This sign made me think 2 things…one: weird place for an SAT prep sign…and two: there is no way I would be able to take the SAT test today…no way. It’s not that I got dumber as I’ve aged, but I can’t even remember how I got through it the first time. I must have though, I graduated from university and then went on to grad school.

I went to high school in the days before parental-supervision-for-every-freaking-overbooked-event in a kid’s life. So, it isn’t as if mom and dad sat me down in my junior year and said, ‘ok, let’s start preparing for the S.A.T.s together–so you can ace them and get into Harvard, ok precious oldest daughter?’

They were more like, ’something came in the mail for you from a college and you’re going.’ Boom. End of university chat.

I did all the “preparation” on my own. (Read–minimal).

It bothers me that I didn’t know enough or didn’t have the kind of guidance you need to plan for something that big. That one test and my lack of astuteness…often makes me feel that I approached a lot of things in my life in a sort of half-informed, confused fashion. And possibly missed out on some important opportunities.

It took a huge chunk of my career to understand that if you are asked, “what are your weaknesses” during an interview…you don’t actually tell the person: “Sometimes my A.D.D. kicks in during an important meeting.” You’re supposed to answer with some kind of positive insight: “If I have one weakness, it’s that I work 24/7″, and like that.

Had I gone to an interviewing seminar, or read a book, I might have been better prepared and more polished.

I’m just used to winging everything on my own: I don’t get too bogged down in planning…in fact I think my brain shuts down if it senses complex minutiae. I don’t make decisions until I can feel my gut telling me to do so, one way or the other.

Not too much preparation involved…but I wish someone would have told me a long time ago, it’s ok to wing it.

Post from: Blisstree

Remember The S.A.T.?

I will clean out all old e-mails, learn to use all tools on cell phone and/or Blackberry, create two lists of prioritized to-do’s — one for home and one for work. Create two make-up bags, one for home, one for work. Put together outfits for entire work week, give all items that are a year old or more to charity…in general I will be a better human being.

Never happens? Don’t fret my pets! I have put together a comprehensive list of proven tips that will help prevent dilly-dallying, digressing, loss of focus and general meandering through the day…just follow these steps and you will feel as efficient and orderly as Martha Stewart’s craft room!

Fabulous Organization List:

1. Turn on computer, pull up daily calendar
2. Locate daily calendar on Mac Dashboard
3. Select colors and typeface for daily calendar
4. See what’s up with Brad, Angelina and baby Shiloh at Pitt Watch
5. Write comment about Angelina’s new tattoo (ewe)
6. Enter food-shopping list on new calendar
7. Link Blackberry calendar to mac calendar
8. Call Tech Support to fix messed up attempt at linking Blackberry and mac (Oh..it’s a mac, you can’t do that.)
9. Answer e-mail. No. get the mail. No. start blog post while answering e-mail.
10. Read through new Vogue that came in mail to help generate creative ideas.

All straightened out? No?

Bonus tip: If you have a 25 year old assistant, get her to help you get organized!

Bonus tip #2…buy book on signs of A.D.D.

Photo: Flickr.com

Post from: Blisstree

Top 10 Organizational Tips