Ever had any of these experiences? You are the passenger in someone else’s car and when you get in you are surrounded by empty cups, old newspapers, maps, bags of purchases, and “stuff” on the back seat. You are immediately offered an apology from the driver for the mess. You meet a potential client at their office and find yourself surrounded by piles of books, papers, and “stuff” everywhere including the chair that has to be cleared before you can sit down. How about your own surroundings? Maybe you might consider objectively looking at your own space and recognize that it could use a “makeover”!

For me the issue is more around one’s ability to focus. I find clutter distracting. I have trouble concentrating when I am in a space that’s overgrown with “stuff”. Recently I heard the following: “How you do anything is how you do everything!” That sure resonated with me. Do messy cars reflect confused minds? Do cluttered offices give a visitor a sense of confidence in the products or services rendered? If an individual thrives in messy surroundings, is that an indicator of their behavior in general? When was the last time you re-organized your wallet or emptied and cleaned out your purse?

To me clarity offers one the ability to focus. Clutter creates confusion. When I have a lot going on at once it’s challenging to compartmentalize and prioritize. I find I’m more likely to concentrate in surroundings that are free from distractions. (I know, some people actually function better in a mess. I just don’t happen to be one of them.) To accomplish what I need to do, I focus my energy and attention to one task at a time. I’m amazed at how much I gets done. On the other hand, when I’m working simultaneously on several projects I barely scratch the surface on any one of them. I achieve the best results when I work with clarity, not clutter.

Everyday all of us are bombarded – overloaded might be a better word – with choices to make and tasks to accomplish. There are a myriad of books devoted to time management, life balance and organizational. There are how to books on every subject imaginable. There are even books for “Dummies”. I suggest that for the individual who really wants to accomplish more by being more productive, the answer is quite simple.

Take an objective look at your surroundings. Are they clear or cluttered? Implement ways you can eliminate confusion in order to concentrate. If having focus is of value to you and an area on which you’d like to improve, start today! Clean out your car, organize your desk, get rid of old stuff that no longer serves you and begin. Clarity is the reward you end up with when you eliminate clutter and confusion. Which would you prefer? Remember, how you do anything is how you do everything. How is your doing going today? What will you do today to improve your performance tomorrow?

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Who is she? She is empowered, enlightened and enterprising. She exudes energy, enthusiasm and confidence. She has embarked on a journey and created a mission only she can fulfill. She’s a risk taker. She connects. She collaborates. She gives back. The entrepreneurial woman will not be denied. She deserves success and takes pride in her accomplishments. She sets the standard of excellence in all that she does and in all that she is. She endures.

The entrepreneurial woman is unstoppable. She does it all. She creates. She markets. She promotes. She shares resources. She supports other like minded individuals with her ideas, her time, and her talent. It requires courage to be an entrepreneurial woman in today’s marketplace. There’s no fall back. No pay check. No employee benefits. No paid vacations. It’s you, your products and/or services, vying for consumers in an already established economic environment. It’s possessing the fortitude to differentiate yourself from everyone else by finding a unique way to be memorable.

In the early 80′s after completing my 12th year in the teaching profession I left to pursue my entrepreneurial dream and purchased a franchise. Everyone thought I was crazy. A typical comment was, “How can you give up your career, vacations, benefits, etc. to owning a retail business? You’ll have to work at year round including weekends!” No one and nothing could persuade me. I was ready. I was determined. I was tired of someone else directing my life. I wanted control even if that meant long hours, hard work, and facing the unknown. Twelve years later I owned 6 franchises and became the Regional Director with responsibility to oversee 22 other stores.

I look back on those years with huge satisfaction. I went from school teacher to entrepreneur. I went from a single pay check to multiple streams of income. I proved to myself and those who doubted my determination that I could meet the challenges and survive. I know what it takes first hand to break away and go out on your own. I know the amount of faith it requires. I also know the rewards that come from doing what you really want to do even if it means following unfamiliar roads to travel an uncertain journey.

The entrepreneurial woman in the marketplace is doing better than surviving. She’s thriving. She’s unique. She’s a gift. She’s a person who endures. It serves us all when we pay attention to and support the entrepreneurial woman economically. She takes her tasks seriously, often over delivers, and shows us what is possible by her example. If you are an entrepreneurial woman, congratulations! If you are considering “stepping out on your own”, go for it! I for one am eager to support you, your talent and ideas. I believe others will, too.

It’s so easy to find negative people. They are everywhere. We all know people in our personal lives, at work, or meet casually who, perhaps for lack of anything better to do, complain. Weather and taxes are the most obvious. Then there’s traffic, employee inefficiency, relatives, co-workers, neighbors, companies, health issues, and dry cleaners. The list goes on and on. There are people I know and do my best to avoid them. Do any of us want to spend our time with complaining, negative and disgruntled individuals? I don’t think so.

The question to ask ourselves is do we sometimes act like the very people we do our best to avoid? I, too, find it hard not to complain! Have you ever been placed on hold for a long period of time? Finally you hear a live voice, who transfers you to the person who can finally handle your concern, and you get disconnected. Or, just when you think someone’s going to get your issue resolved their computers are down? Or maybe your computer gives you reason to complain.

When you get asked, “How are you?”, do you really think the person asking wants to hear anything other than “Fine.” For some unknown reason this is the usual opening line between two people on the phone or in person. No one expects (or wants) to hear the details of your two weeks in bed with the flu, your dental problems or anything else health related for that matter! All of us have experienced vacations that got ruined, problems at work, friends who didn’t live up to their commitments, neighbors with unruly pets, family members who disappoint us, etc. That’s life.

Knowing that complaining usually serves no purpose, why do we do it? My two biggest reasons are for sympathy and connection. By comparing notes with others who have had similar experiences, I believe I’m being listened to. The problem is complaining and comparing are not results oriented. You only feel better for the moment A past issue is history and an unresolved issue remains just that. When we expend our energy in productive, meaningful endeavors and communication, we remain positive. People prefer being with positive people. So let the complainers complain. Choose to not be one of them! Besides, who’s listening anyway except another complainer?