You guys! It’s almost January (SERIOUSLY?) and I have crazy amounts of stuff going on: Pipsticks is moving to a new space (more to come!), we’ve launched our one-stop-Sticker Shop (it does have a nice ring to it, right?), we’ve gained 6 new employees (meet them here), I have an army of children to buy Christmas gifts for, and just… life!
I am no-where near as organized as I’d like to be (especially considering my impressive stash of planners!), and feel like I am going a thousand miles a minute! Who feels me? Is it just the holidays? or am I crazy? Who really knows!
In my quest to stay organized, focused, and on-task (haha) I’ve come to rely on a gorgeously simple and highly functional work planner. The Get to Work Book is true to its name. It’s no nonsense in terms of frills, but so beautifully designed and streamlined, that I feel on track before I even open it.
I was so excited to meet the amazing woman behind this thing, and am happy to report that Elise Blaha Cripe is totally delightful. And luckily, she was willing to answer all my questions (in record time – I SO appreciate prompt email responses, another thing I’d like to improve on myself).
Grab yourself a coffee and come chat…
Get to Workbook
Introduce yourself to our readers!
I’m Elise! I live in San Diego with my husband and our two young daughters. I had a craft/lifestyle blog for about 10 years where I shared and documented various goals. In 2015 I launched Get To Work Book which sells tools to help people get things done.
What inspired you to launch Get to Workbook?
At first I thought I wanted to write a book about goal-setting and then decided it would be more interesting and helpful
to crate a planner that helped people set goals.
What makes this the best planner ever?!
Ha! I don’t know that it is the best planner ever, but I think that it works because it gives you the space to use it however works best for you. It’s simple and clean because our lives can be complicated and messy.
The design of the GTWB is gorgeous. What were the challenges in creating something simple and functional?
Thank you! I worked with the insanely talented team of designers at Jolby + Friends over a period of 5 months to get everything “just right.” It was intense! But I am so glad we spent the time and I’m constantly listening to customer feedback to try and improve it even more. I think the biggest challenge was to reign things in. I wasn’t trying to make the planner for everyone. But I was hopeful that it was a planner that could potentially work for anyone.
What’s the next #PLANNERADDICT trend?
I hope commitment to doing the work! I LOVE seeing how people use their planners but I love most hearing that planners help people accomplish tasks, document and stay inspired.
Are you neat or messy around the house?
I definitely fluctuate. I do really love a clean house though.
What has been the most surprising thing about starting your own business?
It never ends. There is no “made-it” feeling… you are just in a constant state of “trying to make it.”
What time do you wake up and go to bed?
I wake up when my girls get up which these days is around 6:30 and I am usually in bed by 10pm.
If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?
My brother is a nature photographer and recently has me so inspired to go see the national parks.
If you could spend the day with anyone, who would it be and why?
Ahhhh. A time traveler from the future. And I’d just ask “are things going okay where you’re from?”
What’s something you can’t live without?
The library!
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
No joke… a businesswoman.
Your book 100 Pep Talks is amazing! What’s the most universally helpful pep talk you have?
I spoke for 30 minutes to a group of college students today. I said a lot of things but what I hope was heard the loudest was this: Wherever you find yourself—today, after graduation, nine years from now, 50 years from now—you are not stuck. You can always make a change. You can always find another route.
What’s on your playlist?
The Hamilton soundtrack on repeat. 🙂
Thanks Elise! Your dedication to good design and function is totally inspiring and I can’t wait to put my new Get to Workbook Planner to work in 2017!
Want more of Elise? Check out her blog Enjoy It to find out what she’s all about (just the name is pretty compelling, right?)!
If you need to help getting organized, you can buy your Get to Workbook here, and don’t forget to get some fun stickers to make planning your life a little more fun!
Mo xoxo
p.s. Meet the Sticker Squad, Bando Planner Review, Miss Trenchcoat
Wow, what a great post, thanks for sharing! Definitely going to check out the work book and the pep talks!
Thanks Esme, Elise was a treat! Keep your eyes on our Giveaways, we might just be able to help you out!