Join us today at Elaine’s Literary Salon: Jan. 11, 2026 — Meet Monisha Longacre and learn about her new book, “Practical Productivity: A Guide to Surviving Life’s Juggling Act”

When: Jan. 11, 2026

At Elaine’s: 208 Queen Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314

About Practical Productivity: A Guide to Surviving Life’s Juggling Act

Feeling like you’re one dropped ball away from everything crashing down? No matter how skilled we are at managing our time, we inevitably face more demands than we can handle, each obligation yet another piece of an ever-expanding puzzle. Practical Productivity is your battle-tested guide to mastering life’s most challenging juggling act. From handling multiple executive roles and founding Productivity 101, to managing a household with two children and a traveling spouse, Monisha Longacre has mastered the moves that keep all the pieces in play while knowing which ones can wait their turn. Perfect for busy professionals, parents juggling multiple responsibilities, entrepreneurs building their dreams, or anyone seeking to accomplish more without sacrificing what matters most. This isn’t another abstract productivity philosophy – it’s an actionable playbook organized into six critical domains: Your Time, Your Lists, Your Stuff, Your Day, Your Life, and Your Effectiveness. Each section provides concrete, immediately applicable strategies that you can test or try for yourself.

In Practical Productivity, Monisha shows you how to:

• Transform your mindset to develop the productivity framework that works best for you, beyond just tools and technology
• Master the art of focus: learn when to say yes, when to say no, and how to avoid productivity-killing distractions
• Create and maintain effective to-do (and to-don’t) lists that actually work—not just endless catch-alls that overwhelm
• Streamline your physical and digital spaces to eliminate clutter and maximize efficiency
• Build sustainable systems that flex with your changing needs, developing practical habits that stick, even when life gets chaotic

Whether you’re overwhelmed by competing priorities, struggling to maintain balance, or simply trying to make the most of each day, you’ll discover proven strategies for doing what matters most with the time you have. Click here to buy the book!

Meet Monisha Longacre: A seasoned operations executive, entrepreneur, in  author of “Practical Productivity: A Guide to Surviving Life’s Juggling Act.” With over three decades of experience scaling and optimizing technology businesses, she brings a uniquely practical approach to both organizational and personal effectiveness. As COO of multiple technology companies she has consistently driven innovation and growth while maintaining operational excellence.

Throughout her career, Monisha has bridged the worlds of technology and consumer experience at industry leaders including The Weather Channel, McKesson, EY, and Lotus Development. Her entrepreneurial spirit has led her to found several successful EdTech and HRTech startups, including Productivity 101, where she provides expertise and tools to help professionals maximize their effectiveness. She is also the creator of “priorigami: the art of productivity,” a personal task management mobile app that embodies her practical approach to getting things done.

A graduate of the University of Virginia with a bachelor’s degree in Communications and Boston University with a master’s in Corporate Public Relations, Monisha combines deep technical knowledge with exceptional communication skills. She is actively involved in women’s leadership development, serving in key positions across multiple networking organizations.

Based in Atlanta, Georgia, where she lives with her husband (and occasionally returning adult children), Monisha constantly seeks new experiences to add to her bucket list. When not optimizing productivity or mentoring the next generation of women leaders, she can be found traveling, reading, or testing new productivity strategies in her own life.

Connect with Monisha on LinkedIn and follow Productivity 101 on LinkedIn or Facebook for more productivity updates and tips.

About our Elaine’s Literary Salon Host, Jeffrey James Higgins: A retired supervisory special agent who writes thrillers, short stories, creative nonfiction, and essays, Jeff has wrestled a suicide bomber, fought the Taliban in combat, and chased terrorists across five continents. He received the Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Heroism and the DEA Award of Valor. Jeffrey has been interviewed by CNN, National Geographic, and The New York Times. Learn more: jeffreyjameshiggings.com

Find more Elaine’s Literary Salon events here. And check back for new episodes of Elaine’s Literary Salon on Inkandescent.tv and listen to all the podcasts on InkandescentRadio.com.

Elaine’s Literary Salon

About Elaine’s:  A menu filled with delicious modern Mediterranean cuisine selection is sure to please everyone in your party. The dishes are based on exquisite food found in Alexandria, Egypt — a combination of Middle Eastern with French, Greek, and Italian influences. Elaine’s is named for the owner’s grandmother and is based on a promise she made at the age of 12, growing up in Cairo. “I promised my grandma I would someday own a restaurant and name it after her,” shares Cynthia, who is also an author. She and her husband, bestselling thriller novelist Jeffrey James Higgins, are proud to share my family’s recipes with new friends and families in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.” Located in an 1880s building, it was the previous home for 38 years of the beloved bistro Bilbo Baggins. The newly renovated restaurant is located in the heart of Old Town’s Historic District within sight of the Potomac River and Founders Park, just a few blocks from The Torpedo Factory Art Center, and Old Town Alexandria Waterfront. Make a reservation today: elaines-restaurant.com.