam from that. What were your steps to selecting the vendor you did? Did you research them or approach them with a list of questions? Now, go through a mock session as your Client (or better yet get a person who can serve as your Client to walk through your process) and identify where there are holes that you can fill with a FAQ.\r\n<h2>Identify Customer Requirements</h2>\r\nPlace yourself in the position of your customer and try to think through the expectation or requirements they may have for your service or product. A landscaper needs a customer to make specific decisions or provide specific information. This information will help them complete the job as expected by the customer. For example, how low do you want the grass cut, are there restrictions in your neighborhood, how often should you come, etc. By obtaining this information ahead of time, it sets the expectations and the requirements for the job. Creating customer information forms or questionnaires can help identify and capture these requirements from the customer.\r\n\r\nAnother thing you have to be careful of is not assuming all customers are the same. Meaning that once the form or questionnaire is completed, that you actually review and discuss it with them to ensure you are interpreting their responses correctly. You also want to ensure the customer signs off on the summary of requirements before you begin work and identify how changes to the requirements will be handled.\r\n<h2>Quality Assurance</h2>\r\nThis is an area that is often missed. Testing and looking for quality within your product or service is critical for retaining clients. You should test your processes in both a controlled and uncontrolled environment. Walk through your processes as though you are your ideal customer, to ensure you have thought through all the possible scenarios (or the top three) that could come up. Once you feel comfortable with your processes, have someone else walk through it without your assistance to see if they notice anything that isn’t right or to see if they have any questions about the process.\r\n\r\nYou should also build in quality checks periodically even though your underlying process may not have changed. This is because platforms change all the time, and it may affect your process without you even knowing it. An example of this is when social media sites update their platforms. They change image sizes, algorithms and where things are located. If you aren\'t doing periodic checks you may be directing potential clients one way only for that way not to be working any longer.\r\n\r\nIn Summary, you can\'t always anticipate everything in your business, but you can do some preventive maintenance on your business processes so you are 90% proactive and 10% reactive. If you follow these five easy steps you will make your potential Client\'s experience an enjoyable one which will increase the likelihood that they will become Clients and that you will be able to retain their business.\r\n\r\n<strong>Click here to read the rest of this article...</strong>\r\n\r\n**************************************************************************\r\n\r\nDana is a Holistic Organizer, Certified Project Manager and Life Coach in Nashville, TN.  Join the <a href=\"https://app.convertkit.com/landing_pages/247793?v=7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Happiness Deposits</a> newsletter for more organizing tips related to space, life, soul and business.','5 Proactive Business Processes All Small Businesses Should Implement','','inherit','closed','closed','','7501-revision-v1','','','2019-01-07 17:57:58','2019-01-07 17:57:58','',7501,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/7501-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(7503,1,'2019-01-07 23:11:26','2019-01-07 23:11:26','Do you find that your inbox gets more junk than mail? Well today we are going to cover three tips you can use to declutter your email inbox.  I call these emails noise in your inbox because you can\'t really focus on the important things coming into your box for all the \"noise\" around it.\n\n<!--more-->\n\nAs always let me provide a disclaimer here and say that these tips won\'t work for everyone.  You have to base which tips you use on your lifestyle and needs.  If these don\'t meet your needs feel free to <a href=\"mailto:dana@thehappinessbucket.com\">contact me</a> so we can discuss what types of things could assist you.\n\nNow, onto the tips:\n<h1><strong>Blog or Vendor Emails and Newsletters</strong></h1>\nThese are the emails you get after you subscribe to a blog or you purchase a product from a company.  The main purpose of these emails is to provide information of what is going on with that company or blog.  Now here is what typically happens with these types of emails.  You typically have a handful that you actual read and the rest just add noise to your mailbox.\n\nThe method you use will depend on whether you like living in your inbox or if you would prefer to live outside your inbox on social media or on a platform like feedly.  There are pros and cons of both methods, but for now I am going to speak specifically to the person who wants to keep the emails in their inbox.\n<h2><strong>Determine If A Viable Resource</strong></h2>\nThe first thing I\'d recommend is that you determine if you actually like the company and the content they send out.  If the answer is yes, then move on to the Setup a Resource Folder section.  If the answer is no, scroll to the bottom of that particular email and click on the unsubscribe link.  If for some reason they don\'t have one or it\'s not working, right click on the email and mark it as junk.  Then sort your inbox by the sender and delete all of the emails associated with the sender.  You can always resubscribe later if your situation changes.\n<h2>Setup A Resource Folder</h2>\nIf you are interested in continuing to receive the content, I\'d recommend you set up a folder for that company or blog.  For example, you should have a folder titled THB or The Happiness Bucket. The purpose of this folder is so you can move all items received from THB into a folder and when you have time to review the content or need to find the content you can click on the folder and immediately get to the information you need.\n\nThis enables you to move the emails out of your inbox and batch review them ultimately turning down the volume of the noise in your inbox.\n\nI would recommend that you hold your declutter or review process for those you think you are interested in until after you have sorted (batched) all the emails into the folder.  It makes the review process easier  You may find with this new found order that you actually see the emails and start reading them more often.\n<h1>Mixed Bag of Tricks</h1>\nSome companies (especially companies selling physical products) mix in their advertisements for sales with their blog posts and other information with no differentiation between the email address that it comes from. You may just be interested in the blog posts and not all the other promotional materials.\n\nCheck the bottom of the email to see if they have a link that allows you to unsubscribe from just that type of email.  If not, click on the unsubscribe button and see if they have an option to unsubscribe from certain parts of their mailings.\n\nLarger companies or those that have many different publications tend to have this option, if not again you have to decide what is more important to you - getting the info you are waiting for or the junk.  If you do want the information, see if there is specific wording for those emails that you don’t like and create a rule that automatically deletes it upon arrival.\n\nConsider the main purpose of the email vs. what you signed up for.  For blog content, my rule of thumb is I allow promotional content from those who offer value first.  If all you do is sell to me I\'m not interested.  Physical products are a little different, so you should take this into consideration too.\n<h1><strong>Social Media and Vendor Alerts</strong></h1>\nSocial Media alert emails are some of the biggest noise creators out there.  Do you really use these alerts?  Many social media sites have a number of options for notifying or alerting you of activity on your account.  I recommend you evaluate the ones you actually look at and eliminate all the extra noise from your email box.  You can usually find these options under settings on those social media platforms.\n<h1><strong>Add-On Store Deals</strong></h1>\nThere are some companies that sell your contact information to other companies and/or they have so many subsidiaries that when you subscribe to one list all the others get it (it’s in the fine print). Just unsubscribe from those “extra” lists and remember next time to read the fine print.\n\nIt is also ok to tell the store no when they ask you for an email address, they usually suggest you subscribe for an additional discount or to receive information about sales...which adds you to all their mailing lists.  Well, I suggest you connect with their text, twitter, facebook or google+ feeds for that information instead.\n\nOne thing I did years ago is I set up a promotional only email account so when companies ask me for that information I give that email address instead.  I also set up an automatic filter to delete anything older than two weeks.  This helps me have one place to go to search for current deals and it\'s not junking up my normal inbox.\n\nSo in summary, your inbox doesn\'t have to be like the wild wild west, you can corral these emails (why did I just go all western on you?!?!).  Remember folders are your friends, unsubscribe from emails you aren\'t reading and don\'t want, read the fine print and check boxes before you signup and don\'t be afraid to think outside the box.\n\nI hope you found this information helpful.  If you are interested in setting up a consultation session to have me work with you <a href=\"Mailto:dana@thehappinessbucket.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">click here</a>.\n\n&nbsp;','3 Tips to Help You Declutter Your Email Inbox','Do you find that an email address you own gets more junk than mail and you really didn’t plan it that way?  Start tackling it one day at a time.  Starting today, take action on at least 5 of the items that come into your email box. Your email system should mimic that of your snail mail system…wait what you don’t have a snail mail system?  Well that’s a discussion for another day ☺.  Today, I am talking specifically about those items that come into your email box that fall into the trash category.  You know the items you typically skip over or just delete.  Here are a few steps you can take to tackle the extra noise of your email box:','inherit','closed','closed','','3086-autosave-v1','','','2019-01-07 23:11:26','2019-01-07 23:11:26','',3086,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/3086-autosave-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(7504,1,'2019-01-07 23:03:03','2019-01-07 23:03:03','Do you find that your inbox gets more junk than mail? Well today we are going to cover three tips you can use to declutter your email inbox.  I call these emails noise in your inbox because you can\'t really focus on the important things coming into your box for all the \"noise\" around it.\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n\r\nAs always let me provide a disclaimer here and say that these tips won\'t work for everyone.  You have to base which tips you use on your lifestyle and needs.  If these don\'t meet your needs feel free to <a href=\"mailto:dana@thehappinessbucket.com\">contact me</a> so we can discuss what types of things could assist you.\r\n\r\nNow, onto the tips:\r\n<h1><strong>Blog or Vendor Emails and Newsletters</strong></h1>\r\nThese are the emails you get after you subscribe to a blog or you purchase a product from a company.  The main purpose of these emails is to provide information of what is going on with that company or blog.  Now here is what typically happens with these types of emails.  You typically have a handful that you actual read and the rest just add noise to your mailbox.\r\n\r\nThe method you use will depend on whether you like living in your inbox or if you would prefer to live outside your inbox on social media or on a platform like feedly.  There are pros and cons of both methods, but for now I am going to speak specifically to the person who wants to keep the emails in their inbox.\r\n<h2><strong>Determine If A Viable Resource</strong></h2>\r\nThe first thing I\'d recommend is that you determine if you actually like the company and the content they send out.  If the answer is yes, then move on to the Setup a Resource Folder section.  If the answer is no, scroll to the bottom of that particular email and click on the unsubscribe link.  If for some reason they don\'t have one or it\'s not working, right click on the email and mark it as junk.  Then sort your inbox by the sender and delete all of the emails associated with the sender.  You can always resubscribe later if your situation changes.\r\n<h2>Setup A Resource Folder</h2>\r\nIf you are interested in continuing to receive the content, I\'d recommend you set up a folder for that company or blog.  For example, you should have a folder titled THB or The Happiness Bucket. The purpose of this folder is so you can move all items received from THB into a folder and when you have time to review the content or need to find the content you can click on the folder and immediately get to the information you need.\r\n\r\nThis enables you to move the emails out of your inbox and batch review them ultimately turning down the volume of the noise in your inbox.\r\n\r\nI would recommend that you hold your declutter or review process for those you think you are interested in until after you have sorted (batched) all the emails into the folder.  It makes the review process easier  You may find with this new found order that you actually see the emails and start reading them more often.\r\n<h1>Mixed Bag of Tricks</h1>\r\nSome companies (especially companies selling physical products) mix in their advertisements for sales with their blog posts and other information with no differentiation between the email address that it comes from. You may just be interested in the blog posts and not all the other promotional materials.\r\n\r\nCheck the bottom of the email to see if they have a link that allows you to unsubscribe from just that type of email.  If not, click on the unsubscribe button and see if they have an option to unsubscribe from certain parts of their mailings.\r\n\r\nLarger companies or those that have many different publications tend to have this option, if not again you have to decide what is more important to you - getting the info you are waiting for or the junk.  If you do want the information, see if there is specific wording for those emails that you don’t like and create a rule that automatically deletes it upon arrival.\r\n\r\nConsider the main purpose of the email vs. what you signed up for.  For blog content, my rule of thumb is I allow promotional content from those who offer value first.  If all you do is sell to me I\'m not interested.  Physical products are a little different, so you should take this into consideration too.\r\n<h1><strong>Social Media and Vendor Alerts</strong></h1>\r\nSocial Media alert emails are some of the biggest noise creators out there.  Do you really use these alerts?  Many social media sites have a number of options for notifying or alerting you of activity on your account.  I recommend you evaluate the ones you actually look at and eliminate all the extra noise from your email box.  You can usually find these options under settings on those social media platforms.\r\n<h1><strong>Add-On Store Deals</strong></h1>\r\nThere are some companies that sell your contact information to other companies and/or they have so many subsidiaries that when you subscribe to one list all the others get it (it’s in the fine print). Just unsubscribe from those “extra” lists and remember next time to read the fine print.\r\n\r\nIt is also ok to tell the store no when they ask you for an email address, they usually suggest you subscribe for an additional discount or to receive information about sales...which adds you to all their mailing lists.  Well, I suggest you connect with their text, twitter, facebook or google+ feeds for that information instead.\r\n\r\nOne thing I did years ago is I set up a promotional only email account so when companies ask me for that information I give that email address instead.  I also set up an automatic filter to delete anything older than two weeks.  This helps me have one place to go to search for current deals and it\'s not junking up my normal inbox.\r\n\r\nSo in summary, your inbox doesn\'t have to be like the wild wild west, you can corral these emails (why did I just go all western on you?!?!).  Remember folders are your friends, unsubscribe from emails you aren\'t reading and don\'t want, read the fine print and check boxes before you signup and don\'t be afraid to think outside the box.\r\n\r\nI hope you found this information helpful.  If you are interested in setting up a consultation session to have me work with you <a href=\"Mailto:dana@thehappinessbucket.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">click here</a>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','3 Items to help you Declutter your Email Inbox','Do you find that an email address you own gets more junk than mail and you really didn’t plan it that way?  Start tackling it one day at a time.  Starting today, take action on at least 5 of the items that come into your email box. Your email system should mimic that of your snail mail system…wait what you don’t have a snail mail system?  Well that’s a discussion for another day ☺.  Today, I am talking specifically about those items that come into your email box that fall into the trash category.  You know the items you typically skip over or just delete.  Here are a few steps you can take to tackle the extra noise of your email box:','inherit','closed','closed','','3086-revision-v1','','','2019-01-07 23:03:03','2019-01-07 23:03:03','',3086,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/3086-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),(7505,1,'2019-01-07 23:12:38','2019-01-07 23:12:38','','Declutter Your Email | The Happiness Bucket','','inherit','open','closed','','declutter-your-email-2','','','2019-01-07 23:12:55','2019-01-07 23:12:55','',3086,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Declutter-Your-Email.png',0,'attachment','image/png',0),(7506,1,'2019-01-07 23:13:18','2019-01-07 23:13:18','Do you find that your inbox gets more junk than mail? Well today we are going to cover three tips you can use to declutter your email inbox.  I call these emails noise in your inbox because you can\'t really focus on the important things coming into your box for all the \"noise\" around it.\r\n\r\n<!--more-->\r\n\r\nAs always let me provide a disclaimer here and say that these tips won\'t work for everyone.  You have to base which tips you use on your lifestyle and needs.  If these don\'t meet your needs feel free to <a href=\"mailto:dana@thehappinessbucket.com\">contact me</a> so we can discuss what types of things could assist you.\r\n\r\nNow, onto the tips:\r\n<h1><strong>Blog or Vendor Emails and Newsletters</strong></h1>\r\nThese are the emails you get after you subscribe to a blog or you purchase a product from a company.  The main purpose of these emails is to provide information of what is going on with that company or blog.  Now here is what typically happens with these types of emails.  You typically have a handful that you actual read and the rest just add noise to your mailbox.\r\n\r\nThe method you use will depend on whether you like living in your inbox or if you would prefer to live outside your inbox on social media or on a platform like feedly.  There are pros and cons of both methods, but for now I am going to speak specifically to the person who wants to keep the emails in their inbox.\r\n<h2><strong>Determine If A Viable Resource</strong></h2>\r\nThe first thing I\'d recommend is that you determine if you actually like the company and the content they send out.  If the answer is yes, then move on to the Setup a Resource Folder section.  If the answer is no, scroll to the bottom of that particular email and click on the unsubscribe link.  If for some reason they don\'t have one or it\'s not working, right click on the email and mark it as junk.  Then sort your inbox by the sender and delete all of the emails associated with the sender.  You can always resubscribe later if your situation changes.\r\n<h2>Setup A Resource Folder</h2>\r\nIf you are interested in continuing to receive the content, I\'d recommend you set up a folder for that company or blog.  For example, you should have a folder titled THB or The Happiness Bucket. The purpose of this folder is so you can move all items received from THB into a folder and when you have time to review the content or need to find the content you can click on the folder and immediately get to the information you need.\r\n\r\nThis enables you to move the emails out of your inbox and batch review them ultimately turning down the volume of the noise in your inbox.\r\n\r\nI would recommend that you hold your declutter or review process for those you think you are interested in until after you have sorted (batched) all the emails into the folder.  It makes the review process easier  You may find with this new found order that you actually see the emails and start reading them more often.\r\n<h1>Mixed Bag of Tricks</h1>\r\nSome companies (especially companies selling physical products) mix in their advertisements for sales with their blog posts and other information with no differentiation between the email address that it comes from. You may just be interested in the blog posts and not all the other promotional materials.\r\n\r\nCheck the bottom of the email to see if they have a link that allows you to unsubscribe from just that type of email.  If not, click on the unsubscribe button and see if they have an option to unsubscribe from certain parts of their mailings.\r\n\r\nLarger companies or those that have many different publications tend to have this option, if not again you have to decide what is more important to you - getting the info you are waiting for or the junk.  If you do want the information, see if there is specific wording for those emails that you don’t like and create a rule that automatically deletes it upon arrival.\r\n\r\nConsider the main purpose of the email vs. what you signed up for.  For blog content, my rule of thumb is I allow promotional content from those who offer value first.  If all you do is sell to me I\'m not interested.  Physical products are a little different, so you should take this into consideration too.\r\n<h1><strong>Social Media and Vendor Alerts</strong></h1>\r\nSocial Media alert emails are some of the biggest noise creators out there.  Do you really use these alerts?  Many social media sites have a number of options for notifying or alerting you of activity on your account.  I recommend you evaluate the ones you actually look at and eliminate all the extra noise from your email box.  You can usually find these options under settings on those social media platforms.\r\n<h1><strong>Add-On Store Deals</strong></h1>\r\nThere are some companies that sell your contact information to other companies and/or they have so many subsidiaries that when you subscribe to one list all the others get it (it’s in the fine print). Just unsubscribe from those “extra” lists and remember next time to read the fine print.\r\n\r\nIt is also ok to tell the store no when they ask you for an email address, they usually suggest you subscribe for an additional discount or to receive information about sales...which adds you to all their mailing lists.  Well, I suggest you connect with their text, twitter, facebook or google+ feeds for that information instead.\r\n\r\nOne thing I did years ago is I set up a promotional only email account so when companies ask me for that information I give that email address instead.  I also set up an automatic filter to delete anything older than two weeks.  This helps me have one place to go to search for current deals and it\'s not junking up my normal inbox.\r\n\r\nSo in summary, your inbox doesn\'t have to be like the wild wild west, you can corral these emails (why did I just go all western on you?!?!).  Remember folders are your friends, unsubscribe from emails you aren\'t reading and don\'t want, read the fine print and check boxes before you signup and don\'t be afraid to think outside the box.\r\n\r\nI hope you found this information helpful.  If you are interested in setting up a consultation session to have me work with you <a href=\"Mailto:dana@thehappinessbucket.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">click here</a>.\r\n\r\n&nbsp;','3 Tips to Help You Declutter Your Email Inbox','Do you find that an email address you own gets more junk than mail and you really didn’t plan it that way?  Start tackling it one day at a time.  Starting today, take action on at least 5 of the items that come into your email box. Your email system should mimic that of your snail mail system…wait what you don’t have a snail mail system?  Well that’s a discussion for another day ☺.  Today, I am talking specifically about those items that come into your email box that fall into the trash category.  You know the items you typically skip over or just delete.  Here are a few steps you can take to tackle the extra noise of your email box:','inherit','closed','closed','','3086-revision-v1','','','2019-01-07 23:13:18','2019-01-07 23:13:18','',3086,'http://thehappinessbucket.com/3086-revision-v1/',0,'revision','',0),