Win the Race Against the Clock!

As a working mother of two, it seems I am always pressed for time; and constantly on the hunt for sage advice, tricks and tips to make it all go a little more smoothly. I was determined to take action and finally win the race against the clock and I created a book to do just that. My first step was to identify 100 areas where we could all use some speed. I asked friends, strangers and colleagues to tell me what it was that they wanted to do faster. I then tapped into 100 world leading experts; authorities in fields from home and health to work, relationships, and style, to write chapters on their areas of expertise. The result is The Experts’ Guide to Doing Things Faster (Random House) It took two years to put it together but it was worth the wait! Every time a chapter was turned in, my life changed just a bit; I was better at getting through airport security when traveling, I found it easier to cook a meal fast and I tackled my To Do list with (relative!) ease. To pack the book with the right advice, I cold called household names and industry leaders and convinced them to write Cliffs Notes on their subjects – Richard Branson on how to get a loan, Laura Mercier on applying makeup and Hannah Storm on getting ready in the morning. The topics range from how to find your calling by Richard Bolles, author of What Color is Your Parachute, to how to find a spouse by Janis Spindel, a world renowned matchmaker.

My favrorite tips from the book are always changing but here are some of my current favorites:

1.To make your home more appealing to prospective buyers, pack or store two-thirds of your things including furniture.
-How to sell a home (By Barbara Corcoran, real estate maven and Founder, The Corcoran Group)

2.Establish a mail sorting station in your home, sort immediately and touch each piece only once.
-How to sort mail (by Peter Walsh, Oprah’s favorite organizer)

3.The optimal room temperature for sleeping is 68-72 degrees.
-How to fall asleep (by Michael Breus aka The Sleep Doctor)

4.Smile and laugh as you enter a room to make a great first impression.
a.–How to make yourself memorable (by Nicholas Boothman, author of How to Make People Like You in 90 Seconds or Less)

5.When searching for a lost object remember that objects tend to travel less than 18 inches from their original location.
- How find a lost object (by Michael Solomon, leading Findologist)

Samantha Ettus is a best selling author and on-air correspondent who is best known for bringing together a mix of celebrities and industry leaders to impart their wisdom and advice to fans of her broadcast and written endeavors. Connect with her at www.expertsmedia.com