![Organizing and Capturing Ideas for Evernote]()
by | Life Application
Here’s the thing: I am a pretty unorganized person according to the world’s definition of organization. However, just because I have a ton of books and papers scattered all over the place doesn’t mean I don’t know where things are.
I am finding that it is getting easier to organized and collect my thoughts though, thanks to Michael Hyatt and the free online-note taking tool called Evernote. It is becoming a new way of thinking for this highly overactive brain.
There are three things to familiarize yourself with:
- Notebooks: Easy enough, it’s a place to store your online notes.
- Stacks: A way to organize a notebook within a notebook.
- Tags: When you enter tags it makes your notes much more easily accessible. For instance, when I am creating a blog post idea, I not only enter blog post, but depending on the subject I will enter such things as leadership, faith, social media, etc.
Another great thing about Evernote: You can access it from anywhere. You can download it to pretty much any device. If you don’t have the time to time, you can enter audio notes.
How do you get started?
- Sign up for an account at Evernote.com.
- Download to any device of your preference.
- Create some notebooks. I have included an example of what I have created so far. I’m still in the beginning stages.
- Post to Evernote.
What do you use Evernote for?
by | Life Application
Have you ever asked yourself that question? “Why am I here? Why am I doing this? Why do I want to be married? Why do I want to have children? Why do I want to work from home? Why do I want to lead worship at the church?” (Insert your own idea here.)
If you don’t know the why behind your biggest dreams and desires, then all they will ever be for you is a dream. Without the why it’s virtually impossible to stay motivated to reach your goals.
Gail Hyatt says, “People lose their way when they lose their why.” She’s so right.
Last year I set a goal to open Freedom Outreach, the day program portion of Esther’s House, by September 5, 2016. There was only one ginormous problem. I spent most of September confined to my bedroom thanks to the ugly attack of black mold, even living in a motel room until we could find another place to live.
It was hard for me to keep pushing through. I was too tired to think about getting the doors open. Too tired to think about the next step in front of me. Reaching the goal seemed too far out of my reach. I felt like I just couldn’t do it. Felt like I was letting everyone else around me down. People were waiting for me to make this happen. Failure screamed at me loudly.
But I realized something important in the midst of that trial. I’d forgotten my why. I wasn’t pursuing Esther’s House just because it was something fun to do. Are you kidding? It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life. In order to stay motivated to keep moving forward, despite the trials in my way, I had to dig deeper, but most importantly I needed reminded of why I was pursing this dream. I needed to be motivated again.
[callout]Did you know for less than $1/day, YOU can literally make a difference between life and death for each woman who walks through the doors of Esther’s House. Click here to learn more.[/callout]
So… I went back to my list of key motivations I’d written out when I set my goals for 2016, which I do every year through the 5 Days to Your Best Year Ever goal setting course with Michael Hyatt. Here they are:
- To see women set free.
- To offer the full experience of the program.
- To teach women about God’s love for them.
- To see women learn God’s plan for their lives.
- To make disciples and share God’s Word.
- To give women a safe place for healing.
It was so invigorating to see that list again, to be reminded that I wasn’t just doing this for me – I was doing this for other women desperate to understand freedom. It spurred me forward to keep fighting the battle.
If you’re struggling to push forward, don’t beat yourself up. You’re human. But let’s get back on track together and that starts with finding our why. Here are three actions to help you do just that.
- Identify your key motivations. Why is this goal important to you? What’s at stake if you achieve it? Or if you don’t? My goal of getting Freedom Outreach open was important to me, as you can see by the list above, but my number one motivation was to see women set free. What was at stake if I didn’t keep pushing forward? Women understanding the fullness of Christ and the freedom he offers.
- Record your motivations. It makes a difference when we write things down. When you’re feeling discouraged, going back to a list that’s right in front of you vs. in your heard is great inspiration for moving forward. I have my motivations written out in bulletproof from in Evernote, but maybe you just need them on your refrigerator door. Find what works for you.
- Prioritize your motivations. After you’ve written down your motivations, figure out which is your most compelling and move that to the top. My top motivation to see women set free wasn’t the first thing I’d written down, but after going over the list it was the most compelling to me. All the other motivations fall underneath that one.
Good news. We didn’t hit our goal of September 5, 2016, but we did open the doors to Freedom Outreach on November 15, 2016. We’d love for you to check us out…
One of my goals for 2017 is to find a plastic surgeon to remove the extra skin from my 145 lb. weight loss. Perhaps during that search I might feel some discouragement. That’s normal. But keeping my list of motivations in front of me, remembering why I want to do it, that’s what will keep me going. A few of my motivations for achieving that goal is knowing it will increase my confidence, I’ll be able to fit into a pair of jeans easier, and it will inspire others to keep pushing forward in their health-related goals.
So.. what’s your why? What do you want to see happen in your life and 2017 and what will motivate you to keep pushing towards that goal?
Remember to review your motivations often, and even more when you’re feeling discouragement. Remember, you lose your way when you lose your why.
[shareable cite=”Sundi Jo”]If you don’t know the why behind your biggest dreams and desires, then all they will ever be for you is a dream. [/shareable]
[reminder]Do you have a goal you want to achieve this year? What’s your key motivation for pursuing it? [/reminder]
![Organizing and Capturing Ideas for Evernote]()
by | Life Application
The last five hours have been interesting. I’m currently sitting in the waiting room of the ER, waiting for my mom to be admitted for an infection. I have to say my 30th birthday has already been eventful.
Of course, I’ve found things to do to entertain myself, and her.
Today I say goodbye to a decade – a decade full of hard times, blessings, valleys, restored relationships, and more. Today I say hello to a new decade as I celebrate 30 years of life.
You see, there was a day I wasn’t sure that I’d ever live long enough to see 30. There were moments in life I had no desire to live another day, much less celebrate the beginning of a new decade in life.
But that was then and this is now.
I wanted to list 30 things I’m thankful for today as I celebrate my 30th birthday. Will you join me?
- Freedom from the bondage of my past.
- My mom. She’s one of a kind.
- A new ministry opportunity I had no idea would be in my future.
- My health is being restored by the great Jehovah Rappha.
- I’m able to run again for the first time in almost three years.
- XL exam gloves that I can fit on my head.
- New friendships.
- Old friendships that continue to grow stronger through the ups and downs of life.
- Restored relationships.
- Books. There are never enough.
- Knowing my father is in Heaven.
- A step-father who loves Jesus.
- Financial healing.
- Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University.
- Joyce Meyer’s boldness to speak truth into my life.
- My new dog Shatzi, even though she’s deaf.
- The worship band at Woodland Hills Family Church.
- The new Darlene Zschech album, “Revealing Jesus.”
- ALO with green tea
- The fan noise on my iPad
- My 12 year old cousin, Caleb, who is growing faster than he should be allowed to.
- Hand Sanitizer
- Flip-flops
- Evernote. It organizes my life.
- The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson. This book will change your life, at least once.
- The ability to read through the Bible in chronological order. It’s wow!
- My small group, who meet every Monday night to study God’s Word together. We laugh a lot.
- Dropbox. It too makes my life more organized and easier.
- Massage Therapy. At times it’s for fun, but it’s been key in my healing.
- My chiropractor. He’s a man who serves Jesus with all his heart and has helped restore me back to health in so many way.
The list could probably go on. I have so many things to be grateful for.
You see, I may be sitting in the ER right now, but I’m doing it with a smile. Why? Because I know Satan has plans to derail me and the calling God has put on my life. He must not know me well, because I’m a fighter.
I will smile. I will praise God. And I will remember I am in one heck of a spiritual battle.
Guess what? Jesus wins!
What are you thankful for today? Leave a comment below…
![Organizing and Capturing Ideas for Evernote]()
by | Life Application
Writing is an art. Storytelling is an art. I love to do both, so why not share with you?
Jeff Goins has challenged me recently to step out of my comfort zone and share with the world, so here goes it. I wrote this short story sitting in my favorite coffee shop last year. It’s been sitting in an Evernote file since then, but now I’m sharing it with you.
photo credit: billy hara (creative commons)
Enjoy.
She glares at the back of his plaid, wrinkled shirt, staring at his salt and pepper hair as the bottom of the coffee cup tilts with his head. He doesn’t speak. He doesn’t look back. For three hours she’s been sitting in the tiny coffee shop and he hasn’t moved an inch. She wonders if he even knows she’s there.
(more…)
