Productivity & Mindset Archives

Productivity & Mindset

How to Audit Your Time and Stop Wasting Your Day

Most people know where their money goes. Far fewer know where their time goes. We finish a week wondering why we didn't exercise, spend more time with family, make progress on important goals, or accomplish what we intended. Yet when we look back, it's often difficult to explain exactly where the hours disappeared. The problem isn't always a lack of time. More often, it's a lack of awareness. One of the most effective ways to improve productivity, reduce distractions, and align your schedule with your priorities is surprisingly simple: conduct a time audit. For one week, track how you spend your time and compare your actions to what you say matters most. The results can be eye-opening.

May 6, 2022

3 Mindset Shifts That Made Me More Successful Over Time

Success is often portrayed as a dramatic breakthrough: a big promotion, a successful business launch, a published book, or a major financial milestone. In reality, most success is much quieter. It is built through small decisions repeated consistently over time. The willingness to keep going when progress feels slow. The ability to tolerate discomfort. The readiness to act when opportunities appear. Over the years, I've noticed three mindset shifts that repeatedly helped me make progress in my career, finances, personal goals, and creative pursuits. None of them are complicated, but each has proven surprisingly effective.

October 15, 2021

What Successful Children’s Authors Know About Writing, Rejection, and Creativity

Writing is often portrayed as a magical process fueled by inspiration and creativity. In reality, most authors spend far more time wrestling with self-doubt, revising imperfect drafts, managing rejection, and learning how to stay consistent when motivation fades. To better understand the realities of the writing life, six accomplished children's authors share insights into their creative process, writing habits, challenges, sources of encouragement, and proudest career moments. Their answers reveal common themes about persistence, creativity, community, and the mindset required to build a sustainable writing career. Whether you're an aspiring writer, a published author, or simply curious about the creative process, these lessons offer a valuable behind-the-scenes look at what it truly means to be an author.

December 1, 2020

How to Save and Earn More Money by Asking for It

Did you know a single question can save you hundreds—or even thousands—of dollars? Over the years, I've negotiated lower prices, higher salaries, refunded fees, insurance settlements, and even major home improvement projects. None of these wins came from special negotiation tactics. They came from one simple habit: asking. Most people accept the first price, the first offer, or the first answer they receive. But the reality is that many prices, salaries, fees, and opportunities are far more flexible than they appear. In this article, I'll show you how a simple willingness to ask has saved my family money, increased my income, and opened doors that would have remained closed otherwise.

October 1, 2020

KidLit Fall Writing Frenzy 2020My KidLit Fall Writing Frenzy 2020 Entry (And the Meaning Behind the Poem)KidLit Fall Writing Frenzy 2020

Writing prompts have a unique ability to unlock creativity when inspiration feels out of reach. Sometimes all it takes is a single image, question, or challenge to spark an idea that otherwise might never have appeared. Writing contests can be especially valuable because they encourage us to experiment, stretch our creative muscles, and create something within a specific set of constraints. In 2020, I participated in the KidLit Fall Writing Frenzy, a popular children's literature writing contest that challenged participants to create original pieces inspired by visual prompts. The result was a short poem titled Underneath the Costume Veil, which explores identity, self-doubt, self-acceptance, and the masks we sometimes wear to fit in. Below, you'll find the original contest entry along with information about the KidLit Fall Writing Frenzy and why writing prompts remain one of the best tools for overcoming creative blocks.

September 10, 2020

Easy Ways to Increase Your Social Media Engagement

Have you ever posted something you thought was insightful, funny, helpful, or meaningful only to watch it disappear without a single comment, like, or share? Most people have. Whether you're using X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Threads, or another platform, low engagement can feel discouraging. We spend time crafting posts, sharing ideas, and putting a small piece of ourselves into the world, hoping someone will connect with it. Yet many posts receive little response while others seem to spread effortlessly. The reason is often simpler than people think. Many social media users approach posting as a form of expression, while engagement is created through interaction. Understanding the difference between expressing a thought and inviting a conversation can dramatically improve how people respond to your content. If you're looking to increase social media engagement without being fake, manipulative, or constantly chasing algorithms, these simple principles can help you create content that encourages meaningful interaction and stronger connections with your audience.

July 25, 2020

What Dr. Seuss Can Teach Creators About Persistence and Success

Most creators experience the same uncomfortable moment. You pour time, effort, and hope into a project only to be met with rejection, criticism, silence, or disappointing results. It happens to writers, artists, entrepreneurs, and creators of every kind. The question isn't whether setbacks will happen. The question is whether you'll keep going when they do. Few creative careers illustrate this better than Dr. Seuss. Today, his books are considered classics and his name is recognized around the world. But long before The Cat in the Hat became a household favorite, Theodor Seuss Geisel faced rejection, uncertainty, and years of slow progress. His journey reminds us that success rarely arrives as quickly as we hope and that some of the most influential creative work in history almost never made it into the world at all. If you've ever questioned your abilities, wondered whether your work matters, or felt discouraged by a lack of progress, Dr. Seuss's story offers a powerful reminder: persistence often matters far more than immediate success.

July 18, 2020

25 Writing Prompts to Overcome Writer’s Block and Spark Creativity

Many writers view writing prompts as a last resort. They're something we turn to when inspiration disappears, ideas dry up, or writer's block settles in. But writing prompts are far more powerful than emergency tools. They help writers explore new perspectives, discover unexpected ideas, strengthen creativity, and maintain a consistent writing habit. Whether you're a novelist, blogger, student, or journal writer, prompts can help transform a blank page from intimidating to inviting. Sometimes all it takes is a single question, sentence, or scenario to unlock ideas that were waiting beneath the surface.