Tuesday Travel Tip: Pack the Night Before

Whether you are leaving for days or just a few hours, how often do you scramble to get out the door and then remember that you forgot something?

Pack the night before (or even before that for a longer trip to a new location). Being prepared saves time, money and stress. You don't waste time going back inside for what you forgot, money buying it, or the stress of figuring out whether to buy, go back for or do without whatever you forgot.

I find that by calmly packing the night before, I can often be more strategic and carry less, something that matters in New York City and other places where you actually carry your things all day.

Tonight, pack up for Wednesday.

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Learn more ways to save time, money and stress in one-on-one coaching by phone or email.

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

Monday Morning Musing: Great Idea

I have a whole new idea for my coaching business. I'm not ready to divulge the details, and I'll let you decide how wonderful (or not) it is once I reveal it later this week. Today, I want to focus on the germination of an idea.

Once I had my new idea, I did some research at a bookstore and on the internet. This allowed me to see what others do who have similar ideas. Then I thought about it during a long walk. This allowed me to develop creative versions of my original idea. Third, I talked about my idea with a few trusted advisers. This allowed me to see my "blind spots" - the areas that I was missing in my explanation of my idea.

Only then did I take action. There will still be rough drafts, and versions of the idea, and much to learn once I launch it. However, I always love that early stage when the idea is nothing more than a thought in your head and the journey of implementation is still ahead.

How do you develop your ideas? Have you ever thought about the process?

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Develop your ideas in a conversation with a life coach. A small investment on the front end will save time and money down the road. Learn more about one-on-one coaching by phone or email.

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

Thursday Thoughts: Create Yourself

(Photo Source: lifestyle.msn.com via pinterest)

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Learn how best to create yourself through one-on-one coaching by phone or email or a 4-week interactive eCourses.

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

Friday Flicks: Colorado Gold Rush

I'm happy to announce Friday Flicks! I often make short videos with thought-provoking questions, so I'll share them here on select Fridays. If you're having trouble viewing this one, visit it on Vimeo.
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The next session of 4-week interactive eCourses runs October 18 through November 15. Choose which course is right for you: learn more about yourself, get completely organized or learn proven methods to reach your goals. You'll complete each daily assignment on your own time, whenever it's convenient for you.

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

Thursday Thoughts: Turn Your Can'ts into Cans

(Photo source: etsy.com via pinterest)

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Figure out what it means for you to turn your can'ts into cans through one-on-one coaching by phone or email.

Want turn your dreams into plans with a virtual group? The next session of 4-week interactive eCourses runs October 18 through November 15. Choose which course is right for you: learn more about yourself, get completely organized or learn proven methods to reach your goals. You'll complete each daily assignment on your own time, whenever it's convenient for you.

Don't want to miss another blog post? Sign up on my website to have them delivered by email or become a fan of Urban Nomad on Facebook to see them in your news feed.

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

Tuesday Travel Tip: Be Fully Present

Once you decide to be somewhere, be fully present.

I've been at a party where I never took my jacket off because I was only going to stop by. Two hours later, I'm still there, wearing my jacket and not quite fully committed.

I went to grad school with someone for two years who never said that she lived in the city where we attended school.

I had a Russian coworker who said that she was just visiting New York and wanted to get back to Russia. She left Russia in the late 80's.

Be fully present and committed to your surroundings. If they aren't right for you, leave as soon as you can. Just don't be halfway there. It's not helpful to you or anyone else.

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Learn to be more fully present. The next session of 4-week interactive eCourses runs October 18 through November 15. Choose which course is right for you: learn more about yourself, get completely organized or learn proven methods to reach your goals. You'll complete each daily assignment on your own time, whenever it's convenient for you.

Don't want to miss another blog post? Sign up on my website to have them delivered by email or become a fan of Urban Nomad on Facebook to see them in your news feed.

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

Thursday Thoughts: Passioneers

{From imgfave.com}

For today's Thursday Thought, I want to encourage you to share a few of your thoughts in this survey of Passioneers. I know, passioneer is not a word you ever learned for a spelling bee, but it attempts to describe "polymaths/renaissance souls/multipotentialites/scanners/multipassionates/passioneers/wayfinders/tenzillionothernames!!"

And for the first time (that I know of), the fine folks over at The Good Ship Lifestyle have created a quick survey to gather our thoughts. Take the survey, and I'll share some of the results (after they are sent to me!) here on this blog. As with anything of this nature, the more people who participate, the more interesting the results, so jump in!

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Live within your passions and make a difference. Learn how through one-on-one coaching by phone or email or 4-week interactive eCourses that start Tuesday, October 18. This is coaching for good people going great places.

Don't want to miss another blog post? Sign up on my website to have them delivered by email or become a fan of Urban Nomad on Facebook to see them in your news feed.

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

Tuesday Travel Tip: Store Things at the Point of Use

One of the most useful organization tips that I share with clients is to store things at the point of use. When I was cat sitting recently, the owners were excellent at this strategy. The cat's eating area was right next to a cupboard that held all of the cat food. The liter box was on the other side of the kitchen, right by the back door leading out to the garbage, and across from the broom closet.

Keep everything you need within arm's reach. This saves space because all of the supplies are collected into one area and you know right where to put things away. It saves time because you don't walk around to gather what you need for your chore or project. It saves money because you know exactly when you need to replenish a supply and won't make a special emergency trip to buy supplies or buy something that it turns out you had but misplaced.

When traveling, to store things at the point of use means that I keep my boarding pass with my photo ID since I'll need them at the same time, and I keep both of those at the very top of my carry-on for easy access. What does it mean for you?

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It all starts with getting more organized, and from there you can change your world. Live within your passions and make a difference. Learn how through one-on-one coaching by phone or email or 4-week interactive eCourses that start Tuesday, October 18.

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

Monday Morning Musings: Set Deadlines for Creative Projects

The cast of Meet Me in St. Louis which opened this weekend

Sometimes creative projects marinate awhile. They benefit from weeks, months, or even years of consideration before any action is taken. There is something luxurious about keeping the project personal and considering it whenever there is a free moment.

Often, creative projects that actually get completed happen on an external deadline. Ah, the power of a deadline. Without it, many projects never even get started. With it, the pressure of time forces solutions to tiny barriers in exciting new ways.

Sometimes we don't want to work to the deadline, but various realities leave no other choice. In my world, revivals of musicals in regional theaters happen on deadlines. The artisitic staff starts months ahead of time, but the actors arrive at the theater only two and a half weeks before opening night. In approximately 17 days, the actors learn the music, blocking, and dances. Only after the actors are assembled can the artistic staff do costume fittings, light cues, set construction, adjustments to the orchestrations and discussions about characters with the actors.

The intensity of the schedule causes exciting new connections, excellent solutions and creativity that may not happen otherwise. Whether it's a performing art or fine art, deadlines are powerful.

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What creative projects of yours need an external deadline? I can help you make a step-by-step map to your creative project through one-on-one coaching by phone or email.

Get ready: the next session of 4-week interactive eCourses runs October 18 through November 15. Just think, before Thanksgiving you could learn more about yourself, get completely organized or learn proven methods to reach your goals.

Don't want to miss another blog post? Sign up on my website to have them delivered by email or become a fan of Urban Nomad on Facebook to see them in your news feed.

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