Nexen

29/03/2021

Correctly estimating how long it takes us to complete a task is more important than we think. 👍 👉 It is crucial: it will earn respect and gratitude from clients, colleagues, and bosses, not to mention friends who don't have to wait for us.
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​Research suggests that even our worst-case scenarios are often way too optimistic.
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​Why is it so tricky to make this estimate? Our memory is notoriously biased, and we will remember clearly that one time we made it in 15 minutes. So we often take that as a good measure, even when we regularly need more time. We do not (want to) consider that the circumstances of that estimate might be the one-time-only lucky event.
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​To get an accurate estimate, we need data and experience:
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​👉 Time yourself; challenge that timing; add extra padding, especially if it's a hard deadline; gather more data; how often does it work? Revise your estimate.
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​You cannot rely on things going smoothly; remember Murphy's law (and a ship stuck in the Suez canal in March 2021).🚢

22/03/2021

In the past year, I have been speaking with friends, colleagues and clients about how we are dealing with this unprecedented change in our lives. Many things have come up, many attitudes towards the present and the future.

​​In most cases, I found indication of not wanting to go back to how things were pre-pandemic: a new awareness of what is important and of opportunities that are open to us, and a renewed willingness to act the change we want in our lives.
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​How we live every day is an essential part of this change and this is why I love time management: it is so impactful to our lives!
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​Interested to know more? Join me in this free webinar!
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​​When: Thursday 25th March, 12 PM GMT / 1 PM CET

​(can't make it? register anyways and we'll send you the link for the replay!)
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Register here: https://bit.ly/2Nsh4Bw

18/03/2021

For the past 12 months, we've been mostly in reaction mode, adapting to unprecedented conditions. Pretty successfully most of the time, I would say. 🏆
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​The efforts we've put in to weather different working conditions, sharing space at home, avoiding socialising and traveling have been enormous, and they are not sustainable. Thankfully, they may not have to be and I believe we can choose a different approach. 😊

​As we transition to a new normal in the next months, we can also take ownership of our days and our time in general. Let us move from reactive mode and adaptation to proactive mode and shape our future. 💡
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​In the free webinar of 25th March, I will be discussing how we can do that effectively. Why is it important? I believe that when we start managing our time in a mindful, sustainable manner we can really shape our life and "plan for happiness" (cit. Michelle Obama); which is something we can all benefit from.💃🕺
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​Sign up here to reserve your spot! 👉
​ https://bit.ly/2Nsh4Bw

16/03/2021

🗺️ The map is not the territory.

We try to make sense of what goes on in our lives: it's like drawing a map of what we perceive. By definition, this representation is different from reality and while that is needed to simplify, things get lost in the way.

My job as a coach is to help my clients enrich their map as much as possible, expanding their awareness, so that they can make better decisions for the present and the future. 🎨

How can we enrich our map? With perspective!

​💃 By changing the person perspective: what would the other person say? what would an external observer observe?
⌛ By shifting the time perspective: what will this look like a year from now? when I think about the past, what experience rings similar to this one and what can I learn from that experience?
📐 By moving the space perspective: what does this look like within the bigger picture? how does the external context influence this?

We learn when we increase our awareness, and we do that by enriching our map.

How do you enrich your map? 🎨

☺️ P.S.: I have a webinar coming up on 25th March, in which I share how to move past the current time management myths that are holding us back; awareness is key! Sign up for free at this link: https://bit.ly/3vrETdX

15/03/2021

🔥How a gas lighter shed light on my (or our) resistance to change🔥

I think I am ready for change, especially on tech that solves problems.

Enter The Gas Lighter.

My gas stove does not have an automatic ignition system. I’ve been using cheap cigarette lighters for the past - oh well, it’s been 9 years, ok? A few days ago, a friend comes for lunch and watches me in horror lighting the stove, afraid I was about to burn my fingers. “Oh, come on, it’s not dangerous, look!”. Ok, maybe that sounded a bit defensive...

💡That afternoon, I bought an electric gas lighter. It's not very expensive, and it recharges with USB (Tech!). 🤓It can sneak in below my pans! Flame is far from my fingers! Hurray! 🎉

This silly episode got me thinking: how often do we make our lives harder for no reason?

“Where’s the problem”
“It’s no big deal”
"I've always done this, there's no reason to change"

But change doesn’t have to be big and hairy, it can be small and easy, like a gas lighter.

😊You wouldn't believe the smile on my face for the past days every time I light the stove! And the ease of mind!
And yes, it makes me think about the opportunities that lie ahead! That also makes me smile!

What has been a "gas lighter" moment for you in the past? 🔥

06/03/2021

What comes to mind when I say the word ABUNDANCE?

For me, it’s the home where I grew up, where I have always felt an abundance of unconditional love 💕 . Pets included 🐶

03/03/2021

I am really excited to be among the speakers at the Task Management & Time Blocking Virtual Summit!
This is a 3-day virtual event with both live sessions and pre-recorded content.

I talk about how the concept of space, which I explore with LEGO bricks, of course, can help us think differently about time. In the 45 minutes video, I share powerful questions that can lead to insights and creative solutions.

And I can't wait to discover what other speakers will talk about!

You can register for free at the address below (link in comments)!

25/02/2021

Learning new skills as adults is not an easy endeavour, especially when it comes to soft skills: you need to practice, and you are afraid of how it is going to look, or how it is going to make other people feel. 🙄

So you want to get it right the first time, and you try to put together all the things you learned in the training, or read about. Results vary, but it can be frustrating, and awkward. 🤯

I trained as a business coach, so we talked A LOT about developing soft skills. There is one thing I learned there that made absolute sense, and today I am sharing that with you in my newest YouTube video. 😉

Check it out! And let me know your thoughts in the comments!

When we develop new skills we tend to be impatient, we want to learn quickly. Despite our best efforts, we may fail, and that's ok. To develop new skills we ...

18/02/2021

🎉 Today it's been 1️⃣ year since I signed the papers for Nexen (pic of me at the notary public).

Nexen is 1 year old!! 🎂

I thought it would be a straight path. I'd found the thing I loved and everything would be plain sailing, right? Well, the first Covid patient in Italy was diagnosed three days later, so no, definitely not! 😱

Yet, the dire situation has also given me opportunities, such as concentrating my efforts on online delivery of my programs (new version of Design Your Time coming in March!), a place that has no frontiers!

And I've learned so much, so quickly! I've started YouTube videos with , which has given me so much confidence, and I'm still learning about how to sell and market my courses online, but found a great community of women entrepreneurs 💖

I am so grateful for the support of my friends and family, clients and partners and I can't wait to see what the next 365 days will bring! 💙

Stay tuned! 😉

17/02/2021

🔥How a gas lighter shed light on my (or our) resistance to change🔥

I think I am ready for change, especially on tech that solves problems.

Enter The Gas Lighter.

My gas stove does not have an automatic ignition system. I’ve been using cheap cigarette lighters for the past - oh well, it’s been 9 years, ok? A few days ago, a friend comes for lunch and watches me in horror lighting the stove, afraid I was about to burn my fingers. “Oh, come on, it’s not dangerous, look!”. Ok, maybe that sounded a bit defensive...

💡That afternoon, I bought an electric gas lighter. It's not very expensive, and it recharges with USB (Tech!). 🤓It can sneak in below my pans! Flame is far from my fingers! Hurray! 🎉

This silly episode got me thinking: how often do we make our lives harder for no reason?

“Where’s the problem”
“It’s no big deal”
"I've always done this, there's no reason to change"

But change doesn’t have to be big and hairy, it can be small and easy, like a gas lighter.

😊You wouldn't believe the smile on my face for the past days every time I light the stove! And the ease of mind!
And yes, it makes me think about the opportunities that lie ahead! That also makes me smile!

What has been a gas lighter moment for you in the past? 🔥

12/02/2021

Imagine yourself 12 months from now, sitting having a drink 🍹 with a friend.

➡️ What would you tell them about your achievements over the year? 🚀
➡️ What will you be most proud of? 🤩
➡️ What will have made you happy? ☺️

That's the important part of time management, that's why we want to be productive. ♥️

11/02/2021

🐘 Do you find yourself constantly spending time looking for information when you need it? That article you saved somewhere, that recipe you saw a week ago that sounded delicious, your passport number, that certification you need...

🐘 Well this one is just for you! In this week's YouTube video I show you how to use Evernote and build it to your needs and taste, so that you have the information you need when you need it.

🐘 This video covers how I use it, how to set up the basics, and the questions you need to ask yourself before you choose to invest some time and energy in setting it up. 🚀

Do you use Evernote? Or any other similar app to manage your information? Let me know in the comments below!

This Evernote tutorial for mindful productivity is Nexen's take on the green elephant app. This is no ordinary Evernote tutorial, it shows some features that...