Generosity
This is the base from which all the other behaviors arise. This is the commitment to mutual support that begins with the willingness to show up and creatively share our deepest insights and ideas with the world. It's the promise to help others succeed by whatever means you can muster. Generosity signals the end of isolation by cracking open a door to a trusting emotional environment, what I call a "safe space" -- the kind of environment that's necessary for creating relationships in which the other mindsets can flourish.
Vulnerability
This means letting your guard down so mutual understanding can occur. Here you cross the threshold into a safe space after intimacy and trust have pushed the door wide open. The relationship engendered by generosity then moves toward a place of fearless friendship where risks are taken and invitations are offered to others.
Candor
This is the freedom to be totally honest with those in whom you confide. Vulnerability clears the pathways of feedback so that you are able to share your hopes and fears. Candor allows us to begin to constructively interpret, respond to and grapple with that information.
Accountability
Accountability refers to the action of following through on the promises you make to others. It's about giving and receiving the feet-to-the-fire tough love through which real change is sustained.
The real key to establishing close relationships with people you consider your trusted advisers in your career and in your personal life is how these four mindsets work together.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Don't Lose Your Head If You Get the Ax!
When you have lost your job, you need to do four things: Get help. Get good advice. Get stabilized. Get busy.
Don't try to tough it out on your own. As soon as the ax falls, negotiate your departure. Circumstances vary, and finding another job may take longer than you anticipated. Protect your interests as well as you can.
Whatever is being offered, make sure it's fair. You can, and should ask for more severance, reimbursement for unused vacation time and sick leave, outplacement services, office space, office supplies, secretarial help and even tuition.
Are they getting tough? You get tough. Hire a lawyer if necessary. In case you consider this advice anti-management, remember that no management bigwigs let themselves get fired without hiring the best legal advice available.
Government assistance for the unemployed? Why not? You've been paying for it all these years—just in case something like this ever happened.
Now is the time to talk to friends, relatives, old schoolmates, customers, vendors, business associates and professional advisers. They may not be quite as interested in hearing about your troubles as you would like them to be; they may be expecting their own bad news too. But put the word out that you are on the job hunt and would appreciate any help.
So focus on the positive. You have something to offer. By helping you, all of the people whose assistance you solicit are helping themselves as well. They're helping put you back in a position where you can do them some good. They're piling up points for the time they may need the same kind of help.
You need to know where you stand and where you're going. You need to take an inventory—financial, professional and emotional. It's time to revise your budget. There are advisers who will tell you to cut down on everything. Not me. You can't cut down on your medical needs. Keep lines of communication and transportation open—you need to be accessible and available for prospective employers.
Borrow if you have to, perhaps from yourself. If you have equity in your home, interest rates are low, and now is a favorable time to consider a home equity loan or refinancing. What about Mom and Dad? Can they help you start your own business or go back to school?
I believe in education as a kind of capital improvement in the structure of society. It's a good investment. Don't be hesitant to borrow, particularly to replenish your professional inventory. In fact, self-improvement is the one area in which you should really increase your spending, not decrease it.
Take courses. Upgrade your skills. You cannot ever afford to rest on the skills you learned in high school or college or your last job. The workplace is filling up with people who graduated long after you did and who have acquired newer, more efficient skills, who are young, eager and hungry to show those skills to employers. Keep on going to school. Enhance what you already know and pick up new material on topics like computers, language, public speaking and writing.
Nothing impresses me more as a potential employer than someone who is out of work but still actively going to school. In fact, what excuse is there for not being in a school of some kind when you're not employed? It's the true test of your determination to get into the workplace to present an up-to-the-minute, trainable, quality package to a potential employer.
If you were fired, it's a great way to prove to yourself and others that you're capable of bouncing back after a setback. It's a real confidence builder. It's the best single thing you can do for yourself.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average worker will have 12-14 job changes in the course of a lifetime and will undergo five career changes.
Get a routine. Like yourself again. Spend some extra time with the kids. Read. Have a little fun. Get some exercise. Get busy. None of us have time to sit around feeling sorry for ourselves.
There are worse things than not working. Like not getting ready to go back to work.
Mackay's Moral: Getting fired should get you fired up!
Harvey MacKay
Don't try to tough it out on your own. As soon as the ax falls, negotiate your departure. Circumstances vary, and finding another job may take longer than you anticipated. Protect your interests as well as you can.
Whatever is being offered, make sure it's fair. You can, and should ask for more severance, reimbursement for unused vacation time and sick leave, outplacement services, office space, office supplies, secretarial help and even tuition.
Are they getting tough? You get tough. Hire a lawyer if necessary. In case you consider this advice anti-management, remember that no management bigwigs let themselves get fired without hiring the best legal advice available.
Government assistance for the unemployed? Why not? You've been paying for it all these years—just in case something like this ever happened.
Now is the time to talk to friends, relatives, old schoolmates, customers, vendors, business associates and professional advisers. They may not be quite as interested in hearing about your troubles as you would like them to be; they may be expecting their own bad news too. But put the word out that you are on the job hunt and would appreciate any help.
So focus on the positive. You have something to offer. By helping you, all of the people whose assistance you solicit are helping themselves as well. They're helping put you back in a position where you can do them some good. They're piling up points for the time they may need the same kind of help.
You need to know where you stand and where you're going. You need to take an inventory—financial, professional and emotional. It's time to revise your budget. There are advisers who will tell you to cut down on everything. Not me. You can't cut down on your medical needs. Keep lines of communication and transportation open—you need to be accessible and available for prospective employers.
Borrow if you have to, perhaps from yourself. If you have equity in your home, interest rates are low, and now is a favorable time to consider a home equity loan or refinancing. What about Mom and Dad? Can they help you start your own business or go back to school?
I believe in education as a kind of capital improvement in the structure of society. It's a good investment. Don't be hesitant to borrow, particularly to replenish your professional inventory. In fact, self-improvement is the one area in which you should really increase your spending, not decrease it.
Take courses. Upgrade your skills. You cannot ever afford to rest on the skills you learned in high school or college or your last job. The workplace is filling up with people who graduated long after you did and who have acquired newer, more efficient skills, who are young, eager and hungry to show those skills to employers. Keep on going to school. Enhance what you already know and pick up new material on topics like computers, language, public speaking and writing.
Nothing impresses me more as a potential employer than someone who is out of work but still actively going to school. In fact, what excuse is there for not being in a school of some kind when you're not employed? It's the true test of your determination to get into the workplace to present an up-to-the-minute, trainable, quality package to a potential employer.
If you were fired, it's a great way to prove to yourself and others that you're capable of bouncing back after a setback. It's a real confidence builder. It's the best single thing you can do for yourself.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average worker will have 12-14 job changes in the course of a lifetime and will undergo five career changes.
Get a routine. Like yourself again. Spend some extra time with the kids. Read. Have a little fun. Get some exercise. Get busy. None of us have time to sit around feeling sorry for ourselves.
There are worse things than not working. Like not getting ready to go back to work.
Mackay's Moral: Getting fired should get you fired up!
Harvey MacKay
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
6 Ways to Get Respect Quickly
Establish Yourself As A Professional Professional
Are you interested in being seen for your contributions rather than your birth year? These 6 tips will help you to get noticed more quickly, earn you greater influence and responsibility, and get you closer to a level playing field.
Be a student of everyone:
Asking questions and taking advice isn’t a sign of weakness, and it won’t emphasize your youth either. You’ll get better faster, impress more people, and actually seem older.
Why it works: Seeking ways to improve is a sign of maturity and is the easiest way to gain the skills and knowledge that make you more effective. Plus, demonstrating a willingness to learn from your elders takes away a lot of the stereotypes and targets you will be marked with as a Millennial.
Write really well:
Develop your ability of written communication to the highest level, both in your daily emails and in deliverables for which you are responsible. This includes correct grammar, capitalization, and punctuation–even in email.
Why it works: If you can quickly fire off sharp emails, you will come across as highly capable and intelligent (provided your content isn’t inappropriate). Not everyone types well, and certainly not everyone writes well.
Today, many first impressions are made through email. If you present well there, you will be developing your personal brand, and when people are surprised at how young you are compared to what they expected, you will know that you’ve already broken some of their preconceptions about your generation.
Demonstrate leadership:
Help other employees to be more effective. For example, since you are a regular blog-reader, you probably are ahead of the curve when it comes to getting things done with computers. Be generous to help others format documents, create spreadsheets, or find information on the web. As for fellow younger workers, you’ll probably be able to answer many of their questions related to your industry and your company since you’re a student of everyone now. Concerning the boss, give appropriate amounts of ground-level feedback on how things can be improved if he/she is interested. Don’t suck-up, but do provide the kind of info they want to know.
Why it works: Nothing says maturity like leadership. If you have workers of every age looking to you to be more effective, you’ll have their respect by default.
Work smarter:
Create templates for common tasks and send them out to others who could use them. Write scripts or stock emails for common customer interactions. If you are in sales, design a killer territory plan and use tools like Jigsaw to get better conversion rates. Employ solid time-management to get more done in less time.
Why it works: When push comes to shove, intelligent managers will determine how to treat you based on performance alone. If you are the top producer in the department, you will usually be respected and rewarded. There aren’t many companies that don’t appreciate bottom-line results.
Show up:
Take advantage of opportunities to interact with upper-management. If it’s a small company, say yes when you are invited out to drinks or dinner. If it’s a larger organization, reach as high as is practical. Participate in forums and special project groups, and don’t be shy about introducing yourself at the proper moment. Your CEO might enjoy hearing the perspective of his tip-top inside sales representative, for example.
Why it works: In many cases, your boss’s boss’s boss is a very cool person. We’re probably not talking about someone who got their job on the strength of tenure alone, so there’s a good chance they aren’t as limited by notions of age as some career middle managers might be. This is just an instance of going to find the people who are most likely to respect the substance of who you are.
Avoid being an idiot:
Subtle advice, no? Anyone who’s spent any amount of time in an office has seen talented people who can’t stop shooting themselves in the foot with stupid habits. Improper attire, showing up late, inappropriate jokes, failure to stop talking about oneself… The list goes on and on. Exercise good judgment and at least be aware of the norms in your workplace. Like with great writing, you need to prove you can follow the rules before you can get away with breaking them.
Why it works: It’s hard to get respect when you’re fired.
Are you interested in being seen for your contributions rather than your birth year? These 6 tips will help you to get noticed more quickly, earn you greater influence and responsibility, and get you closer to a level playing field.
Be a student of everyone:
Asking questions and taking advice isn’t a sign of weakness, and it won’t emphasize your youth either. You’ll get better faster, impress more people, and actually seem older.
Why it works: Seeking ways to improve is a sign of maturity and is the easiest way to gain the skills and knowledge that make you more effective. Plus, demonstrating a willingness to learn from your elders takes away a lot of the stereotypes and targets you will be marked with as a Millennial.
Write really well:
Develop your ability of written communication to the highest level, both in your daily emails and in deliverables for which you are responsible. This includes correct grammar, capitalization, and punctuation–even in email.
Why it works: If you can quickly fire off sharp emails, you will come across as highly capable and intelligent (provided your content isn’t inappropriate). Not everyone types well, and certainly not everyone writes well.
Today, many first impressions are made through email. If you present well there, you will be developing your personal brand, and when people are surprised at how young you are compared to what they expected, you will know that you’ve already broken some of their preconceptions about your generation.
Demonstrate leadership:
Help other employees to be more effective. For example, since you are a regular blog-reader, you probably are ahead of the curve when it comes to getting things done with computers. Be generous to help others format documents, create spreadsheets, or find information on the web. As for fellow younger workers, you’ll probably be able to answer many of their questions related to your industry and your company since you’re a student of everyone now. Concerning the boss, give appropriate amounts of ground-level feedback on how things can be improved if he/she is interested. Don’t suck-up, but do provide the kind of info they want to know.
Why it works: Nothing says maturity like leadership. If you have workers of every age looking to you to be more effective, you’ll have their respect by default.
Work smarter:
Create templates for common tasks and send them out to others who could use them. Write scripts or stock emails for common customer interactions. If you are in sales, design a killer territory plan and use tools like Jigsaw to get better conversion rates. Employ solid time-management to get more done in less time.
Why it works: When push comes to shove, intelligent managers will determine how to treat you based on performance alone. If you are the top producer in the department, you will usually be respected and rewarded. There aren’t many companies that don’t appreciate bottom-line results.
Show up:
Take advantage of opportunities to interact with upper-management. If it’s a small company, say yes when you are invited out to drinks or dinner. If it’s a larger organization, reach as high as is practical. Participate in forums and special project groups, and don’t be shy about introducing yourself at the proper moment. Your CEO might enjoy hearing the perspective of his tip-top inside sales representative, for example.
Why it works: In many cases, your boss’s boss’s boss is a very cool person. We’re probably not talking about someone who got their job on the strength of tenure alone, so there’s a good chance they aren’t as limited by notions of age as some career middle managers might be. This is just an instance of going to find the people who are most likely to respect the substance of who you are.
Avoid being an idiot:
Subtle advice, no? Anyone who’s spent any amount of time in an office has seen talented people who can’t stop shooting themselves in the foot with stupid habits. Improper attire, showing up late, inappropriate jokes, failure to stop talking about oneself… The list goes on and on. Exercise good judgment and at least be aware of the norms in your workplace. Like with great writing, you need to prove you can follow the rules before you can get away with breaking them.
Why it works: It’s hard to get respect when you’re fired.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
The Remarkable Power of Thank You!
An easy thing to forget in the midst of our frenzied lives is the simple act of saying "thank you." Who has the time to slow down for such old-fashioned pleasantries? And yet, by incorporating a thank-you strategy into your marketing, I promise you'll reap immense rewards.
You'll stand out because it's not something that other business owners are in the habit of doing. Extending age-old courtesies now actually gives you an edge in the marketplace. It goes a long way toward cementing relationships with prospects and reinforcing customer loyalty.
One of the best ways to thank someone is a hand-written card. Get into the habit of writing notes. Keep a stack by your desk and scribble notes to customers, vendors, leads, associates, and mentors. Once you get started thanking people, you will find limitless opportunities. And guess what? People are tickled pink to receive a good, old-fashioned card.
Write a note that is sincere. Make sure you are expressing simple gratitude in your message, not a thinly disguised sales pitch. Don't be afraid to be warm and personal. And in case you're a chicken scratcher like me, don't worry about the way your writing looks - scribble your note and send it anyway!
Timing counts! For the most part, express your appreciation within a couple of days.
Here are some different opportunities to thank people:
* A new client/customer
* Existing client/customer who gives you a new project
* Someone who makes a referral to your company
* A peer who gives you helpful advice
* As a follow-up after a meeting or phone call
* For a job well done by an employee, vendor, or associate
* When someone shows you a kindness
People like to feel appreciated and recognized. You'll find that by thanking people, you will strengthen relationships. Your simple act of recognizing people will set you apart from your competitors. It will reinforce your bond with your clients, associates, vendors, etc. By, the way, don't forget to thank employees - they like to be appreciated, as well!
And, it will bolster word-of-mouth referrals. When someone has been appreciated and they hear of someone who needs your services/products, guess whose company they will recommend?
The power of saying "thank-you" is a powerful, but simple marketing tactic. Make is a habit and you will reap the rewards.
You'll stand out because it's not something that other business owners are in the habit of doing. Extending age-old courtesies now actually gives you an edge in the marketplace. It goes a long way toward cementing relationships with prospects and reinforcing customer loyalty.
One of the best ways to thank someone is a hand-written card. Get into the habit of writing notes. Keep a stack by your desk and scribble notes to customers, vendors, leads, associates, and mentors. Once you get started thanking people, you will find limitless opportunities. And guess what? People are tickled pink to receive a good, old-fashioned card.
Write a note that is sincere. Make sure you are expressing simple gratitude in your message, not a thinly disguised sales pitch. Don't be afraid to be warm and personal. And in case you're a chicken scratcher like me, don't worry about the way your writing looks - scribble your note and send it anyway!
Timing counts! For the most part, express your appreciation within a couple of days.
Here are some different opportunities to thank people:
* A new client/customer
* Existing client/customer who gives you a new project
* Someone who makes a referral to your company
* A peer who gives you helpful advice
* As a follow-up after a meeting or phone call
* For a job well done by an employee, vendor, or associate
* When someone shows you a kindness
People like to feel appreciated and recognized. You'll find that by thanking people, you will strengthen relationships. Your simple act of recognizing people will set you apart from your competitors. It will reinforce your bond with your clients, associates, vendors, etc. By, the way, don't forget to thank employees - they like to be appreciated, as well!
And, it will bolster word-of-mouth referrals. When someone has been appreciated and they hear of someone who needs your services/products, guess whose company they will recommend?
The power of saying "thank-you" is a powerful, but simple marketing tactic. Make is a habit and you will reap the rewards.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
The Benefits of Temporary Jobs
1. MONEY MATTERS
Let's be realistic, money is important. No matter how many times you say, "Money isn't everything," you can't change the fact that money matters. There is no shame in taking on a job to obtain needed cash. No matter how negative your attitude towards temp jobs is, it is impossible to deny that they are often a good source of income.
Good jobs don't just grow on trees so that people can come and pick the one they like best. When no viable alternatives exist, temporary positions are a fantastic way to earn money.
Temp jobs are ideal for students. When you have class during the week a steady job can be hard to get, but a temp job might only be for a day. Also, temp jobs often fit in well with an evening or weekend class schedule.
2. RESUME REINFORCEMENT
If you are currently out of work, chances are you suffer from a disease that often strikes the unemployed: resume decay. When out of work for an extended period of time, people often concentrate their efforts solely on finding a new job. Unfortunately these people fail to recognize that their free time should also be used for strengthening their resumes. Temporary positions give a person the opportunity to strengthen his/her resume through experience and education while also providing a source of income.
Temporary positions are a fantastic way to gain experience within a particular industry. When full time positions are tight, a temp job may be your best chance at learning industry basics. Moreover,you will already be an experienced worker when a full time position becomes available.
Temp jobs are a quick way to pick-up new skills or to heighten skills you already possess (typing, filing, book-keeping, etc.). More importantly, as a temp you may be required to use various professional software. Proficiency in current software applications looks great on a resume!
If you are not working full time or are not in school, your resume may look sparse. A recruiter evaluating your resume may assume you did nothing during this time. Temporary positions are good for filling these time gaps in your resume.
3. TEMP TO IMPRESS
Despite what many people think, a temporary position is NEVER a carefree, zero responsibility job. Though things may be slightly more relaxed as a temp, there is a secret that most people don't realize: a temp job may lead to much more. If you are working with others or report to a manager, you are being evaluated. People all around you are making mental notes about your knowledge, skills, personality, friendliness, diligence, and behavior. Use this to your advantage:
Occasionally, a temporary position turnsinto a position that needs to be filled permanently. Even if you are not explicitly told that your job is temp-to-hire, you may have shot at the permanent position if you impress the right people.
Temp jobs give you the opportunity to meet and rub elbows with individuals in a particular industry. You never know if a co- worker might someday be in charge of recruiting or make a recommendation for a new employee.
Often times, as a person develops their career map he or she realizes that they are far off course. This perfectly normal, but it also means that getting on the right road will require a change of direction.
4. CAREER SAMPLING
It may seem obvious, but never lose sight of the fact that a temporary job is temporary. This gives a person much more flexibility than one would have in a permanent position. No matter how horrible the job may seem, you can rest easy knowing you are not stuck in one place. More importantly, people often don't know what industry or career they would like to pursue. Temping gives an individual the option to sample a wide array of jobs. It is the perfect way to gain insight into a job or field
CONCLUSION
Temping may not be every person's cup of tea, but it is hardly unskilled labor. Temping is more like a delicate art form. Taking a temporary position provides numerous benefits and opportunities for a person with the right background, knowledge, and attitude. Instead of turning your nose up at the idea, give it some serious consideration. Temping may be just the tool you need to jumpstart your career plans
Nathan Newberger
Let's be realistic, money is important. No matter how many times you say, "Money isn't everything," you can't change the fact that money matters. There is no shame in taking on a job to obtain needed cash. No matter how negative your attitude towards temp jobs is, it is impossible to deny that they are often a good source of income.
Good jobs don't just grow on trees so that people can come and pick the one they like best. When no viable alternatives exist, temporary positions are a fantastic way to earn money.
Temp jobs are ideal for students. When you have class during the week a steady job can be hard to get, but a temp job might only be for a day. Also, temp jobs often fit in well with an evening or weekend class schedule.
2. RESUME REINFORCEMENT
If you are currently out of work, chances are you suffer from a disease that often strikes the unemployed: resume decay. When out of work for an extended period of time, people often concentrate their efforts solely on finding a new job. Unfortunately these people fail to recognize that their free time should also be used for strengthening their resumes. Temporary positions give a person the opportunity to strengthen his/her resume through experience and education while also providing a source of income.
Temporary positions are a fantastic way to gain experience within a particular industry. When full time positions are tight, a temp job may be your best chance at learning industry basics. Moreover,you will already be an experienced worker when a full time position becomes available.
Temp jobs are a quick way to pick-up new skills or to heighten skills you already possess (typing, filing, book-keeping, etc.). More importantly, as a temp you may be required to use various professional software. Proficiency in current software applications looks great on a resume!
If you are not working full time or are not in school, your resume may look sparse. A recruiter evaluating your resume may assume you did nothing during this time. Temporary positions are good for filling these time gaps in your resume.
3. TEMP TO IMPRESS
Despite what many people think, a temporary position is NEVER a carefree, zero responsibility job. Though things may be slightly more relaxed as a temp, there is a secret that most people don't realize: a temp job may lead to much more. If you are working with others or report to a manager, you are being evaluated. People all around you are making mental notes about your knowledge, skills, personality, friendliness, diligence, and behavior. Use this to your advantage:
Occasionally, a temporary position turnsinto a position that needs to be filled permanently. Even if you are not explicitly told that your job is temp-to-hire, you may have shot at the permanent position if you impress the right people.
Temp jobs give you the opportunity to meet and rub elbows with individuals in a particular industry. You never know if a co- worker might someday be in charge of recruiting or make a recommendation for a new employee.
Often times, as a person develops their career map he or she realizes that they are far off course. This perfectly normal, but it also means that getting on the right road will require a change of direction.
4. CAREER SAMPLING
It may seem obvious, but never lose sight of the fact that a temporary job is temporary. This gives a person much more flexibility than one would have in a permanent position. No matter how horrible the job may seem, you can rest easy knowing you are not stuck in one place. More importantly, people often don't know what industry or career they would like to pursue. Temping gives an individual the option to sample a wide array of jobs. It is the perfect way to gain insight into a job or field
CONCLUSION
Temping may not be every person's cup of tea, but it is hardly unskilled labor. Temping is more like a delicate art form. Taking a temporary position provides numerous benefits and opportunities for a person with the right background, knowledge, and attitude. Instead of turning your nose up at the idea, give it some serious consideration. Temping may be just the tool you need to jumpstart your career plans
Nathan Newberger
Monday, July 14, 2008
10 Easy Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Day
Ever have a day go by, or week go by, and wonder what you got done? And how the day went by so quickly without any real achievements?
We all have days like that, of course, but not every day has to be that way. Learn to make your days great, and get the most out of them, by applying a few simple tips.
Should you follow them all as if they were a step-by-step guide? Not at all. Take the tips that will apply to you, and give them a shot.
1. Purpose your day. This is my most important rule. I start out each day by listing the three things I most want to accomplish today — my Most Important Tasks (MITs). And I do my darndest to accomplish them. This post was one of the things I wanted to get done today. Almost there!
2. Start off great. Create a morning routine that will allow you to greet the day and get off to a great start. Your morning routine will vary from mine, but the important thing is to think about how you can create the best start to your day. Design your morning. And then try to make it a routine. Some ideas could be exercise, eating a healthy breakfast, enjoying the sunrise, doing meditation or prayer, doing some writing, or getting an important task done.
3. Focus on a goal. Another important thing to do in the morning is to focus on your current main goal. I don’t mean your goal for today, but your goal for this year (or some other longer-term period). The mistake a lot of people make is having too many goals, which spreads their focus and effectiveness. I’ve found that having just one goal at a time makes you much more effective and much more likely to accomplish it. The other mistake people make is not focusing on that goal (or goals) each day. Make it a part of your morning routine to decide what you’re going to do today to further your One Goal, and if possible, do it first thing. Then you’ve guaranteed yourself a great day.
4. Make an appointment with yourself. When we schedule a meeting with someone else, most of us block that time off so that no other tasks can interrupt it. That’s a sacred block of time that cannot be violated by a bunch of other things. Well, do the same thing for yourself. Schedule a block of time (preferably in the morning, before things get crazy) when you’re going to do one of your Most Important Tasks, or a task to further your One Goal. Then don’t allow that appointment to be violated by anything else.
5. Avoid interruptions. When you need to get something done, shut off email, don’t take phone calls, and don’t allow others to drop in on you for impromptu meetings. This applies to when you make an appointment with yourself (see the above tip), but also at other times of the day when you’re trying to get work done.
6. Find your prime time. My prime time is in the morning, as I am tired by the time afternoon rolls around and can’t seem to concentrate well. So I use my prime time for my most important tasks, and don’t allow myself to use it for unimportant tasks, like answering emails or holding boring meetings. Find your prime time, and make the most of it.
7. Have a time for calls and meetings. Calls are interruptions, and so are impromptu meetings. Schedule a time (not during your prime time) when you make or accept phone calls (I think 30 minutes is sufficient, but your needs may differ), and schedule another time when you have meetings with co-workers or clients. Having a set schedule will allow you to get more done, and allow others to understand when you can be interrupted.
8. Focus on the important. We have a tendency to try to tackle all the tasks that come our way, or all the tasks on our to-do lists, or all the requests that come in via email. It’s not possible, first of all, to get everything done that comes our way, and second, that’s probably not how we want to spend our day. It’s crucial that you identify the most important tasks and projects, the ones that will give you the most long-term benefit, and focus on those. Setting three MITs for today (see Tip 1) is one way to do that, of course, but this tip is really a change in mindset: identify the most important things, and forget about the unimportant. Sure, you won’t get everything done, but you will get the important stuff done, and that is a huge difference.
9. Finish strong. Right before you’re about to close up shop for the day, complete a simple routine: clear off your desk, process your inbox to empty (you don’t have to do all the tasks in your inbox, but just write them on your to-do list and get the papers out of the inbox), and plan what you want to do the next day. This is a great finish to your work day, and lets you get off to a great, clean start tomorrow.
10. Review your day. At the end of every day, spend a few minutes looking back on what you did, what went wrong, what you can improve on, and what you will do differently. Review your One Goal, and the progress (or lack thereof) you’ve made on it. No day is perfect, but you should learn from mistakes and celebrate successes. A journal would be a great way to capitalize best on this daily review.
By Leo Babauta
We all have days like that, of course, but not every day has to be that way. Learn to make your days great, and get the most out of them, by applying a few simple tips.
Should you follow them all as if they were a step-by-step guide? Not at all. Take the tips that will apply to you, and give them a shot.
1. Purpose your day. This is my most important rule. I start out each day by listing the three things I most want to accomplish today — my Most Important Tasks (MITs). And I do my darndest to accomplish them. This post was one of the things I wanted to get done today. Almost there!
2. Start off great. Create a morning routine that will allow you to greet the day and get off to a great start. Your morning routine will vary from mine, but the important thing is to think about how you can create the best start to your day. Design your morning. And then try to make it a routine. Some ideas could be exercise, eating a healthy breakfast, enjoying the sunrise, doing meditation or prayer, doing some writing, or getting an important task done.
3. Focus on a goal. Another important thing to do in the morning is to focus on your current main goal. I don’t mean your goal for today, but your goal for this year (or some other longer-term period). The mistake a lot of people make is having too many goals, which spreads their focus and effectiveness. I’ve found that having just one goal at a time makes you much more effective and much more likely to accomplish it. The other mistake people make is not focusing on that goal (or goals) each day. Make it a part of your morning routine to decide what you’re going to do today to further your One Goal, and if possible, do it first thing. Then you’ve guaranteed yourself a great day.
4. Make an appointment with yourself. When we schedule a meeting with someone else, most of us block that time off so that no other tasks can interrupt it. That’s a sacred block of time that cannot be violated by a bunch of other things. Well, do the same thing for yourself. Schedule a block of time (preferably in the morning, before things get crazy) when you’re going to do one of your Most Important Tasks, or a task to further your One Goal. Then don’t allow that appointment to be violated by anything else.
5. Avoid interruptions. When you need to get something done, shut off email, don’t take phone calls, and don’t allow others to drop in on you for impromptu meetings. This applies to when you make an appointment with yourself (see the above tip), but also at other times of the day when you’re trying to get work done.
6. Find your prime time. My prime time is in the morning, as I am tired by the time afternoon rolls around and can’t seem to concentrate well. So I use my prime time for my most important tasks, and don’t allow myself to use it for unimportant tasks, like answering emails or holding boring meetings. Find your prime time, and make the most of it.
7. Have a time for calls and meetings. Calls are interruptions, and so are impromptu meetings. Schedule a time (not during your prime time) when you make or accept phone calls (I think 30 minutes is sufficient, but your needs may differ), and schedule another time when you have meetings with co-workers or clients. Having a set schedule will allow you to get more done, and allow others to understand when you can be interrupted.
8. Focus on the important. We have a tendency to try to tackle all the tasks that come our way, or all the tasks on our to-do lists, or all the requests that come in via email. It’s not possible, first of all, to get everything done that comes our way, and second, that’s probably not how we want to spend our day. It’s crucial that you identify the most important tasks and projects, the ones that will give you the most long-term benefit, and focus on those. Setting three MITs for today (see Tip 1) is one way to do that, of course, but this tip is really a change in mindset: identify the most important things, and forget about the unimportant. Sure, you won’t get everything done, but you will get the important stuff done, and that is a huge difference.
9. Finish strong. Right before you’re about to close up shop for the day, complete a simple routine: clear off your desk, process your inbox to empty (you don’t have to do all the tasks in your inbox, but just write them on your to-do list and get the papers out of the inbox), and plan what you want to do the next day. This is a great finish to your work day, and lets you get off to a great, clean start tomorrow.
10. Review your day. At the end of every day, spend a few minutes looking back on what you did, what went wrong, what you can improve on, and what you will do differently. Review your One Goal, and the progress (or lack thereof) you’ve made on it. No day is perfect, but you should learn from mistakes and celebrate successes. A journal would be a great way to capitalize best on this daily review.
By Leo Babauta
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Tired at Work?
Aren’t we all? Getting up for work is hard enough for some people - but what about staying awake while you’re there?
About one-third of 1,000 people surveyed said they had fallen asleep or become very sleey at work in the past month, according to a survey by the National Sleep Foundation. The survey also found that participants averaged six hours and 40 minutes of sleep a night on weeknights, even though they estimated they’d need another 40 minutes of sleep to be at their best.
Workers know they aren’t performing up to par during the work day, but work is what’s keeping them up at night, according to the survey. Another finding is that workdays are getting longer and time spent working from home averages four-and-a-half hours each week.
The average wake-up is at 5:35 a.m. People spend about two hours and 15 minutes at home before heading to work; on average, people go to bed at 10:53 p.m., according to the survey.
No one wants to wake up, go to work, come home, go to sleep and wake up the next day to relive the same pattern, no matter how tired you are. That’s why people are trying to squeeze in more personal time for themselves and their families - at the cost of getting less sleep.
Having trouble staying awake? Follow these pointers from “The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Work,” by Joshua Piven and David Borgenicht, on how to cover if you’re caught sleeping at your desk.
Blame work. Say, “I’m so exhausted; I was here until midnight last night!” Do not attempt this if your boss works late and you do not.
Blame medication. Claim that your new allergy medicine has been making you drowsy. Say, “Those antihistamines just knock me out!”
Blame lunch. Say, “Wow, I guess I should not have eaten that turkey sandwich. Triptophan really makes me sleepy!”
careerbuilder
About one-third of 1,000 people surveyed said they had fallen asleep or become very sleey at work in the past month, according to a survey by the National Sleep Foundation. The survey also found that participants averaged six hours and 40 minutes of sleep a night on weeknights, even though they estimated they’d need another 40 minutes of sleep to be at their best.
Workers know they aren’t performing up to par during the work day, but work is what’s keeping them up at night, according to the survey. Another finding is that workdays are getting longer and time spent working from home averages four-and-a-half hours each week.
The average wake-up is at 5:35 a.m. People spend about two hours and 15 minutes at home before heading to work; on average, people go to bed at 10:53 p.m., according to the survey.
No one wants to wake up, go to work, come home, go to sleep and wake up the next day to relive the same pattern, no matter how tired you are. That’s why people are trying to squeeze in more personal time for themselves and their families - at the cost of getting less sleep.
Having trouble staying awake? Follow these pointers from “The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook: Work,” by Joshua Piven and David Borgenicht, on how to cover if you’re caught sleeping at your desk.
Blame work. Say, “I’m so exhausted; I was here until midnight last night!” Do not attempt this if your boss works late and you do not.
Blame medication. Claim that your new allergy medicine has been making you drowsy. Say, “Those antihistamines just knock me out!”
Blame lunch. Say, “Wow, I guess I should not have eaten that turkey sandwich. Triptophan really makes me sleepy!”
careerbuilder
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