017 - Morning Calls, Task Jars, Routines, Reflections, and Colorful Highlights

Here’s a breakdown of the topics Stephanie and I discussed in this episode:

• Math Tutoring Connections

  Stephanie shared how she is helping connect our son Matthew, who is a math and education major, with someone in our HOA looking for a tutor. It was a fun little moment as she was wrapping up her text while I started the episode without giving her a heads-up!

• McKenna's Morning Call

  Stephanie had a beautiful moment with our daughter, McKenna, who called her in the morning to say how much she missed her. It made Stephanie’s entire day to hear McKenna express how overwhelmed she was with missing her mom.

• Morning Routine Adjustments

  We talked about our first week of going back to the gym together at 7:30 a.m. every weekday since her injury to her arm a few months back. I shared how this shift impacted my morning routine and how I’ve integrated creativity and focus into my gym time.

• Stephanie's Idea for a Task Jar

  Stephanie shared her new idea to manage her overwhelming to-do list by creating a “task jar.” The concept is simple: she will write tasks on slips of paper, put them in the jar, and let someone else (or the jar itself) decide what she’ll focus on each day.

• Kindle Colorsoft Review

  Stephanie talked about her new Kindle Colorsoft and how much she loves seeing book covers in color. She’s also excited about highlighting text in different colors.

• Language and Mindset in Task Management

  We had a discussion about how language impacts our feelings toward tasks. A simpIe shift from saying, “These things have to get done” to “These are things I strongly desire to see completed” can make a huge difference in mindset and reduce overwhelm.

• Reading Books Together

  Stephanie and I talked about the idea of reading a book together and discussing it. We reflected on our past experiences with books like Twilight (which worked well for us) and The Big Leap (which didn’t). After some discussion, we decided on Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance as our next shared reading project.

• Separate Sleeping Arrangements

  We also talked about our sleeping arrangements when Maggie (our grand-dog) is visiting. Stephanie pointed out how I’ve been sleeping in McKenna’s room during these visits, and I admitted I don’t mind at all. In fact, I even enjoy having my own space to listen to various types of audio before bed. Stephanie joked that in our dream house, we’ll have two master bedrooms, and honestly, I’m totally on board with that idea!

  This episode was a mix of heartfelt moments, personal reflections, and practical ideas. Until next time, keep building your life and business together!