Our brains love questions, so let’s get your brain stimulated by a few questions:

1. Do you ever wonder where your time goes?
   
2. Do you find yourself not getting things done that are important to you?
   
3. Do you sometimes feel stuck?

If you answered “yes” to any of those questions, then small steps could change your life.

First, start by making a list of what gets in the way of managing your time and areas where you get stuck.

Second, let’s take a look at how small steps work.  Kaizen is a Japanese word that is synonymous with small steps.  In the book One Small Step Can Change Your Life by Robert Maurer, Ph.D., the author explains that small steps work because they disarm our brain’s fear response.

When we want to make a change and get stuck, it’s because a small structure in our midbrain called the amygdala has been activated.  The amygdala is a very important structure because it controls our fight or flight or freeze response.  We need this structure when we are in danger, but it gets activated when we want to make changes, even positive changes.  When that happens, we lose access to the thinking part of our brain called the prefrontal cortex.

By taking kaizen steps, we don’t wake up the amygdala and we maintain access to our cortex so our brain can begin to create new neural pathways that build new habits.

It’s very important to remember that kaizen steps have to be VERY small!  Dr. Mauer says the steps need to be so small that you are as certain you can take them as you are that the sun will rise tomorrow.

Third, let’s look at three key time management strategies that can help you use your time effectively.  These are the Three S Strategies for making time for success.

1. Start with a small step and remember Dr. Maurer’s definition of how small the step needs to be.  If you’re stuck, ask yourself, “What’s the smallest step I can take right now to move me forward?”
2. Set an appointment with yourself to take that step.  Put that appointment on your calendar or in your smart phone.  Then take the step.
3. Set a timer to take that step.  A timer creates boundaries for things that seem overwhelming.  Only work for a short period of time – your small step might be filing paper for 5 minutes.  A timer can help you sprint – race the clock to see how many papers you can file in 5 minutes.

Fourth, go back and look at the list of your time management challenges or areas where you get stuck.  Select just one to get started.  Now brainstorm some ideas for small kaizen steps you could take.  Then answer these questions:

¨       What will success look like after you’ve taken your kaizen steps many, many times?  (Remember what Stephen Covey, the author of The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People says.  “Begin with the end in mind.”)

¨       What is the one small step you will take?

¨       When are you going to start? 

¨       What support do you need?

Finally remember the words of Marilyn Paul in her book It’s Hard to Make a Difference When You Can’t Find Your Keys: “Small steps actually taken lead to more progress than great steps that never happen.”

Submitted by Kathie England, Certified Organize Coach® and Certified Professional Organizer®, from Time for Success, Inc., and speaker at the Professional Women’s Groups in February 2012 

Over the past 13 years we have gotten to know our donors as if they were family. Today, we learned that one of our dedicated donors, Cindy Hamilton, passed away on February 6, 2012. Deanna Jones, came in this afternoon with her clothing and requested that we pass along this message to our supporters:

"Today I'm here in memory of Cindy J. Hamilton, who donated and gave to this wonderful organization to help women get the chance they deserve to succeed in life."

It is because of the dedication and love of our supporters like Cindy that we are able to help so many in our community. Thank you, you will be missed!

We hope you had a wonderful Valentine's Day filled with love, friendship and of course lots of chocolate. Now it's time to get serious - about your heart!

Join Kimberlee Buckingham, Mrs. Oregon International as she presents
A Heart Healthy Event
in support of the American Heart Association Go Red for Women®

WHEN: February 27th 12:00pm - 2:00pm
WHERE: Dress for Success Oregon, 1532 NE 37th Ave, Portland, Oregon
RSVP: Patty McMahon at pattym@dressforsuccessoregon.org



SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
Noon - 12:30pm -  Light Hors D'oeuvres & Refreshments. Networking with the American Heart Association, Dress for Success Oregon and Mrs. Oregon International contestants followed by the 

12:30pm - 1:15pm -  Go Red for Women® Presentation
1:15pm - 2:00pm - Continue networking and Heart Healthy questions, answers and tests.

Any questions: Please contact Kimberlee Buckingham by phone at 503.880.1496 or by email at kj@kimberleejo.com

Want a sneak peak? Take a look at the myths and realities of women and heart disease below!

This weekend when you bring in a clothing or accessory donation for Dress for Success Oregon to Silverado you'll receive 15% off on jewelry and 10% off any non-jewelry item! 

SILVERADO SUIT DRIVE FOR DRESS FOR SUCCESS OREGON

We had a busy afternoon today. A group of volunteers from The Standard came into help out around the store - and we must say, it is looking fantastic in here!

From cleaning the store to assembling information packets for our Professional Women's Group we are feeling organized and ready to take on a full day of appointments tomorrow.

Pictured -  Nova, Nancy and Amanda took on a special project of preparing new work totes that will be given to each of our clients who come back for their second appointment after receiving their job. 

We can't thank you ladies enough for all of your hard work today and your commitment to helping low-income women in our community get back to work!

_ My name is Paula and I am a client of Dress for Success Oregon.  I want to share my story—in my own words--with you. I hope it inspires and touches all hearts that it may apply to, telling it strengthens my own personal journey. I won’t go into all the details of my life, but I will give you a brief background of my road of self-destruction.  From what I can remember my childhood was okay up until the age of four, it was at that time I was sexually abused by my mom’s (third) husband and his best friend.

The abuse would go on for years until my mom met another man who told her he hated kids and that it was either him or me. At 11 years old my mom marched me down to DHS and gave me away. 

I was put into the system and passed around to various group and foster homes. Without any positive parental guidance, I was out of control and on the streets of Seattle doing everything from drugs to prostitution and constantly going in and out of jail.

In June of 2008 I got the wake-up call I needed, I was pregnant. I decided things had to change. I moved to Portland to remove myself from the influences and enablers of my past life and went into a long term treatment program. I finally found peace with myself and was able to address the issues that took me into a world of destruction. 

Through the Steps to Success program I was referred to Dress for Success Oregon in October of 2010 to help me make the transition into the workforce. Dress for Success gave me hope and support, and most of all, they gave me a chance.   In fact, I got one of the very few internships at Dress for Success Oregon.  For the last year, I have worked with this incredible group of women and learned job skills and professional habits-- and I have been able to show them that I am responsible and ready for work. 

In the fall of 2011, I joined Dress for Success’s Going Places Network an intense job preparation program. I learned how to look for a job and address my past with potential employers. With their support, I just got a job!  

I have grown so much here. Dress for Success Oregon gives women power and control over their lives. I have never felt so good about myself and who I am.  Today my son and I live in our own apartment and, for the first time, I feel positive about our future…I know I will never go on public assistance again!
 
I am proud to tell people that I am a part of Dress for Success and everything they stand for. I am asking you to make Dress for Success Oregon one of the organizations that you help this year. Every day this amazing organization is helping women like me get out of poverty and stand on our own. With your support they can continue to grow to address the overwhelming need in Oregon and SW Washington.
 
I hope this story opens your heart because nobody can do this alone and I am so very appreciative that someone took the time to help me.  My life—and my son’s life—are forever changed.
 
With gratitude,
Paula L’Heureux
Dress for Success Oregon Client – 2010 to present

There are only 2 weeks left to make a contribution to Dress for Success Oregon through the Willamette Week Give! Guide!  And yet, there are still several opportunities to receive gifts and incentives for doing so.  Check these out:

Friday, Dec. 16: Tonsorial Day — Twenty lucky donors (male and female) will receive coupons good for free haircuts at Bishops Barbershops. Eleven locations in the Portland metro area.

Monday, Dec. 19: Rogue Blowout — Two lucky donors will receive full mixed cases of distilled spirits from Rogue Distillery, and six winners will receive one bottle each of Rogue's fine spirits. Winners can pick up their prizes in time for Christmas Eve.

Saturday, Dec. 24: Kiehl's Day — One lucky male donor and one lucky female donor will receive special skincare packages from Kiehl's in NW Portland.

We at Dress for Success Oregon have many wishes for our clients.  We wish them the pride, strength and sense of fulfillment that comes from being financially self-sufficient.  And we wish them the self-confidence that comes from knowing how to present oneself in a polished and professional way.  To assist them in achieving these things we have come up with a "Holiday Wish List" of our own!  We invite all our supporters to help us make our dreams for our clients come true, by contributing an item or two from the following list to Dress for Success Oregon this holiday season!              

         
HOLIDAY WISH LIST


GENERAL

• iPad - This will be used as a community outreach and education tool about our programs. This will be a great way for us to save on printing costs of brochures and handouts!    
• Bus Tickets / Passes
• TV & DVD Player
• Laminator

CLOTHING

• Winter Jackets
• Winter Hats
• Winter Gloves
• Winter Scarves 
  
• Professional Clothing (00 - 6)
• Professional Plus-Size Clothing (Size 16 and above)
• Earrings (Classic Styles appropriate for the workplace)                                 
• Handbags   most needed -  briefcases, make-up bags
• Hair and makeup supplies  (must be new and in sealed packages)  most needed - blush, eye liner, brushes  
• Belts
• Umbrellas                                       
  

Make a Financial Donation and support our Career Center expansion that is planned to open in 2012!

Our holiday tree is up and it is adorable!  Check it out on the first level at Lloyd Center (next to the Legacy Fundland play area).  When you shop at Lloyd Center between Nov. 25th and Dec. 24th you can take your receipts to the Customer Service Desk and receive one token per receipt of $5 or more.  Each token represents 50 cents that you can then donate by putting them in the entry box next to the Dress for Success holiday tree.  Get your holiday shopping done and support your favorite nonprofit all at the same time!  Truly a win-win proposition!