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THIS WEEK'S TOPIC:
Want clarity? Eliminate 5 Types of Clutter that Steal Your Focus

*Welcome to our 183 new subscribers since last week! To invite others to subscribe, email them the newsletter or send them to
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IN THE NEWS:

* NEW COACHING GROUP TO BEGIN IN SEPTEMBER -- I am launching a small
coaching group this fall for those interested in overcoming emotional
spending and taking control of their financial life. Interested in
registering? Send an email to richminds@valorieburton.com with the
subject line "Group Coaching" and you will be among the first to
receive the details. Details will be sent on or before this Friday.

* VIRGINIA BEACH, VA - The 700 Club, August 17th, Live at 9:00 am
EST. Repeats at 11:00 pm EST.
Tune in to The 700 Club. I will be a guest with Pat Robertson.
Visit www.cbn.com to get your local listings.

* WASHINGTON, DC - August 20, 2005, 2:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Keynote speaker, Spiritually Speaking Tea & Talk
The Madison Hotel, 15th & M Street NW, Washington, DC. To purchase
tickets ($45), visit http://www.spirituallyspeak.com/registration.htm
.
*WPGC-AM HEAVEN 1580 - I am the "resident" life coach for Washington,
DC's Heaven 1580 radio station. You can hear me on Mondays at 3:05
p.m.

* LIFE COACHING: Ready to make a change or reach a new goal? Visit
http://www.valorieburton.com/executive.html to learn more about
personal and professional coaching and to schedule a coaching session.

* NOW SCHEDULING 2006 SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS!
If you lead a ministry or organization and want to schedule a date,
fill out your request at http://www.valorieburton.com/request.html or
contact Angie Steele at angie@valorieburton.com .

* CONNECT WITH OTHER RICH MINDS E-NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIBERS
Read and post your messages in the Message Forum at
http://pub23.bravenet.com/forum/1950087918 .

For more schedule information, visit
http://www.valorieburton.com/vevents.html .
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THIS WEEK'S TOPIC:
Want clarity? Eliminate 5 Types of Clutter that Steal Your Focus

Dear Friends,

In the last eight weeks, I've been to Los Angeles, Houston, Tampa, Atlanta, Louisiana and South Carolina; hosted a weekend retreat in Washington, DC; and enjoyed a ten-day visit from my mom and 12-year old brother. To say the least, it's been a whirlwind summer! In the process of being unusually busy, I've accumulated some clutter in my office - so the newsletter this week is as much for you as it is for me. I'll be clearing my clutter over the next seven days - and I invite you to join me by clearing some space in your own environments.

Clutter is one of the greatest thieves of clarity, focus, energy and productivity. Have you ever noticed how much easier it is to get things done and think clearly when your environment is free of clutter? Enlist the help of your family, co-workers, or employees to clear clutter at work, home and in the car - the three areas where you spend the majority of your time. Most importantly, schedule some time in the next seven days - even it is only 30 minutes - to clear your clutter! What specifically should you clear and why?

1. Stuff you don't use anymore.
Are you holding on to things you don't use? Look around your office, home and car. What could you give away (if it's in good condition) or throw away (because it's broken or in bad shape)? Many people hold on to things out of fear that they will need them in the future. It's a fear of not having enough. Don't allow that fear to cause you to clutter your environment. Be willing to let go of things when you no longer need them or use them.

2. Projects you are procrastinating on.
You may not think of it as clutter, but that old to-do list that keeps rolling over in your head everyday is clutter for your brain. Either drop the projects, complete them now, or give yourself a new and reasonable deadline.

3. Too much stuff in too little space.
If you are one of the many who crams everything into your space, it's time to make room in your environment. From your desk at work to your bathroom counters, overcrowding your space can leave you feeling mentally overcrowded. Psychologically speaking, when you make space in your environment, you make room for more of what you want in your life.

4. Mess, junk, and stuff that is in disarray!
When things are completely out of order, it is more difficult to plan, strategize, think or take action effectively. Before ending your day, take five minutes to put things in order - at work, home and in your car - so that you can start fresh the next day.

5. Things you don't like.
Is there anything in your car, home or office that you simply don't like? Your environments should inspire you, not depress, frustrate or irritate you. Make sure your environments are filled with the sites, scents and sounds you love most.

My challenge to you this week:
Set aside some time (whether it's five minutes or five hours!) to clear clutter in your environment in the area that stress you most.

Journaling assignment:
What specifically causes you stress in your environments (home, work, car)? What are you willing to do to enhance your environment so that it energizes you rather than causing you stress?

Until next time ...

Warm wishes,

Valorie

P.S. Encourage your friends and family by sharing this newsletter and invite others to subscribe! Just send them to
http://www.valorieburton.com where they can enter their email address on the home page.

Valorie Burton, a life coach and speaker, is the author of Listen to
Your Life, Rich Minds, Rich Rewards and her latest, What's Really
Holding You Back?. She has been interviewed by CNN, InStyle, Self,
Real Simple, Ebony, Essence, Black Enterprise, The 700 Club, The Los
Angeles Times, and hundreds of other media outlets nationwide.
Subscribe to her FREE, inspirational e-newsletter at
www.valorieburton.com.

To schedule an introductory coaching session with Valorie, visit
http://www.valorieburton.com/executive.htm.
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Please feel free to forward the Rich Minds, Rich Rewards E-Newsletter
to friends and colleagues, but please forward in its entirety.
The Rich Minds, Rich Rewards E-Newsletter is written and distributed
by Inspire, Inc. Copyright (c) 2005 Valorie Burton. All rights
reserved. http://www.ValorieBurton.com .

Send mail to:
Valorie Burton
INSPIRE, INC.
938 E. Swan Creek Road #202
Fort Washington, MD 20744