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Welcome to my September 2024 productivity report! To backtrack, check out where I started in October 2023. You’ll find November 2023 here, and December 2023 here. For this year, January 2024 is here, February 2024 is here, March 2024 is here, April 2024 is here, May 2024 is here, June 2024 is here, July is here, and August 2024 is here.

🌱 How I Felt About September 2024

Ok, look. There’s no way to sugarcoat it. September 2024 was s***how. It was a very difficult month. Going into it, I knew it was going to be a bit stressful, dealing with the logistics of traveling around between a different countries (Germany, Denmark, and Sweden), but I couldn’t have anticipated all that was to come.

A big contributing factor for my somber September mood were the personal losses that happened, and the grief that took over as a result. I lost a pet, which is never easy, and no less than 4 friends lost close family members within quick succession of each other. That way heavy since they were all people I knew and loved. Even more difficult though was trying to comfort grieving friends when I wasn’t at 100% OK myself.

On top of all of that, the world lost an incredible legend in Tito Jackson, a.k.a. Poppa T, on September 15th. He was someone I had the pleasure of meeting many times, and in fact, I hugged him just days before his passing. They say to “never meet your idols or you’ll be disappointed,” but that statement never held true for him. He was always kind, encouraging, and incredibly humble, and besides that, he was a family man who raised three incredible young men. Truly one of a kind.

Even though I’ve already said it a few times, my deepest condolences to the Jackson family. They have been nothing but amazing to me over the past thirty years, and this was a tough loss that came much too soon. R.I.P. Poppa T. This productivity report and its accompanying message is dedicated to you.

🌻 Kindness is Rare, and We Have to Fix That. Seriously.

The message for September came through loud and clear, so I’m posting it in honor of the people we lost. We don’t know how long we have with the people we love, so we have to be kinder to one another. And with this, I want to touch on something I feel is really important right now: random acts of kindness.

I often go out of my way to help people, even when I don’t have to… Why? Well, because I believe that kindness matters, and I want to be the type of person who brightens someone else’s day.

Let me clarify that I’m not talking about major things here. Everything within reason, of course. Little things. I’ll pay for someone’s meal. I’ll open the door for people. I’ll give advice if I’ve had an applicable experience that someone could learn from… Sometimes, I’ll do slightly bigger things too if I have the capacity and energy for them. I’ll come to your show and cheer, for example. Shout you out on social media, or read and review a book you just published. If I can pay it forward and be the person who makes a difference, I’m inclined to help. That’s who I want to be as a human being.

Now, you might say “…But Caroline, don’t you have boundaries? Are you a people pleaser? Do you do all of those things to be liked?” Well, on some deeper level, perhaps… but in my head, it’s just to be a good, supportive friend. If you’re an old friend or new friend doesn’t matter. We can all use a boost, and when I have the capacity for it, I’m happy to provide that boost. Karma brings it back around later – I firmly believe that.

What I have noticed lately, however (and what I want to bring up here) are the two most common reactions I get from people who are on the receiving end of my kindness. They’re pretty stark, so they’re worth discussing.

The first most common reaction I get is one of suspicion. An immediate wall goes up while the person tries to figure out what I want from them. And I get that. Most people are extremely self-absorbed and only do things for selfish reasons, so when I say that I don’t need anything in return, people are surprised. They don’t believe me, and start to think that there is a more sinister plan in play. There isn’t, of course, but that immediate retraction always makes me sad.

If you have that type of attitude, you’ve likely been taken advantage of before, and that’s unfortunate. Whatever the circumstances were, you didn’t deserve it, and now you have to protect yourself. I get it. I admit that I trust people to a fault, so my own vantage point is slightly skewed, but I would rather live in my positive bubble and hope to experience the best in people… rather than just expect to be betrayed. If this is you, I’m sorry you got hurt. I want you to know that there are people out there who are nice and who don’t want anything from you. They may be few and far in between, but we do exist.

The second most common reaction I get is one of adoration and immediate attachment, and that is equally disturbing. It’s a clear sign of early childhood abandonment issues, and/or bullying. Those who react this way towards me have never had good, supportive friends before, so they don’t know how to behave when someone finally is nice to them. When they find out that it’s for real, they get lost in a “don’t leave me” situation and turn clingy. If this is you, I’m so sorry for those circumstances. You deserved better too.

Both of these reactions are completely unacceptable to me, and what I mean by that is: I wish things were different. They are both extremes on each side of the spectrum, and IMO, neither reaction should even exist. The fact that they do are clear signs that the considerate, responsible people of the world need to step up and be louder. No one deserves to be treated poorly, abandoned, abused, used, or bullied. Period. Can we all please do better?

We have to make kindness less rare. We have to champion doing the right thing and support each other’s success. Why? Because we can, that’s why. Imagine how much better the world would be if we could all just agree to behave instead of acting like the wounded children we are. Perhaps I’m too naive and idealistic to think that we actually could ever make that shift, but I’m going to continue to fight for it and choose to spread happiness in the meantime.

As Poppa T would say, “Let’s love one another.”

🤔 How do you choose to project kindness?

I’d love to know, do you pay it forward on a regular basis? If yes, what are some favorite way? If not, I’d love to know what’s stopping you. Let me know in the comments below!

🏆 How Productive I was in September 2024

September was a very productive month for me, despite my personal setbacks. A lot of projects drew to a close, and I made a lot of progress on future ones too. What was even more interesting though was that all of these projects were related somehow to marketing. That’s a great sign because I means that I’m spending my time appropriately – selling and promoting myself – which is where I should be focusing my time.

Fulfillment in my business at this point is fairly simple because I’ve chosen to set it up that way. I have my private one-on-one coaching calls, and then I have the coaching calls and support hours for my online courses. Limiting my private coaching clients to a rolling 8 meetings per month (or two hours on average per week) offers me plenty of space to work on my marketing. At this point, it consists of a few different things: 1) running promotions, 2) creating content, and 3) networking. The first one is more rare, so it’s really the last two that take up my time, but with all the fun networking I do, plenty of content ideas are born each month. It’s quite an elegant system at this point, which I’m incredibly proud of as an entrepreneur.

📁 Projects Completed 

In September, I completed a total of 5 projects. With my monthly goal being three, that’s a great result. I love it when I can exceed my goal in a positive, engaging way. I already mentioned that all of the projects were related to marketing, but they were not equal in energy and weight.

Two of the projects resulted in 38 new videos for YouTube, and were created with long-term promotion in mind. The first one was updated version of my free course The Organizing Formula, which is also available over on my academy. Read more about that below, as it was my favorite project this month. The second project was my conversation with Anna Murray, founder of Patternity and Spirals, which became a new episode of Creative Conversations as well as a bunch of shorts. These were both bigger projects that took up the majority of my time, but they were well worth the effort.

The other projects were created for more immediate short-term promotional purposes. I did a webinar for B&H Photo on how to design your digital ecosystem, which was well attended, and I also did more press, ending up with a great new feature on CanvasRebel. These were lesser in effort and very enjoyable.

🚀 My Favorite Project in September 2024

My favorite project this month was finally wrapping the new video version of my free course The Organizing Formula. It’s been a fan favorite for many years, but it’s always been an email/written course, so it was time for an upgrade. I recorded it twice: once in LA, and once in Chicago. The lighting on the Chicago version wasn’t perfect, but it was way better sound-wise, so that’s the version that stayed.

The purpose of The Organizing Formula is to help my audience understand the difference between getting organized and becoming systematized. It’s quite a stark contrast once you have all the fundamentals in place. It’s meant to help lighten the load for the underdogs who wear all the hats, and show that you don’t need to be “born organized” in order to success. That is something you learn along the way.

If you haven’t yet signed up, I encourage you to do it now, whether you’re a beginner or a more experienced entrepreneur. I’ve had so many advanced creatives go through the course only to tell me that I put something into words that they hadn’t considered before, and that’s the goal. It’s meant to showcase what systems can really do for you when you get a grip on them. For a more organized approach and some bonuses, join the academy. For a completely anonymous run, head over and catch it on YouTube (or stream it below). It’s free in all places, but you have the option for more support in the academy.

⏳ Hours Worked in September 2024

This month, I worked a total of 105.5 hours, which is just over 26 hours per week. It’s close enough to my goal of 25 hours that I’m not going to make any adjustments, but I noted where the discrepancy was, for future reference. It happened in post-production for The Organizing Formula. Last minute, I decided to add captions to all of the videos in order to help them be more successful over time (easier to understand), and that took a lot of extra time, even with A.I. involved.

I know that some people are OK with just letting the A.I. run and have the occasional spelling error or misinterpreted word here or there, but that’s just not my style. If I’m going to do something, it’s going to be with attention to detail. As such, proofing took a bit of extra time, but at least now I’m happy with the result.

⌨️ Digital Images Organized in September 2024 

In September, I captured 1724 photos and videos and saved 1506 of them (only deleting 218).

Most months, I’m culling, editing, and organizing all of my photos just fine. This month, I culled and shared photos with some of the people I saw in person, but I did not organize them. In fact, I still haven’t. Why? Well because there are quite a few photos and videos of people we lost recently, and I’m just not ready to tackle them, so I’m delaying it. I’ll probably do it next month when I’m back home in Chicago.

Here are some of the photos that stood out in September, all from my time in Germany:

Giving yourself grace when things happen is really important, and it’s why us Photo Organizers love to step up for clients who are dealing with a loss. We know just how painful it can be to try and sort those things out when you don’t want to be reminded of the reality. It’s tough, but it’s also necessary. Revisiting the memories is one of the best ways I know how to handle loss, but still, you don’t have to do it right away. It’s OK to take a break first. Unless you’re delegating the task, give yourself a break.

👟 Steps Walked in September 2024 

This month brought 157,595 new steps, and I can be satisfied with that because it’s lightyears from where I was a year ago. However, despite being in Sweden for the majority of September, I didn’t walk as much as I thought I would. I mean, it’s still way more than when in the US, so I’m happy with it, but I can still do better.

I find that my approach to walking is still a bit “all or nothing.” In other words, on some days, I get anywhere between 10K-25K steps in, and then on other days, less than 1K. It’s usually because I have an “on” day or an “off” day at work. On a more “off” day, I spend more time going out, meeting people, and walking around with them. It’s effortless on those days. On days where I work more, I spend most of my time in front of a computer, just sitting still the whole time.

To sustain this going forward, I have to adopt a more balanced approach. Perhaps I’ll experiment with more half-days, so that I do shorter shifts working and then spending more time outside the rest of the day… or vice versa, whichever makes the most sense. Hmmm. For my overall goal of making consistent walking (5K or more per day) a reality, it needs more stability. Right now, it’s still too much of a rollercoaster ride.

Rollercoasting is a sign of not being fully committed to a goal. When you are fully committed to something, you keep going whether or not you feel motivated. It’s just something you do. When you’re not all in, you rely too much on motivation and external factors, and you sometimes hope for a distraction to come along. All of this to say that I still need to connect this goal to a stronger why. I have a regular “why,” but I need a “super why.” One that’s gonna stick better.

🍋 Home-Cooked Meals in September 2024

September was a great month for home-cooked meals (87.2%) because – hold onto your hat – I was home in Sweden for a while. Turns out that having access to a kitchen that you know how to navigate, and shopping in places that you know in order to cook recipes you love makes a big difference. Who would have guessed? 🤣 I did have some help from my family members who are also good cooks, so I didn’t have to do everything myself, and that was great. Lots of progress here!

🎧 Books & Learning in September 2024

This month, I read Guilty By Association by Damion “Damizza” Young. Shoutout to Damizza, by the way – such a great guy! I had never actually read his book before, but since I had plans to see him in LA in October, I thought it would be fun to pick it up and support him. Damizza has been in the radio and music businesses since he was a tween, so he has seen a lot and built a really impressive career from scratch.

This book was a fascinating read. For me – as a highly organized and scheduled person – it’s fascinating to see the other side of operations. The creative industries do a lot things by ear and seem to run entirely off last minute “whatever works right now” approaches, so it’s sometimes just plain miracles that get pulled off. While I’m off planning success to guarantee it, it seems that most people just hope for the best and somehow pull it off anyway. Do we call that destiny, or pure luck? I’m not sure, but since I support so many clients in the those industries, I must navigate it. It’s a strategy that I often struggle to reconcile, but oh well… One can but try.

If you are interested in cool stories, pick up this book and you’ll get a behind-the-scenes glimpse of what it’s like to be in the entertainment industry. It’ll be a fun read, but most of all, you’ll be supporting a good guy. What I really like about Damizza is his willingness to share his opinion, openly and honesty, and have a discussion on any given topic with people who might also disagree with him. He takes care of the people around him without ego, and there’s a lot to be said for that alone. Thank you for all you do, Damizza. You’re such a cool guy, and I really appreciate you. Really fun book to read.

☕️ Meaningful Conversations in September 2024

In September, I brought back my FIKA with Caroline online dates, and they were fun. I hadn’t done them for a bit since I had been traveling, but this month, I had a bit more space for them.

I spoke with three lovely ladies: Debra, Valerie, and Sherol – three people who have all taken me up on various business offerings. So great to catch up and learn more about them outside of work.

If you’re on my mailing list, keep an eye out for the next round of FIKA with Caroline!

If you’re not on there yet, subscribe to get notifications when slots open up. 👊🏻

⭐️ Success Celebrated in September 2024 

Despite the disaster that was September, there are some things we can celebrate – there always is. What I want to highlight is the fact that I got almost 40 new YouTube videos done this month, simply by planning them out and batching them in a smart way. Not only that, but I uploaded most of them as well, and that is something I would not have done some years ago.

I have worked very hard at being more comfortable on camera, and now that I am, it’s fun to see how much can get done in a sitting. It just goes to show that everything gets better with practice. Yes, the production aspect may not be fully formed yet, but I really don’t care about that right now. I am a one-woman production house and getting those videos done rather than worrying about perfect lighting is more important. That’s a win.

😍 This Month’s Favorite Hubs, Tools, Services, & Products

What hubs, tools, products, and services do I use to be more productive? A great question! In an effort to be really transparent, I have a few recommendations below. Some of these are affiliates links, others are not, but I would recommend them regardless – they’re just awesome. Check them out!

Here’s my list of things I loved in September 2024:

• Notion → Where would I be without Notion? Not anywhere close to where I am now, that’s for sure. I run my entire life and business in Notion, so I wholeheartedly recommend this platform. We hosted a Building in Notion (for Beginners) event some time ago, and the replay is available for purchase.
• Airtable → We have used Airtable for many years now – as our main hub before Notion, and now for student-facing databases, external editorial calendars, and intake forms. Love it!
• Forever → This is good platform for storing photo archives. I invested in this company when they were a startup a decade ago, and it has only gotten better since then. We have a workshop coming up on it this year, so stay tuned for more info on that.
• ShowIt → Love ShowIt! It’s the most flexible and best website platform out there, IMO. Plus, it’s run by nice people, which is a plus. I just renewed my own subscription.
• Convertkit → Convertkit is now simply Kit, and I’m not really used to that change yet. I’ll come around, but I’m pretty sure I’m gonna be calling it Convertkit for a while still. Change is hard.
• Lightroom Classic → This is a program I’ve been using for two decades. I teach it and several other solutions in my course DPO PRO. Join us to learn how to use it!
• Teachable → I’ve been a loyal customer with Teachable since back in the early Fedora days, which says a lot about how much I like their platform. It’s a great place to host your courses.
• Circle → Circle is easy to use for everyone – from students to coaches to guests. We love it as our community hub. It stands well on its own, but also integrates nicely with Teachable (see above).
• Trackabi → My new time-tracking platform, which is working out wonderfully so far.
• Toggl → I’ve just switched away from Toggl, but that won’t stop me from recommending it. It’s a great tool to use for time-tracking. The free account can do a lot!
• Audible → I love my Audible subscription for when I’m getting my steps in, and I recommend trying it out if you want to get your learning on. Sign up for a free 30-day trial through my link to get a free book (or 2 free credits if you’re an Amazon prime member!) – cancel anytime!
• Secret → This is a wonderful place for finding deals on software hubs and tools. Who doesn’t love to save some $$$? Invest a little, save a lot! I’ve saved thousands.
• Grove Collaborative → Love my Grove subscription! It saves me so much time because I can restock all my household needs easily. They write sweet messages on each box too! So cute. Get a free gift set by signing up through my affiliate link!
• Almond Cow → In 3 minutes, you can have fresh nut milk. What’s not to love? I miss it so much when I travel. It’s the best thing I’ve ever bought for my kitchen, hands down.
• Nuuly → I get so much use out of Nuuly (my rotating closet subscription service). It’s like shopping, except you never get tired of it. 🙌🏻 Highly recommended! Use my link to save $ on your first order.
• Taja → I really like this AI-driven platform for optimizing YouTube videos. It’s a great starting point for coming up with attention-grabbing headlines, descriptions, keywords, and more.
• Wise → Banking as a digital nomad and international service provider can be a bit tricky, but lately, I’ve enjoyed using Wise to make things easier. If you’re a nomad or course creator, take note.
• Harney & Sons → My favorite tea supplier in the US. They have outstanding quality teas for all tastes and budgets, and they’ve worth trying out! Save $10 on your order using this link.

🫖 Tea of the Month

This month, I am highlighting Art of Tea’s “Feel Better Blend” for all of you out there who needs a pick-me-up cup. It’s a combo of sweet and spicy that perks you up because of it’s citrusy notes and Ayurvedic herbs, regardless of whether you are on Kapha, Pitta, or Vata time. As I mentioned last month, I’ve been in favor of sachet packs lately, so I’ve linked them here for you in case you’d like to try them. Love licorice? I think you’ll like this one.

Art of Tea - Feel Better Blend

Yield: 1 Cup

Prep Time: 1 minute

Cook Time: 7 minutes

Total Time: 8 minutes

This is an Ayurvedic tea that's best enjoyed in the afternoon. It has a base of Green Rooibos tea with a mix of Echinacea, Linden Flowers, Orange Peel, Cinnamon, Fennel, Elderberries, Licorice Root, Raspberries, Neem, and Chili Pepper. If you like spicy teas or licorice, you'll love this one.

Print

Instructions

1. Heat water to 206 F
2. Steep 1 sachet (1 Tbsp) for 5-7 minutes
3. Enjoy!

Notes

Purchase this tea from Art of Tea online.

📐 Measure What Matters

Thanks for reading this report til the end! I hope you enjoyed it. Please remember that productivity is very personal, and you DO NOT have to track the same metrics that I do. Your goals and metrics could be quite different from mine, and that’s OK.

If you’d like to understand where you should be focusing your attention, join us in an upcoming Quarterly Planning Workshop to identify your own goals.

🎬 Prefer to Watch This Report?

• About the Author
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Caroline Guntur Organizing & Productivity Coach

Hi there! I’m Caroline, and I’m here to help you get organized and be more productive, so that you can live better and have time for what matters.

www.theswedishorganizer.com

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