Heuristics are rules intended to help you solve problems. When a problem is large or complex, and the optimal solution is unclear, applying a heuristic allows you to begin making progress towards a solution even though you can’t visualize the entire path from your starting point.
Suppose your goal is to climb to the peak of a mountain, but there’s no trail to follow. An example of a heuristic would be: Head directly towards the peak until you reach an obstacle you can’t cross. Whenever you reach such an obstacle, follow it around to the right until you’re able to head towards the peak once again. This isn’t the most intelligent or comprehensive heuristic, but in many cases it will work just fine, and you’ll eventually reach the peak.
Heuristics don’t guarantee you’ll find the optimal solution, nor do they generally guarantee a solution at all. But they do a good enough job of solving certain types of problems to be useful. Their strength is that they break the deadlock of indecision and get you into action. As you take action you begin to explore the solution space, which deepens your understanding of the problem. As you gain knowledge about the problem, you can make course corrections along the way, gradually improving your chances of finding a solution. If you try to solve a problem you don’t initially know how to solve, you’ll often figure out a solution as you go, one you never could have imagined until you started moving. This is especially true with creative work such as software development. Often you don’t even know exactly what you’re trying to build until you start building it.
Heuristics have many practical applications, and one of my favorite areas of application is personal productivity. Productivity heuristics are behavioral rules (some general, some situation-specific) that can help us get things done more efficiently. Here are some of my favorites:
1. Nuke it! The most efficient way to get through a task is to delete it. If it doesn’t need to be done, get it off your to do list.
2. Daily goals. Without a clear focus, it’s too easy to succumb to distractions. Set targets for each day in advance. Decide what you’ll do; then do it.
3. Worst first. To defeat procrastination learn to tackle your most unpleasant task first thing in the morning instead of delaying it until later in the day. This small victory will set the tone for a very productive day.
4. Peak times. Identify your peak cycles of productivity, and schedule your most important tasks for those times. Work on minor tasks during your non-peak times.
5. No-comm zones. Allocate uninterruptible blocks of time for solo work where you must concentrate. Schedule light, interruptible tasks for your open-comm periods and more challenging projects for your no-comm periods.
6. Mini-milestones. When you begin a task, identify the target you must reach before you can stop working. For example, when working on a book, you could decide not to get up until you’ve written at least 1000 words. Hit your target no matter what.
7. Timeboxing. Give yourself a fixed time period, like 30 minutes, to make a dent in a task. Don’t worry about how far you get. Just put in the time.
8. Batching. Batch similar tasks like phone calls or errands into a single chunk, and knock them off in a single session.
9. Early bird. Get up early in the morning, like at 5am, and go straight to work on your most important task. You can often get more done before 8am than most people do in a day.
10. Cone of silence. Take a laptop with no network or WiFi access, and go to a place where you can work flat out without distractions, such as a library, park, coffee house, or your own backyard. Leave your comm gadgets behind.
11. Tempo. Deliberately pick up the pace, and try to move a little faster than usual. Speak faster. Walk faster. Type faster. Read faster. Go home sooner.
12. Relaxify. Reduce stress by cultivating a relaxing, clutter-free workspace.
13. Agendas. Provide clear written agendas to meeting participants in advance. This greatly improves meeting focus and efficiency. You can use it for phone calls too.
14. Pareto. The Pareto principle is the 80-20 rule, which states that 80% of the value of a task comes from 20% of the effort. Focus your energy on that critical 20%, and don’t overengineer the non-critical 80%.
15. Ready-fire-aim. Bust procrastination by taking action immediately after setting a goal, even if the action isn’t perfectly planned. You can always adjust course along the way.
16. Minuteman. Once you have the information you need to make a decision, start a timer and give yourself just 60 seconds to make the actual decision. Take a whole minute to vacillate and second-guess yourself all you want, but come out the other end with a clear choice. Once your decision is made, take some kind of action to set it in motion.
17. Deadline. Set a deadline for task completion, and use it as a focal point to stay on track.
18. Promise. Tell others of your commitments, since they’ll help hold you accountable.
19. Punctuality. Whatever it takes, show up on time. Arrive early.
20. Gap reading. Use reading to fill in those odd periods like waiting for an appointment, standing in line, or while the coffee is brewing. If you’re a male, you can even read an article while shaving (preferably with an electric razor). That’s 365 articles a year.
21. Resonance. Visualize your goal as already accomplished. Put yourself into a state of actually being there. Make it real in your mind, and you’ll soon see it in your reality.
22. Glittering prizes. Give yourself frequent rewards for achievement. See a movie, book a professional massage, or spend a day at an amusement park.
23. Quad 2. Separate the truly important tasks from the merely urgent. Allocate blocks of time to work on the critical Quadrant 2 tasks, those which are important but rarely urgent, such as physical exercise, writing a book, and finding a relationship partner.
24. Continuum. At the end of your workday, identify the first task you’ll work on the next day, and set out the materials in advance. The next day begin working on that task immediately.
25. Slice and dice. Break complex projects into smaller, well-defined tasks. Focus on completing just one of those tasks.
26. Single-handling. Once you begin a task, stick with it until it’s 100% complete. Don’t switch tasks in the middle. When distractions come up, jot them down to be dealt with later.
27. Randomize. Pick a totally random piece of a larger project, and complete it. Pay one random bill. Make one phone call. Write page 42 of your book.
28. Insanely bad. Defeat perfectionism by completing your task in an intentionally terrible fashion, knowing you need never share the results with anyone. Write a blog post about the taste of salt, design a hideously dysfunctional web site, or create a business plan that guarantees a first-year bankruptcy. With a truly horrendous first draft, there’s nowhere to go but up.
29. 30 days. Identify a new habit you’d like to form, and commit to sticking with it for just 30 days. A temporary commitment is much easier to keep than a permanent one.
30. Delegate. Convince someone else to do it for you.
31. Cross-pollination. Sign up for martial arts, start a blog, or join an improv group. You’ll often encounter ideas in one field that can boost your performance in another.
32. Intuition. Go with your gut instinct. It’s probably right.
33. Optimization. Identify the processes you use most often, and write them down step-by-step. Refactor them on paper for greater efficiency. Then implement and test your improved processes. Sometimes we just can’t see what’s right in front of us until we examine it under a microscope.
By: Steve Pavlina
Source: StevePavlina.com
Friday, March 30, 2012
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Lakeview Consultants Helps "Community Cares to Give Hope for Tomorrow"
Lakeview Consultants recently contributed to the local non-profit organization, Community Cares, to aide in their support of families in medical crisis.
Mahopac, NY, March 21, 2012 --(PR.com)-- Lakeview Consultants, a New York-based direct sales and marketing company, has made their most recent contribution to the community. Lakeview Consultants has agreed to make an ongoing pledge to help support the non profit organization, Community Cares. Community Cares partners with a network of volunteers and businesses from the area, who help to contribute to the support of families in medical crisis.
As a neighboring office to Community Cares, representatives of Lakeview Consultants often have the opportunity to sit down with members of the organization to hear about the wonderful services provided by Community Cares, as well as the ongoing support from businesses in the community.
Management of Lakeview Consultants stated, "We couldn't help but to be interested in giving back to such a wonderful organization."
Many local businesses help to provide the services for the families in need. Meals, laundry services, and house cleanings are all provided by the organization.
"Although our company does not provide any of those services, we will find other ways to continue to give back. We plan to not only donate, but volunteer our time. We want to continue to be a partner in the growth of this amazing organization," states Management.
Lakeview Consultants take part in several other charities, and are constantly looking for reputable organizations to partner with in order to give back to the community. If you know of a cause that could use a helping hand please contact their Human Resources Department at hr@lakeview-consultants.com.
Lakeview Consultants is a direct sales and marketing firm focused primarily on representing Fortune 500 clients throughout much of New York. Our firm specializes in tailoring campaigns directly for our clients needs through direct face to face representation. Please visit our website at www.lakeview-consultants.com
Source: PR.com
Mahopac, NY, March 21, 2012 --(PR.com)-- Lakeview Consultants, a New York-based direct sales and marketing company, has made their most recent contribution to the community. Lakeview Consultants has agreed to make an ongoing pledge to help support the non profit organization, Community Cares. Community Cares partners with a network of volunteers and businesses from the area, who help to contribute to the support of families in medical crisis.
As a neighboring office to Community Cares, representatives of Lakeview Consultants often have the opportunity to sit down with members of the organization to hear about the wonderful services provided by Community Cares, as well as the ongoing support from businesses in the community.
Management of Lakeview Consultants stated, "We couldn't help but to be interested in giving back to such a wonderful organization."
Many local businesses help to provide the services for the families in need. Meals, laundry services, and house cleanings are all provided by the organization.
"Although our company does not provide any of those services, we will find other ways to continue to give back. We plan to not only donate, but volunteer our time. We want to continue to be a partner in the growth of this amazing organization," states Management.
Lakeview Consultants take part in several other charities, and are constantly looking for reputable organizations to partner with in order to give back to the community. If you know of a cause that could use a helping hand please contact their Human Resources Department at hr@lakeview-consultants.com.
Lakeview Consultants is a direct sales and marketing firm focused primarily on representing Fortune 500 clients throughout much of New York. Our firm specializes in tailoring campaigns directly for our clients needs through direct face to face representation. Please visit our website at www.lakeview-consultants.com
Source: PR.com
Friday, March 23, 2012
7 Ways To Motivate Your Employees
Marketing and strategy might be what initially gets a company noticed, but there is one component in the workplace essential for success: motivated employees. Even the most self-motivated employees need a little nudge here and there to produce consistently proficient work streaks.
The three keys to rewarding, and motivating, workers are showing them appreciation, respect and, yes, even a little love, Todd Patkin, author of Finding Happiness: One Man's Quest to Beat Depression and Anxiety and--Finally--Let the Sunshine In told Industry Week.
If they feel like they are a part of the company, their loyalty will encourage them to become role models for other employees without your request. They will rave about who they work for even when they're not on the clock. Soon, everyone will start talking about how great your company is. But first, your employees need to feel like their work matters in order to move mountains for you.
Here are the seven ways to get your employees motivated about your company and its mission:
1. Introduce yourself on a personal level
They say 'First impressions are everything' for a reason. In a workplace, this first impression is essential for helping employees determine their role in the company. So connect with people when you first meet them—ask them about their interests and plans for the weekend. They will feel like they are being treated as a person and not another worker. It will be the first step of their everlasting loyalty towards your company.
2. Make sure they know their skills are needed
Even if its a minuscule task, employees need to feel like what they're doing is meaningful and significant in order to value it. If not, they may become robotic and not care much about the product. In other words, employees need to feel connected and appreciated in something larger than their individual self. They need to feel like others are relying on their great work in order to produce something greater.
3. Make them feel ownership towards the company
The more connected employees feel towards a company, the harder they will work for it. Get them involved by asking their opinions on planning and decision-making. This way, they will feel responsible towards where the company is headed. It will induce ownership in the decisions they make and the work they produce.
4. Treat everyone differently
Don't give all your employees the same praise or critique. Everyone wants to feel like they're an individual, not a number. This way, whenever you do give them feedback, it will be taken a lot more seriously.
5. Focus on their strengths
Everyone has different strengths and skills that can benefit a company. Focus on those strengths and not so much the weaknesses—especially if it doesn't affect their job. Instead, show them ways to improve their strengths and how they can better use their skills to help the company.
6. Support their risk-taking initiatives
Your team needs to know that if they make a mistake, it will be okay. In order for a company to grow, chances and risks must be initiated on a company's behalf. Some of the greatest inventions resulted from mistakes. In the same way, employees need to know that they can take chances without the probability that they might be condemned if things don't work out. Without this reassurance, employees will be too afraid to take chances since it is better to remain a mediocre worker than an overachiever who made a mistake.
7. Leave your door open
If you hide behind a closed door all day, no employee will ever become comfortable enough to come to you if they need to. You are creating a level of hierarchy that will widen the gap between you and the essential component to your company's success. Be involved by leaving your door open and inviting. Don't be known as the jerk behind the closed door.
By: Vivian Giang
Source: Open Forum
The three keys to rewarding, and motivating, workers are showing them appreciation, respect and, yes, even a little love, Todd Patkin, author of Finding Happiness: One Man's Quest to Beat Depression and Anxiety and--Finally--Let the Sunshine In told Industry Week.
If they feel like they are a part of the company, their loyalty will encourage them to become role models for other employees without your request. They will rave about who they work for even when they're not on the clock. Soon, everyone will start talking about how great your company is. But first, your employees need to feel like their work matters in order to move mountains for you.
Here are the seven ways to get your employees motivated about your company and its mission:
1. Introduce yourself on a personal level
They say 'First impressions are everything' for a reason. In a workplace, this first impression is essential for helping employees determine their role in the company. So connect with people when you first meet them—ask them about their interests and plans for the weekend. They will feel like they are being treated as a person and not another worker. It will be the first step of their everlasting loyalty towards your company.
2. Make sure they know their skills are needed
Even if its a minuscule task, employees need to feel like what they're doing is meaningful and significant in order to value it. If not, they may become robotic and not care much about the product. In other words, employees need to feel connected and appreciated in something larger than their individual self. They need to feel like others are relying on their great work in order to produce something greater.
3. Make them feel ownership towards the company
The more connected employees feel towards a company, the harder they will work for it. Get them involved by asking their opinions on planning and decision-making. This way, they will feel responsible towards where the company is headed. It will induce ownership in the decisions they make and the work they produce.
4. Treat everyone differently
Don't give all your employees the same praise or critique. Everyone wants to feel like they're an individual, not a number. This way, whenever you do give them feedback, it will be taken a lot more seriously.
5. Focus on their strengths
Everyone has different strengths and skills that can benefit a company. Focus on those strengths and not so much the weaknesses—especially if it doesn't affect their job. Instead, show them ways to improve their strengths and how they can better use their skills to help the company.
6. Support their risk-taking initiatives
Your team needs to know that if they make a mistake, it will be okay. In order for a company to grow, chances and risks must be initiated on a company's behalf. Some of the greatest inventions resulted from mistakes. In the same way, employees need to know that they can take chances without the probability that they might be condemned if things don't work out. Without this reassurance, employees will be too afraid to take chances since it is better to remain a mediocre worker than an overachiever who made a mistake.
7. Leave your door open
If you hide behind a closed door all day, no employee will ever become comfortable enough to come to you if they need to. You are creating a level of hierarchy that will widen the gap between you and the essential component to your company's success. Be involved by leaving your door open and inviting. Don't be known as the jerk behind the closed door.
By: Vivian Giang
Source: Open Forum
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
The Guts to Succeed – How to Succeed
How to succeed – introduction
A few weeks ago I was driving around my neighbourhood on a Sunday afternoon looking for a place to get a car wash. I came across one man at some traffic lights who was busy washing a car. It was near my home, but somehow I had never considered taking my car to him. That day I observed just how busy and focused he was about cleaning that car. He seemed to be really enjoying the work. It seemed strange. So I stopped by and told him I’d come back later to get my car washed.
How to succeed – a remarkable story
When I got back that afternoon he told me how that if I had not told him I was coming, he would have left the place already. On further enquiry he told me that Sunday afternoon is the only day he had to check on how his shop was doing. I was intrigued. He had a shop? I got a few more details about it and found out he actually employed someone to run the shop whilst he was at his car wash. It sounded like a reasonably good business.
All the while he was talking and systematically cleaning the car. You could tell he had done this so many times before. He had a clear system to what he was doing. I usually don’t talk much so I was pretty happy to let him go ahead and tell me his life story. It was fascinating. He lived by himself from the age of fourteen. Not because he was an orphan or anything like that. He had asked his parents to allow him to go out and live life on his own terms. He started working and doing business from that age and managed to see himself through school – at least up to grade nine. Unfortunately, he did not reach or finish grade twelve because of a few “hardships” he was experiencing.
How to succeed – staying positive
Nevertheless, he kept a positive outlook to life and never depended on anyone to provide for him. Now, with a family of two children and a wife, he is able to make ends meet by running his shop and washing cars. I enquired how much he charged for each vehicle he washed and how many vehicles he washed on an average day. The figures were impressive. Suffice to say he earns more money washing cars by the side of the road than most do in either government or the private sector. The best part? It’s all income-tax free!
He said to me that he could never bring himself to work for another man. “Why should I work for someone else when I have my freedom and I can make it on my own? Most people who are employed make very little money and on top of that they pay taxes off of whatever little they make” he added. I was absolutely impressed. I mean here was someone who actually chose to do what he was doing and was not only proud of it, but he was enjoying it in some way.
How to succeed – don’t take the easy way
We tend to think that if someone is doing business like that on the roadside it is because they have no choice. But he clearly had choices. He could have easily chosen to go the ‘easy’ way and get a job as a gardener or something like that and earn much less than he does. But he realised the value of working for himself and benefited in other aspects such as using legal means to pay as little tax as possible or tax avoidance. This is different from tax evasion, which is using illegal means to avoid paying taxes and is a criminal offense.
My whole perception of him changed. I respected and admired him in a huge way. Dare I say I was inspired by him? By society’s standards he was not well educated, but it was obvious that he was highly intelligent and very educated about life. Street wise, if I must say.
How to succeed – it takes more than just education
As Robert Kiyosaki said “Once we leave school, most of us know that it is not as much a matter of college degrees or good grades that count. In the real world outside of academics, sometimes more than just grades is required. I have heard it called ‘guts,’ ‘chutzpah,’ ‘audacity,’ ‘bravado,’ ‘cunning,’ ‘daring,’ ‘tenacity’ and ‘brilliance.’ This factor, whatever it is labeled, ultimately decided one’s future much more than school grades.”
If only more people thought like he did. If only there were more people that believed enough in themselves and their abilities to know that they could make it on their own without an employment contract being their only security. If only more of us were willing to take a chance.
Clearly he was not living the life he ultimately hoped to have, but he was doing what he could with what he had. I could only guess that he had plans to move on from where he was to a better place. That’s the only way a man can be doing what he was doing with such enthusiasm, patience and focus. The hope of a better tomorrow for himself and his family must keep him going.
How to succeed – do what needs to be done
I thought to myself how many people are working jobs that barely meet their needs and how many are not even working because they can’t find a job. Could there be something to be learnt from this man? Could there be something these people could be doing to get along? It could be uncomfortable, seemingly below their standards or just not seem fitting, but it could be a step in the right direction. How many of our university graduates who are fighting for jobs that are few and pay little can actually make good money doing a business like this man is doing?
How to succeed – make the most of your opportunities
Yes, a street corner washing cars is not a place you would expect to find a graduate, but would you still feel the same way about that if you found out he could actually make more money there than with a tie on in some posh office? I doubt it. Come to think of it, I wonder how many people who take their cars to be washed by him actually realise he makes more money washing their cars than they do in secure employment.
Being employed is good. So long as it serves its purpose of allowing you to earn money and learn and grow at the same time. Times are changed and it is no longer enough to be employed all of one’s life and hope for a pension to take care of you at the end of your career.
How to succeed – conclusion
Learn what you can from your work. Then, at some point, you need to apply that knowledge to create something of your own. Build something that will earn you a far better life than an award for most dedicated or longest serving employee. Become the employer instead.
You are all you can be. Go on and be it.
Source: Motivation-for-dreams.com
A few weeks ago I was driving around my neighbourhood on a Sunday afternoon looking for a place to get a car wash. I came across one man at some traffic lights who was busy washing a car. It was near my home, but somehow I had never considered taking my car to him. That day I observed just how busy and focused he was about cleaning that car. He seemed to be really enjoying the work. It seemed strange. So I stopped by and told him I’d come back later to get my car washed.
How to succeed – a remarkable story
When I got back that afternoon he told me how that if I had not told him I was coming, he would have left the place already. On further enquiry he told me that Sunday afternoon is the only day he had to check on how his shop was doing. I was intrigued. He had a shop? I got a few more details about it and found out he actually employed someone to run the shop whilst he was at his car wash. It sounded like a reasonably good business.
All the while he was talking and systematically cleaning the car. You could tell he had done this so many times before. He had a clear system to what he was doing. I usually don’t talk much so I was pretty happy to let him go ahead and tell me his life story. It was fascinating. He lived by himself from the age of fourteen. Not because he was an orphan or anything like that. He had asked his parents to allow him to go out and live life on his own terms. He started working and doing business from that age and managed to see himself through school – at least up to grade nine. Unfortunately, he did not reach or finish grade twelve because of a few “hardships” he was experiencing.
How to succeed – staying positive
Nevertheless, he kept a positive outlook to life and never depended on anyone to provide for him. Now, with a family of two children and a wife, he is able to make ends meet by running his shop and washing cars. I enquired how much he charged for each vehicle he washed and how many vehicles he washed on an average day. The figures were impressive. Suffice to say he earns more money washing cars by the side of the road than most do in either government or the private sector. The best part? It’s all income-tax free!
He said to me that he could never bring himself to work for another man. “Why should I work for someone else when I have my freedom and I can make it on my own? Most people who are employed make very little money and on top of that they pay taxes off of whatever little they make” he added. I was absolutely impressed. I mean here was someone who actually chose to do what he was doing and was not only proud of it, but he was enjoying it in some way.
How to succeed – don’t take the easy way
We tend to think that if someone is doing business like that on the roadside it is because they have no choice. But he clearly had choices. He could have easily chosen to go the ‘easy’ way and get a job as a gardener or something like that and earn much less than he does. But he realised the value of working for himself and benefited in other aspects such as using legal means to pay as little tax as possible or tax avoidance. This is different from tax evasion, which is using illegal means to avoid paying taxes and is a criminal offense.
My whole perception of him changed. I respected and admired him in a huge way. Dare I say I was inspired by him? By society’s standards he was not well educated, but it was obvious that he was highly intelligent and very educated about life. Street wise, if I must say.
How to succeed – it takes more than just education
As Robert Kiyosaki said “Once we leave school, most of us know that it is not as much a matter of college degrees or good grades that count. In the real world outside of academics, sometimes more than just grades is required. I have heard it called ‘guts,’ ‘chutzpah,’ ‘audacity,’ ‘bravado,’ ‘cunning,’ ‘daring,’ ‘tenacity’ and ‘brilliance.’ This factor, whatever it is labeled, ultimately decided one’s future much more than school grades.”
If only more people thought like he did. If only there were more people that believed enough in themselves and their abilities to know that they could make it on their own without an employment contract being their only security. If only more of us were willing to take a chance.
Clearly he was not living the life he ultimately hoped to have, but he was doing what he could with what he had. I could only guess that he had plans to move on from where he was to a better place. That’s the only way a man can be doing what he was doing with such enthusiasm, patience and focus. The hope of a better tomorrow for himself and his family must keep him going.
How to succeed – do what needs to be done
I thought to myself how many people are working jobs that barely meet their needs and how many are not even working because they can’t find a job. Could there be something to be learnt from this man? Could there be something these people could be doing to get along? It could be uncomfortable, seemingly below their standards or just not seem fitting, but it could be a step in the right direction. How many of our university graduates who are fighting for jobs that are few and pay little can actually make good money doing a business like this man is doing?
How to succeed – make the most of your opportunities
Yes, a street corner washing cars is not a place you would expect to find a graduate, but would you still feel the same way about that if you found out he could actually make more money there than with a tie on in some posh office? I doubt it. Come to think of it, I wonder how many people who take their cars to be washed by him actually realise he makes more money washing their cars than they do in secure employment.
Being employed is good. So long as it serves its purpose of allowing you to earn money and learn and grow at the same time. Times are changed and it is no longer enough to be employed all of one’s life and hope for a pension to take care of you at the end of your career.
How to succeed – conclusion
Learn what you can from your work. Then, at some point, you need to apply that knowledge to create something of your own. Build something that will earn you a far better life than an award for most dedicated or longest serving employee. Become the employer instead.
You are all you can be. Go on and be it.
Source: Motivation-for-dreams.com
Friday, March 16, 2012
10 Common Time Management Mistakes
Avoiding Common Pitfalls
Avoid these mistakes if you want to be highly-productive.
How well do you manage your time? If you're like many people, your answer may not be completely positive!
Perhaps you feel overloaded, and you often have to work late to hit your deadlines. Or maybe your days seem to go from one crisis to another, and this is stressful and demoralizing.
Many of us know that we could be managing our time more effectively; but it can be difficult to identify the mistakes that we're making, and to know how we could improve.
Avoid these mistakes if you want to be highly-productive.
How well do you manage your time? If you're like many people, your answer may not be completely positive!
Perhaps you feel overloaded, and you often have to work late to hit your deadlines. Or maybe your days seem to go from one crisis to another, and this is stressful and demoralizing.
Many of us know that we could be managing our time more effectively; but it can be difficult to identify the mistakes that we're making, and to know how we could improve.
When we do manage our time well, however, we're exceptionally productive at work, and our stress levels drop. We can devote time to the interesting, high-reward projects that can make a real difference to a career. In short, we're happier!
In this article, we're looking at ten of the most common time management mistakes, as well as identifying strategies and tips that you can use to overcome them. These ten mistakes are:
Mistake #1. Failing to Keep a To-Do List
Do you ever have that nagging feeling that you've forgotten to do an important piece of work? If so, you probably don't use a To-Do List to keep on top of things. (Or, if you do, you might not be using it effectively!)
The trick with using To-Do Lists effectively lies in prioritizing the tasks on your list. Many people use an A - F coding system (A for high priority items, F for very low priorities). Alternatively, you can simplify this by using A through D, or by using numbers.
If you have large projects on your list, then, unless you're careful, the entries for these can be vague and ineffective. For instance, you may have written down "Start on budget proposal." But what does this entail? The lack of specifics here might cause you to procrastinate, or miss key steps. So make sure that you break large tasks or projects down into specific, actionable steps - then you won't overlook something important.
You can also use Action Programs to manage your work when you have many large projects happening at once. (Action Programs are "industrial strength" versions of To-Do Lists.)
Mistake #4. Failing to Manage Distractions
Do you know that some of us can lose as much as two hours a day to distractions? Think how much you could get done if you had that time back!
Whether they come from emails, IM chats, colleagues in a crisis, or phone calls from clients, distractions prevent us from achieving flow, which is the satisfying and seemingly effortless work that we do when we're 100 percent engaged in a task.
If you want to gain control of your day and do your best work, it's vital to know how to minimize distractions and manage interruptions effectively. For instance, turn off your IM chat when you need to focus, and let people know if they're distracting you too often. You should also learn how to improve your concentration, even when you're faced with distractions.
Additionally, our article on managing email effectively teaches you how to gain control of your email, so that it doesn't eat up your entire day.
Mistake #5. Procrastination
Procrastination occurs when you put off tasks that you should be focusing on right now. When you procrastinate, you feel guilty that you haven't started; you come to dread doing the task; and, eventually, everything catches up with you when you fail to complete the work on time.
Start by taking our Procrastination Quiz to find out if procrastination is a problem in your life. If it is, then learn the strategies you need to beat procrastination.
For instance, one useful strategy is to tell yourself that you're only going to start on a project for ten minutes. Often, procrastinators feel that they have to complete a task from start to finish, and this high expectation makes them feel overwhelmed and anxious. Instead, focus on devoting a small amount of time to starting. That's all!
You might also find it helpful to use Action Plans. These help you break large projects down into manageable steps, so that it's easy to see everything that you need to get done, and so that you can complete small chunks at a time. Doing this can stop you from feeling overwhelmed at the start of a new project.
Tip:
Our Bite-Sized Training session, Overcoming Procrastination, gives you more in-depth strategies and tips for dealing with procrastination.
Mistake #6. Taking on too Much
Are you a person who has a hard time saying "no" to people? If so, you probably have far too many projects and commitments on your plate. This can lead to poor performance, stress, and low morale.
Or, you might be a micromanager: someone who insists on controlling or doing all of the work themselves, because they can't trust anyone else to do it correctly. (This can be a problem for everyone - not just managers!)
Either way, taking on too much is a poor use of your time, and it can get you a reputation for producing rushed, sloppy work.
To stop this, learn the subtle art of saying "yes" to the person, but "no" to the task. This skill helps you assert yourself, while still maintaining good feelings within the group. If the other person starts leaning on you to say "yes" to their request, learn how to think on your feet, and stay cool under pressure.
In this article, we're looking at ten of the most common time management mistakes, as well as identifying strategies and tips that you can use to overcome them. These ten mistakes are:
Mistake #1. Failing to Keep a To-Do List
Do you ever have that nagging feeling that you've forgotten to do an important piece of work? If so, you probably don't use a To-Do List to keep on top of things. (Or, if you do, you might not be using it effectively!)
The trick with using To-Do Lists effectively lies in prioritizing the tasks on your list. Many people use an A - F coding system (A for high priority items, F for very low priorities). Alternatively, you can simplify this by using A through D, or by using numbers.
If you have large projects on your list, then, unless you're careful, the entries for these can be vague and ineffective. For instance, you may have written down "Start on budget proposal." But what does this entail? The lack of specifics here might cause you to procrastinate, or miss key steps. So make sure that you break large tasks or projects down into specific, actionable steps - then you won't overlook something important.
You can also use Action Programs to manage your work when you have many large projects happening at once. (Action Programs are "industrial strength" versions of To-Do Lists.)
Mistake #2. Not Setting Personal Goals
Do you know where you'd like to be in six months? What about this time next year, or even 10 years from now? If not, it's time to set some personal goals!
Personal goal setting is essential to managing your time well, because goals give you a destination and vision to work toward. When you know where you want to go, you can manage your priorities, time, and resources to get there. Goals also help you decide what's worth spending your time on, and what's just a distraction.
To learn how to set SMART, effective goals, read up on Locke's Goal Setting Theory. Here, you'll learn how to set clearly defined goals that will keep you motivated.
You might also enjoy our Book Insight into "Long Fuse, Big Bang" by Eric Haseltine. This book teaches you how to focus on your long-term goals without overlooking your short term priorities.
Do you know where you'd like to be in six months? What about this time next year, or even 10 years from now? If not, it's time to set some personal goals!
Personal goal setting is essential to managing your time well, because goals give you a destination and vision to work toward. When you know where you want to go, you can manage your priorities, time, and resources to get there. Goals also help you decide what's worth spending your time on, and what's just a distraction.
To learn how to set SMART, effective goals, read up on Locke's Goal Setting Theory. Here, you'll learn how to set clearly defined goals that will keep you motivated.
You might also enjoy our Book Insight into "Long Fuse, Big Bang" by Eric Haseltine. This book teaches you how to focus on your long-term goals without overlooking your short term priorities.
Mistake #3. Not Prioritizing
Your assistant has just walked in with a crisis that she needs you to deal with right now, but you're in the middle of brainstorming ideas for a new client. You're sure that you've almost come up with a brilliant idea for their marketing campaign, but now you risk losing the thread of your thinking because of this "emergency."
Sometimes, it's hard to know how to prioritize, especially when you're facing a flood of seemingly-urgent tasks. However, it's essential to learn how to prioritize tasks effectively if you want to manage your time better.
One tool that will help you prioritize effectively is the Urgent/Important Matrix. This helps you understand the difference between urgent activities, and important activities. You'll also learn how to overcome the tendency to focus on the urgent.
The Action Priority Matrix is another useful tool, which will help you determine if a task is high-yield and high-priority, or low-value, "fill in" work. You'll manage your time much better during the day if you know the difference.
You might also want to go through our Bite-Sized Training Class, How to Prioritize, to further enhance your skills.
Your assistant has just walked in with a crisis that she needs you to deal with right now, but you're in the middle of brainstorming ideas for a new client. You're sure that you've almost come up with a brilliant idea for their marketing campaign, but now you risk losing the thread of your thinking because of this "emergency."
Sometimes, it's hard to know how to prioritize, especially when you're facing a flood of seemingly-urgent tasks. However, it's essential to learn how to prioritize tasks effectively if you want to manage your time better.
One tool that will help you prioritize effectively is the Urgent/Important Matrix. This helps you understand the difference between urgent activities, and important activities. You'll also learn how to overcome the tendency to focus on the urgent.
The Action Priority Matrix is another useful tool, which will help you determine if a task is high-yield and high-priority, or low-value, "fill in" work. You'll manage your time much better during the day if you know the difference.
You might also want to go through our Bite-Sized Training Class, How to Prioritize, to further enhance your skills.
Mistake #4. Failing to Manage Distractions
Do you know that some of us can lose as much as two hours a day to distractions? Think how much you could get done if you had that time back!
Whether they come from emails, IM chats, colleagues in a crisis, or phone calls from clients, distractions prevent us from achieving flow, which is the satisfying and seemingly effortless work that we do when we're 100 percent engaged in a task.
If you want to gain control of your day and do your best work, it's vital to know how to minimize distractions and manage interruptions effectively. For instance, turn off your IM chat when you need to focus, and let people know if they're distracting you too often. You should also learn how to improve your concentration, even when you're faced with distractions.
Additionally, our article on managing email effectively teaches you how to gain control of your email, so that it doesn't eat up your entire day.
Mistake #5. Procrastination
Procrastination occurs when you put off tasks that you should be focusing on right now. When you procrastinate, you feel guilty that you haven't started; you come to dread doing the task; and, eventually, everything catches up with you when you fail to complete the work on time.
Start by taking our Procrastination Quiz to find out if procrastination is a problem in your life. If it is, then learn the strategies you need to beat procrastination.
For instance, one useful strategy is to tell yourself that you're only going to start on a project for ten minutes. Often, procrastinators feel that they have to complete a task from start to finish, and this high expectation makes them feel overwhelmed and anxious. Instead, focus on devoting a small amount of time to starting. That's all!
You might also find it helpful to use Action Plans. These help you break large projects down into manageable steps, so that it's easy to see everything that you need to get done, and so that you can complete small chunks at a time. Doing this can stop you from feeling overwhelmed at the start of a new project.
Tip:
Our Bite-Sized Training session, Overcoming Procrastination, gives you more in-depth strategies and tips for dealing with procrastination.
Mistake #6. Taking on too Much
Are you a person who has a hard time saying "no" to people? If so, you probably have far too many projects and commitments on your plate. This can lead to poor performance, stress, and low morale.
Or, you might be a micromanager: someone who insists on controlling or doing all of the work themselves, because they can't trust anyone else to do it correctly. (This can be a problem for everyone - not just managers!)
Either way, taking on too much is a poor use of your time, and it can get you a reputation for producing rushed, sloppy work.
To stop this, learn the subtle art of saying "yes" to the person, but "no" to the task. This skill helps you assert yourself, while still maintaining good feelings within the group. If the other person starts leaning on you to say "yes" to their request, learn how to think on your feet, and stay cool under pressure.
Mistake #7. Thriving on "Busy"
Some people get a rush from being busy. The narrowly-met deadlines, the endless emails, the piles of files needing attention on the desk, the frantic race to the meeting... What an adrenaline buzz!
The problem is that an "addiction to busyness" rarely means that you're effective, and it can lead to stress.
Instead, try to slow down, and learn to manage your time better.
Tip:
"Do More Great Work", by Michael Bungay Stanier, is full of ideas and tips to reduce the "busywork" that you're doing, so that you're more excited and engaged in the work that matters. Click here for our Book Insight on it.
Some people get a rush from being busy. The narrowly-met deadlines, the endless emails, the piles of files needing attention on the desk, the frantic race to the meeting... What an adrenaline buzz!
The problem is that an "addiction to busyness" rarely means that you're effective, and it can lead to stress.
Instead, try to slow down, and learn to manage your time better.
Tip:
"Do More Great Work", by Michael Bungay Stanier, is full of ideas and tips to reduce the "busywork" that you're doing, so that you're more excited and engaged in the work that matters. Click here for our Book Insight on it.
Mistake #8. Multitasking
To get on top of her workload, Linda regularly writes emails while she chats on the phone to her clients. However, while Linda thinks that this is a good use of her time, the truth is that it can take 20-40 percent more time to finish a list of jobs when you multitask, compared with completing the same list of tasks in sequence. The result is also that she does both tasks poorly - her emails are full of errors, and her clients are frustrated by her lack of concentration.
So, the best thing is to forget about multitasking, and, instead, focus on one task at a time. That way, you'll produce higher quality work.
Our Expert Interview with Dave Crenshaw, looking at The Myth of Multitasking, will give you an enlightening look at multitasking, and will help you explore how you can manage simultaneous projects more effectively.
To get on top of her workload, Linda regularly writes emails while she chats on the phone to her clients. However, while Linda thinks that this is a good use of her time, the truth is that it can take 20-40 percent more time to finish a list of jobs when you multitask, compared with completing the same list of tasks in sequence. The result is also that she does both tasks poorly - her emails are full of errors, and her clients are frustrated by her lack of concentration.
So, the best thing is to forget about multitasking, and, instead, focus on one task at a time. That way, you'll produce higher quality work.
Our Expert Interview with Dave Crenshaw, looking at The Myth of Multitasking, will give you an enlightening look at multitasking, and will help you explore how you can manage simultaneous projects more effectively.
Mistake #9. Not Taking Breaks
It's nice to think that you can work for 8-10 hours straight, especially when you're working to a deadline. But it's impossible for anyone to focus and produce really high-quality work without giving their brains some time to rest and recharge.
So, don't dismiss breaks as "wasting time." They provide valuable down-time, which will enable you to think creatively and work effectively.
If it's hard for you to stop working, then schedule breaks for yourself, or set an alarm as a reminder. Go for a quick walk, grab a cup of coffee, or just sit and meditate at your desk. Try to take a five minute break every hour or two. And make sure that you give yourself ample time for lunch - you won't produce top quality work if you're hungry!
It's nice to think that you can work for 8-10 hours straight, especially when you're working to a deadline. But it's impossible for anyone to focus and produce really high-quality work without giving their brains some time to rest and recharge.
So, don't dismiss breaks as "wasting time." They provide valuable down-time, which will enable you to think creatively and work effectively.
If it's hard for you to stop working, then schedule breaks for yourself, or set an alarm as a reminder. Go for a quick walk, grab a cup of coffee, or just sit and meditate at your desk. Try to take a five minute break every hour or two. And make sure that you give yourself ample time for lunch - you won't produce top quality work if you're hungry!
Mistake #10. Ineffectively Scheduling Tasks
Are you a morning person? Or do you find your energy picking up once the sun begins to set in the evening? All of us have different rhythms, that is, different times of day when we feel most productive and energetic.
You can make best use of your time by scheduling high-value work during your peak time, and low-energy work (like returning phone calls and checking email), during your "down" time. Our article, Is This a Morning Task? will teach you how to do this.
Key Points
One of the most effective ways of improving your productivity is to recognize and rectify time management mistakes.
When you take the time to overcome these mistakes, it will make a huge difference in your productivity - and you'll also be happier, and experience less stress!
Are you a morning person? Or do you find your energy picking up once the sun begins to set in the evening? All of us have different rhythms, that is, different times of day when we feel most productive and energetic.
You can make best use of your time by scheduling high-value work during your peak time, and low-energy work (like returning phone calls and checking email), during your "down" time. Our article, Is This a Morning Task? will teach you how to do this.
Key Points
One of the most effective ways of improving your productivity is to recognize and rectify time management mistakes.
When you take the time to overcome these mistakes, it will make a huge difference in your productivity - and you'll also be happier, and experience less stress!
Source: MindTools
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
5 Simple Ways to Increase Your Intelligence
Your brain needs exercise just like a muscle. If you use it often and in the right ways, you will become a more skilled thinker and increase your ability to focus. But if you never use your brain, or abuse it with harmful chemicals, your ability to think and learn will deteriorate.
Here are 5 simple ways anyone can squeeze a bit more productivity out of the old gray matter.
1. Minimize Television Watching – This is a hard sell. People love vegetating in front of the television, myself included more often than I’d like. The problem is watching television doesn’t use your mental capacity OR allow it to recharge. It’s like having the energy sapped out of a muscle without the health benefits of exercise.
Don’t you feel drained after a couple hours of TV? Your eyes are sore and tired from being focused on the light box for so long. You don’t even have the energy to read a book.
When you feel like relaxing, try reading a book instead. If you’re too tired, listen to some music. When you’re with your friends or family, leave the tube off and have a conversation. All of these things use your mind more than television and allow you to relax.
2. Exercise – I used to think that I’d learn more by not exercising and using the time to read a book instead. But I realized that time spent exercising always leads to greater learning because it improves productivity during the time afterwards. Using your body clears your head and creates a wave of energy. Afterwards, you feel invigorated and can concentrate more easily.
3. Read Challenging Books – Many people like to read popular suspense fiction, but generally these books aren’t mentally stimulating. If you want to improve your thinking and writing ability you should read books that make you focus. Reading a classic novel can change your view of the world and will make you think in more precise, elegant English. Don’t be afraid to look up a word if you don’t know it, and don’t be afraid of dense passages. Take your time, re-read when necessary, and you’ll soon grow accustomed to the author’s style.
Once you get used to reading challenging books, I think you’ll find that you aren’t tempted to go back to page-turners. The challenge of learning new ideas is far more exciting than any tacky suspense-thriller.
4. Early to Bed, Early to Rise – Nothing makes it harder to concentrate than sleep deprivation. You’ll be most rejuvenated if you go to bed early and don’t sleep more than 8 hours. If you stay up late and compensate by sleeping late, you’ll wake up lethargic and have trouble focusing. In my experience the early morning hours are the most tranquil and productive. Waking up early gives you more productive hours and maximizes your mental acuity all day.
If you have the opportunity, take 10-20 minute naps when you are hit with a wave of drowsiness. Anything longer will make you lethargic, but a short nap will refresh you.
5. Take Time to Reflect – Often our lives get so hectic that we become overwhelmed without even realizing it. It becomes difficult to concentrate because nagging thoughts keep interrupting. Spending some time alone in reflection gives you a chance organize your thoughts and prioritize your responsibilities. Afterwards, you’ll have a better understanding of what’s important and what isn’t. The unimportant stuff won’t bother you anymore and your mind will feel less encumbered.
I’m not saying you need to sit on the floor cross-legged and chant ‘ommm’. Anything that allows a bit of prolonged solitude will do. One of my personal favorites is taking a solitary walk. Someone famous said, “All the best ideas occur while walking.” I think he was on to something. Experiment to find the activity that works best for you.
Conclusion – I hope you aren’t disappointed that none of the techniques I’ve proposed are revolutionary. But simple, unexciting answers are often the most valid. The challenge is having the will to adhere to them. If you succeed in following these 5 tips, you’ll be rewarded with increased mental acuity and retention of knowledge.
By: John Wesley
Source: PickTheBrain
Here are 5 simple ways anyone can squeeze a bit more productivity out of the old gray matter.
1. Minimize Television Watching – This is a hard sell. People love vegetating in front of the television, myself included more often than I’d like. The problem is watching television doesn’t use your mental capacity OR allow it to recharge. It’s like having the energy sapped out of a muscle without the health benefits of exercise.
Don’t you feel drained after a couple hours of TV? Your eyes are sore and tired from being focused on the light box for so long. You don’t even have the energy to read a book.
When you feel like relaxing, try reading a book instead. If you’re too tired, listen to some music. When you’re with your friends or family, leave the tube off and have a conversation. All of these things use your mind more than television and allow you to relax.
2. Exercise – I used to think that I’d learn more by not exercising and using the time to read a book instead. But I realized that time spent exercising always leads to greater learning because it improves productivity during the time afterwards. Using your body clears your head and creates a wave of energy. Afterwards, you feel invigorated and can concentrate more easily.
3. Read Challenging Books – Many people like to read popular suspense fiction, but generally these books aren’t mentally stimulating. If you want to improve your thinking and writing ability you should read books that make you focus. Reading a classic novel can change your view of the world and will make you think in more precise, elegant English. Don’t be afraid to look up a word if you don’t know it, and don’t be afraid of dense passages. Take your time, re-read when necessary, and you’ll soon grow accustomed to the author’s style.
Once you get used to reading challenging books, I think you’ll find that you aren’t tempted to go back to page-turners. The challenge of learning new ideas is far more exciting than any tacky suspense-thriller.
4. Early to Bed, Early to Rise – Nothing makes it harder to concentrate than sleep deprivation. You’ll be most rejuvenated if you go to bed early and don’t sleep more than 8 hours. If you stay up late and compensate by sleeping late, you’ll wake up lethargic and have trouble focusing. In my experience the early morning hours are the most tranquil and productive. Waking up early gives you more productive hours and maximizes your mental acuity all day.
If you have the opportunity, take 10-20 minute naps when you are hit with a wave of drowsiness. Anything longer will make you lethargic, but a short nap will refresh you.
5. Take Time to Reflect – Often our lives get so hectic that we become overwhelmed without even realizing it. It becomes difficult to concentrate because nagging thoughts keep interrupting. Spending some time alone in reflection gives you a chance organize your thoughts and prioritize your responsibilities. Afterwards, you’ll have a better understanding of what’s important and what isn’t. The unimportant stuff won’t bother you anymore and your mind will feel less encumbered.
I’m not saying you need to sit on the floor cross-legged and chant ‘ommm’. Anything that allows a bit of prolonged solitude will do. One of my personal favorites is taking a solitary walk. Someone famous said, “All the best ideas occur while walking.” I think he was on to something. Experiment to find the activity that works best for you.
Conclusion – I hope you aren’t disappointed that none of the techniques I’ve proposed are revolutionary. But simple, unexciting answers are often the most valid. The challenge is having the will to adhere to them. If you succeed in following these 5 tips, you’ll be rewarded with increased mental acuity and retention of knowledge.
By: John Wesley
Source: PickTheBrain
Friday, March 9, 2012
Success Takes Desire
There is a huge difference in having an interest in achieving a goal and having a burning desire to achieve a goal. How intense does the desire have to be? It has to be enough to pull you through any obstacles or challenges that can possibly come up.
I'm sure you've heard the analogy of how you must want your goal as badly as you want to breathe. If someone held your head under water, you'll do whatever it takes to be able to breathe. Procrastination is no longer an issue. Motivation is no longer a problem. The desire has become so intense that you will give it all you've got to take that breath of air.
Obviously, you don't need a do or die level of desire to achieve most goals but if you've failed to achieve goals due to laziness and lack of action, then your desire just wasn't strong enough. Now even if you have an intense, burning desire, you may still have moments where your level of desire is weakened.
During these moments, there are many things you can do and here are 2 that could help.
The first is to choose a goal that you can actually be excited about and keep focusing on how life will like when you finally achieve that goal. Choose a goal that is big enough where if you succeeded in obtaining it, your life will never be the same again. The more you want that goal, the less time you will spend trying to motivate yourself to take action.
The second approach is to remind yourself how life would be if you failed to achieve that goal. Think about the pain it would cause you. Think about having to go through another moment of feeling like a complete failure. Basically, think about the consequences of not giving the goal everything you've got.
People are motivated in different ways so choose the one that will work best for you. You can also use both approaches as well. When things are going as planned, you can keep that momentum going by visualizing how it will feel at the moment of success. When things aren't going so great and you feel like giving up, visualize the disappointment you'll have if you just quit now.
The opposite works as well. For some people, when things go the way they want, they tend to slow down and relax a bit too much so if you do this, you can use the second approach to keep your momentum up. If you're the type that when things go bad, thinking about failure just makes things worse, use the first approach to pick yourself back up.
The final thing I want to say about this reminder of success is that your level of desire will most likely fluctuate as you get feedback/results from the actions you take towards obtaining your goal. Keeping that desire strong isn't always an easy thing to do.
There may be times where you will question why you're putting yourself through all of this. You may wonder if your goal is really worth it. Having a burning desire for a goal doesn't mean you're pumped up and excited every time you think about your goal. When you truly have a burning desire for a goal, all it means is that even when it would be so much easier to quit, when taking another step in the direction of your goal is tough, when you just don't feel like taking action, you keep moving forward anyway because the thought of failing to achieve that goal would be unbearable.
This is why it's critical that you choose a goal that you have enough desire for where even when things aren't going so well, you still want to keep pressing on.
When your desire for a goal is weak to begin with, your chances of riding through the tough times will be slim. Think back at the goals that you failed to achieve, how badly did you really want those goals? An easy way to judge your level of desire is by looking at the actions you took or lack of actions.
If someone held your head under water, I'm sure you wouldn't procrastinate on trying to breathe. You wouldn't hesitate to spring into action. You wouldn't just half ass it. You'd go full force. You wouldn't second guess your ability to grasp that breath of air, your desire is too strong; and you certainly wouldn't give up trying until you've literally given it everything you've got.
Attack your goal with just half of this level of desire and you'll see just how unstoppable you can really be.
"It is during our failures that we discover our true desire for success." - Kevin Ngo
By: Kevin Ngo
Source: Motivational-Well-Being.com
I'm sure you've heard the analogy of how you must want your goal as badly as you want to breathe. If someone held your head under water, you'll do whatever it takes to be able to breathe. Procrastination is no longer an issue. Motivation is no longer a problem. The desire has become so intense that you will give it all you've got to take that breath of air.
Obviously, you don't need a do or die level of desire to achieve most goals but if you've failed to achieve goals due to laziness and lack of action, then your desire just wasn't strong enough. Now even if you have an intense, burning desire, you may still have moments where your level of desire is weakened.
During these moments, there are many things you can do and here are 2 that could help.
The first is to choose a goal that you can actually be excited about and keep focusing on how life will like when you finally achieve that goal. Choose a goal that is big enough where if you succeeded in obtaining it, your life will never be the same again. The more you want that goal, the less time you will spend trying to motivate yourself to take action.
The second approach is to remind yourself how life would be if you failed to achieve that goal. Think about the pain it would cause you. Think about having to go through another moment of feeling like a complete failure. Basically, think about the consequences of not giving the goal everything you've got.
People are motivated in different ways so choose the one that will work best for you. You can also use both approaches as well. When things are going as planned, you can keep that momentum going by visualizing how it will feel at the moment of success. When things aren't going so great and you feel like giving up, visualize the disappointment you'll have if you just quit now.
The opposite works as well. For some people, when things go the way they want, they tend to slow down and relax a bit too much so if you do this, you can use the second approach to keep your momentum up. If you're the type that when things go bad, thinking about failure just makes things worse, use the first approach to pick yourself back up.
The final thing I want to say about this reminder of success is that your level of desire will most likely fluctuate as you get feedback/results from the actions you take towards obtaining your goal. Keeping that desire strong isn't always an easy thing to do.
There may be times where you will question why you're putting yourself through all of this. You may wonder if your goal is really worth it. Having a burning desire for a goal doesn't mean you're pumped up and excited every time you think about your goal. When you truly have a burning desire for a goal, all it means is that even when it would be so much easier to quit, when taking another step in the direction of your goal is tough, when you just don't feel like taking action, you keep moving forward anyway because the thought of failing to achieve that goal would be unbearable.
This is why it's critical that you choose a goal that you have enough desire for where even when things aren't going so well, you still want to keep pressing on.
When your desire for a goal is weak to begin with, your chances of riding through the tough times will be slim. Think back at the goals that you failed to achieve, how badly did you really want those goals? An easy way to judge your level of desire is by looking at the actions you took or lack of actions.
If someone held your head under water, I'm sure you wouldn't procrastinate on trying to breathe. You wouldn't hesitate to spring into action. You wouldn't just half ass it. You'd go full force. You wouldn't second guess your ability to grasp that breath of air, your desire is too strong; and you certainly wouldn't give up trying until you've literally given it everything you've got.
Attack your goal with just half of this level of desire and you'll see just how unstoppable you can really be.
"It is during our failures that we discover our true desire for success." - Kevin Ngo
By: Kevin Ngo
Source: Motivational-Well-Being.com
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
The Incredible Triumph of an Enigmatic Entrepreneur
When Richard Branson's granny was 99, she wrote him to say that the last 10 years had been her best. He should read the book, "A Brief History of Time" by Stephen Hawking. She had loved it. But most of all, her advice to Richard was "You've got one go in life, so make the most of it." Those are words that mean so much to Richard Branson, as they go right to the heart of his belief in making it on your own. Now, head of 150 or so enterprises that carry the Virgin name, with a personal wealth estimated at nearly $3 billion, he has followed that personal dream and made the most of it. He still holds the record as fastest to cross the Atlantic ocean by boat. He was in the race to circle the globe in a balloon. It is a success that was never expected for a dyslexic, nearsighted boy.
Richard didn't breeze through school. It wasn't just a challenge for him, it was a nightmare. His dyslexia embarrassed him as he had to memorize and recite word for word in public. He was sure he did terribly on the standard IQ tests...these are tests that measure abilities where he is weak. In the end, it was the tests that failed. They totally missed his ability and passion for sports. They had no means to identify ambition, the fire inside that drives people to find a path to success that zigzags around the maze of standard doors that won't open. They never identified the most important talent of all. It's the ability to connect with people, mind to mind, soul to soul. It's that rare power to energize the ambitions of others so that they, too, rise to the level of their dreams.Ironically, Richard Branson's talents began to show themselves during his adolescent school years. Frustrated with the rigidity of school rules and regulations, and seeing the energy of student activism in the late 60's, he decided to start his own student newspaper. This might not have been remarkable, except that this paper was intended to tie many schools together. It would be focused on the students and not the schools. It would sell advertising to major corporations. It would have articles by Ministers of Parliament, rock music stars, intellectuals and movie celebrities. It would be a commercial success. That was the business plan that 17 year old Richard Branson put together with his pal, Jonny Gems.
The had a little help. Richard's mother donated four pounds to help cover postage and telephone expenses. It was enough to start. They worked in his basement and scrimped on everything except the grand vision of the magazine. The first edition appeared with a cover picture of a student drawn by Peter Blake, who designed the Beatles' Sergeant Pepper album cover. He also agreed to give an interview. Student debuted in January, 1968. The headmaster of Stowe, where Richard and Jonny were students, wrote: "Congratulations, Branson. I predict that you will either go to prison or become a millionaire."
It turned out that the orders so flooded in that they were more lucrative than magazine subscriptions. Richard rounded up the staff of Student and recruited them to spin off a discount music business. They found an empty shop above a shoe store and persuaded the owner to let them build shelves and move in a couple of old sofas for their first store. In lieu of rent, they promised that they'd bring so much traffic that the shoe store's business would pick up too. Now all they needed was a name.
The first candidate was "Slipped Disc." It had promise. It was catchy and appealed to a wider range of buyers than "Student." Then one of the group piped up "Virgin." Because, she said, "we're complete virgins at business." In retrospect, Richard says he's happy they went with the alternate name. Slipped Disc Airlines just wouldn't have the customer appeal of Virgin Airlines.
Virgin Airlines is very much a Richard Branson style company. Instead of getting caught in the downward spiral of chopping fares and cutting service, he's taken a stand of reasonable fares on transatlantic flights with amenities like in-flight massages, ice cream with movies and soon, private bedrooms, showers and exercise facilities. Far from failing, Virgin Airlines is a big money maker.
In fact all 150 companies make money and Richard Branson claims no prior expertise in any of them. He has no giant corporate office or staff. Few if any board meetings. Instead, he keeps each enterprise small and relies on his magic touch of empowering people's ideas to fuel success. When a flight attendant approached him with her vision of a wedding business, Richard told her to go do it. He even put on a wedding dress himself to help launch the publicity. His Virgin Cola is bigger than Pepsi in Europe and looking to take on Coke in the United States. Richard drove a tank up to the Coke Sign in Times Square and fired at it to launch that challenge. Flamboyant? Yes. Greedy? Well, certainly not in the sense we normally use that word. "I never went into business solely to make money," he says. Yet, over and over again, he's done just that.
If he is greedy, then it is a craving for turning possibilities, even unlikely ones, into raging successes. "It all comes down to people," he remarks in an interview with David Sheff of Forbes. "Nothing else even comes close." He writes them all, all 5,000 Virgin employees, a chatty letter once a month from his paper notebook, and invites them to write or call him with their problems, ideas and dreams. They do...and new Virgin successes are born.
The Incredible Triumph of an Enigmatic Entrepreneur
Friday, March 2, 2012
10 Ways to be a Good Mentor
Good mentoring relationships can be richly rewarding, not only for the person being mentored, but for the
mentor too.
Mentors can, among other things, provide exceptional learning experiences for their mentees and, in doing
so, expand their mentees' awareness, insight and perspective.
1. Be credible
The best mentors I've encountered have been people that have credibility in, and have personally achieved success in, the area where I'm looking for support. For this reason, most people will seek the guidance of different mentors to help them develop specific skills or qualities, or to help them reach important decisions. Being credible doesn't mean that you need to have all the answers. The best answers for your mentee will come from their own thinking, with the help of your wisdom to support them.
2. Be a positive role model
Good mentors are respected by their mentees. A mentee can learn a lot from their mentor simply by watching how their mentor behaves in any particular situation. Good mentors will also look out for experiences, or even create situations in which their mentees can become involved to learn new things, for example, providing a look behind the scenes or a glimpse at how other people live or do things.
3. Be genuinely interested in your mentee as an individual
A mentoring relationship is a very personal one, which is often very important to the mentee, so, as a mentor, you need to get to know your mentee personally, about their hopes and dreams, so you can help them in a way that meets their personal best interest. For this reason, a parent is often not a good mentor for their child, as their parenting relationship and emotional connection will influence their guidance. That's not to say that a parent can never provide a mentoring moment for their child - they can - however, a parent can't be as objective as a person who's independent of the parenting role. In the same way, a manager is also not the best person to mentor someone on their team, as they'll often have a conflict of interest to contend with, between what's in the best interest of each individual and what's in the best interest of their team.
4. Share your experiences and insights
In doing so, choose stories that you feel are appropriate and helpful, but do so in a neutral way, without any attachment to how your mentee will use this learning. Be open to sharing your mistakes and failures too, as these are often where our biggest lessons are learned. It will also help your mentee be aware that challenges will arise, and the way you dealt with the situation might also help them gain insight about how to build resilience.
5. Ask open questions
Asking your mentee open questions will help you as a mentor to identify their real needs, values and passions. It's also a great way to get your mentee to think through situations themselves and draw out the consequences of the various choices or courses of action they can take. During these conversations, you can share your wisdom, without making decisions for your mentee. That's their job.
6. Act as a sounding board
Mentees benefit greatly from the opportunity of having a good mentor listen to them. Allow them to explore their thoughts and ideas openly with you. This will often help them unravel their thinking and gain insights about a situation as they share their concerns with you.
7. Provide a fresh perspective
One of the benefits of working with a mentor is that a good mentor will often provide their mentee with a fresh perspective on an issue. A good mentor will often have the clarity of distance from an issue or problem that's needed to provide objective feedback to their mentee. They can also hold up a 'mirror' to the mentee to, for example, let the mentee see what their behaviour looks like to others.
8. Provide helpful feedback
Not all feedback is helpful. A good mentor knows this and will deliver feedback in a way that will help their
mentee gain insight to further develop specific qualities or skills. For example, a good mentor will always ask
for permission to give feedback before doing so. Giving unwelcome feedback can be detrimental to any
mentoring relationship. Instead, explain what you'd like to talk about first and highlight the benefits of doing
this.
9. Acknowledge achievements
Highlight for your mentee any achievements they might have forgotten, to help build their confidence. Remember to celebrate their successes on your mentoring journey too.
10. Offer your advice, but only if your mentee asks for it
It can be very tempting for a mentor to just jump in and offer advice before a mentee has actually asked for
it, especially when you've dealt with a similar situation yourself. Being a sounding board for your mentee, allowing them to discuss the situation with you, then helping them to think through the situation by asking them questions to draw out the consequences of various actions, is always more empowering for a mentee than advising them what to do. It helps them work through the issue and come to their own conclusions. By doing so, you ultimately help them to learn to think through issues themselves and trust their own judgement, both valuable life skills.
By: Blue Sky Coaching
10 Ways to be a Good Mentor
mentor too.
Mentors can, among other things, provide exceptional learning experiences for their mentees and, in doing
so, expand their mentees' awareness, insight and perspective.
Here are 10 things you can do to be a good mentor:
1. Be credible
The best mentors I've encountered have been people that have credibility in, and have personally achieved success in, the area where I'm looking for support. For this reason, most people will seek the guidance of different mentors to help them develop specific skills or qualities, or to help them reach important decisions. Being credible doesn't mean that you need to have all the answers. The best answers for your mentee will come from their own thinking, with the help of your wisdom to support them.
2. Be a positive role model
Good mentors are respected by their mentees. A mentee can learn a lot from their mentor simply by watching how their mentor behaves in any particular situation. Good mentors will also look out for experiences, or even create situations in which their mentees can become involved to learn new things, for example, providing a look behind the scenes or a glimpse at how other people live or do things.
3. Be genuinely interested in your mentee as an individual
A mentoring relationship is a very personal one, which is often very important to the mentee, so, as a mentor, you need to get to know your mentee personally, about their hopes and dreams, so you can help them in a way that meets their personal best interest. For this reason, a parent is often not a good mentor for their child, as their parenting relationship and emotional connection will influence their guidance. That's not to say that a parent can never provide a mentoring moment for their child - they can - however, a parent can't be as objective as a person who's independent of the parenting role. In the same way, a manager is also not the best person to mentor someone on their team, as they'll often have a conflict of interest to contend with, between what's in the best interest of each individual and what's in the best interest of their team.
4. Share your experiences and insights
In doing so, choose stories that you feel are appropriate and helpful, but do so in a neutral way, without any attachment to how your mentee will use this learning. Be open to sharing your mistakes and failures too, as these are often where our biggest lessons are learned. It will also help your mentee be aware that challenges will arise, and the way you dealt with the situation might also help them gain insight about how to build resilience.
5. Ask open questions
Asking your mentee open questions will help you as a mentor to identify their real needs, values and passions. It's also a great way to get your mentee to think through situations themselves and draw out the consequences of the various choices or courses of action they can take. During these conversations, you can share your wisdom, without making decisions for your mentee. That's their job.
6. Act as a sounding board
Mentees benefit greatly from the opportunity of having a good mentor listen to them. Allow them to explore their thoughts and ideas openly with you. This will often help them unravel their thinking and gain insights about a situation as they share their concerns with you.
7. Provide a fresh perspective
One of the benefits of working with a mentor is that a good mentor will often provide their mentee with a fresh perspective on an issue. A good mentor will often have the clarity of distance from an issue or problem that's needed to provide objective feedback to their mentee. They can also hold up a 'mirror' to the mentee to, for example, let the mentee see what their behaviour looks like to others.
8. Provide helpful feedback
Not all feedback is helpful. A good mentor knows this and will deliver feedback in a way that will help their
mentee gain insight to further develop specific qualities or skills. For example, a good mentor will always ask
for permission to give feedback before doing so. Giving unwelcome feedback can be detrimental to any
mentoring relationship. Instead, explain what you'd like to talk about first and highlight the benefits of doing
this.
9. Acknowledge achievements
Highlight for your mentee any achievements they might have forgotten, to help build their confidence. Remember to celebrate their successes on your mentoring journey too.
10. Offer your advice, but only if your mentee asks for it
It can be very tempting for a mentor to just jump in and offer advice before a mentee has actually asked for
it, especially when you've dealt with a similar situation yourself. Being a sounding board for your mentee, allowing them to discuss the situation with you, then helping them to think through the situation by asking them questions to draw out the consequences of various actions, is always more empowering for a mentee than advising them what to do. It helps them work through the issue and come to their own conclusions. By doing so, you ultimately help them to learn to think through issues themselves and trust their own judgement, both valuable life skills.
By: Blue Sky Coaching
10 Ways to be a Good Mentor
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)