[PODCAST 200]: Putting this Podcast into Action (Community Stories!)

Welcome to the 200th episode of LearnDoBecome Radio! As we prepared for this special day, we wanted to feature YOU–our incredible community of Becomers, so we put out a call, asking you to share how you’ve applied something you’ve learned from the podcast into your own life. The idea is that these stories and experiences will inspire others, as well!

Without further delay, here are a few beautiful quotes from our LearnDoBecome Community members (and then at the end, we have a link to our LearnDoBecome Directory, where you can find all the episodes organized by category, length, etc. Enjoy!

Pam: My story-I joined the LearnDoBecome Community a few years ago and got my command central put together and used it a bit, but you know… life gets in the way. And my routines weren’t working very well so projects didn’t get focused on since I was scrambling to get routines done. I was constantly in my inbox trying to recall what I needed to do and trying to make sure that nothing was falling through the cracks. I decided to listen straight though the podcasts…on repeat. I started feeling like April was my bestie. I love her humility and her giggle. Anyway, all of the mindsets and the structures and the processes were sinking in slowly but surely even though I wasn’t necessarily putting them all into practice. This past year, we had four deaths in the family on top of the fact I was the executrix of an estate that was a mess and going on Month 21. My inbox got totally out of control and I was sinking.

Fast forward to today. I sat down at my computer this morning determined to tackle some of it. I set my timer for spurts of 20 minutes and used the systems that had been simmering. In addition to using the folders that I set up and the two-minute rule, I added “task extraction” from one of the more recent podcasts that Alia did. It was magic! I had a pen and pad next to my computer and anything that didn’t fit in one of the folders or took longer than two minutes went on the list. My inbox now only has 23 messages in it. I have a task list that I can add to my next actions/projects lists. AND, I know the system works. I know that there will be times when I get overwhelmed again, but I also know that I have a plan of attack when I can get back at it.I am so very, very grateful.

Lucy: My biggest takeaway has been differentiating between a mind sweep and a to-do list… the lifting of the feeling of dread when looking at my so-called list has been revolutionary! Now I know that everything that I want to do is written down, that I have carefully considered my priorities, and that I will get to things in due course. My brain is peaceful. If I forget whether or not something is on the mind sweep list, I can just check and reassure myself and again… Peace.

Adair: I have been a member of Learn Do Become for several years now. I cannot tell you how much this membership has helped me! Although I am not near the “productivity ninja” of April and the staff, I have learned so much about how to manage life and move forward! I am always a sucker for a well-written context-based next action list, this month I am focusing on project management. Before learning about how to handle a project, I had no clue about tasks, projects and the difference between the two. I am slowly but surely learning the rhythm of my year, when I can do more projects, when I need to scale back, and consciously trying to make time each week to move my projects forward. I am very much a work in progress, but I feel so much peace knowing that things are getting done and having a plan for future projects. This week I have many projects I am working on, and I’m enjoying working on my next-actions list! So excited to be able to look back and see what projects I have accomplished!

I have also enjoyed the ARISE themes of the month and the monthly calls! Although I often cannot attend the live call, I appreciate the recordings! I love being able to focus on the monthly theme and learn from others. Whenever I listen to LearnDoBecome materials I am always lifted up and appreciate it so much!

Keep on doing what you are doing April, Eric and LDB team! You are making a difference in the world! I am now trying to pass these concepts on to my children!

Roxana: Hello! Roxana here from Long Island NY 🙂 Ooh do I have a lessons applied to share! Prior to me starting the STEP program, my preparations to attending parties were pretty much zero. One vivid story was my friend’s baby shower…I never brought the gift on time and on top of it all, I remembered last minute that I had also offered to donate small gifts for bingo!!

I woke up that day, I had no idea what I was wearing, no gifts in sight and realized the party was in NJ!!!! I literally looked like a crazy person in my home and in the stores I visited on my way to NJ. I arrived 1.5 Hours late ugh how terrible…oh and the gift wrapping happened in the car prior to me going into the party and NO card. It was SO stressful!!!!

Since taking the STEP class, I have a routine in which I pick out my outfits one week before, including parties and church outfits. I also have my emails to zero so I don’t miss emails! And as soon as I see an invite, I create a task so that I can order the gift the day I get the invite.

I have an upcoming party this Saturday and not only am I ready with the gift and what I’m wearing, ….I also have personalized family cards so I can write her a note ahead of time and drum roll please……I know exactly where I’m going and what time to leave so I can be 15 minutes early.

As a matter of fact, Saturday I have 2 events and need 2 outfits and they are hanging in my closet.

I cannot express how much I love you guys! I’m still working on things but I’m so much better. I now arrive calm to parties with a smile and so much love to share and you guys are my secret to it all.

Of course I tell anyone that will listen to become a STEPper!! #stepper4life

I’m also very proud that I didn’t forget the submittal of this entry, that’s because I had a reminder (trigger) in my calendar that today was the deadline!

Here are some pictures to make April smile 🙂

Emily: Just wanted to say a massive congratulations for being about to reach 200 episodes! I remember your 100th one April, and that was such a milestone. I love your podcast, it always motivates and cheers me up. Thank you for all you all do!

Aubree: I hope this email finds you well (and I’ll try to keep it short so you can read it in 2 minutes or less 😉).

My name is Aubree and I just wanted to thank you all for the ways you have impacted my life! I am 17 years old and just graduated high school. I am going to college in the fall and have been spending a lot of time this summer getting organized and ready for college and the LearnDoBecome podcast has been amazing!

A friend from church recommended your podcast to my mom, and when she started getting excited about getting organized, I had to check it out too! I have been binging all of the free resources and have been learning so much. I even got to the point where the podcast intro song got stuck in my head!😂

I don’t have a ton of money to go buy supplies, so I have been using what I have to make my own command central. I repurposed my old high school binder and made tabs for my support materials, tickler, and incubation files! It is SO nice having a place for everything and always knowing where to find things. And the flat surfaces in my room are all clean and it makes me feel so much better. And the sight of an empty email inbox is the best ever!

I have a lot to do this summer before college, but with my current projects and next actions lists, I feel much more excited to get everything done. And college doesn’t seem so daunting when I know I can break things down and work on projects piece by piece. Thank you for having so many free resources and for helping me create systems so I can focus on what matters most. I feel so much happier and excited about life!

Rachel: I was gifted this program and didn’t realize how much I needed it. I struggle with poor executive function and all or nothing habits. I don’t do the program perfectly, but what I’ve been able to implement has given me really great wins. My husband jokes that paper is my kryptonite and I feel like I’ve made great progress in getting a handle on papers and emails. I’m getting better at my lists and when I’m sticking to my routines, I really notice a difference. Also learning that 10 min is enough and I don’t have to ignore a task because I won’t finish it. I still have a ways to go, but this has been the most practical and useful program to help me get organized and handle to day to day.

Katie: I have been listening to your podcast since I first found you 3 years ago. April is so inspiring to listen to, at first I just listened hoping for some of the inspiration to rub off. I joined STEP, then STEP Mastery, and I am finally feeling like I have a handle on my life. I still have a long ways to go.

The podcast that meant the most to me was the one on Asana. I love Asana but just didn’t see how it was anything other than a list. Now I am working my list with better results, and feeling like I have more control over my time and energy.

Thank you for all you do, look forward to listening to more podcasts.

Olga: Congratulations on the upcoming 200th episode! I love your podcast and your STEP program, and I listen to your podcast on a regular basis. In fact, I’m doing a personal marathon on listening to all the episodes backwards lol.

A few things that I found helpful from your podcast and applied in my life: I now have an Outbox/Returns Box sitting on a bench next to the exit to the garage. It is so much easier now to remember what I wanted to take with me or return, because it has a place to be in and wait for me!

I’ll be applying your suggestions from the Home Organizing Party this summer, and I have already found helpful to have a schedule for me and my kids to follow while we are on vacation and have more time to just be at home.

I bought and worked through Positive Parenting Solutions’ course! It is such a game changer for the dynamic in our family.

I’ve read (or put on my reading list) quite a few books you recommended, including “It’s Here Somewhere…”, and I enjoyed your interview with the author of the book.

There are so many more ideas that I applied into my life from your podcast, it is hard to remember them all at the moment.

Congratulations again! I’m looking forward to listening to more episodes on your podcast.

Christine: The joy I experience every time I step into my clean pantry (as opposed to reach in and hope nothing falls out on to me) has also created more than the equivalent space in my brain as I am not wasting all my brain power thinking about the mess, how much I need to fix the mess, finding anything in the mess… It started as a 2-min clean up (a do-able chew-able) of the bottom shelf. I started in the pantry as I needed to ‘win’ and I knew I could win with this small space. Onward to all the other (bigger) spaces that need it! 😉 

Jennifer: When I found LDB podcasts last summer, I set out to listen to every single one! The 7 rules I need to replace was one that really helped. I love the one about just working on a project for 10 minutes. [And after listening to the one about] how to take notes during meetings, I have a printout that I use for all my conferences now. I really liked the one about the top 5 life-changing things you can do — I now eat green veggies every day and keep those other areas as my top priority with the reminder sheet.

Jenni: I love to hear April’s sweet, encouraging, full of grace messages on the podcast! They often inspire me to get moving when I listen while I’m getting ready for my day. I typically start small and am willing to keep going once I make that first move 😉 The podcast has motivated me to take that first step many times!

Amy: I have been helping my parents to declutter and organize. We’ve “lightened” up their kitchen by going through lots of stuff and old food–and lightened it up literally by adding lights in their dark pantry to make it easier for them to find things. That momentum hits a wall as soon as I get home, though. Horizontal surface disease has left no table untouched, and each greeting card, magazine, newspaper, clipping, file folder, handmade item and craft project has a story. It’s incredibly hard for me to part with things, and that’s always been linked with shame and has felt like a weakness.

LearnDoBecome’s approach has been so helpful to me in creating systems to process things — April’s love, compassion, and encouragement come over the waves so clearly. Her conversation with Julie Morgenstern (Podcast 19) about “clutter” — how it represents an attachment that’s important to us and how it’s a point of entry to learn something about ourselves — blew my mind. Looking at my things, and my difficulty with shedding certain things, as bits of information about people I cherish, things I’d like to do or learn about, issues that are important to me, etc. rather than reminders that I’m overly sentimental and weak has been really illuminating and freeing somehow. It’s helped me see my priorities more clearly. I’m still working on setting up my Command Central and getting my systems going, but the mental shift from seeing my things and my difficulties, not as signs of my personal failings but as messages, has changed how I see the decluttering process.

Adrianna: I heard you mention When the Body Says No in one of the podcast episodes, April. I have dealt with health challenges most of my life, and what you mentioned intrigued me. I recently borrowed the book from my library and it has been instrumental in empowering me to take charge of my health in a new way and helping me identify emotional connections so I can address issues on that level too and heal more holistically. This is just one example of how the podcast has helped me. Thank you so much for your kind and encouraging heart and the way you share that with us through the podcast.

Related Links:

• LearnDoBecome Podcast Directory
• Amy McCready’s Positive Parenting Solutions
• Book: How Will You Measure Your Life?
• Book: When the Body Says No
• Book: It’s Here…Somewhere
• Are you new to LearnDoBecome and the STEP Program? Click here for our free introductory training: How to Finally Stop Drowning in Piles.
• Ready to join our program and become a STEPper? This link has all of the information in one place for you!
• If you’ve been following along with LearnDoBecome for the last little while, now is the perfect time to become an ARISER! This membership is full of amazing community members that are using their Command Centrals to refine relationships, health, finances, individual purpose, and more. You can sign up for a free, 7-day trial here.