Cultivate: A Grace-Filled Guide to Growing an Intentional Life


Lara Casey - 2017
    Instead they feel inadequate, overwhelmed, paralyzed by fear and insecurity, and are exhausted simply trying to figure out where to begin. “The secret to living a flourishing life isn’t in engineering the perfect circumstances or having it all together. The secret is in the small,” says author and speaker Lara Casey. “It’s easier than you think to cultivate what matters. It all starts with a tiny seed.”Welcome to the journey of getting messy in the rich soil of possibility—embracing imperfect, grace-filled progress to grow a life of joy.Written as part encouragement anthem and part practical guide, Cultivate equips women to uncover and take action on goals that simplify life. Lara's signature “goal gardening” steps release them from the pressure to achieve and gives them freedom to move from planning to planting. Readers will walk through each season, finding balance as they interact in fresh ways with their current life scenarios, with God, and in the communities where they are planted. "You don't have to be perfect; you just have to plant! As you open this book, you are making a decision to leave the dry soil behind. You will lean in . . . and unrush your life. And in the process you will unearth your purpose."Special features includeGoal Gardening Stepsan eight-week Fruitful Goal Gardening Guide with questions for small groupsGardening 101 to start your own real-life flower or vegetable gardenFind the joy and the freedom that comes in cultivating. Cultivate your faith. Don’t fertilize the fear. And watch how your life flourishes in the days ahead!

The First 20 Hours: How to Learn Anything...Fast


Josh Kaufman - 2013
    What’s on your list? What’s holding you back from getting started? Are you worried about the time and effort it takes to acquire new skills—time you don’t have and effort you can’t spare? Research suggests it takes 10,000 hours to develop a new skill. In this nonstop world when will you ever find that much time and energy? To make matters worse, the early hours of prac­ticing something new are always the most frustrating. That’s why it’s difficult to learn how to speak a new language, play an instrument, hit a golf ball, or shoot great photos. It’s so much easier to watch TV or surf the web . . . In The First 20 Hours, Josh Kaufman offers a systematic approach to rapid skill acquisition— how to learn any new skill as quickly as possible. His method shows you how to deconstruct com­plex skills, maximize productive practice, and remove common learning barriers. By complet­ing just 20 hours of focused, deliberate practice you’ll go from knowing absolutely nothing to performing noticeably well. Kaufman personally field-tested the meth­ods in this book. You’ll have a front row seat as he develops a personal yoga practice, writes his own web-based computer programs, teaches himself to touch type on a nonstandard key­board, explores the oldest and most complex board game in history, picks up the ukulele, and learns how to windsurf. Here are a few of the sim­ple techniques he teaches:Define your target performance level: Fig­ure out what your desired level of skill looks like, what you’re trying to achieve, and what you’ll be able to do when you’re done. The more specific, the better.Deconstruct the skill: Most of the things we think of as skills are actually bundles of smaller subskills. If you break down the subcompo­nents, it’s easier to figure out which ones are most important and practice those first.Eliminate barriers to practice: Removing common distractions and unnecessary effort makes it much easier to sit down and focus on deliberate practice.Create fast feedback loops: Getting accu­rate, real-time information about how well you’re performing during practice makes it much easier to improve.Whether you want to paint a portrait, launch a start-up, fly an airplane, or juggle flaming chain­saws, The First 20 Hours will help you pick up the basics of any skill in record time . . . and have more fun along the way.

Radical Homemakers: Reclaiming Domesticity from a Consumer Culture


Shannon Hayes - 2010
    Faced with climate change, dwindling resources, and species extinctions, most Americans understand the fundamental steps necessary to solve our global crises-drive less, consume less, increase self-reliance, buy locally, eat locally, rebuild our local communities. In essence, the great work we face requires rekindling the home fires.Radical Homemakers is about men and women across the U.S. who focus on home and hearth as a political and ecological act, and who have centered their lives around family and community for personal fulfillment and cultural change. It explores what domesticity looks like in an era that has benefited from feminism, where domination and oppression are cast aside and where the choice to stay home is no longer equated with mind-numbing drudgery, economic insecurity, or relentless servitude.Radical Homemakers nationwide speak about empowerment, transformation, happiness, and casting aside the pressures of a consumer culture to live in a world where money loses its power to relationships, independent thought, and creativity. If you ever considered quitting a job to plant tomatoes, read to a child, pursue creative work, can green beans and heal the planet, this is your book.

The Craft of Research


Wayne C. Booth - 1995
    Seasoned researchers and educators Gregory G. Colomb and Joseph M. Williams present an updated third edition of their classic handbook, whose first and second editions were written in collaboration with the late Wayne C. Booth. The Craft of Research explains how to build an argument that motivates readers to accept a claim; how to anticipate the reservations of readers and to respond to them appropriately; and how to create introductions and conclusions that answer that most demanding question, “So what?” The third edition includes an expanded discussion of the essential early stages of a research task: planning and drafting a paper. The authors have revised and fully updated their section on electronic research, emphasizing the need to distinguish between trustworthy sources (such as those found in libraries) and less reliable sources found with a quick Web search. A chapter on warrants has also been thoroughly reviewed to make this difficult subject easier for researchers Throughout, the authors have preserved the amiable tone, the reliable voice, and the sense of directness that have made this book indispensable for anyone undertaking a research project.

Voluntary Simplicity: Toward a Way of Life That is Outwardly Simple, Inwardly Rich


Duane Elgin - 1981
    Now, more than ten years later and with many of the planet's environmental stresses having become more urgent than ever, Duane Elgin has revised and updated his revolutionary book.Voluntary Simplicity is not a book about living in poverty; it is a book about living with balance. It illuminates the pattern of changes that an increasing number of Americans are making in their everyday lives -- adjustments in day-to-day living that are an active, positive response to the complex dilemmas of our time. By embracing, either partially or totally, the tenets of voluntary simplicity -- frugal consumption, ecological awareness, and personal growth -- people can change their lives. And in the process, they have the power to change the world. First published in 1981, Voluntary Simplicity was instantly recognized as a visionary work. The New York Times called it "seminal"; the Wall Street Journal noted that it was "considered the movement's Bible." Revised in 1993 to address the trend toward downshifting, this pertinent book helps us to adjust our thoughts, habits, and goals and embrace the key elements of simplicity: frugal consumption, ecological awareness and personal growth.

The Mindset of Organization: Take Back Your House One Phase at a Time


Lisa K. Woodruff - 2016
     • Get rid of everything that doesn’t spark joy. • Color coordinate your wardrobe. Um, yeah. I print emails, keep kids’ school papers, and my wardrobe is anything that fits and isn’t too revealing. And yet, I’m organized. There really is no denying that as you move through the various stages of your life, your organizational needs and the demands on your time will change. What phase of life are you in? I am 44 and in the survival phase of life (40–55). I’d be more organized if I didn’t live in my car and spend every other minute working or taking care of the house. Maybe you are in the accumulation phase of life (21–40). Every time you get an organizational system working, you add something new. A new spouse, a new baby, a new job, a new house . . . You’d be more organized if things would stop changing every three months. What about the baby boomers (55+)? The kids are gone, but now you’re left with a house full of memories—and lots of stuff. What do you want? What do the kids want? And what about what’s left over? Most organizational books on the market profess to have a one-size-fits-all solution to home organization. This one does not. I’m a former teacher, professional organizer, and productivity coach, and I know that organization is more than just 15-minute daily tasks or cute ways to use fun containers. As a generation translator and problem solver, I have been able to help hundreds of women in Cincinnati, Ohio—and thousands of women around the world—get their homes organized and keep them that way. Understanding which phase of life you are in will enable you to: • Identify the unique organizational challenges you’ll face. • Implement lasting organizational solutions. • Acquire and develop the skills you need to get organized. • Deal with the emotional clutter in your storage rooms. This is the home organization book that will make the rest of the books in your collection make sense.

Quit Talking, Start Doing! Motivate Yourself When No One Else Can: Get Over Procrastination and Boost Productivity towards Success (Productivity Tips, Getting Things Done, Habit Hacks)


Kathy Collins - 2015
    You know you should go to the gym, but you stay at home and watch TV. You know that it’s time to do the homework, but you went online and check Facebook. You know you should make a business plan today, but you decide to do it tomorrow. In this book, not only you will know why we always put things off, why you keep what you’ve been doing but also how to overcome procrastination. At the end of this book, you’ll be able to change your ways to get things done, be more productive and achieve more of your goals. It’s not that hard to stop procrastinating. The first step in overcoming any procrastination you face is to understand why you are procrastinating. Several reason why we procrastinate are listed below: #1 Unpleasant Task #2 Lack of Interest #3 Lack of Initiative #4 Task is Not Important #5 Don’t Have Time #6 Requires Major Effort #7 Fear of Failure #8 Fear of Success #9 Fear of Finishing Motivate Yourself: Getting Over Procrastination It is not about management only, you have to be motivated first to get started: After you get started, it does not end there. You have to motivate yourself to finish it and get things done. How to? Take Inspired Action: Plan your day ahead Prioritize Avoid Excuses Focus on One task at a Time Break Big Tasks into Smaller Pieces Make it time-framed. Set deadlines. Challenge Yourself Aim Higher Use Time Blocks Avoid Distraction in the Middle of Doing a Certain Task Self-Discipline Have Daily Routines and Habits Clean your house. Literally! Generously reward yourself. Download this book right now and be versed why you procrastinate and how to stop procrastination within you. Take Action and BUY this book before price rises to $4.99 in no time. Scroll to the top of the page and select the buy button. Tags: beat procrastination, productivity hacks, productivity ninja, habit power, stop being lazy,improve your life, stop procrastination,time management, affirmations, self help,

Simply Tuesday: Small-Moment Living in a Fast-Moving World


Emily P. Freeman - 2015
    We move through the week breathless and bustling, just trying to keep up while longing to slow down. But real life happens in the small moments, the kind we find on Tuesday, the most ordinary day of the week. Tuesday carries moments we want to hold onto--as well as ones we'd rather leave behind. It hold secrets we can't see in a hurry--secrets not just for our schedules but for our souls. It offers us a simple bench on which to sit, observe, and share our stories. For those being pulled under by the strong current of expectation, comparison, and hurry, relief is found more in our small moments than in our fast movements. In "Simply Tuesday," Emily P. Freeman helps readers - stop dreading small beginnings and embrace today's work- find contentment in the now--even when the now is frustrating or discouraging- replace competition with compassion- learn to breathe in a breathless world Jesus lived small moments well, slow moments fully, and all moments free. He lives with us still, on all our ordinary days, creating and redeeming the world both in us and through us, one small moment at a time. It's time to take back Tuesday, to release our obsession with building a life, and believe in the life Christ is building in us--every day.

How to Stay Alive in the Woods: A Complete Guide to Food, Shelter and Self-Preservation Anywhere


Bradford Angier - 1956
    Broken down into four essential sections, Sustenance, Warmth, Orientation and Safety, this enlightening manual reveals how to catch game without a gun, what plants to eat (full-color illustrations of these make identification simple), how to build a warm shelter, make clothing, protect yourself and signal for help. Detailed illustrations and expanded instructions offer crucial information at a glance, making How to Stay Alive in the Woods truly a lifesaver.

Household DIY: Save Time and Money with Do It Yourself Hints & Tips on Furniture, Clothes, Pests, Stains, Residues, Odors and More!


Jesse Jacobs - 2013
    Regularly priced at $4.99. Read on your PC, Mac, smart phone, tablet or Kindle device.This book contains proven steps and strategies on how you can do your own household maintenance activities without seeking help from professionals. This book contains tips ranging from the manufacture of your own cleaning and hygiene products, stain removal and odor control. There are also some home and garden projects, as well as home improvement and craft ideas you'll find interesting and useful. This book teaches you simple DIY techniques and tricks that can be easily done by the average person. There are even some simple projects included that can be done at home which would not only be cost effective but financially rewarding as well! Here is a preview of what you'll learn: *DIY Home*DIY Cleaning Solutions*DIY Gardening*DIY Furniture Restoration*DIY Odor Management*DIY Personal Hygiene Products*DIY Solutions to Clothing Problems*DIY Crafts for Homeowners*And Much, Much More! Would you like to know more? Download the book now and start saving money today!Scroll to the top of the page and select the "Buy" button.Tags: do it yourself magazine, do it yourself home improvement, do it yourself books, do it yourself free kindle books, DIY projects, DIY furniture, DIY books

Psycho-Cybernetics, A New Way to Get More Living Out of Life


Maxwell Maltz - 1960
    So are failure and misery. But negative habits can be changed--and Psycho-Cybernetics shows you how!This is your personal audio guide to the amazing power of Psycho-Cybernetics--a program based on one of the world s classic self-help books, a multimillion-copy bestseller proven effective by readers worldwide. Presenting positive attitude as a means for change, Maltz s teaching has the ring of common sense. Psycho-Cybernetics-is the original text that defined the mind/body connection the concept that paved the way for most of today s personal empowerment programs. Turn crises into creative opportunities, dehypnotize yourself from false beliefs, and celebrate new freedom from fear and guilt.Testimonials and stories are interspersed with advice from Maltz, as well as techniques for relaxation and visualization. Dr. Maxwell Maltz teaches you his techniques of emotional surgery --the path to a dynamic new self-image and self-esteem and to achieving the success and happiness you deserve!

Doing Good Better: How Effective Altruism Can Help You Make a Difference


William MacAskill - 2015
    We donate our time and money to charities and causes we deem worthy, choose careers we consider meaningful, and patronize businesses and buy products we believe make the world a better place. Unfortunately, we often base these decisions on assumptions and emotions rather than facts. As a result, even our best intentions often lead to ineffective—and sometimes downright harmful—outcomes. How can we do better? While a researcher at Oxford, trying to figure out which career would allow him to have the greatest impact, William MacAskill confronted this problem head on. He discovered that much of the potential for change was being squandered by lack of information, bad data, and our own prejudice. As an antidote, he and his colleagues developed effective altruism, a practical, data-driven approach that allows each of us to make a tremendous difference regardless of our resources. Effective altruists believe that it’s not enough to simply do good; we must do good better. At the core of this philosophy are five key questions that help guide our altruistic decisions: How many people benefit, and by how much? Is this the most effective thing I can do? Is this area neglected? What would have happened otherwise? What are the chances of success, and how good would success be? By applying these questions to real-life scenarios, MacAskill shows how many of our assumptions about doing good are misguided. For instance, he argues one can potentially save more lives by becoming a plastic surgeon rather than a heart surgeon; measuring overhead costs is an inaccurate gauge of a charity’s effectiveness; and, it generally doesn’t make sense for individuals to donate to disaster relief. MacAskill urges us to think differently, set aside biases, and use evidence and careful reasoning rather than act on impulse. When we do this—when we apply the head and the heart to each of our altruistic endeavors—we find that each of us has the power to do an astonishing amount of good.

Simple Rules: How to Thrive in a Complex World


Donald Sull - 2015
    We have too much email, juggle multiple remotes, and hack through thickets of regulations from phone contracts to health plans. But complexity isn’t destiny. Sull and Eisenhardt argue there’s a better way. By developing a few simple yet effective rules, people can best even the most complex problems.   In Simple Rules, Sull and Eisenhardt masterfully challenge how we think about complexity and offer a new lens on how to cope. They take us on a surprising tour of what simple rules are, where they come from, and why they work. The authors illustrate the six kinds o f rules that really matter - for helping artists find creativity and the Federal Reserve set interest rates, for keeping birds on track and Zipcar members organized, and for how insomniacs can sleep and mountain climbers stay safe.   Drawing on rigorous research and riveting stories, the authors ingeniously find insights in unexpected places, from the way Tina Fey codified her experience at Saturday Night Live into rules for producing 30 Rock (rule five: never tell a crazy person he’s crazy) to burglars’ rules for robbery (“avoid houses with a car parked outside”) to Japanese engineers mimicking the rules of slime molds to optimize Tokyo’s rail system. The authors offer fresh information and practical tips on fixing old rules and learning new ones.   Whether you’re struggling with information overload, pursuing opportunities with limited resources, or just trying to change your bad habits, Simple Rules provides powerful insight into how and why simplicity tames complexity.

Simplify Your Work Life: Ways to Change the Way You Work So You Have More Time to Live


Elaine St. James - 2001
    Elaine St. James' Simplify series has taught the world how to start doing less and enjoying it more. Now Elaine teaches us to balance one of life's most difficult areas: the work world. Filled with tremendously helpful advice, and easy yet profoundly smart suggestions, her new book shows us big and small ways to scale down and simplify life on the job, such as:Breaking the habit of bringing work home from the officeEstimating the time it will take to complete a project, then double the estimateCutting back on the amount of time you spend workingLearning how to make the right decisions quicklyWritten in the same upbeat, relaxed, and matter-of-fact tone that won millions of readers to the simplicity movement, Simplify Your Work Life is certain to attract even more followers. Elaine's syndicated weekly column Simplify Your Life is carried in 50 newspapers nationwide and is read by more than 2 million fans each week.

The Happy Closet


Annmarie O'Connor - 2015
    Bet you didn t see it. Well, guess what? You re not alone. You need closet therapy.The Happy Closet will help you transform your wardrobe (and your mind) into an organised and clutter-free space, ensuring you dress for the person you are today and never again utter the ill-fated words, I have nothing to wear .In this inspirational book you ll find out how to move past the unconscious hoarding patterns in your personality. You will learn how to go from collecting rails of clothes you rarely wear to shopping effectively and building a wardrobe that works for you, whatever your lifestyle. Once your clothes are in order you will feel more confident, more in control and less anxious.This is a book for anyone who has ever wanted to have more with less. Get ready. It s time to create a happy closet!"