When we talk about our upcoming workshop, How to Achieve Goals and Create a Life You Love, our founder and co-owner, Aby, frequently shares that this workshop contains the process she used not only to create simplify 101, but also the life of her dreams. And in the last year alone, this process has empowered her to…
- Create the habit of exercising multiple times per week.
- Create the daily habit of meditating.
- Have the most successful year at simplify 101 to date.
- Help her kids achieve their big dreams.
I really like it when people practice what they preach, don’t you? I like it that she is not only throwing out some good concepts, but backing them up with her own proof that this stuff works. How well does it work? It works so well that Aby was featured as an organizing expert in THREE major U.S. magazines this month –Better Homes & Gardens, Family Circle and Redbook. On top of that, Better Homes & Gardens has asked Aby to host a Facebook chat on paper clutter from 2-4 pm tomorrow, January 5!
As we were talking about this exciting development yesterday, Aby pulled out her Goals Binder to show me this page from seven years ago. Inside the page protector, there’s a Better Homes & Gardens magazine cover, and an article on organizing that quotes several top professional organizers.
“I didn’t set out in January of 2011 and say, ‘I want to be in three magazines this year,’” she said, “but this is definitely something I’ve had on my radar screen since 2005. If you would have asked me back then if I would ever be quoted like that, I would’ve probably laughed and said, ‘Me? Like I would ever end up in Better Homes & Gardens?’ That would’ve seemed like total pipe dream.”
It was a dream, but she was brave enough to capture it in her binder, which is something she refers back to in order to stay focused and grounded. And while features in magazines were not a specific goal of hers last year, having the most successful business year was. I can’t think of a better mark of success than gaining that kind of national recognition, can you?
“Things don’t always happen exactly as you want them to,” Aby said. “Sometimes you just have to set an intention, and then let it go.”
I truly think that’s what happened… Aby set that intention when she added the page to her binder, and look how it has unfolded. Aby is understandably humble about sharing all of this with students and blog readers. But I want you to know, not just because I am personally super proud of her, but also because it shows what incredible things can happen when we allow ourselves to dream, when we set goals and then have the courage to work towards them.
Congratulations, Aby!
Congratulations Aby!! Being featured in Better Homes & Gardens is a huge accomplishment! I am a huge fan of your work and often come to your blog for inspiration to get more organized! I make a Finish It Friday list every week (even though I sometimes forget to post it in the comments). It has added structure to our weekends, so we are certain to make time for the To-Do List and the Play List. Thanks for all the motivation and keep up the good work!
Thanks so much Kait! I appreciate it! And thanks for joining in Finish it Friday. 🙂
Aby
Way to go Aby! Congratulations on reaching one of your goals. You should feel very proud of your accomplishment. I love participating in Finish-It-Friday and look forward to your blog post. It helps me stay accountable to myself. I’m an organized person by nature so I love getting tips and information from your blog. Thanks for all the motivation that your provide. Enjoy all the excitiment of reaching one of your goals.
Thanks so much Dottie!!