BONUS BRAIN GAINS
CHAOS TO PROCESS
PRIORITIZING
OCTOBER 2024 ISSUE TEN
“Your mind is for having ideas, not holding them”
-David Allen
Author of Getting Things Done
HARMONY IN EVERY HOME
TABLEOF CONTENTS
THE VISION
Creating systems that allow for ideas to flow and manifest.
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Accepting how our unique brains processes information.
A BONUS BRAIN VISUALIZED
My 7 layers of projects in my bonus brain.
A MAGIC WAND OF SEQUENCES
Leveraging apps in methodical and interruptible ways.
A look into the patterns within Allocation Stations. PRIORITIZING VISUALIZED
REMARKABLE RESOURCES
Instagram directory
THEVISION
CREATE
SYSTEMS THAT WORK FOR YOUR PERSONALITY
My Productivity Coach and friend is my featured leader for October. Elise Enriquez is on mission to help business owners move forward what matters most.
As a productivity Coach she’s constantly helping people to learn about their personalities, which while it can be overwhelming; once realized, it brings forth great opportunities.
Personally, I’m an ENFP and enneagram 7 who is also a HSP! I enjoy taking tests to better understand my butterfly-like personality who previously overlooked important projects.
I’m also a recovering people pleaser and a recovering perfectionist. As Halloween nears, be encouraged that our brains don’t have to be a scary place.
LETTERFROMTHEEDITOR
The beauty and
potential
of a bonus brain
I used to really dislike how my brain would fail me. I didn’t understand it and I would constantly judge my own behavior and results.
Elise has taught me a new system of thinking about my brain and now we’re great buddies because I have developed a bonus brain. This falls under the “operations” part of my business and is a system for systems.
Great systems allow our brains to rest, imagine, ponder, and to dream. Poor systems and unorganized chaos can fill our minds with dread and agony.
I’m no longer afraid of the chaos because I now have a way to corral, postpone, delegate or clarify it.
Elise’s program GYST which stands for “Get Your Shit Together” is very approachable for us creatives. She doesn’t put me in a box; she lets me design the box, reorganize it, and have as many as I want!
Learning to accept my personality and harness my bonus brain has been a remarkable gift. I wish everyone could come to accept their imagination, vision and productivity tools as well.
Marcelle Allen
Editor-in-Chief
ABONUSBRAINVISUALIZED
Wisdom in the checklists!
Theiconontheleftisfor “WisdomGuide”andtheoneon therightis“Checklist.”
Overtheyearsofbeing connectedtoElises’scoaching, I’vebeenabletoprocessmy lessons,wadsofinformation,and potentialprojects.Somehave becomebooks,videostopics, speeches,orjustideasforanother season.
Developingthoughtleadership andwritingbooksisn’tsomething wearetaughthowtodoin school.AsIencouragemyclients towrite,brainstorm,capturethe lessons,anddocumenttheirbest stories,it’simportanttohavea printedcopy.
TheWisdomGuideisaplacecapturethe keylessonsforfuturereflectionandteam members.It’snotnecessarilyan operationsguidebook.
Productivity looks different on all of us.
ABONUSBRAIN ABONUSBRAIN
Elise recommends an app called Gqueues where I keep my bonus brain. You can use any software app you want yet this is what our community loves!
In this publication I always have a little visual for 7 key elements of a business. Leadership, Sales, Marketing, Product Development, Financial Management, Customer Service, and Operations.
In my bonus brain I have a file folder-like queue for each category where I then have 5-18 projects around that category.
Actually, I have more than 7 key Queues or folders but these are the core 7 I always refer to.
I love that I can move these up and down so as priorities shift, I can keep the current focus up near the top.
The Smart Queues are time related and I love this feature! It shows me what I told it to show me so I can be reminded to finish the task, or move it out a few days.
These are screenshots from my actual bonus brain. The number to the right of the projects (under Marketing) can totally overwhelm some people. However for me, it’s exciting! Think of it like a wine cellar for ideas and possibilities.
This is the gqueues logo. Click through to check it out.
Want to develop your bonus brain? Consider joining us in Elise’s GYST Community.
Her system is a combination of industry expertise with her own twist of considering our personality types!
Elise is one of the most driven thought leaders I know personally.
Her ability to think, create, consume, lead... think, create, lead is why I joined her community, GYST! Her content always brings value to me and she truly is an example of a remarkable leader in my eyes.
Elise’s headshots by Kelly Anderson Photography.
APRODUCTIVEWAND
In the world of social media, there are no two days that are the same. People are constantly influenced by big media, family changes, personal triumphs and financial opportunities.
Trying to bring my systems into an ever-changing ecosystem has been more of an improv dance than a perfect routine. My checklists definitely guide me and my bonus brain keeps filling up with new ideas. Having navigated several personal and physical hardships, the GYST community has been a safe place to totally change plans, and ask for help more strategically. I wanted to create a visual that speaks to the magic that is able to come as my own creativity fluctuates.
It feels like I have a magic wand for productivity. Even if I have to revisit things months or years later, it’s going to resurface again.
Themagicisindoing Themagicisindoing ssomethingwiththe omethingwiththe iinformation. nformation.
--BenSand
BenSand TEDxPortland TEDxPortland
Micro-task patterns are something I’ve noticed occur as I switch from an app to actual conversations. For example; if I engage in Facebook (a social platform), then take a long walk alone, afterwards I have an actual conversation with someone, then immediately pop back to my "initial project,” my Bonus Brain reminds me of what to do next.
Some people can't avoid distractions but I’ve learned to welcome them and manage them. My Bonus Brain assists me as I braindump all of my circling thoughts, identify things not to forget throughout the day, and more!
Thinking linearly isn’t my favorite way of thinking, this other productive swirl wand on the prior page is a little more how I visualize it. I challenge you to doodle a few strands of your systems you leverage or start noticing which apps your fingers tap and in which order.
If you keep calling Facebook a black hole, it’s a sign you’re not sure what you’re doing there. By using an app like Gqueues, you can login to your favorite social network with a goal, an intention, or a person to invite to collaborate with. You can even use it to store links to come back to or save news articles. You can capture phrases to ponder or re-work another day.
Our brain isn’t suppose to hold it all.
Bonusbrain
Dive into Elise’s podcast! Dive into Elise’s podcast!
Check out Elise’s growing body of work on her website or podcast, The Productivity Shift. All these links are clickable!
ALLOCATE RESPONSIBLY
ELISEHASKINDLYFORCEDMETO REALLYEXAMINEMYPRIORITIES.
It’s easier for me to notice patterns than to pick levels of priority. Can you relate?
One of the things I’ve noticed with launching The Allocation Station and studying the behavior of other women is the wide-variety in allocating styles. Similar to fashion, there are unlimited combinations!
The patterns of how we pay, what we pay for, and if we had planned to make a purchase is mind-boggling. I’ve been playing with this idea of “Choosearella!?” It’s almost Halloween so princess costumes are everywhere!
If the highlighter method was combined into visually stimulating patterns vs raw data; how would it shift our conversations and our strategies around allocating?
If you were to highlight your last 10 choices, what might you notice from those purchase patterns??
This woman, Mrs. W has a priority of FASHION. Circle the decisions that support a priority of fashion.
Travel cruise
Nordstrom shopping spree
Halloween costume
Sneakers
Holiday supplies
Hair balayage Gasoline
Trader Joe’s
Chiropractor
Netflix subscription
Class
Girls Night out
Help others bend time!
Spatially and visually track progress in a way spreadsheets can't.
As your confidence with sales grows and your routines for digitally networking improve, notice the processes that flow and the ones to improve!
Stay well, Marcelle
Foxy Foxy Financials Financials
The Revenue Ringlet
Connect logical information with artistic presentation so you can make decisions quicker and more effectively as you navigate the internet. Check out our mastermind and grow your influence online.
Apply now
Scrollingismorefun withafriendorfamilymember!
Askabuddythesecuriosityquestionsandsee ifyoucanmakeagreatconnectionorreferral.
Check them out and hone your conversational resourcefulness.
All Instagram usernames are clickable or you can use the search feature. Click through to learn about these business resources in our community. Network away! Interview each other. Have some fun with data art discussions.
Behind every username is a wealth of information and sometimes it takes some digging to truly get to where we need or want to go.
DirectoryofRemarkableResources
Want your kids to be strong with a healthy self-esteem?
@activemillcreek
Is your voicemail full?
@answeringservicecare
How has your husband's pornography addiction affected your self confidence?
@bethbrunkcoaching
Tired of drawing your eyebrows on and taking too long to get ready?
@carefree_beautypmu
Do you need custom embroidered swag?
@custommadebyjulie
Have you considered moving to the Pacific Northwest?
@denisepetersonrealtor
Ready to organize and optimize your body of work and leave your legacy behind?
@dreamosity
If you had to list your home in 30 days, would you be ready?
@Elisa_ Hawkinson
Need to strengthen your pelvic floor and feel better in your body?
@empowered_physicaltherapy
Are you ready to be professionally trained in sales?
@eric.lofholm
Get included in our Remarkable Resources Directory Only $50 for 12 months.
Would you like to be exceptional at connecting?
@exceptionalconnections
Ready to ignite your visibility with publicity?
@Fireralker_ PR
Do you know the steps to get your home ready to SELL?
@genevievejonesproperties
Craving fitness encouragement and zoom accountability?
@getkayleanfitness
Need advice about money matters during a divorce?
@karenkoenig
Want to develop your mix of humor and be more confident on stage?
@laftechnw
Ready to invest in Mill Creek?
@mill_ creek _guy
Ready to grow your business connections in Mill Creek?
@millcreekchamber
Hopeful for a safe place to move forward with others who will understand?
@modernwidowsclub
Want to trust yourself more?
@natashaventer_ ac
Ready for some grief resources?
@OfficialGriefWarrior
Would you like to build a sales team and earn referrals?
@pnanorthwest
What does it look like to overcome trauma?
@RebootRecovery
All links click through to Instagram
Want to live a happy life?
@rosannastritzel
If life is a game, who’s writing your rules?
@rwm6f8
Ready to show up visually in your brand?
@silverkeysmedia
Wanttovisitthebestselfcare centerinRentonlaunching Summer2024?
@soakandsagedayspa
What are the popular choices for living situations after 62?
@teresa_ barthol _managing_ broker
Want the best most effective massage of your life?
@wanderinghummingbirdmassage
Network with these remarkable people!
Reflect carefully
Twice a month we review our marketing efforts together, discuss leverage points, and examine results.
Advance enthusiastically
Leverage your sphere of influence in new ways, collaborate creatively, share intentionally and enjoy expanding.
Your data, your medium
Know the data behind your dreams for the week, month, and each quarter. Be able to connect the dots and gain new insights.
