Tuesday Travel Tip: Plan Ahead to Have Your Work Done Early

Non-perishables and other necessities

You may recall my post in July with the same title as today's post: Plan Ahead to Have Your Work Done Early. This past week, I did a better job of following my own advice. Faced with Hurricane Irene and potential power outages, I worked ahead on many things.

• Wrote blog posts and other social media
• Contacted people who were scheduled for one-on-one coaching sessions early in the week
• Made other arrangements for plans with friends
• Confirmed the cancellation of a Rodgers and Hammerstein show I was supposed to sing in
• Picked up batteries, a flashlight and a radio from my storage unit
• Bought non-perishable food items

In fact, every step of the way, from shopping to communicating about plans to retrieving supplies, I never felt rushed or stressed. By shopping Thursday instead of Friday, I actually was able to buy all of the food that I wanted before the shelves were empty. By having batteries and a flashlight well ahead of time, I did not have to fight the crowds to buy those items. I even had time in the midst of my hurricane preparations to get a massage, and time to sit and talk with a friend who I ran into just hours before the rain began. Why? Because I was prepared.

Of course all storms are unpredictable. Now that it's over, I realize that my area was spared and my thoughts are with others who are still recovering. Yet, at least the "storm" didn't start early for me with a flurry of rushing through necessary errands before things were sold out or the transit system shut down (as it did at noon on Saturday). I also didn't cross that line into living from a place of fear by over-preparing, which we've all seen someone do. I calmly used the information I had to prepare the best I could, and trusted that I could handle whatever unexpected things came my way.

The best part of the storm for me: I had time to create a whole new webinar: "Smooth Travels: 10 Essentials you must pack for the Journey to your Next Big Goal." Join me for a free 60-minute webinar this Thursday, September 1 at 6 pm PDT / 9 pm EDT.

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Is it time to pursue your life-long goal or to make a creative and lasting impact on your organization? I can help you make a map to your goal through one-on-one coaching by phone or email and interactive eCourses.

Do you know a smart, creative, spiritually-minded person who might be interested in this blog post or my coaching giveaway? Please forward it in it's entirety, compliments of Dawn Trautman, Urban Nomad. Copyright, 2011.

Tuesday Travel Tip: Give Yourself Extra Time

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I think many people have a tendency to make a stressful situation even more stressful through one simple act: being late. It seems that at some point mid-trip, many people who leave late suddenly decide that they want to be on time. They are truly upset about the traffic jam, or the train delay, or the person crossing the street slowly, or the lack of parking. These same people seem to think something truly horrible will happen if they leave early, arrive early, and have to wait at their destination for something to begin. To them I say: bring along something to read. You'll be fine.

A couple years ago I stopped almost all hurrying and my life is much better for it. I am not always on time, but I strive for it and take ownership for when I am late. Here are a few of my rules:

• The further you are going, the more buffer time you need. 
• The more unfamiliar your destination, the more buffer time you need.
• The more important the event, the more buffer time you need.
• If there is a child involved, leave even earlier, and bring something to entertain them.

So, for example, if you are in an unfamiliar town going to an unknown church for your favorite cousin's wedding and are bringing along a baby, leave really, really early. Not only will you be calmer if you become lost or delayed, you honor your favorite cousin by not having him or her worry about where you are and when you'll arrive.

When it's all said and done, being on time is a matter of respect for others and integrity in showing up when you said you would.

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Big news! I am going to offer a *free* 60-minute webinar called "What to Pack for the Journey to Your Next Huge Goal." It will include useful exercises, helpful tips, real-life stories and everything you need in order to prepare to meet your goal. This is perfect for anyone headed back to school, switching careers, launching a new program in their organization or considering how to make a difference in the world. There will also be a fun giveaway and discounts for participants! Mark your calendar for Thursday, September 1 at 9 pm EDT (6 pm PDT) and check back for registration information tomorrow on The Urban Nomad Blog, Urban Nomad's Facebook page or Twitter tomorrow.

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Do you know a smart, creative, spiritually-minded person who might be interested in this blog post or my coaching giveaway? Please forward it in it's entirety, compliments of Dawn Trautman, Urban Nomad. Copyright, 2011.

Monday Morning Musing: It's Not All About the Worst Part

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Sometimes when I consider all of the effort it would take to do my daily series of yoga, pilates, ballet and strength training, I'm overwhelmed. It seems like too much effort.

Way too much effort.

Remembering how hard it will be makes me not want to do anything at all. Then I remember that I don't have to start with the hardest part, I get to start with gentle stretches. Each part of the exercises build into the harder parts, and by the time I get to the difficult parts I'm ready. It's still hard but I'm warmed up and ready to go.

We often focus on the worst part of a project as a way to convince ourselves not to do any part of it. We even characterize the entire experience by the worst part of it. We can't ignore the hard part, we need to be ready, but we also need to keep in mind the good part. In my scenario, I also need to focus on how much I love to stretch before and after strength exercises, how good I'll feel afterward, and the long-term effects on my body.

And so, without further ado, I shall start with today's series of exercises.

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Big announcement tomorrow! Stay tuned for a fun new *free* opportunity! I can't give away too many details yet so be sure to check in on The Urban Nomad Blog, Urban Nomad's Facebook page or Twitter tomorrow.

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Is it time to pursue your life-long goal or to make a creative and lasting impact on your organization? I can help you make a map to your goal through one-on-one coaching by phone or email and interactive eCourses.

Do you know a smart, creative, spiritually-minded person who might be interested in this blog post or my coaching giveaway? Please forward it in it's entirety, compliments of Dawn Trautman, Urban Nomad. Copyright, 2011.

Thursday Thoughts: You Are Never Too Old

 

 

(Photo Source: imgfave.com)

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What is your new goal or dream? What's standing in your way? Win one free email/phone session of my new coaching package, The Great Barrier Relief. To enter, become a fan of Urban Nomad on Facebook, then tag Urban Nomad in a comment on your own Facebook page by Friday, August 19. A winner will be announced on Facebook next Monday, August 22. Good luck!

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Is it time to pursue your life-long goal or to make a creative and lasting impact on your organization? I can help you make a map to your goal through one-on-one coaching by phone or email and interactive eCourses.

Do you know a smart, creative, spiritually-minded person who might be interested in this blog post or my coaching giveaway? Please forward it in it's entirety, compliments of Dawn Trautman, Urban Nomad. Copyright, 2011.

Tuesday Travel Tip: Pack the Proper Technology

Today's Travel Tip is brought to you by a guest blogger, Julyne Derrick.  Julyne and I met when we worked as camp counselors at Sky Ranch Lutheran Camp in Colorado on summer breaks during college. Since then, she has built a successful career as a journalist that included many years at MSN before becoming a freelancer last year. You can read more of her work at http://beauty.about.com.

I've traveled all over the world this year since I started working for myself and the one thing that has saved me every time is packing the proper technology.

Since I'm a writer, I have to have a laptop with me at all times and I've lugged my heavy 6-pound MacBook Pro across the United States, to Mexico, Bermuda and Thailand. Never again. Not only is it bad for the back, but it takes up so much space in my carry-on. This year before my October trip to India I'm going to invest in a MacBook Air, which is featherlight and under $1,000. Don't want a MacBook? Consider the iPad or a Netbook PC.

Instead of packing a travel alarm clock or a heavy camera, I use my iPhone, which takes amazing pictures and videos and works as an alarm clock as well. Just make sure to get the International plan if you're traveling abroad or at least turn off your data roaming so you don't end up with a $5,000 phone bill.

Perhaps my biggest indulgence for travel is the Kindle. I'm an avid reader when I travel and the Kindle holds a library of books so I no longer have to pack a bunch of paperbacks, leaving them at hotels in my wake as I finish them. I've used mine on the beach, by the pool (that's me pictured below with my Kindle in Bermuda), on the airplane, on trains and on subways. I make sure to pack a tiny headlamp so I can read it under the the covers at night and not wake up my traveling companion. The iPad may be an even better bet because you get the reader and the laptop in one.

Happy travels!

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Win one free email/phone session of my new coaching package, The Great Barrier Relief. To enter, become a fan of Urban Nomad on Facebook, then tag Urban Nomad in a comment on your own Facebook page by Friday, August 19. A winner will be announced on Facebook next Monday, August 22. Good luck!

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Is it time to pursue your life-long goal or to make a creative and lasting impact on your organization? I can help you make a map to your goal through one-on-one coaching by phone or email and interactive eCourses.

Do you know a smart, creative, spiritually-minded person who might be interested in this blog post or my coaching giveaway? Please forward it in it's entirety, compliments of Dawn Trautman, Urban Nomad. Copyright, 2011.

Monday Morning Musing: Hard Workers and Whiz Kids

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In the last two weeks, I have talked to five different people who seem to be "stuck" in their careers. Oddly enough, they all have something in common. Early on, they were the Whiz Kids. The stars. Opportunities were handed to them because they were enormously talented and highly educated for their field. As they were given better opportunities, they exerted enough effort to make a good showing and got even better at what they did. They started to become well known within their field. They knew all the right people and did all the right things. They climbed the mountain and enjoyed the view.

So why are they stuck? It turns out that while the Whiz Kids were being handed everything and enjoying the view, others, we'll call them the Hard Workers, were fighting for every last opportunity. The Hard Workers took longer to get where the Whiz Kids are, but along the way they learned to go after what they wanted and put in a lot of extra work. The extra work was difficult and often inconvenient, so the Hard Workers asked themselves if it was worth all that, well, Hard Work. And for those whose answer was yes, they redoubled their efforts toward the goal.

And then one day the Hard Workers caught up to and surpassed the Whiz Kids. And the Whiz Kids were shocked. In fact, they looked around and didn't even see anyone else, because the Hard Workers had moved on to another mountain, which they climbed even faster. It wasn't because they were more skilled. It was because the Hard Workers learned so much about themselves as they climbed the first mountain that they were better prepared for the second mountain.

Eventually everyone can develop the skills for the job. The winners for the long haul also develop the necessary internal resources. They know if the goal is what they really want, and they are willing to do whatever it takes, even when it's inconvenient, as long as it aligns with their sense of right and wrong. The Hard Workers have the passion. The Whiz Kids who get stuck just haven't had to test their passion yet. They have gotten as far as their education and talent and connections will take them. They have an interest or ability in their field, but now they need to decide if they have the passion.

I can hardly wait to hear what the Whiz Kids in my life decide, because either way, they have an exciting road ahead.

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Win one free email/phone session of my new coaching package, The Great Barrier Relief. To enter, become a fan of Urban Nomad on Facebook, then tag Urban Nomad in a comment on your own Facebook page by Friday, August 19. A winner will be announced on Facebook next Monday, August 22. Good luck!

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Is it time to pursue your life-long goal or to make a creative and lasting impact on your organization? I can help you make a map to your goal through one-on-one coaching by phone or email and interactive eCourses.

Do you know a smart, creative, spiritually-minded person who might be interested in this blog post or my coaching giveaway? Please forward it in it's entirety, compliments of Dawn Trautman, Urban Nomad. Copyright, 2011.

Thursday Thoughts: Go Somewhere

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Ifyou are ready to go somewhere new in your life but you don't know how to get there, you'll love my new coaching packages and giveaways later today on the Urban Nomad Facebook Page. Become a fan so you're ready for tonight's announcement!

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My goal this summer is to coach 25 new clients! Find out more about one-on-one coaching by phone or email and interactive eCourses.

Do you know a smart, creative, spiritually-minded person who might be interested in this blog post or my upcoming coaching giveaways? Please forward it in it's entirety, compliments of Dawn Trautman, Urban Nomad. Copyright, 2011.

Tuesday Travel Tip: Do Your Homework

When I was somewhere in the tween years, my family took a summer vacation that involved driving from Minnesota to Missouri. On the way there, my mother made us read "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" by Mark Twain. It may have just been a way for an English teacher to get her children to read the classics, but it greatly enhanced the vacation. By the time we arrived in Hannibal, Missouri, we knew all about the white picket fence and Becky Thatcher and the importance of the Mississippi River. We took a riverboat ride and learned about how Samuel Clemens took the pen name Mark Twain. We took a cave tour that was just like the caves where Tom and Becky hid. It wasn't completely fabricated for tourists, it was all there, just like in the books, because we were in the boyhood home of the author.

Without reading the book, it would have been a fine vacation, but knowing the significance of things made us a participant. It felt like the books had come to life, and we couldn't wait to read more.

Do your homework before you visit a place. It makes it so much more fun.

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I can hardly wait to reveal my new coaching packages and coaching session giveaways! All the details will be available later this week on the Urban Nomad Facebook Page. Become a fan today! For those who can't wait, here's a clue: it has something to do with Longitudes and (L)attitudes.

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My goal this summer is to coach 25 new clients! Find out more about one-on-one coaching by phone or email and interactive eCourses.

Do you know a smart, creative, spiritually-minded person who might be interested in this blog post or my upcoming coaching giveaways? Please forward it in it's entirety, compliments of Dawn Trautman, Urban Nomad. Copyright, 2011.

Thursday Thoughts: Grow Into Your Dreams

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Plans are coming together for my new coaching packages and coaching session giveaways! All the details will be revealed next week on the Urban Nomad Facebook Page. Become a fan today!

Want these blog posts delivered right to you email inbox? Sign up on my website! 

My goal this summer is to coach 25 new clients! Find out more about one-on-one coaching by phone or email and interactive eCourses.

Do you know a smart, creative, spiritually-minded person who might be interested in this blog post or my upcoming coaching giveaways? Please forward it in it's entirety, compliments of Dawn Trautman, Urban Nomad. Copyright, 2011.

Tuesday Travel Tip: How to Prepare for Laundry on the Road

Do you ever go away long enough that you have to do laundry? If you're able to make it to a laundromat they may sell single "servings" of detergent, but if you end up doing laundry in a hotel or campground you may not be so lucky. Enter one of my favorite inventions: 3-in-1 laundry sheets. Purex makes sheets that are detergent, fabric softener and dryer sheets all in one. I love the efficiency. I carry a few in a Ziplock along with my Shout Color Catchers in case I have to mix colors in a small load on the road. That way I have my laundry needs covered without either a liquid or a powder that could potentially open up in transit and get all over everything in my suitcase.

Yes, there are a lot of brand names in today's post. No, they're not paying me to say this. I just pass it along as a public service because I've done the research and I have found what works. Go for the brand names, it's worth it on this issue.

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Big news coming up next week regarding new types of coaching and coaching session giveaways! All the details will be revealed first on the Urban Nomad Facebook Page. Become a fan today!

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My goal this summer is to coach 25 new clients! Find out more about one-on-one coaching by phone or email and interactive eCourses.

Do you know someone who might be interested in this blog post? Please forward it in it's entirety, compliments of Dawn Trautman, Urban Nomad. Copyright, 2011.

Monday Musing: Contribute to the System

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On this day of debt ceilings and federal budgets and taxes in the United States, I think back to a recent conversation with an acquaintance who was ranting about how his tax dollars were being used to fund a playground. He never planned to have children and didn't see the point of paying for something akin to toys for someone else's child. "It's not like it's a school or something useful. This has nothing to do with me."

Actually, it has a lot to do with him. I explained how a playground keeps the high-earning parents of those children in our community, paying local taxes and funding all sorts of things. If the families stay here instead of commuting from some other place with more playgrounds, they also may take in some local entertainment, thereby directly supporting my performer-acquaintance. I also pointed out that he has a vested interest in those children growing up healthy and strong so they will be ready to take care of him in his old age, since he doesn't want children.

Whether it's taxes or doing a favor for someone or making a donation, sometimes it's not about your immediate individual return on investment. Sometimes it's a secondary benefit, and sometimes it just won't benefit you at all. Of course you don't waste your time and money, you just may need to look a bit further to see where it's going. You contribute because it's about keeping the system strong and living an orderly, generous, pleasant life. And who's to say we won't try out that playground some evening after the children get tucked into bed?
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Big news coming up next week regarding new types of coaching and coaching session giveaways! All the details will be revealed first on the Urban Nomad Facebook Page. Become a fan today!

Want these blog posts delivered right to you email inbox? Sign up on my website! 

My goal this summer is to coach 25 new clients! Find out more about one-on-one coaching by phone or email and interactive eCourses.

Do you know someone who might be interested in this blog post? Please forward it in it's entirety, compliments of Dawn Trautman, Urban Nomad. Copyright, 2011.