Post Your Clean Sweep Goals Here

You've created your Clean Sweep Focus Plan and know what you will be working on. If you are joining us on September 1st for National Clean Sweep Challenge Day, you know that posting your goals AND your accomplishments is how you qualify for the prizes from our sponsors.

At the end of Friday, we will be reviewing the postings to see who qualifies and post the results in the Success Connection Ezine the following Tuesday.

Here is how you want to post your goal. I'll share my own personal Clean Sweep Goal so you get the drift.

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It is now 5pm PST on September 1st I have completed a major overhaul of my work environment. First, I FINALLY was able to get my bluetooth headset returned for one that actually works. And, I got Verizon tech support to help me get my wireless sync working on my PDA phone. Finally! I also was able to get my major talking points mapped out for my speech at Mega Speaker Empire and the Maximize Success Retreat plus I was able to write out the whole speech for Mega Speaker (bonus points!)

I feel so much clearer in my head, I have unlimited energy and I feel like a million bucks just knowing that I've got so many of these little energy drains and distractions handled!

Please post your name so we know who to award the prize to if you are one of the winners!

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To post your goal, just go to "comment" and add yours. At the end of the day, just go back and let us know how it went.

Congratulations in advance for a job well done!

It's Time to Get Focused for Clean Sweep Day, 9/1

I'ts time to get focused for your Clean Sweep Challenge on September 1st (or whenever you are doing your Clean Sweep Challenge. Just remember, to qualify for the prizes, you will need to post your goals here.)

Have you:

1. Downloaded the Clean Sweep Quiz?
2. Listened to the "Environments that Pull You Forward" audio program?
3. Printed and filled out your Clean Sweep Focus Plan?
4. Posted your goal for the Clean Sweep Day so we can help hold you accountable?
5. Invited your own "support team" to participate with you by sharing the program at www.cleansweepchallenge.com?

Remember, part of being successful is doing what works. When you do your own Clean Sweep you make a commitment to handle all the things that distract you from what's important -- making a difference, generating cash flow, and accomplishing your goals!

Sponsor Focus!

Ramona Creel of OnlineOrganizing.com is one of our sponsors and we are grateful for her support of the Clean Sweep Challenge. I discovered Ramona and her website while looking for organizing products and I was thrilled to see that she offers a web-based one-stop-shop offering everything you need to get organized -- free tips, hundreds of organizing products for do-it-yourselfers, referrals to professional organizers and speakers in your area, and more. Visit http://www.OnlineOrganizing.com and get organized today!

Another Generous Sponsor

Sheryl Allen is donating a Classic Black Thrival Kit (Value $79.95) to help the lucky winner organize healthy food on the go.

This compact 8”x10”x4” kit is made of durable, high quality sleek black micro fiber fabric with Thrive stylishly embroidered on the front pocket in violet. Pack and carry healthy foods quick and easy as a snap in the airtight, leakproof containers. You supply water bottle, food, napkin and cutlery and you’re set for a day 'on the go'.

http://www.thrivalkits.com

Thank you Sheryl!

Entrepreneur success coach offers tips

Entrepreneur success coach offers tips to maximize the effectiveness of a Clean Sweep Day, ultimately helping business owners to see more results in their businesses.

Melanie Benson Strick, entrepreneur success coach and president of Success Connections, is launching a national “de-cluttering” campaign, geared to helping entrepreneurs increase their overall effectiveness so they can create more success in their businesses and lives.

According to Strick, the Clean Sweep Challenge – a free one-day event – will help anyone feeling overwhelmed by mounting to-do’s, half-finished projects or loose ends.
Joining other entrepreneurs across the country, they’ll have the opportunity to tackle those challenges by setting aside an 8-hour block of time on Friday, September 1, 2006.

Strick says she has seen her clients experience "amazing" results after doing a clean sweep. "I had one client who couldn't get anything done because of all the papers on his desk. He set aside time to tackle that project. Afterwards, he said it was incredible how much work he was able to accomplish."

Another client, Michele PW (Michele Pariza Wacek) of Creative Concepts and Copywriting LLC had a similar story. "My office was very cluttered, mostly because I kept running out of places to put things. It was organized, but cluttered. It finally occurred to me one day the reason why I was running out of room was because of all the old files and outdated resources I was hanging on to. I finally took a day and threw out 8 garbage bags of stuff I really didn't need anymore. The result? My office is cleaner, I feel better being in it and I have a lot more energy to work on my business."

For entrepreneurs and small business owners who want to experience similar results in their businesses and lives, Strick has a few tips to help people make the most of the Clean Sweep Day.

“The first thing to do is mark the time on your calendar and to clear all other obligations so you’re not distracted. The second thing is to be realistic about what you do make a commitment to handle that day,” Strick said. “I encourage people to make a list of everything they want to work on and then prioritize it the most important things first. Set an intention for 3-5 core things that are the most important, but you might just get beyond that.”

To maximize the effectiveness of the campaign, Strick suggests that participants “buddy up” with friends or colleagues to form a support system and create accountability.

“It’s a way to really tap into the momentum that’s going to get created around it and not feel alone,” Strick said.

Free and open to the public, the Clean Sweep Challenge includes a downloadable toolkit available to anyone who registers at http://www.CleanSweepChallenge.com. The toolkit includes the Clean Sweep Assessment and Focus Plan and Strick’s “Environments that Pull You Forward” audio program.

Strick has also created a community blog site and encourages participants to log onto the site once in the morning to post their intentions and once in the evening to post their results. She also has come up with a list of sponsors including, SPONSOR LIST, to offer prizes to the participants who have made the best progress by the end of the day.

Strick decided to offer the Clean Sweep Challenge after having achieved excellent results by using the Clean Sweep in her coaching practice – and after having used it herself to get over some technology hurdles.

“When you do it, there’s a psychological effect that helps you feel more energetic and passionate about going to work every day again,” Strick said. “It’s basically taking yourself on a cleaning vacation.”

Melanie Benson Strick, "The Entrepreneur's Success Coach," offers keynotes speeches, mentoring, training and products designed to get people out of overwhelm and onto the success fast-track. The National Clean Sweep Challenge Day toolkit is available FREE at http://www.CleanSweepChallenge.com

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Recommend A Friend Or Colleague Do The Clean Sweep Challenge

If you've signed up for the Clean Sweep Challenge ask your friends and colleague to join you so you can support each other. Visit this web page below and tell the world about the Clean Sweep Challenge.

http://www.cleansweepchallenge.com/recommend/

Another Fantastic Sponsor!

Jody Owen, of The Space You're In Now, has generously provided our Clean Sweep winners with a $125 hour consultation with her for free! You can use this certificate for a professional organizing session, time management, computer training or a productivity/systems assessment.

Thank you Jody!

Clean Sweep Challenge Day Helps The Overwhelmed Reduce Stress, Regain Focus And Increase Productivity

An international ‘de-cluttering’ day will free up time and energy for countless individuals, business owners, employees and entrepreneurs.

Success coach Melanie Benson Strick has created a new way to help entrepreneurs, small business owners, employees and individuals create massive success in their businesses and lives.

She's named a day where participants take the time to address all the clutter and/or unfinished projects that surround them, sucking their energy and keeping them from working at top efficiency.

Called the Clean Sweep Challenge Day, it takes place on September 1, 2006.

Strick created the Clean Sweep Challenge to encourage participants to set aside a block of time for clearing out unfinished business that interferes with creating "massive results, income and success in their businesses and lives." She also encourages participants to invite their friends and colleagues to support each other's efforts so they can share the results in their businesses and lives.

"The idea behind a Clean Sweep Day is that when you have things that are piled up creating anxiety and sucking your energy, it causes you to get distracted, depleted and unable to focus properly and really keeps you from playing your best game," Strick said.

Beyond physical clutter, the Clean Sweep Challenge is a time to clear out projects that keep people up at night. It's also a good time to take care of languishing emails and phone calls, to address technology challenges that impede efficient working conditions and even to clear up difficult situations with family, friends or colleagues.

In order to help support participants during the Clean Sweep Challenge so they're able to get as much done as possible, Strick is offering a free toolkit. The toolkit includes numerous free downloads, including the Clean Sweep Assessment, to help participants figure out what they need to clear out, a Clean Sweep Focus Plan that helps them figure out how to clear it out, as well as an audio download of Strick's dynamic recording, “Environments that Pull You Forward”.

Strick's support doesn't end with the toolkit. In addition, she'll send support emails and focused articles to help participants build their support team and prepare for the actual Clean Sweep day. She has also built a participant page with a community forum where everyone across the country participating in the Clean Sweep can log on and share their experiences, victories and challenges. She also has gathered sponsors who have donated prizes to further motivate participants. Current sponsors include http://www.OnlineOrganizing.com, http://www.kangaroomstorage.com, http://www.ByeByeClutter.com and http://www.SuccessConnections.com.

"The idea is that everybody can jump on board to take the challenge together," said Strick. "When we get rid of the clutter, we are 30 to 50 percent more effective on what matters most - completing our goals, reducing stress and making money."

Melanie Benson Strick, "The Entrepreneur's Success Coach," offers keynotes speeches, mentoring, training and products designed to get people out of overwhelm and onto the success fast-track. The National Clean Sweep Challenge Day toolkit is available FREE at http://www.CleanSweepChallenge.com and Strick is available for interviews by calling Bonnie Jo Davis at 877-830-3139 extension 3.

Generous Sponsors Contribute to the Clean Sweep Challenge

We will award prizes to those participants that accomplish the most during the challenge and who shared their success with us and other participants. So far our sponsors include:

The Clean Sweep Challenge is sponsored by the following organizations who have donated prizes:

http://www.OnlineOrganizing.com donated a $50.00 gift certificate
http://www.kangaroomstorage.com donated a $50.00 gift certificate
http://www.byebyeclutter.com donated three books (The Power of Simplicity & ... But I Might Need It Someday! and tipsbooklet 101 simple tips to organize your life.)
From The Software Magician - A $427 Teleclass on “Mastering Microsoft Outlook to Save Time and Money.”

Hop on over to visit our sponsors - they have a great deal of information that is relevant to the Clean Sweep Challenge and you may get some great ideas by browsing the sites!

How to Overcome Project Paralysis With a Clean Sweep Day!

How to Overcome Project Paralysis With a Clean Sweep Day!

Do you ever get that sinking feeling that creeps up on you in the middle of the day? That feeling of overwhelm, or maybe it’s anxiety, that you have SO much on your plate and you just don’t know what to do next.

A couple of weeks ago one of my clients mentioned that he had a desk full of papers but he couldn’t slow down to clean them up. I realized that it was kind of like the feeling I was having about technology. I had recently invested in a new computer which in theory is awesome. But now I had spent over fifteen hours between transferring files, loading new programs and trying to get all of my fancy “systems” to work. To top it all off, I’ve got this fancy Pocket PC phone that I can never seem to get working properly and a full-time affair with their technical support team is blossoming.

Clutter comes in lots of forms. On a call today, one of my clients mentioned the clutter from her friends – friends who always need her advice and ask for crazy favors. This clutter was literally causing her to feel overwhelmed and stressed, simply because of the emotional boundaries that are being pushed.

When we feel distracted by this type of clutter, we are 30 - 50% less effective on what matters most – completing our goals and making money. I’ve personally noticed that clutter in more than one area can take me down faster than a nasty strain of bird flu!

That’s where Clean Sweep Day comes to the rescue. Clean Sweep Day is based on a coaching tool I received when I was in my coach training program. It’s a great little assessment that points out the areas in which you may be causing clutter in your life with incomplete tasks, energy drains, and the overwhelming “shoulds.” A Clean Sweep Day is when you block out a day (or even four hours will do) where you have absolutely no commitments or distractions and you power through all the projects, incomplete tasks and nagging to-do’s that are preventing you from performing at 100%.

Back to my technology breakdown. Of course, being a coach, I recognize the early warning signs of an overwhelm melt-down and decided to face this challenge head on! So I scheduled an entire WEEK to being a Clean Sweep Week. Yes, I had clients and meetings. But I scheduled 3 big blocks of time in my calendar, got out my trusty to-do list, prioritized everything that had to get done, and I powered through it.

The most exciting part of all wasn’t even that I got so much done; it was how much better I felt at the end of the week. I felt like a super-star!!! My mind was clear, I had so much energy and my mood was ten times better. By simply getting some things wrapped up, I created more energy to get the bigger tasks done.

Now it’s your turn. I invite you to join my clients in a Clean Sweep Challenge Day. Here is what you need to do. First, take a quick inventory of what needs to be done. Look for things like this:

· Paper, filing or “stuff” clutter in your office
· Projects or deliverables that you remember at 4:30 am
· Half completed ideas that you ruminate about
· Email, phone calls or letters that you have been putting off
· Bills or situations that you need to spend time resolving
· Family, friends or business situations that need a “discussion” to clear something up
· Technology challenges that cause you from being able to work properly.
· Broken items that bother you when you notice them

Then, make a list of everything that needs to be addressed and prioritize it. I recommend prioritizing based on what is most critical in the next 90 days (for additional information on high-payoff prioritization see the ULTIMATE Wealth & Success Circle High Payoff Activities audio program.)

Then on your scheduled Clean Sweep Day just start powering through! The trick is to stay focused and not answer the phone or get side-tracked with emails. You can even tell everyone in your life what you are doing – I bet they will want to join you for Clean Sweep Day too!

Now here is the best part. Imagine it’s the end of your Clean Sweep Day. You have powered through a mountain of projects and you feel like a million bucks. Just see yourself sitting at your desk, smiling, knowing that everything you just accomplished has helped you clear space for more money, more focus and more time to do what’s important. You feel excited and energized and ready to take on your bigger game of success!

Want to do your Clean Sweep Challenge with even more power and momentum? Join us for Clean Sweep Challenge Day. I’ve designated September 1 as Clean Sweep day. It’s fr.ee to participate and I provide all the tools to help you through the day.

Do you need a kick-start in your results? You probably need a Clean Sweep Day. Why not join Melanie Benson Strick, Success Connections, for our Clean Sweep Challenge. It’s fre.e to participate, we’ll provide all the tools and you could even win a prize! Visit http://www.CleanSweepChallenge.com for more information and to sign up.

Welcome to the Clean Sweep Challenge, Sept 1

Welcome! First, before we even begin, take a moment to pat yourself on the back. You deserve it for taking this first step forward to getting rid of distractions and energy drainers that are keeping you from skyrocketing your success.

Here's how you get started:

• Bookmark this site on your Internet right now.
• Mark your calendar for September 1 from 8 am PST to 5 pm PST.
• Download the tools on this site.
• Complete the Clean Sweep Assessment and create your Clean Sweep Challenge Focus Plan (COMING SOON!). Instructions are provided on the documents.
• Listen to the “Environments that Pull You Forward” audio program (click here to download)
  

On the September 1st (or whatever day you chose)

• The morning of the challenge, turn off your phones and email. Pour yourself a cup of coffee, get a glass of water, some snacks and organize all of your projects on your desk or workspace. If you need music, get that set it up too.
• At 8 am sharp, log in to this site.
• Post your intention of what will happen at the end of the day. Then, jump in and start on your first project.
• At the end of the day, log back in and tell us what you accomplished!
• Remember, checking in at the beginning and end of the day is very important – not only because it will help you achieve your goals but you could also win a prize! Plus, your entire support team is standing by to monitor your progress.

If you have questions beforehand, post them on the site? Get stuck the day of? The coaching team will be checking in to monitor your progess.

Many people find that they are 50 – 75% more effective when they share an experience with others. Remember, not only will you be doing this with hundreds of people all over the world through Success Connections but you can also invite the people in your life to play along too.

So make sure you invite your friends to help you be accountable and join you in the Clean Sweep Challenge!

Notes:

Be sure to white list “successconnections.com” with your email provider in order to guarantee you receive all of your emails. If you do not receive email from us, we're 99.9% sure that your email host company is blocking our email.

Taking the Clean Sweep Challenge is the sole responsibility of the person signing up. We make no promise of your results unless you promise to do WHATEVER it takes! Remember, how you do anything is how you do everything.

The Clean Sweep is a registered trademark of Coach U, a coach training company. This assessment is being used legally in conjunction with the rules of my training with Coach U.