Vmeals Daily Dish

More California Tortilla Locations Added in NOVA

noreply@blogger.com (Molly) — Thu, 17 May 2012 17:39:00 +0000

Vmeals is pleased to announce the addition of more locations for one our great lunch delivery partners: California Tortilla!

Winner of 'Best Burrito in the D.C. Area' - Washingtonian Magazine and 'Best Vegetarian Restaurant in the D.C. Area, everything is made fresh with spices that give our food its unique delicious flavor, with no fat! They use only the leanest meats and grilled chicken breast.

Now with more locations and delivery areas, treat the office to the best burritos, tacos, fajitas, salads and more! Check out the California Tortilla menu and give them a try for your next event.

Vmeals is where food and business connect!

4 Styles of Leadership, Which Describes You?

noreply@blogger.com (Molly) — Tue, 15 May 2012 18:30:00 +0000

I don't know if you think of yourself as a leader, but if someone is following you or watching your example, you're leading. Leaders possess certain character traits that make them good leaders, and I discussed that to some extent in this post on being fit to lead. Each of us also possesses certain skills, gifts and abilities that help inform the kind of work we do and the way we work. But before we can understand how to deploy our unique set of gifts and talents, it is helpful to understand how we are wired.

By "wired" I mean that we all have a unique combination of strengths, talents, personality and relational style that make us who we are. As such, we tend to fall into one of four general styles of leadership: doers, thinkers, relaters, and movers.

Doers are primarily concerned with getting things done. They are process oriented and the ones who will keep everyone else on task with checklists, schedules, and attention to detail. They want not only to get things done, but get them done right. To be most effective, doers need to avoid being overly controlling, willing to try new procedures and appreciative of the needs and contributions of others.

Thinkers are most interested in generating new ideas and solving problems. They like to gather information, analyze, brainstorm, develop plans and be creative. To be most effective, thinkers need to avoid getting bogged down in detail, must be willing to take responsibility, and commit to being part of the team.

Relaters are primarily concerned with the team. They are supportive and encouraging. They want to build relationships and get to know other team members.They want everyone to get along. To be most effective, relaters need to be mindful of tasks and time lines, willing to ask for help in prioritizing work, and not withdraw when people disagree.

Movers are driven by goals. They like to accept challenges and are primarily concerned with advancing towards the desired outcome. Movers are persistent, decisive and really like to win. To be most effective, movers need to be patient with other team members, avoid unnecessary risks, avoid the tendency to be bossy and demanding, and respect lines of authority.

As I describe them, I think you'll see that all are essential components of a strong team, and that leadership takes many forms. Leadership isn't just for the C-suite. As you learn to recognize these different types, it will become easier to build a team that balances both the strengths and blind spots of each type.

What kind of leader are you?

Monday Motivation Quote of the Week

noreply@blogger.com (Molly) — Mon, 14 May 2012 14:48:00 +0000

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

You are probably familiar with this saying as the Golden Rule, but let's think about it for a moment.

Most of us have come to understand this as a practical rule - if you don't want your brother to hit you, don't hit your brother - but really it's more than that. You can settle for the practical (and self-serving) frame of treating others the way you want to be treated so they will treat you better.

But notice the first word: Do. I think this implies taking initiative, being proactive, going the extra mile to show by your actions the kind of person you'd like to be and see in the world. I think this is what Gandhi meant when he advised us be the change we wish to see.

When you consider the Golden Rule, how does it resonate with you? With a sense of self-preservation and protection or with a vision of being your best self and an example for others?

Is Your Smartphone Making You Dumber?

noreply@blogger.com (Molly) — Tue, 08 May 2012 18:20:00 +0000

It seems that everyone has a smartphone these days - even my husband who is distinctly non-techie and non-gadgety just upgraded to sweet new Android, and he actually loves it. This is the man who is constantly requiring assistance from his children to send an email because his wife is too aggravated to show him how AGAIN. That says a lot about the smart design and usability of these amazing little machines.

So we know the phones are getting smarter and smarter, but are we? Are these devices making our lives easier or enslaving us with constant connectivity? Let me use my sweet husband as an example again. On a recent date night, we were having dinner at a lovely restaurant. He had his face in his new smartphone checking the scores of the Master's golf tournament. Meanwhile, I was posting this on my Facebook page:

A sharp friend quickly retorted:

We were so busted for not being very smart with our smartphones. I mean, date night is about as common as a Halley's comet sighting for us, and we were squandering it.

So let's establish some rules of engagement for these small wonders. I was inspired by the Time Management Ninja's10 Ways to be Smarter About Your Smartphone post, and you should definitely go read all his advice (like learn how to actually use your smartphone). But here are the ones I think are most important:

Up with people!

Real-life, in-person human beings trump phones - always. Sure, there may be times you have to take a call from your kid's school or reply to a time-sensitive text, but mind your manners. Excuse yourself. Don't just drop out on your companion or think you can give your attention to your email and your dinner date at the same time. You can't. It has always been considered rude to talk on the phone while in the company of someone else. Mobile phones have not voided that rule.

Down with creepy under-the-table maneuvers!

Same goes for meetings. Oh, how I hate a meeting where everyone is distracted by what's happening in their lap. Let's generously assume they are staring at their phones down there. When did it become OK for everyone to show up with only half of their attention? Meeting organizers should consider making the conference room a no-phone zone. You're likely to cut meeting time in half, and everyone might actually leave knowing what happened and what to do next.

Learn to love the vibration.

If you are joined at the hip with your phone, there really is no reason to have have a ring tone they can hear in the next county. Furthermore, there's a good chance no one else finds your Rude Boy or Dukes of Hazzard ringtone as charming as you do. (I'm looking at you, Dad.) Put that sucker on vibrate - trust me, you'll love it.

Death by Distraction.

The only thing worse than the day-in-day-out assault of rude and annoying behavior is dying a spectacular, fiery death caused by a distracted driver. Now that I have teen drivers in my life, I have had to lead by example and put the phone away while I'm driving. It is just too tempting to respond to the siren song of calls, texts and email alerts. There's nothing that can't wait until the next stop. Seriously - nothing worth risking your life for.

What are some other ways you think we could be smarter with our smartphones?

Monday Motivation Quote of the Week

noreply@blogger.com (Molly) — Mon, 07 May 2012 15:59:00 +0000

"Continuous effort - not strength or intelligence - is the key to unlocking our potential." ~Winston Churchill

Everyday is a fresh opportunity to move closer to your target, your goal, your dream. Stick with it.

Are You Fit to Lead?

noreply@blogger.com (Molly) — Tue, 01 May 2012 17:40:00 +0000

Rupert Murdoch, media mogul under investigation for a phone hacking scandal in the U.K. just got spanked by parliament. They have declared him "unfit" to lead his international media company, News Corp.

Murdoch claimed he didn't know about or condone the phone hacking by his employees, and with an international corporation of the size of News Corp, he must have been tempted to think that claiming ignorance to individual behavior was plausible. But the indignant members of parliament laid the burden of guilt definitively at his feet for (among other reasons) "creating the culture" responsible for this extremely bad behavior.

Leadership matters.

If you lead an organization, a department or a committee, you influence that culture. You set the standard and you have responsibility for the performance of the group. Hey, leadership isn't easy, but is important on every level. If you have anybody watching and following your lead - regardless of whether they actually report to you or not - you are a leader.

A good leader communicates a clear vision: Here's where I'm going. Follow me!
A good leader cultivates a community of shared values: This is how we operate.Trust my direction!
A good leader inspires followers: I want to go where you go because you have enthusiasm, integrity and a mission.

A good leader doesn't turn a blind eye to inappropriate, unethical, illegal activity.
A good leader doesn't claim credit and shift blame.
A good leader doesn't rule by fear or intimidation.

Are you fit to lead? What kind of culture are you creating around yourself?

Monday Motivation Quote of the Week

noreply@blogger.com (Molly) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 13:22:00 +0000

We think we want things to be easy - smooth sailing - that somehow that's an indication of our success. But this image reminds us that more often we rise in response to opposing forces.

I was reading about pearls recently and learned that they are formed in response to some kind of irritant or parasite. The oyster (actually, any mollusk can create a sort of pearl) responds to the irritant by coating it with layers of nacreous secretions which result in the smooth, iridescent pearl valued for its beauty.

Are you facing opposition today? Think of it as your opportunity to rise above and fly high. Is there something that is causing you irritation? Think of it as the process of creating something rare, beautiful and valuable - pearls of wisdom.

The Winner! (Don't think she didn't work for it all year long.)

noreply@blogger.com (Molly) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 19:45:00 +0000

I hope everyone out there has had a good week - especially all you hard working administrative professionals. We have been going through the submissions for Vmeals Administrative Professional of the Year, and boy are we impressed! (I'm exhausted just reading their job descriptions!) Take a look at a few of their collective responsibilities:

ordering food
coordinate all events/parties
payroll
accounts payable
program coordinator
meeting organizer
copier & printer troubleshooter & sometimes repairman
office supply orderer
mailroom attendant
make travel arrangements
supervise support staff
negotiate with vendors
manage office equipment accounts/contracts
draft correspondence
data management
special projects
new hire orientation/training
processing business related expenses
serve on the safety committees and social committees
member of professional organizations
attend professional development seminars
published articles in trade journal

Many of you do all of the above.

So you can see what kind of person values Vmeals. When I say it's The One Who Gets Things Done, I'm not joking. We are proud to support these exceptional professionals.

It was hard to pick a winner this year. Everyone is so deserving, and our staff was pretty evenly divided as we deliberated - but this isn't rec league. You don't get a "good try" trophy - we have to name a winner. So without further ado, we name our Vmeals Administrative Professional of the Year: Sally Welch.

*clap**clap**clap**clap**clap*

Sally is a senior administrator extraordinaire for a CPA firm in Baltimore. Congratulations!

Monday Motivation Quote of the Week

noreply@blogger.com (Molly) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 15:15:00 +0000

"The secret of all victory lies in the organization of the non-obvious."~Marcus Aurelius

"In the successful organization, no detail is too small to escape close attention."~Lou Holtz

We've doubled down on the motivational quote for the week. I think these two guys know a little something about success, and their similar observations are particularly apropos to Administrative Professionals Week.

Those with the gift for administration may not get much glory, but the greatest leaders recognize the important contribution of those who tend to the details - and we salute you all.

Happy Administrative Professionals Week!

Fantastic Friday Feast of Favoritism

noreply@blogger.com (Molly) — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 14:22:00 +0000

OK, y'all - it's Friday and there's an awful lot going on at the Vmeals Worldwide HQ, so let's get down to it, shall we?

Next week is Administrative Professionals Week. We're proud to be a great resource for admins, and they are some of our very most favorite people! Let's face it, these women and men are the glue that holds an office together. They go by many different job titles, but they all have one thing in common: they juggle a boatload of different tasks and have to be The One Who Knows All and The One Who Gets It All Done.

We want to show our appreciation by giving you all a big virtual hug, words of praise and by awarding one deserving admin with the title of Vmeals Administrative Professional of the Year - but we need your help. Got to our Facebook page and tell us why you deserve to win or nominate someone else you think deserves the title.

Maybe you don't feel comfortable blowing your own horn on Facebook, or maybe you're not allowed during business hours. No problem. Just shoot us an email: mfulton@vmeals.com and tell us who and why we should award this very prestigious title and a $150 Spa Finders gift card!

Next, Vmeals is our favorite cool technology solution to the age old question: What's for lunch? We think we're pretty hard-working and efficient and simple to use, but there are few things we still like to do the old-fashioned way. We think high quality customer service never goes out of style, and word of mouth remains our favorite form of advertising.

We reward our customers and friends who refer Vmeals to other friends and colleagues (you really are our favorite people!). In addition to VCAP points, everyone who refers someone who creates a new account with us this month will receive a $5 Starbucks gift card. The person who refers the most will receive a $250 Target gift card. Your referrals don't need to order for you to qualify, they simply need to register. How great is that?

So, aside from telling us why you deserve to win Vmeals Administrative Professional of the Year and telling all your fiends and coworkers about Vmeals, what have you got going on this Friday?

Are You a Member of the Club?

noreply@blogger.com (Molly) — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 19:54:00 +0000

You don't need to be a member to order from the Bull and Bear Club. Established by two executives from Fidelity Insurance Company in 1967, The Bull and Bear Club is the premier private business dining club in Richmond. For over forty years, The Bull & Bear Club has provided an elite environment for both business and personal dining.

Now the flavors of this private club are available to Vmeals customers. You can conveniently order one of their elegant boxed sandwich or salad lunches online and have it delivered to your own exclusive event location. You can have anyone you want in your club and enjoy the work of this inspired chef.

Be sure to take advantage of this kind of access for your next board meeting or client presentation.

Vmeals is where food and business connect.

Vmeals Administrative Professional of the Year

noreply@blogger.com (Molly) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 16:28:00 +0000

They say the only things you can count on in this life are death and taxes. Neither of those is terribly inspiring, so let me offer this: You can count on Vmeals.

We give you lots of great menu choices, friendly customer service, and plenty of attention to detail. We know how important it is to get everything right for your event, so you can count on us to make sure your food just right and right on time.

But we're not the only folks you can count on. We work with thousands of administrative professionals who know how to get things done. Do you know somebody like this? Most likely (if you are a Vmeals customer) you are somebody like this.

If so, go to our Facebook page and tell us why you deserve to be the Vmeals Administrative Professional of the Year. (If you can't get on Facebook, you can post in the comments section below or email info@vmeals.com and we'll post a shout out on your behalf.)

The Vmeals team will choose a winner and that winner will receive a $150 Spa Finders gift card! (Doesn't a massage sound pretty good right now?) We'll even send you a certificate suitable for framing so you can casually reference it whenever someone stops by your desk. So nominate yourself or someone else by the end of the day Thursday, April 26th. We think you are all winners!

Monday Motivation Quote of the Week

noreply@blogger.com (Molly) — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 14:27:00 +0000

"Action expresses priorities." ~Gandhi

Well, that about sums it all up. Are your actions consistent with what you say is important to you?

Happy Birthday Mr. Jefferson

noreply@blogger.com (Molly) — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 21:08:00 +0000

Cheers!

Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence, 3rd president of the United States, founder of the University of Virginia was Charlottesville, Virginia's first foodie. It is no coincidence that Vmeals Worldwide HQ shares hometown bragging rights with T.J.

If he were around today, he would certainly be blogging about food (and other things like architecture, gardening, religious freedom, etc). He would be totally into fresh, local and organic foods. His plantation home, Monticello, was the epitome of sustainability with his revolutionary garden.

But just like Vmeals, Mr. Jefferson was also on the cutting edge of food trends. He introduced the techniques of French chefs to his kitchen, and turned Americans on to vanilla, macaroni, and Italian olive oil, and he was the first person on record to own an ice cream freezer. He was an inventor and innovator and would have been delighted, I'm sure, by the creative ways we've used technology to connect and source meals.

It's all well and good that he gets lauded for the Louisiana Purchase and commissioning the Lewis and Clark expeditions, but he also brought us wine and ice cream. Let's remember what's really important here, folks.

So we wish Mr. Jefferson a very happy birthday. We are deeply in his culinary and innovative debt.

Get a look at his awesome birthday cake!

Vmeals CEO Reveals April Contest

noreply@blogger.com (Molly) — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 20:32:00 +0000

On behalf of the team at Vmeals, let me extend our sincere appreciation for your business. I can assure you we’ll work tirelessly to retain it!

You’ve probably observed that Vmeals doesn’t rely on splashy, high-profile advertising campaigns to grow our business. Instead, we choose to invest in perfecting the customer experience, as it’s our belief that a satisfied customer begets new customers. We’ve seen that belief validated - time and time again - by the willingness you’ve demonstrated to recommend our services to your colleagues and professional peers. Thank you!

To that end, we’ve decided to try something a little different. This month we’re going to make our referral program a little more interesting. So here’s how it will work:

Anybody that refers at least one person who creates a new Vmeals account in April will receive a $5 Starbucks gift card. The customer that refers the most new Vmeals registrants in April will receive a $250 Target gift card!

Don’t fret if you’ve already made referrals in April; you will receive acknowledgment for them. Referrals can be made though the Refer-A-Friend link on your VCAP page or by emailing a list with first name, last name and email address to: referrals@vmeals.com. Just to be clear, you will still receive VCAP points for any of your referrals that place an order (provided that you’re enrolled in VCAP).

As always, we encourage you to respond with any feedback you might have. Thank you for your continued support.

Finest regards,

HunterStokes, CEO

Monday Motivation Quote of the Week

noreply@blogger.com (Molly) — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 13:18:00 +0000

"Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren't used to an environment where excellence is expected." ~Steve Jobs

Sadly, I've seen too often that people are just as likely - maybe more likely - to only rise to the minimum standards required. Imagine if everyone in your organization set out to raise the bar a little every day. What could you do today to show everyone around you what excellence looks like?

Deal for Atlanta Vmeals Customers

noreply@blogger.com (Molly) — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 17:48:00 +0000

Vmeals is pleased to partner with a great Atlanta metro area caterer: Let's Eat Catering

Let's Eat Catering offers full service catering, specializing in gourmet sandwiches and salads at affordable pricing. With 35 years experience in providing catering services for Atlanta, Let's Eat is your choice for reliable, quality catering for your next office event.

And just for the month of April, Let's Eat has a special offer just for Atlanta Vmeals customers:15% off all orders for 20 or more people! Just enter LETSEAT15 in the promo code field at check out.

Check out the Let's Eat menu today and give them a try for your next event.

5 Magic Words That Will Increase Your Productivity

noreply@blogger.com (Molly) — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 20:48:00 +0000

I read this great post by Christine Kane yesterday about these 5 magic words - the ones that will help you get things done, the things that are most important to you. Are you ready for it? Here they are:

That's just what I do.

Well, it's no abra cadabra, so what makes these words so powerful? Presumably, you know what it is you want to accomplish, and you probably have a pretty good idea how to get there - the actions, activities and practices of someone who is successful.

So whether it's getting up early to work out, sitting down to write at a specified time, unplugging from phone, email, and Facebook for certain hours so you can work on that important project - don't think about if you feel like it, if you feel creative or energetic - just say to yourself: That's just what I do.

That's just what I do says I have established routines that work.
That's just what I do says I am committed and disciplined.
That's just what I do says I have faith in myself.

If you want to be someone who gets things done, then act like it. That's just what you do.

Tip Tuesday: Taking Attendance

noreply@blogger.com (Molly) — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 18:08:00 +0000

Did you know that when you order through Vmeals, there's an easy way to track your per person costs - no math required?

As you go through the order process, you will select the date, time and location of your event, then the menu and menu items you desire. You will then come to a screen that looks like this:

This screen (this is only a partial view) gives you the opportunity to attach as much information as you like to your order - charge codes, special instructions, internal notes (like "remember to set up the projector"), and attendance. That attendance number is optional, but can be quite helpful. If you enter the number of people you expect at your event, in addition to the running total you see in the Order Summary, you will also see the cost per person, to help you stay on top of your budget requirements.

Using the attendance field also helps our restaurant and catering partners with supplying just the right amount of paper products and utensils - no waste, no running short and no guess work. So you see, it pays to take attendance in to account when you are entering the details of your order.

Do you typically use the attendance field when you place an order?

Monday Motivation Quote of the Week

noreply@blogger.com (Molly) — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 13:05:00 +0000

"I choose a seasonal outlook. I try to think of myself as an apple tree. Time is not linear, it moves in circles. Come spring, I will bloom again." ~Amby Burfoot, author of the Runner's Guide to the Meaning of Life

The change of seasons is a good time to remember that our lives are seasonal. We will move through times of extraordinary beauty and promise, hard work and high productivity, harvest time and rest.

The way we experience time isn't quite linear, nor is it simply a repetitive circle. Think of it more like a slinky where you cycle through the rhythms of work and rest, striving and satisfaction, stretching and moving forward.

Just as we faithfully await for various trees, shrubs, and flowers bloom at their appointed time, remember that you too will blossom in due season - not just once - but again and again.

Chicken Stroganoff-Slow Cooker Win!

noreply@blogger.com (Molly) — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 18:51:00 +0000

It's been a while since we've done a slow cooker recipe post, but my friend recently shared this Chicken Stroganoff recipe with me. I made it last night, and it is all kinds of awesome. This would be perfect to throw together early in the day so dinner can be cooking itself while you are out working in the garden or attending kid's soccer games.

In your slow cooker you will add:

4 large chicken breasts (I think I used about 2lbs)
1 can of cream of mushroom soup
1 envelope of onion soup mix
16 oz container of sour cream

Uh, yeah. That's it folks.

I cooked mine on high for 4.5 hours (because I waited until a little late in the day to get started), but I'd prefer 6-7 hours on low. The chicken should shred easily. Give it a stir and you have a lovely, creamy, tasty dish that you could serve over rice or pasta. I went with egg noodles so it would be more Stroganoffy.

This fed four of us quite well with plenty of left overs for a lunch or two. The reviews were unanimously thumbs up. Easy-check. Delicious-check. Crowd-pleasing-check. What else could you want?

Perfect Spring Picnics

noreply@blogger.com (Molly) — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 20:56:00 +0000

Vmeals is pleased to present some great lunch delivery options for our Baltimore area customers.Spring is here, and we're thinking picnics! Here are a couple of excellent options to consider:

Stuggy's specializes in the gourmet hot dog bar. Their homemade hot dogs are made to order right in front of you. Their bison grillers come from Gunpowder Bison Company in Monkton and ther sausage is from Ostrowski's...both local. All orders come with chafing pans and service personnel to make your hot dog for you. And don't miss the deep fried Oreos!

Pit cooked, smothered in sauce, fall-off-the-bone.....how do you like it? Camden BBQ can do it. Platters, boxed meals, chicken, pork, beef and turkey. Try us for your next picnic, lunch meeting or event.

Check out the Stuggy's menu and the Camden BBQ menu and try one for you next event!

3 Ways to Avoid Meeting Madness

noreply@blogger.com (Molly) — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 16:07:00 +0000

Meetings are often a source of frustration. Put a bunch of prickly coworkers together, and if you're not careful you have a cocktail of wasted time, hardened hearts and post-meeting grumbling. But we can't seem to get along without them, so here are a few things you can do to ensure your meeting is a success:

Feed them!
You greatly increase your odds of attendance and delightfulness when you order in lunch. Even if you're not panning a lunch meeting, throw some snacks on the table and watch everyone's eyes light up.

Prepare!
Why are you having a meeting in the first place? Make sure you have a purpose, an agenda, and the right people present. As the meeting organizer, you owe it to your attendees to be prepared with the aforementioned and to respect their time. Be on time and expect everyone else to be as well. Keep things moving by staying focused (or helping others stay focused) on the task at hand. Don't let other agenda's distract or bog down the proceedings.

End!
There's not much worse than a meeting that can't find it's ending, that just sort of fizzles to an awkward silence. Learn how to take it to the hoop and dunk it. If you have a placed a time limit on the meeting, honor it - but don't feel obligated to stretch the meeting to fit. If you finish early, high-fives all around. Everyone can take the snacks back to their desk.

What frustrates you most about meetings?

Monday Motivation Quote of the Week

noreply@blogger.com (Molly) — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 12:18:00 +0000

"I always wanted to be somebody, but now I realize I should have been more specific." ~Lily Tomlin

We are all somebody. Wouldn't you like to be more intentional about what kind of somebody that is? Don't let circumstance or the opinions of others define who you are. That's an inside job.

So who are you going to be?

How to Plug in to Get More Done

noreply@blogger.com (Molly) — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 19:22:00 +0000

The other day I found myself thinking, "I am so happy my phone and my Kindle use the same charger." That kind of simplicity has become dear to me as my collection of gadgets grows. I don't know too many people who aren't carrying around a small army of devices - smart phones, laptops, tablets, e-readers, iPods - and multiply that by the number of people in your household - and that means you've got all kinds of cords, cables, chargers and adapters. But no matter how many chargers you have, when you need one, you need a very specific sort.

I was contemplating this in conjunction with the idea that time management is really energy management. We all have the same hours in a day, but the way we experience them can vary wildly. Simply put, when you are having fun, time flies. When you are suffering, time seems to stand still. (Remember the hours it took for the minute hand to get through he last 5 minutes of class before the bell rang in school?)

One of the keys to being productive and efficient lies with prioritizing time spent doing things that energize you rather than deplete you. You know that feeling - when you're in the zone - working without awareness of time passing, just totally engaged in the moment? This is where your best work flows most naturally.

When people ask me how I find time to do all that I do, I used to just shrug and respond inelegantly, "I don't know." Then one day another woman, who also packs her days full of meaningful activity, answered for me, "When you do what you love, you are energized by it. You always seem to have more internal resources to draw from." I realized she was right, and this is where I come back to that tangled mess of chargers.

There are people, places, activities that specifically charge you up.You can fill your days with activity, but if you aren't connected to the things that give YOU energy, you will eventually end up used up and useless.

Be deliberate about arranging your time around the things that are important and meaningful to you, that you enjoy, that leverage your strengths. You will find that when you operate this way, you have the energy to do more than most. If large chunks of your day are spent doing things (or with people that) drain you mentally, emotionally, or spiritually - you might need to make some changes.

What gets you charged up?