If you don’t already have the Women’s Advantage 2010 Calendar, check out the text below.  Harmony at last was not just included in the calendar but Julie’s quote was picked as one of the Top 10 quotes for the year! 

“Over 3,500 women from around the world submitted their advice to The 2010 Woman’s Advantage Shared Wisdom Calendar. Here are the publisher’s Top 10 Ideas.

1. “Focus on moving 3 things a mile, not 100 things an inch.” Angie Katselianos, Platinum Performance International
2. “You can’t change yesterday, but you can ruin today worrying about tomorrow.” Tana Greene, Strataforce
3. “Keep your thoughts positive. Where your mind goes, your life often follows.” Robin Baron, Robin Baron Design
4. “Drama drains. Stay away from the people that add the wrong kind of drama to your life.” Rebecca E. Boenigk, Neutral Posture
5. “The happiest women don’t have the best of everything; they make the best of everything!” Susan Boyd, ProConcepts, Inc.
6. “Take full credit for your success and responsibility for your mistakes.” Jacqueline Becerra, Greenberg Taurig
7. “What single daily action drives your business? Determine that and do it!” Ellen Delap, Professional-Organizer.com
8. “Success is not measured by how well you execute plan A, but by how well you adapt to plan B, C, D…” Gail Monica Dent, Provanti Designs, Inc.
9. “How much time do you spend trying to make everything perfect without actually getting anything done?” Julie Cubino, Harmony at Last
10. “Deal with what is, not what you wish was.” Marian Madonia, Madonia Communications.

For 355 additional thoughts that will make 2010 your best year ever, see The Woman’s Advantage Shared Wisdom Calendar at www.WomansAdvantage.biz/calendar“

This will be redundant for those of you already following us on Twitter.  However, for those of you who didn’t know, this is great news!  Now you can get updated with blog posts and ideas from Harmony at Last on Twitter.  Start following us by adding Harmonyatlast to your profile. 

I realize this might be redundant for those of you reading this on Facebook already.  So, this is for those of you reading this on RSS feed or email.  Please find us on Facebook and become a fan of Harmony at last.  You will automatically be updated with upcoming events and blog posts. 

See you on Facebook

Our life is frittered away by detail. Simplify, simplify.- Henry David Thoreau
With Thoreau’s words in mind Julie Cubino and Kevin Grosselfinger, owners of Harmony At Last, set about designing an application for the iPhone and iPod touch. The goal was to help people free themselves from being overworked, overburdened, and overtired and find energy, enthusiasm, and ease instead. We are excited to announce that this application finally launched!

The application has two main features.The first is inspiration and motivation in the areas of: productivity, time management, work/life balance, space organizing, success principles, and simplifying life. The second is the ability to define your personal “Simplify” goals and track progress along the way.

Simplify can be found on the Apple iTunes Store now for only 99¢. It’s in the lifestyle section. You’ll need either an iPhone or iPod touch to make use of the program. (Please note that the link found in this announcement requires that you have the itunes software installed on your computer.)

We’d like to extend special thanks to fellow WBON member, Michelle Hobbs, owner of Blue Sky Creative for the design of the amazing graphics used in this application.

The new stimulus plan may help you save money on your heating bills.  Check out this web post  at walletpop.com for details on how to receive money to update your windows.

Alphabet Soup Part 1… I achieved my Certified Professional Organizer® (CPO®) designation in January 2008 from the Board of Certification for Professional Organizers (BCPO^SM). This required me to have completed over 1,500 hours of paid work experience and pass a written exam. I was excited to be one of the first to receive certification in the organizing field.

Alphabet Soup Part 2… In April 2008, I achieved my Certified Professional Organizer in Chronic Disorganization® (CPO-CD®) through the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization (NSGCD). This achievement culminated 80 hours of specialized study, training, and directed coaching in addition to passing a peer review board over an 18 month period of time.

Right about now you may be asking… so what?!?!?

I am now one of less than 10 individuals in the United States to have achieved both certifications (and I’m the only one in the state of Vermont). More importantly to my clients, though, is my continued desired to learn and develop myself professionally. I’m passionate about helping people say goodbye to chaos and hello to calm in their work, home, and life. Continuing to develop my skills adds value to my clients every day as I can share new learning and ways to approach challenges.

My clients are my inspiration and I’m thankful for each of you in allowing me to support you on your journey. Thanks!

Harmony At Last just started two new phone groups to help you reach your goals from the comfort of your own home. These groups have been in development for awhile and we are so excited to be announcing them (finally)! Julie Cubino, Professional Organizer, Coach, and Owner of Harmony At Last will be the facilitator for each of these groups.

Organize My Home with Harmony Group:

To help individuals organize their home and keep it that way in a friendly, supportive group learning environment. Flexibility and convenience are built in through periodic phone meetings and a private, moderated message board. Virtual Organizing made simple! (2nd and 4th Monday of each month from 8-9pm EST)

Rejuvenate with Harmony Group:

To inspire and support women as they develop and implement their personal plan to create more balance in their life. Participants in this group will also explore the components of work/life balance and time management in a small group setting. Guest speakers will also be invited to some of the meetings to share their knowledge on inspirational topics. Flexibility and convenience are built in to the supportive group environment through periodic phone meetings and a private, moderated message board.

Register now to begin your journey!

There is a professional organization call the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization (NSGCD for short). The NSGCD annual conference is being held this week and I’m excited to be attending. This provides me with a great opportunity to continue my education and network with colleagues around the country. One of the workshops I’m most interested in is “Buried in Treasures: The Psychology of Compulsive Hoarding.” It’s being presented by David Tolin, Ph.D., one of the authors of the “Buried in Treasures” book.

This book is an excellent resource and I highly recommend it for anyone who is personally experiencing hoarding problems, who knows of a loved one who is dealing with this, or who is a professional working with individuals with hoarding problems. Compulsive hoarding is a psychiatric disorder and can only be diagnosed by a mental health professional. It is characterized by:

* Compulsive acquisition and the inability to discard items that most people would consider of limited or no value.

* Non-functional living spaces due to the clutter inhibiting the use of the spaces in the way they were attended.

* Acquisition, discarding, and clutter causing significant distress.

The book provides information and education on the topic, combined with a workbook-like format for individuals to use in addressing their own situation and developing new skills.

I have seen success in my own work as a professional organizer in working with individuals with hoarding tendencies. The team approach with a therapist, the client, myself, and others (such as family and friends), can form a great foundation from which to assist these individuals in making successful changes. I encourage you to seek out the assistance you need in order to facilitate your success and have faith that with focused effort you truly can do it.

Julie Cubino, owner of Harmony At Last, will be presenting on the topic of “Organize Your Space and Time the C.A.L.M. Way” on Monday, April 30th at 7pm in Burlington, Vermont as part of the Fletcher Allen Community Education Series. This seminar is free and open to the public. To register, please contact, Community Health Improvement at Flecher Allen Health Care at 802-847-2278.

The seminar details are… If organization at home and/or at work is an on-going challenge in your life, this one-hour presentation and open discussion may provide the boost you need to reach your space-organizing and time management goals. Attendees will learn how to develp solutions to best meet their needs and complement their lifestyloe. Bring your questions and challenges for discussion.

The debate continues… Are multitaskers more effective at getting things done? Is there a limit to multitasking at which point one’s work becomes more slow, inaccurate, or sloppy? When is multitasking beneficial and when should one completely focus their attention on only one task?

For example, I would really want a brain surgeon to only focus on the brain surgery and not get sidetracked on calling in a lunch order. And yet, playing with a child while folding laundry seems to be part of the standard routine in my household.

A recent article in The New York Times titled “Slow Down, Brave Multitasker, and Don’t Read This in Traffic” discusses the limits of multitasking as highlighted in several research reports. One expert, David E. Meyer, was quoted, “Multitasking is going to slow you down, increasing the chances of mistakes.”

What do you think?