This week, I tripled my goals because of ONE question I considered, and I want to share it with you:
When you get to the end of this year, what would your life, family, and business need to look like in order for you to know that a MIRACLE took place?
Now, I’ve recorded a podcast sharing some stories and ideas that I hope will inspire you–and I would love for you to listen to the actual podcast (maybe while you’re driving or going on a walk or something?) because I think there is a much better connection in the recording than in what I can type out here. But if you want a quick summary, we’ve included that below!
Looking at our goals from the perspective of a MIRACLE taking place is incredibly helpful because it brings God into the equation. It’s not about playing it “safe” or checking a few things off a list. It’s about stepping into our purpose with power and help from above.
But here are a few things that might be holding us back:
(1) What other people say, think, or believe about us.
In the podcast, I share two stories from my own experiences–where other people told me that what I wanted to achieve simply wasn’t possible–or was actually a little ridiculous. Have you been there?
(2) The gap between our “moments” and our “miracle.”
The day that I decided to triple my goals, I felt an immediate euphoria, but then “life” happened, and I wondered, “Seriously, April, what are you thinking? Why are you even TRYING to do something bigger?” I share the details in the podcast, so you’ll know that you’re not alone!
(3) When we are not organized.
I 100% believe that if you want to fully live your mission, you must be organized. Not because you need to look a certain way or be perceived as an organized person–but because if you “level up” your life while you’re living in piles of stuff, all it’s going to do is add more overwhelm.
That is why I am so passionate about helping people build Command Centrals. I know that when you organize your mind, everything else can follow (without feeling stressed!).
(4) When we don’t clearly know who we are fighting for.
When we think that our work or our mission or our efforts are just for US, that doesn’t feel very motivating. We can get by. Life isn’t that bad. It’s not really essential for us to step up and live a brighter mission.
But when we realize that there are people out there who need us, and there is a work that we are uniquely meant to do that will directly impact the lives of others, that becomes FUEL for our minds and hearts.
We received this beautiful email this week from Lea, who attended our workshop and then made dramatic improvements in her life:
Hi April!
I just wanted to take a moment, during this week of new-year reflection, to tell you thank you for the work you’re doing and share what a difference it’s made in my life.
Back in the spring (2018), I attended your ‘How to Stop Drowning in Piles’ webinar. I took pictures of all of the piles. I hunted down the [e-course that you had offered previously] and listened to the audio book. I got my inbox to zero. I started a weekly review time and set up my command center based on GTD articles I found. I read “The Power of Habit” based on your references to it.
As I reflect for 2019, I still have lots of work to do. I have let my all-important weekly review time slip. I have had to “reboot” my Inbox Zero a couple of times. I still haven’t read “Essentialism.” However, I am in a totally different place now than I have been in my life–EVER! So much more peaceful, so much more organized. Just as you promised, I was finally able to start doing the habits and routines I had come up with again and again, but just never had the system to support:
- My bed gets made every day.
- I do a load of laundry and dishes every day.
- My husband has a peaceful, organized office to work from home in because it’s no longer the junk and clutter stockpile it once was.
- I have decluttered and organized our home one area at a time.
- I have taken a parenting course I’d been wanted to do and have seen amazing results as a mom.
- I was able to be a faithful and consistent homeschool mom.
That last one is the thing I thought I could NEVER do. I never thought I could homeschool, even though it was a longing of my heart, because I just never thought I could be organized and consistent enough to do it, but I have! We started this past August, and it’s going great! And it’s all thanks to that one little webinar and its cascade of effects in my life this past year. So with heartfelt sincerity and utmost enthusiasm, thank you! And Happy New Year!
I know what it’s like to feel exhausted. I know what it feels like to wake up at 3am and wonder how you’re possibly going to do the things you feel called to do. I know how it feels to have a mind that swirls and feels overwhelmed–and I understand what it is like to know there’s something bigger for you, but not have a clue how to achieve it.
If that is you right now, please stay close–because we’re going to help you with that this year at LearnDoBecome.
Now, here are a couple of closing thoughts:
The first is the back cover of Rick Pitino’s book, Success is a Choice. I read it back in college, and the ideas left me feeling elated!
The second thought is about the process of “shining.”
For a long time, I have worried that if I tried to shine, I would look like I was trying to be some kind of diva. I worried that my efforts to make a difference would somehow make others feel smaller or “less than.” But then I realized this: When we shine for God, we don’t diminish anyone.
However you see or define your Higher Power, I hope that we can more fully connect with that power this year. I believe that there are miracles that are simply waiting for each of us. And while my main purpose this year is to help more people to get organized and not feel overwhelmed anymore, I also want to share my journey, my shortcomings, my goal-setting process, and my plan to welcome miracles.
Related links are below! And if you would like to share these ideas with your friends and family on Facebook, click here! Have a wonderful day–and please, listen to the podcast and/or leave a comment sharing what helps YOU move forward and set the goals you know are meant to be reached this year.
Much love!
April
Related Resources
Want to learn how to organize your mind, so that everything else–including getting rid of the piles!–can fall into place? Our free class, How to Stop Drowning in Piles, teaches four simple steps you can implement today to help you manage the details of life so that you can do more of what matters most. We look forward to having you join us!
This book, *Success is a Choice, changed my perspective on how I approach success and gave me some ideas that left me truly elated! I’ve had it on my bookshelf since college and have shared it with my family. Check it out by clicking here or on the image below!
I also highly recommend these books: *Essentialism by Greg McKeown, *The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg, and As a Man Thinketh by James Allen (shared in this podcast).
After sharing productivity principles with hundreds of thousands of people over the past ten years, I’ve discovered that there are five things that make up “the basics.” Come listen in to learn how you can set up these five foundational “must haves.”
And here’s the podcast I recorded with James Wedmore!
***This page includes affiliate links (to books, in this case). Please read our disclosure for more info.
(And our team made this fun image featuring my key question from the top of the post, in case you want to screen shot it or use it as the wallpaper on your phone or something like that!)
Dear April and Eric,
I want to say “Thank You!” for all that you have done for me. I still don’t know how I found you but I do think it was by the grace of God that I found you on the web. As a single person, you would think that I would have it all together but I don’t. Last year I found your podcasts and I have found them life-changing. I don’t remember which podcast it was in that you said to conquer the toughest room in your house and that is what I did. I didn’t have a lot of piles of stuff in my home and my home was pretty organized except for my home office. Over the last year and a half, I had a job change which was pretty traumatic for me. And it wasn’t until I conquered my home office that I was able to let a lot of that baggage of the old job go. So I just started in one corner of my home office and just started there. It took me around twelve hours to go through every bit of stuff in that room. I will also tell you that there were some painful moments of having to let go but I did it. After conquering that room I found that the rest of my home just fell into place like dominoes falling. It has brought much relief and joy! I can’t really explain what all it has done for me. It isn’t just the physical piles that I conquered but there were emotional piles, spiritual piles, etc. that needed to go. Your program has shown me that it isn’t just physical piles we are conquering but much more. I try to keep my emails down to zero and am using most of the tools you suggest for email which has helped tremendously! I have one or two drop spots in my home which has helped. I am determined to not let piles ever happen again and to deal with things as they come instead of letting them pile up. My stress level has gone down so much that I can sleep so much better at night. Now, I do see that I am not done yet and things keep evolving but for the better. Now my dilemma is that with all of this done for the most part I find I have so much more time and energy. And now at this time in my life, I don’t know what my dreams are anymore. With all of the piles I had and the demands of my old job and my new job, I really never had time to pursue dreams. So I don’t know where to go from here. Could you give me some direction for that? With much love, thank you and God bless.
Jody–I can’t even tell you how much your comment lifted me today. That was EXACTLY what I needed, and you were so kind to write it all out. I just sat down to talk with Eric about the future plans of LearnDoBecome–which includes lots more content about how to take our organized life and really get to the point where we thrive and reach back. Two quick things:
(1) We’re launching a membership called ARISE soon, which is all about thinking bigger and actually implementing those things. 🙂 And I think this will be perfect for you–but whether or not you join, we’ll be talking more about these topics on the podcast, etc.
(2) I wrote a post for Power of Moms called “Just Begin,” and the principles apply to everyone: https://powerofmoms.com/just-begin/ I was thinking about it this morning, in fact, because I am so excited about our membership that I have been afraid to move forward and create something “not perfect.” But I’m learning that God needs us to create SOMETHING so that He can add His light to it! Hope that helps you get started thinking. So, so, so excited for you!!
xoxoxo
April
Hey April, thank you for another beautiful podcast. Thank you for reminding me that miracles are possible (and that I need to ask for them)! You are becoming an ever more accomplished and impressive communicator, providing such wonderful context for each insight – it’s easy to find inspiration in every message. I’m coming up on my 3 year STEP anniversary in March and it has forever changed how I manage myself and think about life. Thank you for this incredible system and for your continued inspiration. With much love, Fiona
Fiona, you are so kind. Thank you for the sweet compliment. You have SOOOOOO much to offer the world, and I’m grateful beyond words to have you with us here. xoxo
April your heartfelt authenticity is so refreshing. I’ve learned so much from your free workshop as well as the podcasts. I’m excited about your new program. I have made progress on plans and projects more so in the last few months that in years past due to your program. Its a still a work in progress but I keep going back to the lessons and figure it out. Thank you for everything you do.