There are a few things about me that fascinate people: my intense love of chocolate, my left-handedness (which pretty much equates me with being a unicorn), and how I manage to juggle so much in my life.

For instance, here's what's going on right now:
1. I'm working on a six-book series ("Confidentially Yours" with Harper Collins), the first two books of which are due in September.
2. I've got a separate book coming out next spring ("Colonial Madness" with Aladdin) that I'll need to start marketing come this fall.
3. I've got a day job where I'm training myself to become an Excel guru and learning some new reporting functions.
4. I'm having a house built and meeting with the builder to go over details, working on the financing, decorating, etc etc
5. I'm working on my general business acumen so I can build my brand (aka me).

How do I do all this? I've got a very strong Type A personality.
Obviously, my methodology and work ethic isn't for everybody, but take what you need if it inspires you:

1. See things in black and white. Gray areas are dangerous, because they're full of ambivalence and maybes.
If something is not a definite, it can't be counted on. Don't accept maybes, and don't schedule your life based on them.

2. Put yourself and your family first. If your mental, physical and emotional health aren't at peak levels, you're not going to be on top of your game and you'll have less to contribute to others.
No matter what happens, YOU will always be there for you and so will your loved ones. Don't neglect the important things.

3. Don't be afraid to say, "No." The Type A mentality is generally to take on more than you can handle, but everyone has a breaking point. Yes, you love socializing with friends and taking on new projects, but inevitably something's gotta give. Worthwhile people will understand when you've reached your limit because, again, everyone has one.

4. Don't be afraid to say, "Help!" This can also be hard for Type A personalities, because they feel like they're admitting defeat if they need help. But it's NOT that you can't do it by yourself. Eventually you'd find a way, you genius, you! It's just often quicker when there are two or more brains/brawns involved.

5. Prioritize. Know what you need to keep your life on course. People who tell you money isn't important are fools. You need money to buy food and pay for shelter. Your top priority? Doing what will produce definite income. This is why I keep my day job.

6. Be grateful. You've got a lot to do? Thank God! People ask for your time/help because they recognize your worth. You are an asset, adding value to the world around you. Be grateful for a busy life and the things that make it busy.

7. Make lists. I got this from my dad. He makes lists of the things he needs to accomplish each day so he can visualize how his day should go. As he accomplishes a task he gets the satisfaction of crossing it out.

8. Keep a calendar. My mom keeps two (I keep three), and I know it should be common sense, but so many people still miss birthdays and appointments and deadlines because they forgot to write it down. Like making a list, a calendar is a top-level look at what your life is like. It says, "Here's your month. If I were you, I wouldn't schedule anything for next weekend."

9. Put a price on your time. Your time has a value. It is a precious commodity that gets folded into the opportunity cost of pursuing a project. For example, if you spend 20 minutes looking at Facebook, that's 20 minutes you didn't spend outlining that new novel. Was the profit you made from looking at Facebook worth the cost of your time? No? Don't waste your time.

10. Don't worry. That is a HUGE time-waster. There are two approaches to worry.
Approach One: Is it fixable? Yes? Then stop worrying.
Approach Two: Is it fixable? No? Then stop worrying.