by Skip Colfax
As one of my hobbies, I like to bake and sometimes am asked to create beautiful and delicious cakes for weddings and other cake-worthy events. Creating these cakes takes a lot of planning and is clearly defined as a project.
To manage a project like this, I use the Effective Edge best practices on projects. In many cases, the cake order starts with a phone call from the new Bride and Groom. We talk for a while and I ask a few basic questions, such as: “What date is the date of the wedding?” “Where will the reception be held?” “Approximately how many guests do you want to serve?” “What did you have in mind for your cake?”
The answers to those 4 questions usually give me enough information to get started. I create the Project in my EDGE System and give it a snappy title that I’ll recognize instantly. I will assign a due date (the date of the event) and write the first version of my desired outcome for this wedding cake. The desired outcome gets revisited after I have met personally with the decision makers.
Next is my project mind sweep, where I think about what needs to be done to create the wedding cake as my desired outcome describes. This can be a lengthy list of tasks, including everything from “pick up the cake topper from the bride” to “buy groceries needed to bake the cake”.
Then, just like any other project, I pull one or two items at a time that are the very next tasks and add them my Task list, categorized as Actions. Once each is completed, it is marked with an asterisk in my project plan, indicating that it is completed.
This process works well, keeps me on track, and when I need to get refocused, I have a wonderfully descriptive desired outcome statement to keep me motivated.
I’ve been making wedding cakes for over 20 years and until I learned about how to manage projects from The Effective Edge, I haven’t had a good tool for managing a wedding cake project; keeping tabs on all of the things that need to be accomplished to produce a beautiful and delicious cake.
The point of all of this is that The Effective Edge best practices on projects works, not only for business related projects, but for any project.
The deck in my back yard needs to be rebuilt… and soon, so that’s my next project! I’ll be creating my Project Plan and Desired Outcome in the next day or two.
Now that’s effective!
Friday, December 11, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
I’m drowning in Social Networking. Are you?
by Zahra Petri
These days it seems as if new social networking tools are surfacing every few days between iPhone applications, twitter, Facebook and the many other computer and phone operated plug-ins. Along with each of these are the endless email notifications that quickly fill up your inbox. When faced with this daily increase of new information, questions begin circling in my mind: Which tools are the best? How many should I use? What do I do with all the emails? How do I manage all the information coming and going??
A feeling of overwhelm sweeps over me and I am brought back to my days before I had my EDGE System and my inbox was a black abyss of read and unread emails; back when I felt like I was jumping from crisis to crisis and everything was an urgent matter. Instead of going into panic mode, I decided to expand my EDGE system and apply the concepts to these social networking tools.
On Facebook I turned off all the email notifications except for alerting me of a message in my Facebook inbox. This way my email inbox is not cluttered because, frankly, I don’t need to know when Sara commented on John’s profile status or that Jenny put a smiley face on my wall. I will still be notified of these actions when I log into my Facebook profile, so why do I need an email to tell me as well?
For my iPhone applications I turned off ALL the notifications and sounds, but the notifications may be different as there are a wide variety of applications. For example, I have a chat application that runs in the background of my phone even when I don’t have that application open. It works similarly to text messages. I turned off all the notifications including sound, pop up message, text sent and received chime, and friend’s status alert. These are all distractions that I don’t need. If Tom wants to tell me he heard the new Modest Mouse song on the radio, I don’t need to know that right away. I can see the message when I check my phone later. However, if Tom has something urgent, he knows my notifications are off and to text message or call me.
It is very important when setting the standards for yourself and your notifications, no matter what the tool, that you let the people who contact you know what they are. Tell them that Facebook is not the place to let you know they won Longhorn Football tickets for a game beginning in one hour and to reply immediately.
For more updates and tips on how to manage your tools and applications, visit the ‘Programs’ tab at www.effectiveedge.com to view Whitepapers and OnDemand modules to help expand your EDGE.
These days it seems as if new social networking tools are surfacing every few days between iPhone applications, twitter, Facebook and the many other computer and phone operated plug-ins. Along with each of these are the endless email notifications that quickly fill up your inbox. When faced with this daily increase of new information, questions begin circling in my mind: Which tools are the best? How many should I use? What do I do with all the emails? How do I manage all the information coming and going??
A feeling of overwhelm sweeps over me and I am brought back to my days before I had my EDGE System and my inbox was a black abyss of read and unread emails; back when I felt like I was jumping from crisis to crisis and everything was an urgent matter. Instead of going into panic mode, I decided to expand my EDGE system and apply the concepts to these social networking tools.
On Facebook I turned off all the email notifications except for alerting me of a message in my Facebook inbox. This way my email inbox is not cluttered because, frankly, I don’t need to know when Sara commented on John’s profile status or that Jenny put a smiley face on my wall. I will still be notified of these actions when I log into my Facebook profile, so why do I need an email to tell me as well?
For my iPhone applications I turned off ALL the notifications and sounds, but the notifications may be different as there are a wide variety of applications. For example, I have a chat application that runs in the background of my phone even when I don’t have that application open. It works similarly to text messages. I turned off all the notifications including sound, pop up message, text sent and received chime, and friend’s status alert. These are all distractions that I don’t need. If Tom wants to tell me he heard the new Modest Mouse song on the radio, I don’t need to know that right away. I can see the message when I check my phone later. However, if Tom has something urgent, he knows my notifications are off and to text message or call me.
It is very important when setting the standards for yourself and your notifications, no matter what the tool, that you let the people who contact you know what they are. Tell them that Facebook is not the place to let you know they won Longhorn Football tickets for a game beginning in one hour and to reply immediately.
For more updates and tips on how to manage your tools and applications, visit the ‘Programs’ tab at www.effectiveedge.com to view Whitepapers and OnDemand modules to help expand your EDGE.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
What Does Your Email Subject Line Say to a Reader?
by Laura Finney
A few days ago, I received an email and the subject read: “REPORT ATTACHED….!!!!!!!!” I knew the person sending the email. What I did not know was the reason I was receiving the email. Clearly all caps must mean this is something “urgent” that I need to open and read. The exclamation points (all eight of them) were clearly excessive.
I opened the email to learn that I was one of four included on the distribution list. The “report” had no relevance to me or any work that I was involved with. I responded (because this would take less than two minutes) to ask if there was any action I needed to take with the information that had been sent to me. I was told, “No, it was just in case you needed it…later.” For clarification, this was not an email from an Effective Edge colleague.
When I see email subject lines that are not clear, I wonder if the sender is using The Effective Edge’s Email Effectiveness. The Email Effectiveness allows me to send clear and concise messages. In the subject line, the reader can determine before reviewing the email, what I want them to do with the email. Clarifying the need to respond or not to respond helps the reader by preparing them for the next action. For writing effective emails, reviewing the PASS (Purpose, Actions, Specific, Supporting resources) system allows me to use a method that will help the reader determine the next course of action.
As outlined in the Getting the EDGE training program, most people will scan the email within eight to ten seconds. The reader should be able to determine PASS within that amount of time.
Using PASS allows me to be more efficient in receiving any response I may be looking for in return. It has also given me the freedom from exchanging multiple emails when attempting to relay a clear message.
Now I send emails with confidence, knowing the reader can respond effectively and efficiently.
A few days ago, I received an email and the subject read: “REPORT ATTACHED….!!!!!!!!” I knew the person sending the email. What I did not know was the reason I was receiving the email. Clearly all caps must mean this is something “urgent” that I need to open and read. The exclamation points (all eight of them) were clearly excessive.
I opened the email to learn that I was one of four included on the distribution list. The “report” had no relevance to me or any work that I was involved with. I responded (because this would take less than two minutes) to ask if there was any action I needed to take with the information that had been sent to me. I was told, “No, it was just in case you needed it…later.” For clarification, this was not an email from an Effective Edge colleague.
When I see email subject lines that are not clear, I wonder if the sender is using The Effective Edge’s Email Effectiveness. The Email Effectiveness allows me to send clear and concise messages. In the subject line, the reader can determine before reviewing the email, what I want them to do with the email. Clarifying the need to respond or not to respond helps the reader by preparing them for the next action. For writing effective emails, reviewing the PASS (Purpose, Actions, Specific, Supporting resources) system allows me to use a method that will help the reader determine the next course of action.
As outlined in the Getting the EDGE training program, most people will scan the email within eight to ten seconds. The reader should be able to determine PASS within that amount of time.
Using PASS allows me to be more efficient in receiving any response I may be looking for in return. It has also given me the freedom from exchanging multiple emails when attempting to relay a clear message.
Now I send emails with confidence, knowing the reader can respond effectively and efficiently.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
A New Stadium Does Not Equal a New Team
by Angela Ware
As many of you know I live Arlington, TX, the home of the Dallas Cowboys and their new amazing Cowboys Stadium!
As the new NFL session was approaching, commentator after commentator speculated as to how the “new stadium” would impact the Cowboys‘ chances of a post-session run for the playoffs. What?
Since when does brick and mortar have an impact on a player’s ability to excel at their position?
Commentators, fans, players and, yes, owners soon found out that a new stadium does not equal a new team. Now, don’t get me wrong. I am a Cowboys fan!! I am also I firm believer that it is what you put into the player, not where you put the player, that determines the outcome of the game.
In business, just as in sports, you can put a well-trained and professionally-mentored employee in any building and get great results. In the same respect, you can put a poorly trained and ineffectively mentored professional in a multi-billion dollar building and receive poor results. If you invest in your people, your people will build you a “new stadium of success”.
Ps. Fortunately for the Cowboys, they’ve got great mentor/coaches and a multi-billion dollar stadium! Let’s Go Cowboys!!!
As many of you know I live Arlington, TX, the home of the Dallas Cowboys and their new amazing Cowboys Stadium!
As the new NFL session was approaching, commentator after commentator speculated as to how the “new stadium” would impact the Cowboys‘ chances of a post-session run for the playoffs. What?
Since when does brick and mortar have an impact on a player’s ability to excel at their position?
Commentators, fans, players and, yes, owners soon found out that a new stadium does not equal a new team. Now, don’t get me wrong. I am a Cowboys fan!! I am also I firm believer that it is what you put into the player, not where you put the player, that determines the outcome of the game.
In business, just as in sports, you can put a well-trained and professionally-mentored employee in any building and get great results. In the same respect, you can put a poorly trained and ineffectively mentored professional in a multi-billion dollar building and receive poor results. If you invest in your people, your people will build you a “new stadium of success”.
Ps. Fortunately for the Cowboys, they’ve got great mentor/coaches and a multi-billion dollar stadium! Let’s Go Cowboys!!!
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Instant Messenger and Four-Alarm Fires
by Paige Webb
For the past five years, I have been an instant messenger user. My managers and teams in previous jobs were dispersed across offices and state lines, and that is how we stayed in touch, how we conducted troubleshooting, and how we responded to questions. It was such a relief to have access to any of them at my fingertips. I didn’t even have to pick up the phone! What a time saver! Well, that was the beginning…
The situation now has gone above and beyond the simple one-off questions via instant messenger (IM) to my boss during the day. There have been days when I log on, and I immediately get three IMs...that’s before I even check email or check my calendar. It’s like the IM pop-ups and indicators are telling me there is a four-alarm fire somewhere. I’m hardly awake yet, but let me give you my attention towards nothing that is all that important at this very moment!
Those days when you conduct multiple conversations via IM at once: one with your manager, one with tech support, one with a co-worker, can lead you to wonder and waste time doing mental gymnastics! "Who was getting my full, undivided attention?" "What did I promise to whom?" "Did I type in one sentence intended for another?" "How much time slipped past me shifting in between each conversation when I refocused?" And here’s a zinger: "How much time did I waste conducting searches in the conversation to find what I needed after the fact?"
A recent article published by Reuters Health highlighted a study conducted by Stanford University that discussed students who immerse themselves in multi-tasking, or task-switching. The results of the study showed that those "people who multi-task" performed more poorly on tests than people who were not prone to media multi-tasking. As professionals, we are depleting our competencies by remaining distracted with tech media. When you are working your hardest to get noticed, get promoted, and to keep your job in this economy, that hurts.
Instant messenger is a common denominator in the media that multi-tasking professionals face. My advice is to adhere to a plan that when you execute on it, you are more productive and relieved of stress and the mental drain associated with multi-tasking. You will ultimately have fewer fires to put out!
For the past five years, I have been an instant messenger user. My managers and teams in previous jobs were dispersed across offices and state lines, and that is how we stayed in touch, how we conducted troubleshooting, and how we responded to questions. It was such a relief to have access to any of them at my fingertips. I didn’t even have to pick up the phone! What a time saver! Well, that was the beginning…
The situation now has gone above and beyond the simple one-off questions via instant messenger (IM) to my boss during the day. There have been days when I log on, and I immediately get three IMs...that’s before I even check email or check my calendar. It’s like the IM pop-ups and indicators are telling me there is a four-alarm fire somewhere. I’m hardly awake yet, but let me give you my attention towards nothing that is all that important at this very moment!
Those days when you conduct multiple conversations via IM at once: one with your manager, one with tech support, one with a co-worker, can lead you to wonder and waste time doing mental gymnastics! "Who was getting my full, undivided attention?" "What did I promise to whom?" "Did I type in one sentence intended for another?" "How much time slipped past me shifting in between each conversation when I refocused?" And here’s a zinger: "How much time did I waste conducting searches in the conversation to find what I needed after the fact?"
A recent article published by Reuters Health highlighted a study conducted by Stanford University that discussed students who immerse themselves in multi-tasking, or task-switching. The results of the study showed that those "people who multi-task" performed more poorly on tests than people who were not prone to media multi-tasking. As professionals, we are depleting our competencies by remaining distracted with tech media. When you are working your hardest to get noticed, get promoted, and to keep your job in this economy, that hurts.
Instant messenger is a common denominator in the media that multi-tasking professionals face. My advice is to adhere to a plan that when you execute on it, you are more productive and relieved of stress and the mental drain associated with multi-tasking. You will ultimately have fewer fires to put out!
- Begin your day deliberately. There is a setting on most instant messenger products that allows you to disable it from starting up with your computer. Let your mind and body warm up before you go typing into oblivion.
- Turn off distractions like instant messenger for a period of time when you can engage in tasks and projects on a daily basis. Don’t just place it on "Do Not Disturb." That gets ignored. Shut it down completely.
- Honor your timed commitments on your calendar and the deadlines on your list. Don’t let the blinking bubble on the lower right hand corner of your monitor hold you down like a ball and chain.
Friday, October 16, 2009
“Control - Shift - K will make your Day!”
by Skip Colfax
“Control - Shift - K will make your Day!”
Do you remember hearing that quote in Getting the EDGE? It is often attributed to my colleague, Robertt Young, but I recently learned that the source of the phrase is actually a student who participated in a Getting the EDGE class that Robertt lead some time ago. The rhyme is simple and it makes me smile. I use that short cut multiple times each day for entering new Actions into my EDGE System; knowing that my system is only as good as its user… ME!
I use Control – Shift – K whenever I recognize something that I need to do; whether I’m processing information in my e-mail inbox, reading through meeting notes, or talking with people on a conference call. I’m always processing information… and doing it pretty quickly. I guess it’s no surprise that my laminated copy of the EDGE Deciding Model is right in front of me every day, all day. I’m continuously adding to my task list, lest I forget something and let it fall through the cracks. As I’m processing, I’m not only adding tasks, I’m adding calendar items also, but not as many. On average, about 85% of my actions go on my task List.
Sometimes I get a hot assignment from my boss and jump right into it to complete it quickly. If I haven’t entered a task for it, I feel cheated! So, I “Control – Shift – K” and add the task, so I have a record of my activities. But then, I turn around and check it off as completed! Checking things off my list makes me feel good.
I do have a surrogate for Control – Shift – K for times when I’m away from my computer. As soon as I think of something that I need to do, I’m thinking, “Control – Shift – K” but I’m grabbing my trusty notebook to write it down! Those items in my notebook get a Star to the left of them, so they are easy to identify when I’m emptying my notebook. My days are full of “Control-Shift – K” with a sprinkling of “Control – Shift – A” as needed.
Control – Shift – K does make my day! It keeps my system up-to-date, reliable, and helps keeps my head clear! Sure beats trying to remember all of that stuff!
“Control - Shift - K will make your Day!”
Do you remember hearing that quote in Getting the EDGE? It is often attributed to my colleague, Robertt Young, but I recently learned that the source of the phrase is actually a student who participated in a Getting the EDGE class that Robertt lead some time ago. The rhyme is simple and it makes me smile. I use that short cut multiple times each day for entering new Actions into my EDGE System; knowing that my system is only as good as its user… ME!
I use Control – Shift – K whenever I recognize something that I need to do; whether I’m processing information in my e-mail inbox, reading through meeting notes, or talking with people on a conference call. I’m always processing information… and doing it pretty quickly. I guess it’s no surprise that my laminated copy of the EDGE Deciding Model is right in front of me every day, all day. I’m continuously adding to my task list, lest I forget something and let it fall through the cracks. As I’m processing, I’m not only adding tasks, I’m adding calendar items also, but not as many. On average, about 85% of my actions go on my task List.
Sometimes I get a hot assignment from my boss and jump right into it to complete it quickly. If I haven’t entered a task for it, I feel cheated! So, I “Control – Shift – K” and add the task, so I have a record of my activities. But then, I turn around and check it off as completed! Checking things off my list makes me feel good.
I do have a surrogate for Control – Shift – K for times when I’m away from my computer. As soon as I think of something that I need to do, I’m thinking, “Control – Shift – K” but I’m grabbing my trusty notebook to write it down! Those items in my notebook get a Star to the left of them, so they are easy to identify when I’m emptying my notebook. My days are full of “Control-Shift – K” with a sprinkling of “Control – Shift – A” as needed.
Control – Shift – K does make my day! It keeps my system up-to-date, reliable, and helps keeps my head clear! Sure beats trying to remember all of that stuff!
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Where do you store addresses?
by Kim Brewster
When purchasing a birthday card for a team member at a local card/gift shop, I commented on the beautiful journals on the counter. Two women behind the counter, appearing to me as wonderful grandmothers, replied that I was admiring address books, not journals.
I mentioned that I keep that information in the contacts of my Outlook system to which they both replied they did not know how to do that. One said, “I like the old way of writing and carrying it with me.” The other said, “I have always written everything down and I guess I always will.”
My mother-in-law keeps an address book that contains phone numbers and street addresses before the advent of area codes and zip codes. It’s practically a work of art. Her records could rival those of any county office. As an elementary school teacher when her children were young, she has expert penmanship, which is reflected in the neat lines and carefully scripted updates.
I have been storing information electronically for so long that I really can’t remember having a physical address book. Where would I be without my Outlook contacts? I can record birthdays, anniversaries, nick names, business and home addresses, websites, email addresses, and any other data I want to include. I can share the information with others and it is backed up regularly, so I don’t have to worry about losing anything.
If I lost a handwritten address book, I would be hard pressed to recreate that information quickly or easily.
I still read the newspaper every day, the demise of which has been greatly exaggerated, but my hand-written address book met its demise long ago.
When purchasing a birthday card for a team member at a local card/gift shop, I commented on the beautiful journals on the counter. Two women behind the counter, appearing to me as wonderful grandmothers, replied that I was admiring address books, not journals.
I mentioned that I keep that information in the contacts of my Outlook system to which they both replied they did not know how to do that. One said, “I like the old way of writing and carrying it with me.” The other said, “I have always written everything down and I guess I always will.”
My mother-in-law keeps an address book that contains phone numbers and street addresses before the advent of area codes and zip codes. It’s practically a work of art. Her records could rival those of any county office. As an elementary school teacher when her children were young, she has expert penmanship, which is reflected in the neat lines and carefully scripted updates.
I have been storing information electronically for so long that I really can’t remember having a physical address book. Where would I be without my Outlook contacts? I can record birthdays, anniversaries, nick names, business and home addresses, websites, email addresses, and any other data I want to include. I can share the information with others and it is backed up regularly, so I don’t have to worry about losing anything.
If I lost a handwritten address book, I would be hard pressed to recreate that information quickly or easily.
I still read the newspaper every day, the demise of which has been greatly exaggerated, but my hand-written address book met its demise long ago.
Friday, October 9, 2009
What's on your Someday/Maybe List?
by Robertt Young
One of the stories I really like that demonstrates the value of the Someday Maybe list comes from Lou Holtz, the former football coach for Notre Dame and the University of South Carolina. In the story, he tells about a period in his life where he had to take stock of things to figure out how he would live his life. He mentioned the lists he made during that time (which we would call a Someday Maybe list), which followed him over his 40 year career, enabling him to do and accomplish the things he did. My apology to Lou if this is not 100% accurate, but I believe I captured the essence of his story.
Lou was working in the athletic department, specifically the football program at the University of Minnesota, when a friend of his, who was head coach for the University of South Carolina, asked him to be the assistant head coach for their team. Lou was excited and when he told his family about it, they were very supportive, including his wife who was 7 months pregnant. So they sold their home and moved to Columbus, SC. For the first few weeks, Lou was ecstatic with the new job. Then suddenly the head coach was asked to step down which meant Lou’s job was also in jeopardy. As luck would have it, two weeks later, Lou was also fired. This was Lou’s first time to lose a job and when he thought about the situation he was in - no job, new to town, big mortgage and a new baby on the way - he was devastated. He went into a deep depression. His wife had to go out and get a job at a local hospital as an x-ray technician.
Now Lou’s wife was a patient woman, but after three weeks of his moping around, she decided something had to be done. So she bought Lou a book called The Magic of Thinking Big and told him to read it. She also expected him to put some of the book’s recommendations into action. Lou agreed to read the book and he was not impressed until he came across a passage that incorporated the idea, ‘if you feel like you’re not making progress in life, don’t give up and forget your dreams. Make a list of them, keep them in front of you and visit them weekly.’ So Lou followed the author’s recommendations and began to write down all of his dreams, all the things he wanted to do in life. Some of the things he wanted to do were:
1. Jump out of an airplane
2. Meet the Pope
3. Be a great football coach at Notre Dame
4. Take Notre Dame to a football championship
5. Land an airplane on an aircraft carrier
6. Become a motivational speaker
7. Be a sports announcer
8. And on and on until he had written 107 things that he wanted to do.
When his wife returned home, he showed her the list and she said, “ But Lou, your forgot one—GET A JOB! “
The interesting thing about this story is that Lou would look at his list weekly and decide which things, if any, he would actively work on. And over the next 40 years, Lou accomplished 98 of those 108 things. This was Lou Holtz’s Someday Maybe list. What’s yours?
One of the stories I really like that demonstrates the value of the Someday Maybe list comes from Lou Holtz, the former football coach for Notre Dame and the University of South Carolina. In the story, he tells about a period in his life where he had to take stock of things to figure out how he would live his life. He mentioned the lists he made during that time (which we would call a Someday Maybe list), which followed him over his 40 year career, enabling him to do and accomplish the things he did. My apology to Lou if this is not 100% accurate, but I believe I captured the essence of his story.
Lou was working in the athletic department, specifically the football program at the University of Minnesota, when a friend of his, who was head coach for the University of South Carolina, asked him to be the assistant head coach for their team. Lou was excited and when he told his family about it, they were very supportive, including his wife who was 7 months pregnant. So they sold their home and moved to Columbus, SC. For the first few weeks, Lou was ecstatic with the new job. Then suddenly the head coach was asked to step down which meant Lou’s job was also in jeopardy. As luck would have it, two weeks later, Lou was also fired. This was Lou’s first time to lose a job and when he thought about the situation he was in - no job, new to town, big mortgage and a new baby on the way - he was devastated. He went into a deep depression. His wife had to go out and get a job at a local hospital as an x-ray technician.
Now Lou’s wife was a patient woman, but after three weeks of his moping around, she decided something had to be done. So she bought Lou a book called The Magic of Thinking Big and told him to read it. She also expected him to put some of the book’s recommendations into action. Lou agreed to read the book and he was not impressed until he came across a passage that incorporated the idea, ‘if you feel like you’re not making progress in life, don’t give up and forget your dreams. Make a list of them, keep them in front of you and visit them weekly.’ So Lou followed the author’s recommendations and began to write down all of his dreams, all the things he wanted to do in life. Some of the things he wanted to do were:
1. Jump out of an airplane
2. Meet the Pope
3. Be a great football coach at Notre Dame
4. Take Notre Dame to a football championship
5. Land an airplane on an aircraft carrier
6. Become a motivational speaker
7. Be a sports announcer
8. And on and on until he had written 107 things that he wanted to do.
When his wife returned home, he showed her the list and she said, “ But Lou, your forgot one—GET A JOB! “
The interesting thing about this story is that Lou would look at his list weekly and decide which things, if any, he would actively work on. And over the next 40 years, Lou accomplished 98 of those 108 things. This was Lou Holtz’s Someday Maybe list. What’s yours?
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Where is your Focus?
by Russell Tibbits
Early July and my birthday presented itself again, as it does every year around this time. Only this year I had the genius idea of running a triathlon on the actual day. I can assure you that every future birthday will pass quietly, without one of these events to write about. However, I looked forward to this particular triathlon for two reasons. First, it was fairly short for a sprint triathlon which meant I could go back to sleep quicker. Second, my best friend since early high school would be racing with me.
Apparent to me, in looking at my previous race results, is that I neglected to fully train for the swim portion of the race. And while this is the shortest distance of any of the three events (swim, bike and run), I felt that more intense training for the swim would not only help with my race time in the swim, but also help me feel strong and energetic as I transitioned to the bike course. So for the six weeks prior to race day, I spent day after day in the pool. Racking up lap after lap, I felt more confident. To increase the challenge, I finished my time in the pool with some distance running. I felt very confident in both areas and knew it was impossible not to do better.
This would be great if a triathlon only involved two events. I was so focused on the swim and the run that I failed to train at all for the bike. It’s not difficult to guess what happened on the day of the triathlon. I maneuvered swiftly through the swim, faster than any of my previous races. But less than a mile into my bike, my actions from the prior six weeks began to haunt me. An improved swim time, followed by a terrible bike, ending with an improved run time. A very average finish time is not what I expected.
Something I’ve learned that will stick with me forever because it applies to every industry is: if you want a number (revenue, profits, weight) to go up or down, all you need to do is focus on it daily. When you focus on the number daily, your actions start to align with your goals. This rule proved to be true, as both my swim times and run times improved. But you can’t forsake one key number for the improvement of others. You can’t focus on revenue, without keeping an eye on expenses and profits. And as I now know, I can’t focus on swim times and run times and ignore the bike. In order to excel at any event, I have to be completely involved in every aspect. That’s the only way to ensure I’ll be satisfied with my results.
Early July and my birthday presented itself again, as it does every year around this time. Only this year I had the genius idea of running a triathlon on the actual day. I can assure you that every future birthday will pass quietly, without one of these events to write about. However, I looked forward to this particular triathlon for two reasons. First, it was fairly short for a sprint triathlon which meant I could go back to sleep quicker. Second, my best friend since early high school would be racing with me.
Apparent to me, in looking at my previous race results, is that I neglected to fully train for the swim portion of the race. And while this is the shortest distance of any of the three events (swim, bike and run), I felt that more intense training for the swim would not only help with my race time in the swim, but also help me feel strong and energetic as I transitioned to the bike course. So for the six weeks prior to race day, I spent day after day in the pool. Racking up lap after lap, I felt more confident. To increase the challenge, I finished my time in the pool with some distance running. I felt very confident in both areas and knew it was impossible not to do better.
This would be great if a triathlon only involved two events. I was so focused on the swim and the run that I failed to train at all for the bike. It’s not difficult to guess what happened on the day of the triathlon. I maneuvered swiftly through the swim, faster than any of my previous races. But less than a mile into my bike, my actions from the prior six weeks began to haunt me. An improved swim time, followed by a terrible bike, ending with an improved run time. A very average finish time is not what I expected.
Something I’ve learned that will stick with me forever because it applies to every industry is: if you want a number (revenue, profits, weight) to go up or down, all you need to do is focus on it daily. When you focus on the number daily, your actions start to align with your goals. This rule proved to be true, as both my swim times and run times improved. But you can’t forsake one key number for the improvement of others. You can’t focus on revenue, without keeping an eye on expenses and profits. And as I now know, I can’t focus on swim times and run times and ignore the bike. In order to excel at any event, I have to be completely involved in every aspect. That’s the only way to ensure I’ll be satisfied with my results.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Globally Positioned…
by Kim Brewster
I love my GPS (Globally Positioned System) and I know I’m breaking the rule about starting a paper with I, but I love my GPS.
Earlier this year I traveled to Kansas City, MO, for my daughter’s volleyball tournament. I Googled my route from the airport to the hotel and printed it. Another mom and her daughter were sharing our rental car and the mom brought along her GPS. I was willing to give it a try, as believe it or not, I had never used one or been in a car with one that was functioning. Plus I had my trusty(?) Google map for backup.
The female voice soothingly guided us away from the airport and on to the highway. Exits and streets were announced in miles, increments of miles or feet. The small screen mounted just below the rearview mirror above the dashboard reminded me of a video game screen. As I made turns and traveled down new avenues, the images on the screen changed color and beckoned me to head in even more directions until arriving at my destination.
Even if I made a wrong turn, my unseen driving companion calmly recalculated my journey and got me back on the right path, with nary a condescending tone or judgment of my driving or listening skills.
My husband joined us a day later in Kansas City and I practically gushed with enthusiasm for my new best friend, a borrowed GPS. Now I have my own ethereal friend to guide me. No matter what name or English variation my daughter has programmed into it, I successfully arrive at my destination every time.
I love my Outlook tools, too, and how they keep me organized and on track. My GPS motto is now Globally Positioned for Success.
I love my GPS (Globally Positioned System) and I know I’m breaking the rule about starting a paper with I, but I love my GPS.
Earlier this year I traveled to Kansas City, MO, for my daughter’s volleyball tournament. I Googled my route from the airport to the hotel and printed it. Another mom and her daughter were sharing our rental car and the mom brought along her GPS. I was willing to give it a try, as believe it or not, I had never used one or been in a car with one that was functioning. Plus I had my trusty(?) Google map for backup.
The female voice soothingly guided us away from the airport and on to the highway. Exits and streets were announced in miles, increments of miles or feet. The small screen mounted just below the rearview mirror above the dashboard reminded me of a video game screen. As I made turns and traveled down new avenues, the images on the screen changed color and beckoned me to head in even more directions until arriving at my destination.
Even if I made a wrong turn, my unseen driving companion calmly recalculated my journey and got me back on the right path, with nary a condescending tone or judgment of my driving or listening skills.
My husband joined us a day later in Kansas City and I practically gushed with enthusiasm for my new best friend, a borrowed GPS. Now I have my own ethereal friend to guide me. No matter what name or English variation my daughter has programmed into it, I successfully arrive at my destination every time.
I love my Outlook tools, too, and how they keep me organized and on track. My GPS motto is now Globally Positioned for Success.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
In and Out of Season
by Angela Ware
Like many of our readers, I am a big sports fan. Although I enjoy almost all sports, in the wisdom pointed out on t-shirt worn by little children everywhere, “basketball is life”. For me, there is little entertainment that can compare to the wonder of March Madness and the beautiful way it transitions into the NBA playoff season, culminating in the final game in June. Ahhh, a new champion is crowned!
However, shortly after the confetti falls and ESPN plays a video montage of the “road to the playoffs”, it hits me that the season is over! Now, don’t get me wrong. I enjoy baseball and I will gladly cheer for the Texas Rangers, as we await the start of the NCAA and NFL football season and then on to the glorious return of NCAA and NBA basketball. I do go through a slight mourning period. But, I don’t stay there long because if I do, I might miss out on a great moment in sports where another athlete has pushed him or herself beyond what was believed to be their best, in an effort to achieve victory and a spot on Sports Center’s “Play of the Day”.
I can’t choose the season. But I can choose to cheer in and out of my favorite season.
As professionals we all work on projects and, during the course of our careers, there will be projects that we like, projects that we love and, yes, projects that we tolerate. But if we allow ourselves to stop being a fan of our profession, we might miss out on an inspiring moment.
Although basketball is my favorite sport, I must admit that there have been moments in hockey, football, tennis, baseball, soccer, golf, and track and field that have all grabbed my attention and left me inspired.
So the next time you find yourself working on a project (season) that is not your favorite, keep cheering and stay in the game. Who knows--you might just make a play of day, become the league’s new MVP or be recognized as a number one fan. After all, at the end of the day, we all want to be on the side of a championship team.
Like many of our readers, I am a big sports fan. Although I enjoy almost all sports, in the wisdom pointed out on t-shirt worn by little children everywhere, “basketball is life”. For me, there is little entertainment that can compare to the wonder of March Madness and the beautiful way it transitions into the NBA playoff season, culminating in the final game in June. Ahhh, a new champion is crowned!
However, shortly after the confetti falls and ESPN plays a video montage of the “road to the playoffs”, it hits me that the season is over! Now, don’t get me wrong. I enjoy baseball and I will gladly cheer for the Texas Rangers, as we await the start of the NCAA and NFL football season and then on to the glorious return of NCAA and NBA basketball. I do go through a slight mourning period. But, I don’t stay there long because if I do, I might miss out on a great moment in sports where another athlete has pushed him or herself beyond what was believed to be their best, in an effort to achieve victory and a spot on Sports Center’s “Play of the Day”.
I can’t choose the season. But I can choose to cheer in and out of my favorite season.
As professionals we all work on projects and, during the course of our careers, there will be projects that we like, projects that we love and, yes, projects that we tolerate. But if we allow ourselves to stop being a fan of our profession, we might miss out on an inspiring moment.
Although basketball is my favorite sport, I must admit that there have been moments in hockey, football, tennis, baseball, soccer, golf, and track and field that have all grabbed my attention and left me inspired.
So the next time you find yourself working on a project (season) that is not your favorite, keep cheering and stay in the game. Who knows--you might just make a play of day, become the league’s new MVP or be recognized as a number one fan. After all, at the end of the day, we all want to be on the side of a championship team.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Swimming in Email
by Zahra Petri
Ever go to your email inbox, attack a set of new emails, accomplish the tasks being asked, feel great and energized, then return to your inbox to find what feels like a hundred more new emails? Well I have. It’s the feeling that you can’t get ahead. It’s the feeling that you are literally swimming in emails because your inbox is so full you can’t find anything and feel completely unorganized. The problem is not how many emails you receive; the problem is how you are managing, or not managing, them.
In the Getting the EDGE course, not only are we taught tools for staying organized, but we learn how to empty our email inboxes daily. Not until you empty that inbox for the first time, do you truly understand that feeling of liberation. When your inbox is empty, you are free to accomplish other important tasks and projects. By having everything organized into one seamless system, you know exactly where to look for the things you need, input all the new items, and maintain a clear, organized, structured schedule to keep you focused and energized.
Those were the pieces of the puzzle that came together when I took the Getting the EDGE course. The sense of accomplishment, excitement, and completion allowed me to turn tiresome daily tasks and projects into a system that I love, trust and rely upon. My email inbox is no longer a chain tying me down or a weight on my shoulders.
Now that I have my EDGE, I can accomplish anything!
Ever go to your email inbox, attack a set of new emails, accomplish the tasks being asked, feel great and energized, then return to your inbox to find what feels like a hundred more new emails? Well I have. It’s the feeling that you can’t get ahead. It’s the feeling that you are literally swimming in emails because your inbox is so full you can’t find anything and feel completely unorganized. The problem is not how many emails you receive; the problem is how you are managing, or not managing, them.
In the Getting the EDGE course, not only are we taught tools for staying organized, but we learn how to empty our email inboxes daily. Not until you empty that inbox for the first time, do you truly understand that feeling of liberation. When your inbox is empty, you are free to accomplish other important tasks and projects. By having everything organized into one seamless system, you know exactly where to look for the things you need, input all the new items, and maintain a clear, organized, structured schedule to keep you focused and energized.
Those were the pieces of the puzzle that came together when I took the Getting the EDGE course. The sense of accomplishment, excitement, and completion allowed me to turn tiresome daily tasks and projects into a system that I love, trust and rely upon. My email inbox is no longer a chain tying me down or a weight on my shoulders.
Now that I have my EDGE, I can accomplish anything!
Friday, September 4, 2009
Cycles of Activity – Don’t starve yourself for completion!
by Paige Webb
I habitually take on projects. I don’t say “no” too often. I’m one of those people who believes that anything is possible. I visualize an outcome and go for it--no matter the hurdles or twists and turns. I love challenges and problem solving and the energy gained after the accomplishment.
Last month I witnessed my energy drop to a low that I had not seen in a while. When I wasn’t at the office, I was in bed, or on the internet wasting time. I had apathy towards everything and anything. The projects I have on my list included a new website, rebranding, training and traveling, webcasts, new products, a real estate contract, and house-sitting. I beat myself up about my personal productivity and my exercise habits that had diminished. Too many things were “in progress” and not enough of them were nearing completion. Don’t get me started on the flexibility required for my family dynamics. I was an upside down version of myself.
Last night I taught an overnight class for an international client, and I have been trying to get back to a normal sleeping pattern. I have not slept solidly due to restlessness and anticipation of seeing my project outcomes as a reality…they are right past my nose! I was awakened from a nap by a knock on the door from a neighbor. Needless to say, I was “miffed.” Gosh. I really was on a roll there with sleeping (about 2 hours). I had my phone on “silent” on purpose. Out of my bad habit, I reached for my Blackberry to see missed calls, emails, text messages and Facebook messages. Information overload!
Lying just beneath the scroll of the viewing window of my phone, I saw an email from my mortgage broker. It was titled, “Clear to close.” My house contract is now complete and the finance hurdle that came with it. My patience paid off (but I sacrificed energy with it). I just need to sign on the dotted line and write a check. For the first time in my life, I will own a home! I’ve been living in temporary arrangements for almost a year since my relocation. This is a major win!
Here’s where the cycle of activity comes in: although sleep deprived, this completion propelled me to do the dishes, take out the trash, clean out my refrigerator, sort mail that had piled up, clear my sitting area of a mass of stuff I just “dropped off,” and answer personal emails that had been sitting in my Gmail inbox for weeks. My eyes wept bona fide tears…down my face…to the floor. I laughed at myself. I said, “Goodbye, incomplete” out loud. I turned on John Mayer and rocked out, because I love the blues guitar.
The weight on my chest is lifted. My lungs can fill up now. I feel the carpet fibers beneath my feet. My legs feel stronger than ever. I would love to go for a walk, or even a run, but I may just pass out! I see the lessons from this and how I can manage commitments on the front end, instead of going for it all. I’m soaking it up and clearly…had to write it all down. I had to acknowledge this. Check. Strikethrough. Move on. Calling all completions…this train is boarding, and I’m going to sleep well tonight.
I habitually take on projects. I don’t say “no” too often. I’m one of those people who believes that anything is possible. I visualize an outcome and go for it--no matter the hurdles or twists and turns. I love challenges and problem solving and the energy gained after the accomplishment.
Last month I witnessed my energy drop to a low that I had not seen in a while. When I wasn’t at the office, I was in bed, or on the internet wasting time. I had apathy towards everything and anything. The projects I have on my list included a new website, rebranding, training and traveling, webcasts, new products, a real estate contract, and house-sitting. I beat myself up about my personal productivity and my exercise habits that had diminished. Too many things were “in progress” and not enough of them were nearing completion. Don’t get me started on the flexibility required for my family dynamics. I was an upside down version of myself.
Last night I taught an overnight class for an international client, and I have been trying to get back to a normal sleeping pattern. I have not slept solidly due to restlessness and anticipation of seeing my project outcomes as a reality…they are right past my nose! I was awakened from a nap by a knock on the door from a neighbor. Needless to say, I was “miffed.” Gosh. I really was on a roll there with sleeping (about 2 hours). I had my phone on “silent” on purpose. Out of my bad habit, I reached for my Blackberry to see missed calls, emails, text messages and Facebook messages. Information overload!
Lying just beneath the scroll of the viewing window of my phone, I saw an email from my mortgage broker. It was titled, “Clear to close.” My house contract is now complete and the finance hurdle that came with it. My patience paid off (but I sacrificed energy with it). I just need to sign on the dotted line and write a check. For the first time in my life, I will own a home! I’ve been living in temporary arrangements for almost a year since my relocation. This is a major win!
Here’s where the cycle of activity comes in: although sleep deprived, this completion propelled me to do the dishes, take out the trash, clean out my refrigerator, sort mail that had piled up, clear my sitting area of a mass of stuff I just “dropped off,” and answer personal emails that had been sitting in my Gmail inbox for weeks. My eyes wept bona fide tears…down my face…to the floor. I laughed at myself. I said, “Goodbye, incomplete” out loud. I turned on John Mayer and rocked out, because I love the blues guitar.
The weight on my chest is lifted. My lungs can fill up now. I feel the carpet fibers beneath my feet. My legs feel stronger than ever. I would love to go for a walk, or even a run, but I may just pass out! I see the lessons from this and how I can manage commitments on the front end, instead of going for it all. I’m soaking it up and clearly…had to write it all down. I had to acknowledge this. Check. Strikethrough. Move on. Calling all completions…this train is boarding, and I’m going to sleep well tonight.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
The Big Sugar Crash of 2009
by Paige Webb
From several conversations and publications surrounding me, I’m finding that the health-kicks of today involve the avoidance of refined sugars in our diets. The published unofficial results site “improved mental clarity” and “uninterrupted sleep” from reducing sugar intake. I, too, got on the bandwagon in order to reap these sought after benefits. This was difficult, as most of my family will make special cakes, pies, and cookies when I visit, because each of them knows that I have a major sweet tooth. I ventured into the uncharted territory of cutting sugar from my diet for about four months. I achieved amazing results with regards to my energy level and my waistline. But, wait… once you go back, you crash! Hard!
I’ve recently discovered that sugary snacks are detrimental to my productivity. Once that ‘crash’ happens, there’s no telling how long I will be side-lined. The side-effects of sugar are different for different people, but commonly a sugar crash induces sleepiness, anxiety, and severe lack of focus. Some call this “zombie mode.” The absence of sugar in my system for those four months intensified the physical effect when I did decide to snack on a fresh patisserie-made cookie. The lesson in this for me was: moderation.
If I stick to the EDGE teaching methodology of taking ‘strategic disengagements’ (J. Loehr, The Power of Full Engagement), I should be grabbing a healthy snack to renew my energy and focus throughout my breaks during the day. Examples of healthy snacks include granola or protein bars, fruit, nuts or chopped up vegetables. Although many foods contain some form of sugar or carbohydrate, the refined sugars are what do you in. The vicious cycle involves our blood racing, then slowing down. This is a huge drain on our energy and potential for performing at 100%.
If you’re facing a day that you absolutely should be performing at 100% (when are we not?), my advice is to keep snacks and meals healthy, and skip the sugar. Avoid crashing or sugar whiplash at all costs!
From several conversations and publications surrounding me, I’m finding that the health-kicks of today involve the avoidance of refined sugars in our diets. The published unofficial results site “improved mental clarity” and “uninterrupted sleep” from reducing sugar intake. I, too, got on the bandwagon in order to reap these sought after benefits. This was difficult, as most of my family will make special cakes, pies, and cookies when I visit, because each of them knows that I have a major sweet tooth. I ventured into the uncharted territory of cutting sugar from my diet for about four months. I achieved amazing results with regards to my energy level and my waistline. But, wait… once you go back, you crash! Hard!
I’ve recently discovered that sugary snacks are detrimental to my productivity. Once that ‘crash’ happens, there’s no telling how long I will be side-lined. The side-effects of sugar are different for different people, but commonly a sugar crash induces sleepiness, anxiety, and severe lack of focus. Some call this “zombie mode.” The absence of sugar in my system for those four months intensified the physical effect when I did decide to snack on a fresh patisserie-made cookie. The lesson in this for me was: moderation.
If I stick to the EDGE teaching methodology of taking ‘strategic disengagements’ (J. Loehr, The Power of Full Engagement), I should be grabbing a healthy snack to renew my energy and focus throughout my breaks during the day. Examples of healthy snacks include granola or protein bars, fruit, nuts or chopped up vegetables. Although many foods contain some form of sugar or carbohydrate, the refined sugars are what do you in. The vicious cycle involves our blood racing, then slowing down. This is a huge drain on our energy and potential for performing at 100%.
If you’re facing a day that you absolutely should be performing at 100% (when are we not?), my advice is to keep snacks and meals healthy, and skip the sugar. Avoid crashing or sugar whiplash at all costs!
Friday, August 28, 2009
Overcoming Email Addiction
by Robertt Young
I recently delivered a class to a group of program and project managers at a large international engineering and manufacturing company. This company makes valves and systems for refineries, gas producers and nuclear power plants. During the class, we had a lively and stimulating discussion around the use of email e.g. when to use it, how to use it effectively, etc. At the end of the class, I received this email from one of the directors who attended. I want to share this with all of our current users as to how one person can make a difference. He sent this to all of the stakeholders in his division.
Colleagues, my name is Mike, I am a recovering email addict. Today is my first day of being "clean."
In an effort to break my addiction to email, implement new time management skills and improve productivity, I will no longer be continuously monitoring my email as I have in the past.
I will process email at only two or three discrete times during the day. At this time, your email will be read and:
1) I will reply - time permitting
2) I will delegate it to another expert who can reply more accurately or more quickly than I can
3) I will defer your message for proper analysis and reply when my schedule permits
4) I will file or delete the message if no response is required
During this transition period, you may experience delays in response to your message. In addition, I may not have read your email by the next time we pass in the hall or you pop into my office.
When fully "leaned out" I expect response times to decrease from current levels of today.
As always, I stand by my personal guidelines for email usage:
1) Important decisions are NOT documented in emails - but in memorandums that can be transmitted by email
2) Do not email anyone if a quick phone call is sufficient - yes, the art of the phone call is back
3) Do not continue an email thread more than 3 deep
4) Highest priority on message that are sent "TO" me
5) Lowest priority on messages that are "CC'd" to me
Thank you for your patience and understanding during this time. Remember, it's a process.
As I mentioned, this is an international company and his group interfaces with others around the world, where email is the only effective way of communication. But even he is making the process work. I would be interested in hearing about any similar experiences you may have had and how you are dealing with them.
I recently delivered a class to a group of program and project managers at a large international engineering and manufacturing company. This company makes valves and systems for refineries, gas producers and nuclear power plants. During the class, we had a lively and stimulating discussion around the use of email e.g. when to use it, how to use it effectively, etc. At the end of the class, I received this email from one of the directors who attended. I want to share this with all of our current users as to how one person can make a difference. He sent this to all of the stakeholders in his division.
Colleagues, my name is Mike, I am a recovering email addict. Today is my first day of being "clean."
In an effort to break my addiction to email, implement new time management skills and improve productivity, I will no longer be continuously monitoring my email as I have in the past.
I will process email at only two or three discrete times during the day. At this time, your email will be read and:
1) I will reply - time permitting
2) I will delegate it to another expert who can reply more accurately or more quickly than I can
3) I will defer your message for proper analysis and reply when my schedule permits
4) I will file or delete the message if no response is required
During this transition period, you may experience delays in response to your message. In addition, I may not have read your email by the next time we pass in the hall or you pop into my office.
When fully "leaned out" I expect response times to decrease from current levels of today.
As always, I stand by my personal guidelines for email usage:
1) Important decisions are NOT documented in emails - but in memorandums that can be transmitted by email
2) Do not email anyone if a quick phone call is sufficient - yes, the art of the phone call is back
3) Do not continue an email thread more than 3 deep
4) Highest priority on message that are sent "TO" me
5) Lowest priority on messages that are "CC'd" to me
Thank you for your patience and understanding during this time. Remember, it's a process.
As I mentioned, this is an international company and his group interfaces with others around the world, where email is the only effective way of communication. But even he is making the process work. I would be interested in hearing about any similar experiences you may have had and how you are dealing with them.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Pay It Forward…By Listening
by Laura Finney
As an officer of an association, I had been given the task to come up with a project for my local club members. Many of the members squawked at any idea that would be time consuming and daunting. The foundation of the project was to create “community bonding” and have a lasting effect on the individual recipients.
I had recently watched the movie “Pay It Forward.” Immediately, I was touched and inspired by the message in the movie. I challenged my club to a six-month project, “Pay It Forward…By Listening.”
The project rules were simple: to engage in a “friendly” conversation with someone (we did not know), who works at a place we visit often in our community. The conversation could not be longer than a few minutes (people are working). The objective was to get to know someone by just “being nice” and taking those moments when waiting in line or participating in a service or activity to listen and learn something new about someone not in “our lives”. No place was off limits. The goal was to create a bond with those that serve us in our communities. I chose my local coffee house.
At my local coffee house, Lisa was my target. She had been wiping down the tables and appeared to be in a good mood. I felt like 007 trying to determine if this was the right thing to do. I am always pleasant, but this was taking it a step further. Timing had to perfect. Just as Lisa went to wipe down the coffee station, I went over to “fix” my coffee. We had the typical pleasantries. I asked the typical question, “How’s your day going?” I immediately noticed her big blue eyes…smiling. Then I noticed she had no hair under the cap she wore. In less than two minutes, I learned-Lisa loves her job, it pays over $10 an hour, her co-workers are great, and she has excellent health benefits. Her insurance covered 100% of the cost for her to have the tumor removed from her brain, she boasted as she showed me her scar.
Today, seven months later, Lisa has grown her hair out. I did not notice her at first. She told me she has not decided what to do about hair now that she has it…again. I told her, “It doesn’t matter, either way you look fabulous!”
I have completed my project and Lisa is aware she was my “target.” Lisa has agreed to pay if forward.
This on-going experience reminds me of how grateful I am of where I live, where I work, and where I play.
As an officer of an association, I had been given the task to come up with a project for my local club members. Many of the members squawked at any idea that would be time consuming and daunting. The foundation of the project was to create “community bonding” and have a lasting effect on the individual recipients.
I had recently watched the movie “Pay It Forward.” Immediately, I was touched and inspired by the message in the movie. I challenged my club to a six-month project, “Pay It Forward…By Listening.”
The project rules were simple: to engage in a “friendly” conversation with someone (we did not know), who works at a place we visit often in our community. The conversation could not be longer than a few minutes (people are working). The objective was to get to know someone by just “being nice” and taking those moments when waiting in line or participating in a service or activity to listen and learn something new about someone not in “our lives”. No place was off limits. The goal was to create a bond with those that serve us in our communities. I chose my local coffee house.
At my local coffee house, Lisa was my target. She had been wiping down the tables and appeared to be in a good mood. I felt like 007 trying to determine if this was the right thing to do. I am always pleasant, but this was taking it a step further. Timing had to perfect. Just as Lisa went to wipe down the coffee station, I went over to “fix” my coffee. We had the typical pleasantries. I asked the typical question, “How’s your day going?” I immediately noticed her big blue eyes…smiling. Then I noticed she had no hair under the cap she wore. In less than two minutes, I learned-Lisa loves her job, it pays over $10 an hour, her co-workers are great, and she has excellent health benefits. Her insurance covered 100% of the cost for her to have the tumor removed from her brain, she boasted as she showed me her scar.
Today, seven months later, Lisa has grown her hair out. I did not notice her at first. She told me she has not decided what to do about hair now that she has it…again. I told her, “It doesn’t matter, either way you look fabulous!”
I have completed my project and Lisa is aware she was my “target.” Lisa has agreed to pay if forward.
This on-going experience reminds me of how grateful I am of where I live, where I work, and where I play.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Life Lessons are Everywhere
by Russell Tibbits
I walked three blocks north on Congress today to pick up lunch to bring back to the office. It was a little after noon when I arrived to pick out my soft chicken tacos and the lunch line backed up nearly to the entrance of the restaurant. As I stood in line, I glanced around at the other patrons. Almost all of them were business professionals in button down shirts, pressed slacks, matching belts and shoes.
However, the same could not be said for the person directly in front of me in the line of close to 50. His T-shirt was dusty and stained with sweat. His once black jeans, intermingling with chalky white patches, sported 6 inches of extra fabric bundled above his shoes. And while his left foot was covered by a battered black business shoe, his right foot dawned a brown sandal. It was clear this man had a life much more difficult than anyone else in the restaurant.
Standing in line for a few more moments, he cut to the right, past the others standing in line, and directly to the cash register. After speaking to the restaurant staff, he was offered a cup, which he filled with water and drank several times. I immediately sympathized with him; the heat index in Austin has been close to 110 degrees every day this week. And while I’d spent a couple of these days outside training for my next triathlon or playing volleyball, I’ve never questioned where I would go to rehydrate or when I would get my next drink of water.
Very polite and considerate, he filled his cup of water and then moved to the side to allow the other customers to fill their glasses while he drank. As I continued to watch him, I became more humbled by his presence for two reasons. Would I be willing to stand in the same line with professionals, in a stained shirt and mismatched shoes, so I could ask for a free glass of water? Or would I become embarrassed and find a reason to walk away? He also made me think of how often I care too much about what I look like, what amenities I can get, instead of being concerned with making sure my basic needs are met.
Summer has only just begun but twice already I’ve been humbled and learned life lessons in unexpected places by unexpected people.
I walked three blocks north on Congress today to pick up lunch to bring back to the office. It was a little after noon when I arrived to pick out my soft chicken tacos and the lunch line backed up nearly to the entrance of the restaurant. As I stood in line, I glanced around at the other patrons. Almost all of them were business professionals in button down shirts, pressed slacks, matching belts and shoes.
However, the same could not be said for the person directly in front of me in the line of close to 50. His T-shirt was dusty and stained with sweat. His once black jeans, intermingling with chalky white patches, sported 6 inches of extra fabric bundled above his shoes. And while his left foot was covered by a battered black business shoe, his right foot dawned a brown sandal. It was clear this man had a life much more difficult than anyone else in the restaurant.
Standing in line for a few more moments, he cut to the right, past the others standing in line, and directly to the cash register. After speaking to the restaurant staff, he was offered a cup, which he filled with water and drank several times. I immediately sympathized with him; the heat index in Austin has been close to 110 degrees every day this week. And while I’d spent a couple of these days outside training for my next triathlon or playing volleyball, I’ve never questioned where I would go to rehydrate or when I would get my next drink of water.
Very polite and considerate, he filled his cup of water and then moved to the side to allow the other customers to fill their glasses while he drank. As I continued to watch him, I became more humbled by his presence for two reasons. Would I be willing to stand in the same line with professionals, in a stained shirt and mismatched shoes, so I could ask for a free glass of water? Or would I become embarrassed and find a reason to walk away? He also made me think of how often I care too much about what I look like, what amenities I can get, instead of being concerned with making sure my basic needs are met.
Summer has only just begun but twice already I’ve been humbled and learned life lessons in unexpected places by unexpected people.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Projects on the EDGE
by Skip Colfax
Sometimes people ask me, “Why do we even have project plans in the EDGE System? Why not just list all of the tasks as “Actions” and complete them one-by-one?” These are good, logical questions, and, upon first look, one might think that just listing actions, without a project plan, would save time. But, in reality, without a project plan, just the opposite happens. We end up spending more time figuring out why we’re doing the action, and where this action is supposed to lead us… We can get lost and having to think about it all over again is a time waster.
I’ve learned that my project plans are my task management system. Not only does the Project Plan hold all of the tasks needed to complete the project, but it includes an Outcome Statement, which describes my goal and keeps me motivated to complete all of the actions. The important thing is that all of that information is in one place, so I can watch as the project actions are ticked off one at a time. That’s motivational, and drives me forward.
By categorizing my project plans as “Projects”, I have an easy view from my task list of all of the projects I’ve got on my plate. I can easily answer questions about the status of each project, and at the click of a button, I can easily show my boss all of the stuff I’m working on. Then, we can reprioritize, if necessary, to get additional, urgent actions or projects done, too.
I really like the projects category a lot. I love it when I’ve completed all of the actions in a project. There are few things in my work life that give me as much satisfaction as checking off a project as complete. But the big kick for me is by acknowledging my hard work completing the project, I find myself energized and pumped up for whatever’s next. I love that feeling!
Sometimes people ask me, “Why do we even have project plans in the EDGE System? Why not just list all of the tasks as “Actions” and complete them one-by-one?” These are good, logical questions, and, upon first look, one might think that just listing actions, without a project plan, would save time. But, in reality, without a project plan, just the opposite happens. We end up spending more time figuring out why we’re doing the action, and where this action is supposed to lead us… We can get lost and having to think about it all over again is a time waster.
I’ve learned that my project plans are my task management system. Not only does the Project Plan hold all of the tasks needed to complete the project, but it includes an Outcome Statement, which describes my goal and keeps me motivated to complete all of the actions. The important thing is that all of that information is in one place, so I can watch as the project actions are ticked off one at a time. That’s motivational, and drives me forward.
By categorizing my project plans as “Projects”, I have an easy view from my task list of all of the projects I’ve got on my plate. I can easily answer questions about the status of each project, and at the click of a button, I can easily show my boss all of the stuff I’m working on. Then, we can reprioritize, if necessary, to get additional, urgent actions or projects done, too.
I really like the projects category a lot. I love it when I’ve completed all of the actions in a project. There are few things in my work life that give me as much satisfaction as checking off a project as complete. But the big kick for me is by acknowledging my hard work completing the project, I find myself energized and pumped up for whatever’s next. I love that feeling!
Friday, August 14, 2009
Keeping your cool
by Angela Ware
Like a number of today’s professionals, I spend a good percentage of my time traveling. And because of the amount of time I spend in and out of airports, I’ve had the chance to observe the best and the worst in airline customer service. The worst service generally occurs when there has been a flight delay, last minute gate change or the dreaded cancellation. Needless to say, the best customer service also happens during delays, gate changes and cancellations. On a recent trip from San Jose to Dallas I experienced a traveling trifecta, all before 6:00am!
At 5:25am we were told that our flight was delayed due to a mechanical problem, and then at 5:40am were told that there would be a gate change, finally at 5:55am were told that our flight had been cancelled and we would need to see an agent in order to be placed on another flight. Trifecta!!!
Although I was concerned about how they were going to handle this matter, I was also watching this one particular agent who had been walking around for the past half hour greeting passengers. She was now at a terminal counter off to the side working alone. As the other agent was yelling at passengers to be patient, this particular agent was working out a plan.
She knew at 5:30am that there was a good chance that this flight was going to be cancelled. Without saying a word she had begun identifying passengers based on their final designation and was working on rerouting them. Because she had already introduced herself before the excitement of the cancellation, when she asked us to be patient and explained what she was doing, everyone who was standing in line sat down and waited for their name to be called. In less than twenty minutes, every passenger had been rerouted and off to their final destination.
Excellent customer service. Polite, patient, organized and focused.
My take away from this experience… when you see the potential for disaster, don’t panic--look for the facts, identify your options, communicate and execute your plan.
When others are panicking, the ones who shows themselves to be patient, polite, and competent gain the trust of the crowd.
Like a number of today’s professionals, I spend a good percentage of my time traveling. And because of the amount of time I spend in and out of airports, I’ve had the chance to observe the best and the worst in airline customer service. The worst service generally occurs when there has been a flight delay, last minute gate change or the dreaded cancellation. Needless to say, the best customer service also happens during delays, gate changes and cancellations. On a recent trip from San Jose to Dallas I experienced a traveling trifecta, all before 6:00am!
At 5:25am we were told that our flight was delayed due to a mechanical problem, and then at 5:40am were told that there would be a gate change, finally at 5:55am were told that our flight had been cancelled and we would need to see an agent in order to be placed on another flight. Trifecta!!!
Although I was concerned about how they were going to handle this matter, I was also watching this one particular agent who had been walking around for the past half hour greeting passengers. She was now at a terminal counter off to the side working alone. As the other agent was yelling at passengers to be patient, this particular agent was working out a plan.
She knew at 5:30am that there was a good chance that this flight was going to be cancelled. Without saying a word she had begun identifying passengers based on their final designation and was working on rerouting them. Because she had already introduced herself before the excitement of the cancellation, when she asked us to be patient and explained what she was doing, everyone who was standing in line sat down and waited for their name to be called. In less than twenty minutes, every passenger had been rerouted and off to their final destination.
Excellent customer service. Polite, patient, organized and focused.
My take away from this experience… when you see the potential for disaster, don’t panic--look for the facts, identify your options, communicate and execute your plan.
When others are panicking, the ones who shows themselves to be patient, polite, and competent gain the trust of the crowd.
Monday, August 10, 2009
You’re our guest for the Basex Inaugural Information Overload Awareness Day, August 12th!
From Christina Randle
Dear Readers,
Did you know that by 2012, the typical knowledge worker will receive hundreds of messages each day via e-mail, IM, text, and social networks? And that knowledge workers today lose 25% of the work day due to Information Overload?
Come as our guest via the Web on August 12 - Information Overload Awareness Day - to learn what you can do both for yourself and your organization as part of a world-wide effort to help decrease the impact of Information Overload . Use the code "EdgeGuest" for your guest ticket here: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/379835097
The keynote presentation will feature Nathan Zeldes, Intel's former Information Overload czar, speaking about his work at Intel and will coincide with the release of the forthcoming Basex report, Intel's War Against Information Overload. All attendees will receive a complimentary executive summary of this groundbreaking report.
Companies need to focus on what can be done to lessen the impact of this problem right now. The purpose of Information Overload Awareness Day is to call attention to these problems and focus on what can be done to lessen its impact. It is centered around the Information Overload Awareness Inaugural Event – a half-day online gathering of senior executives and thought leaders from around the globe.
Join senior executives and thought leaders from across the globe on August 12. http://www.informationoverloadday.com/
In addition to the keynote from Nathan Zeldes, speakers will include:
Your complimentary ticket also includes a copy of the Basex report "Information Overload: We Have Met the Enemy and He Is Us" as well as access to archived sessions from the Inaugural Event, so, if you want to review some of the sessions afterwards, you can!
Over 500 people are expected to attend worldwide. I hope you will be one of them so please reserve your place now! http://www.eventbrite.com/event/379835097
I will be a guest speaker and hope to have you join us.
Warm regards,
Christina
Dear Readers,
Did you know that by 2012, the typical knowledge worker will receive hundreds of messages each day via e-mail, IM, text, and social networks? And that knowledge workers today lose 25% of the work day due to Information Overload?
Come as our guest via the Web on August 12 - Information Overload Awareness Day - to learn what you can do both for yourself and your organization as part of a world-wide effort to help decrease the impact of Information Overload . Use the code "EdgeGuest" for your guest ticket here: http://www.eventbrite.com/event/379835097
The keynote presentation will feature Nathan Zeldes, Intel's former Information Overload czar, speaking about his work at Intel and will coincide with the release of the forthcoming Basex report, Intel's War Against Information Overload. All attendees will receive a complimentary executive summary of this groundbreaking report.
Companies need to focus on what can be done to lessen the impact of this problem right now. The purpose of Information Overload Awareness Day is to call attention to these problems and focus on what can be done to lessen its impact. It is centered around the Information Overload Awareness Inaugural Event – a half-day online gathering of senior executives and thought leaders from around the globe.
Join senior executives and thought leaders from across the globe on August 12. http://www.informationoverloadday.com/
In addition to the keynote from Nathan Zeldes, speakers will include:
- Noted authors Maggie Jackson (“Distracted”) and Mike Song (“The Hamster Revolution”)
- John Hagel, co-chairman, the Deloitte Center for Edge Innovation
- Nathan Zeldes, President of the Information Overload Research Group (IORG)
- Anne-Katrin Neyer, School of Business and Economics, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg
- A CIO from the U.S. Air Force
- Paul Silverman, Integra
- Christina Randle, The Effective Edge
- Jonathan Spira, chief analyst at Basex
- Executives from a variety of companies including Dow Jones and Morgan Stanley.
- A panel of Visionary Vendors with tools that help lower Information Overload including Matt Brezina, co-founder, Xobni, Deva Hazarika, CEO, ClearContext, Julie White, director of product management, Microsoft, and Tomer Shalit, CEO, Nordic River.
Your complimentary ticket also includes a copy of the Basex report "Information Overload: We Have Met the Enemy and He Is Us" as well as access to archived sessions from the Inaugural Event, so, if you want to review some of the sessions afterwards, you can!
Over 500 people are expected to attend worldwide. I hope you will be one of them so please reserve your place now! http://www.eventbrite.com/event/379835097
I will be a guest speaker and hope to have you join us.
Warm regards,
Christina
Friday, August 7, 2009
Your Summer is Over!
by Kim Brewster
With the start of high school three weeks away, my daughter returned from the first day of volleyball tryouts rather dejected and forlorn. “Guess what they said to us first thing?” she asked me. “YOUR SUMMER IS OVER – practice is at 6:45 am, Monday through Friday, and you are expected to be on the court and ready,” she replied.
A friend of mine with a son the same age as my daughter, but who is in band, said to me a day later, “Guess what the kids were told first thing the first day of band practice?” “YOUR SUMMER IS OVER – marching practice is at 6:45 am, Monday through Friday, and you are expected to be on the field, instruments ready,” she replied.
I imagine this was the same militaristic announcement was delivered to all kids in athletics. But does the message serve to motivate? Of course these kids realize that summer, as they knew it, is over. They chose to be present for tryouts and practices because of a love or dedication to the sport or fine art.
What if these students had been greeted with, “Welcome – we are so glad you are here.” “We realize that you are cutting your summer short to participate in ___________.” “We honor your commitment to and dedication to ____________.” “We have high expectations and have set ground rules to help you succeed.”
The same message delivered from a different perspective can radically alter the motivation, for better or worse. These messages are no different in the workplace. Which style of coaching or leading encourages and motivates you? See if you can figure it out before summer is over.
With the start of high school three weeks away, my daughter returned from the first day of volleyball tryouts rather dejected and forlorn. “Guess what they said to us first thing?” she asked me. “YOUR SUMMER IS OVER – practice is at 6:45 am, Monday through Friday, and you are expected to be on the court and ready,” she replied.
A friend of mine with a son the same age as my daughter, but who is in band, said to me a day later, “Guess what the kids were told first thing the first day of band practice?” “YOUR SUMMER IS OVER – marching practice is at 6:45 am, Monday through Friday, and you are expected to be on the field, instruments ready,” she replied.
I imagine this was the same militaristic announcement was delivered to all kids in athletics. But does the message serve to motivate? Of course these kids realize that summer, as they knew it, is over. They chose to be present for tryouts and practices because of a love or dedication to the sport or fine art.
What if these students had been greeted with, “Welcome – we are so glad you are here.” “We realize that you are cutting your summer short to participate in ___________.” “We honor your commitment to and dedication to ____________.” “We have high expectations and have set ground rules to help you succeed.”
The same message delivered from a different perspective can radically alter the motivation, for better or worse. These messages are no different in the workplace. Which style of coaching or leading encourages and motivates you? See if you can figure it out before summer is over.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Use Categories to keep Interruptions at a Minimum
by Skip Colfax
In Getting the EDGE, you remember turning off the indicators that tell you of new e-mail. I really don’t miss those incessant chimes and flags. In fact, when I’m around a system that still uses them, they irritate me, and I’m glad they’re gone from my life! I get so much more done.
Speaking of interruptions, another best practice I’ve learned that reduces interruptions is using categories along with one-on-one meetings with my boss and my team members. I remember the days when I managed 24 smart, capable training writers. I had an open door policy, so they each came to my office frequently to interrupt me with a question or to give me status on their projects. I was kept well informed about my team, but, with 24 of them, I was constantly interrupted, and I found that my projects were getting done at home or on the weekends, instead of at the office.
When I learned the EDGE system, and how to incorporate the use of categories into the one-on-one weekly meetings I have with my boss and team members, I found that all of us were having fewer interruptions and more productive time.
Here’s how I use the Team and Boss categories with my one-on-one meetings:
My Boss
In Getting the EDGE, you remember turning off the indicators that tell you of new e-mail. I really don’t miss those incessant chimes and flags. In fact, when I’m around a system that still uses them, they irritate me, and I’m glad they’re gone from my life! I get so much more done.
Speaking of interruptions, another best practice I’ve learned that reduces interruptions is using categories along with one-on-one meetings with my boss and my team members. I remember the days when I managed 24 smart, capable training writers. I had an open door policy, so they each came to my office frequently to interrupt me with a question or to give me status on their projects. I was kept well informed about my team, but, with 24 of them, I was constantly interrupted, and I found that my projects were getting done at home or on the weekends, instead of at the office.
When I learned the EDGE system, and how to incorporate the use of categories into the one-on-one weekly meetings I have with my boss and team members, I found that all of us were having fewer interruptions and more productive time.
Here’s how I use the Team and Boss categories with my one-on-one meetings:
My Boss
- When I have an item that I need to speak with my boss about, I create a task, and categorize it with the “Christina” category (Christina Randle is our CEO and I have weekly meetings with her).
- When I have a few minutes with Christina or during our weekly one-on-one meeting, I open my tasks list, look in the “Christina” category and see my list of all of the things I need to speak with her about.
- In the same vein, when it comes to my Team, I have only one category for Team, so to help group items together for each team member; I enter their initials at the beginning of the topic.
- Then, when I open the Team Category in my task list, all of the items for each team member are grouped together by their initials.
- This is the method that Christina uses with her team (of which I am a member)
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Managing the Reading List Avalanche
by Kristi Willis
I read everything. If you took away all my blogs, magazines and newspapers, I would read the cereal or tissue box. I have even been known to read Golf Digest while waiting in the doctor’s office if I have forgotten my own reading material.
Because of my voracious reading habit, tracking key readings for our office has become part of my job. Like many of our clients, I’m expected to keep up with current trends in the fields of Productivity and Learning and Development. Also, like most of my clients, I struggle to stay up with the reading when my schedule gets busy.
Keeping up with the stack of magazines and books is challenging, but there is a physical stack on the desk, so I know when I’m getting backlogged. Blogs are a different problem. I follow quite a few and some of the writers post daily. Trying to keep up with them on my own was completely overwhelming.
I tried checking weekly using an Outlook Task to keep up with the blogs I wanted to monitor. I would land on a site and realize I’d missed 10 articles and two were information I really needed. It would take ½ a day to get through all the blogs. Next, I tried checking daily, but I would waste time visiting sites that hadn’t posted recently. I almost gave up.
Then, I found Google Reader; a free application that allows you to manage your blog and RSS feed subscriptions. You can easily view all of your unread articles or articles specific to a particular subscription. You can share articles with others, tag articles or, in my case, easily clip them to your database (for me, Evernote – see separate blog article on it).
You can also organize your subscriptions using Folders. For example, I use Google Reader for both work and personal blogs and have created Folders to organize the blogs for each. I can easily access the work-related blogs when I’m in the office and focus on the personal blogs at home.
My favorite part of Google Reader is the search feature. Let’s say that I want to find the recent blog articles on Information Overload. I can enter the term in the search box and it will pull any article with that term from any of the blogs I follow. I have saved hours of time in product development research using this feature alone. I no longer have to search the entire web for key articles and wade through useless websites. Instead, I can search the sites I know to be reliable and reputable with ease.
The Effective Edge doesn’t endorse products, but I have found Google Reader to be invaluable in staying current with information and finding it again quickly. I highly recommend that you work with it or a similar tool to maximize your productive time and tame the blog avalanche.
I read everything. If you took away all my blogs, magazines and newspapers, I would read the cereal or tissue box. I have even been known to read Golf Digest while waiting in the doctor’s office if I have forgotten my own reading material.
Because of my voracious reading habit, tracking key readings for our office has become part of my job. Like many of our clients, I’m expected to keep up with current trends in the fields of Productivity and Learning and Development. Also, like most of my clients, I struggle to stay up with the reading when my schedule gets busy.
Keeping up with the stack of magazines and books is challenging, but there is a physical stack on the desk, so I know when I’m getting backlogged. Blogs are a different problem. I follow quite a few and some of the writers post daily. Trying to keep up with them on my own was completely overwhelming.
I tried checking weekly using an Outlook Task to keep up with the blogs I wanted to monitor. I would land on a site and realize I’d missed 10 articles and two were information I really needed. It would take ½ a day to get through all the blogs. Next, I tried checking daily, but I would waste time visiting sites that hadn’t posted recently. I almost gave up.
Then, I found Google Reader; a free application that allows you to manage your blog and RSS feed subscriptions. You can easily view all of your unread articles or articles specific to a particular subscription. You can share articles with others, tag articles or, in my case, easily clip them to your database (for me, Evernote – see separate blog article on it).
You can also organize your subscriptions using Folders. For example, I use Google Reader for both work and personal blogs and have created Folders to organize the blogs for each. I can easily access the work-related blogs when I’m in the office and focus on the personal blogs at home.
My favorite part of Google Reader is the search feature. Let’s say that I want to find the recent blog articles on Information Overload. I can enter the term in the search box and it will pull any article with that term from any of the blogs I follow. I have saved hours of time in product development research using this feature alone. I no longer have to search the entire web for key articles and wade through useless websites. Instead, I can search the sites I know to be reliable and reputable with ease.
The Effective Edge doesn’t endorse products, but I have found Google Reader to be invaluable in staying current with information and finding it again quickly. I highly recommend that you work with it or a similar tool to maximize your productive time and tame the blog avalanche.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
You're Living the EDGE. The corporate culture around you isn't.
The team at The Effective Edge has received copious emails and course evaluation feedback asking, "When will Getting the EDGE be mandatory for all employees at our company?" The reason behind this question is clear. The 20 individuals that sit throughout a Getting the EDGE course know their individual takeaways from the day, but often the culture or environment surrounding them is that of "swimming upstream" among their overwhelmed (and overwhelming) colleagues.
Although we don't have the authority to make the course mandatory, there is another approach that can be considered. Our product development team asked themselves the question, "What if...on-boarding professionals can Start with the EDGE?" It's certainly a step in the right direction! So, a new solution offering was born. It's not listed on our website yet, but here is a preview of the course details that can be tailored to your organization:
Although we don't have the authority to make the course mandatory, there is another approach that can be considered. Our product development team asked themselves the question, "What if...on-boarding professionals can Start with the EDGE?" It's certainly a step in the right direction! So, a new solution offering was born. It's not listed on our website yet, but here is a preview of the course details that can be tailored to your organization:
Starting with the EDGE™ 4-Hour Workshop or 2-Hour OnDemand:
Kick off your on-boarding professionals on the “right foot” by maximizing the productive use of Microsoft Outlook® or Lotus Notes®.
Most professionals start each day with a parade of voicemail, email, paperwork, interruptions, and responsibilities. Stress takes over and by the end of the day they're wondering: What have I forgotten? How did my to-do list get longer? I just started here, and I’m already behind!
Starting with the EDGE™ uses our proven best practices with the full power of Outlook, or Lotus Notes. Workshop attendees become more productive individuals and collaborative team members, and experience repeatable results they'll value for the rest of their life and career.
The Efficiency Experience
Learn productivity shortcuts and management using the Outlook or Lotus Notes account you will use everyday. Attendees log on to their individual systems and by class end you'll set up your electronic desk to set the stage for a seamless system to move forward using. You'll start work with a life-changing philosophy and tackle new things and change with ease!
The Productivity Payoff
-Gain 1-2 productive hours per day and increase efficiency by 15-20%.
-Manage and reduce interruptions, email, and information searches.
-Create action items using tasks and calendar features.
-Integrate email, voicemail, and paper files, using existing tools.
-Manage day-to-day tasks efficiently, using our unique process.
-Learn skills to stay focused, relaxed and empowered.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Organized Shopping in the Sky
by Kim Brewster
Ever present on most commercial planes, in the seat back pocket, is SkyMall, the catalogue for a captive audience. In it are items you may not encounter in your brick and mortar mall or unique gift ideas when shopping for the person who has everything. Many offerings purport to make your life easier and save time.
Got pets? SkyMall offers the latest in furniture that houses litter boxes, ramps for your pets to get on the bed (yours) or in the car and motion activated alarms to discourage pets from getting on furniture and countertops. Hope the four-legged friends aren’t too confused about where they are allowed to be.
Organizationally challenged in the bedroom? Not to worry – available for purchase is a platform bed containing 12 drawers, 2 attached bedside tables and lighted headboard with storage above. You may not remember which drawers your things are stored in, but the handy out of sight, out of mind reference comes to mind.
Unless you host a lot of backyard parties or work at carnivals, would you need a 53” high popcorn or snow cone cart? What is your time worth to clean and store something which can’t be disassembled? That 19” margarita mixer is starting to look good – at least it can be stored more easily.
After practicing EDGE techniques for the past few years, I sift the idea of potential purchases through buckets of a deciding model:
Is the item that has me salivating its purchase a Want or a Need?
Is it in my Budget?
Can I benefit from it Immediately and Long Term?
Often the answer is to defer the purchase to my Someday/Maybe list. When or if all my questions about the potential purchase align, it may even be on sale. Deferring definitely has its benefits.
I look forward to each flight with a new Sky Mall, wondering what will they come up with next.
Ever present on most commercial planes, in the seat back pocket, is SkyMall, the catalogue for a captive audience. In it are items you may not encounter in your brick and mortar mall or unique gift ideas when shopping for the person who has everything. Many offerings purport to make your life easier and save time.
Got pets? SkyMall offers the latest in furniture that houses litter boxes, ramps for your pets to get on the bed (yours) or in the car and motion activated alarms to discourage pets from getting on furniture and countertops. Hope the four-legged friends aren’t too confused about where they are allowed to be.
Organizationally challenged in the bedroom? Not to worry – available for purchase is a platform bed containing 12 drawers, 2 attached bedside tables and lighted headboard with storage above. You may not remember which drawers your things are stored in, but the handy out of sight, out of mind reference comes to mind.
Unless you host a lot of backyard parties or work at carnivals, would you need a 53” high popcorn or snow cone cart? What is your time worth to clean and store something which can’t be disassembled? That 19” margarita mixer is starting to look good – at least it can be stored more easily.
After practicing EDGE techniques for the past few years, I sift the idea of potential purchases through buckets of a deciding model:
Is the item that has me salivating its purchase a Want or a Need?
Is it in my Budget?
Can I benefit from it Immediately and Long Term?
Often the answer is to defer the purchase to my Someday/Maybe list. When or if all my questions about the potential purchase align, it may even be on sale. Deferring definitely has its benefits.
I look forward to each flight with a new Sky Mall, wondering what will they come up with next.
Friday, July 17, 2009
How Long Is Two Minutes?
by Laura Finney
When I give thought to what tasks I can complete in two minutes, I am reminded of situations where two minutes were longer than I realized. Two minutes can feel as though it’s a long time if you’re anxiously waiting at a stop light, holding your breath under water, brushing your teeth, trying yoga for the first time, or five minutes late for your next appointment.
However, two minutes for tasks in the office can and has increased my productivity and reduced the amount of action tasks I may be tempted to create. For example, in two minutes or less, you can answer at least one or two emails, return a call, leave a voicemail message, confirm or cancel an appointment, or update a report.
The Effective Edge’s “Do it in two minutes or less” method has reduce my stress level by giving me a formula to use and balance my work for the day. This action has taken my productivity to the next level, allowing me to be more efficient throughout the day.
During those times when my inbox has twice as many emails as the day before, the two-minute or less rule kicks in…quickly. And, it actually increases my energy as I COMPLETE these items. This also reduces the amount of work I will need to do later. .
Living the EDGE system keeps me from being overwhelmed and in control of my daily tasks.
When I give thought to what tasks I can complete in two minutes, I am reminded of situations where two minutes were longer than I realized. Two minutes can feel as though it’s a long time if you’re anxiously waiting at a stop light, holding your breath under water, brushing your teeth, trying yoga for the first time, or five minutes late for your next appointment.
However, two minutes for tasks in the office can and has increased my productivity and reduced the amount of action tasks I may be tempted to create. For example, in two minutes or less, you can answer at least one or two emails, return a call, leave a voicemail message, confirm or cancel an appointment, or update a report.
The Effective Edge’s “Do it in two minutes or less” method has reduce my stress level by giving me a formula to use and balance my work for the day. This action has taken my productivity to the next level, allowing me to be more efficient throughout the day.
During those times when my inbox has twice as many emails as the day before, the two-minute or less rule kicks in…quickly. And, it actually increases my energy as I COMPLETE these items. This also reduces the amount of work I will need to do later. .
Living the EDGE system keeps me from being overwhelmed and in control of my daily tasks.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Getting Rid Of a Bad Decision
by Russell Tibbits
When I was little, my dad owned a boat. Almost every weekend in the summer, we would go fishing and water skiing. Many times, he would take me after grade school for an afternoon of skiing and cruising the lake. But as we got older, we stopped boating as frequently. Busier weekends and a new brother and sister left me and my dad with little time for this extracurricular activity. In fact, the boat never touched the water during the last few years we owned it. It spent more time collecting pieces of trash and taking up space in our driveway than anything else. This seemed to grate my dad’s nerves a bit. It was around this time that I heard the saying, “The two best days of owning a boat are the day you buy it and the day you sell it.” This concept echoes our clean up and clear out method on a grand scale and I recently found myself in almost the same situation.
In January of 2008, with just a few months left on my lease, I began enjoying the thought of having a 4-door sports car instead of a 2-door. Researching my options and thinking completely with my heart, I headed to the Acura dealership where I upgraded to a new lease on a new car. I found myself almost giddy as I drove home with my new heated seats, my GPS navigation system, my XM radio and my empty back seats. Not only was this car more exciting to drive, it had all the amenities I obviously needed.
This feeling lasted until I received my first lease payment. And reality began to sink that I was paying an additional $230 per month for this new lease. It also began to sink in that I didn’t really need GPS for my 3- mile commute to work. And I couldn’t really feel the heated seats begin to work until my 10- minute commute was almost complete. And by the time I pulled into the parking garage at work, I was able to listen to ESPN radio in crystal-clear XM radio, but was often limited to the absurdly long commercials. The backseat, like the boat, collected more empty glasses and bits of trash than serve its actual designed purpose. Oh, and did I mention it got 14 miles per gallon in the city?
Only a few days ago, I ended that lease early and bought almost the same car I had before the gas-guzzling amenity monster. On the drive home, I, again, found myself giddy. I’m in a car that fits my lifestyle and my budget. Most importantly, I was able to clear out something that I wasn’t using and replace it with something that is more manageable.
When I was little, my dad owned a boat. Almost every weekend in the summer, we would go fishing and water skiing. Many times, he would take me after grade school for an afternoon of skiing and cruising the lake. But as we got older, we stopped boating as frequently. Busier weekends and a new brother and sister left me and my dad with little time for this extracurricular activity. In fact, the boat never touched the water during the last few years we owned it. It spent more time collecting pieces of trash and taking up space in our driveway than anything else. This seemed to grate my dad’s nerves a bit. It was around this time that I heard the saying, “The two best days of owning a boat are the day you buy it and the day you sell it.” This concept echoes our clean up and clear out method on a grand scale and I recently found myself in almost the same situation.
In January of 2008, with just a few months left on my lease, I began enjoying the thought of having a 4-door sports car instead of a 2-door. Researching my options and thinking completely with my heart, I headed to the Acura dealership where I upgraded to a new lease on a new car. I found myself almost giddy as I drove home with my new heated seats, my GPS navigation system, my XM radio and my empty back seats. Not only was this car more exciting to drive, it had all the amenities I obviously needed.
This feeling lasted until I received my first lease payment. And reality began to sink that I was paying an additional $230 per month for this new lease. It also began to sink in that I didn’t really need GPS for my 3- mile commute to work. And I couldn’t really feel the heated seats begin to work until my 10- minute commute was almost complete. And by the time I pulled into the parking garage at work, I was able to listen to ESPN radio in crystal-clear XM radio, but was often limited to the absurdly long commercials. The backseat, like the boat, collected more empty glasses and bits of trash than serve its actual designed purpose. Oh, and did I mention it got 14 miles per gallon in the city?
Only a few days ago, I ended that lease early and bought almost the same car I had before the gas-guzzling amenity monster. On the drive home, I, again, found myself giddy. I’m in a car that fits my lifestyle and my budget. Most importantly, I was able to clear out something that I wasn’t using and replace it with something that is more manageable.
Friday, July 10, 2009
A Texas Sized Swimming Pool of Email
by Zahra Petri
Ever go to your email inbox, attack a set of new emails, accomplish the tasks being asked, feel great and energized, then return to your inbox to find what feels like a hundred more new emails? Well I have. It’s the feeling that you can’t get ahead. It’s the feeling that you are literally swimming in emails because your inbox is so full you can’t find anything and feel completely unorganized. The problem is not how many emails you receive; the problem is how you are managing, or not managing, them.
In the Getting the EDGE course, not only are we taught tools for staying organized, but we learn how to empty our email inboxes daily. Not until you empty that inbox for the first time, do you truly understand that feeling of liberation. When your inbox is empty, you are free to accomplish other important tasks and projects. By having everything organized into one seamless system, you know exactly where to look for the things you need, input all the new items, and maintain a clear, organized, structured schedule to keep you focused and energized.
Those were the pieces of the puzzle that came together when I took the Getting the EDGE course. The sense of accomplishment, excitement, and completion allowed me to turn routine tasks and projects into a system that I love, trust and rely upon. My email inbox is no longer a chain tying me down or a weight on my shoulders.
Now that I have my EDGE, I can accomplish anything!
Ever go to your email inbox, attack a set of new emails, accomplish the tasks being asked, feel great and energized, then return to your inbox to find what feels like a hundred more new emails? Well I have. It’s the feeling that you can’t get ahead. It’s the feeling that you are literally swimming in emails because your inbox is so full you can’t find anything and feel completely unorganized. The problem is not how many emails you receive; the problem is how you are managing, or not managing, them.
In the Getting the EDGE course, not only are we taught tools for staying organized, but we learn how to empty our email inboxes daily. Not until you empty that inbox for the first time, do you truly understand that feeling of liberation. When your inbox is empty, you are free to accomplish other important tasks and projects. By having everything organized into one seamless system, you know exactly where to look for the things you need, input all the new items, and maintain a clear, organized, structured schedule to keep you focused and energized.
Those were the pieces of the puzzle that came together when I took the Getting the EDGE course. The sense of accomplishment, excitement, and completion allowed me to turn routine tasks and projects into a system that I love, trust and rely upon. My email inbox is no longer a chain tying me down or a weight on my shoulders.
Now that I have my EDGE, I can accomplish anything!
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
The Evolution of Wellness
by Paige Webb
I can recall driving down a busy street in my hometown and seeing a “Health and Wellness Center” tucked away behind some trees. The sign wasn’t bright. Traffic in and out was scarce. My intuition about the center during my “workaholic” years told me that it wasn’t a place for me. I thought that at the least, that’s where people went to improve their health, and to get “well.” I superficially placed it in a medical category of sorts, similar to a doctor’s office or injury center.
Early last year, the drastic tug of the economy began to affect me personally and professionally. Instead of traveling 50-60% as per my job description at a software company, I was traveling 80-90% to cover twice the territory I should have been covering. I was a road warrior. If the economic times were hurting my company, I knew that since I was the "top performer" I would be able to keep my job. When my eyes shut at night, whether I was at home or in a hotel, my laptop closed, too. It was sickening, literally.
One morning I woke up at a hotel, and I couldn't move my neck. I couldn't lift my arms, and I could not hold back the tears from the pain I was in. I was at the end of my assignment, so I chose to grin and bear it on the two hour drive home to San Diego. When I hit the city limits, I didn't go home. I went straight to the emergency room. The pain was shooting through my skull and down to my toes. I thought, “What have I done? I must have lifted something incorrectly?” After tests, x-rays, and a brief conversation, the ER doctor sat across from me and said, "All that you have here today is a stress injury. Stress attacks the weakest area of our bodies, and in this case, it's your neck."
Where do stress injuries come from? Looking back at this and considering what I know now from my experience at The Effective EDGE and living the EDGE system, it was my mismanagement of what needed to get done, the constant distractions I allowed to take over my day, and lack of focus. These are the only real reasons my laptop stayed on until I fell asleep, these are the only real reasons I never let go of my BlackBerry in the emergency room. I couldn't let go of work. I had neglected to take care of myself.
After this rude awakening, I dedicated efforts towards “health and wellness.” My attitude and aptitude changed. I discovered what work/life balance was like (by force). When I was laid off in October, I soon found work at The Effective Edge. Since my professional transformation while using the EDGE system combined with a fresh perspective, my laptop stays at the office. Gone are my days of “workaholicism,” thank goodness. Hello, health and wellness!
I can recall driving down a busy street in my hometown and seeing a “Health and Wellness Center” tucked away behind some trees. The sign wasn’t bright. Traffic in and out was scarce. My intuition about the center during my “workaholic” years told me that it wasn’t a place for me. I thought that at the least, that’s where people went to improve their health, and to get “well.” I superficially placed it in a medical category of sorts, similar to a doctor’s office or injury center.
Early last year, the drastic tug of the economy began to affect me personally and professionally. Instead of traveling 50-60% as per my job description at a software company, I was traveling 80-90% to cover twice the territory I should have been covering. I was a road warrior. If the economic times were hurting my company, I knew that since I was the "top performer" I would be able to keep my job. When my eyes shut at night, whether I was at home or in a hotel, my laptop closed, too. It was sickening, literally.
One morning I woke up at a hotel, and I couldn't move my neck. I couldn't lift my arms, and I could not hold back the tears from the pain I was in. I was at the end of my assignment, so I chose to grin and bear it on the two hour drive home to San Diego. When I hit the city limits, I didn't go home. I went straight to the emergency room. The pain was shooting through my skull and down to my toes. I thought, “What have I done? I must have lifted something incorrectly?” After tests, x-rays, and a brief conversation, the ER doctor sat across from me and said, "All that you have here today is a stress injury. Stress attacks the weakest area of our bodies, and in this case, it's your neck."
Where do stress injuries come from? Looking back at this and considering what I know now from my experience at The Effective EDGE and living the EDGE system, it was my mismanagement of what needed to get done, the constant distractions I allowed to take over my day, and lack of focus. These are the only real reasons my laptop stayed on until I fell asleep, these are the only real reasons I never let go of my BlackBerry in the emergency room. I couldn't let go of work. I had neglected to take care of myself.
After this rude awakening, I dedicated efforts towards “health and wellness.” My attitude and aptitude changed. I discovered what work/life balance was like (by force). When I was laid off in October, I soon found work at The Effective Edge. Since my professional transformation while using the EDGE system combined with a fresh perspective, my laptop stays at the office. Gone are my days of “workaholicism,” thank goodness. Hello, health and wellness!
Friday, July 3, 2009
Mind Like an Elephant
by Kristi Willis
Getting the EDGE at work was one challenge, but Getting the EDGE at home was another story entirely – more like a nightmare. I noticed that while I was now organized and effective at work, I was flailing at home and it was causing problems. It was time to take control, so I initiated Project Clean Up/Clear Out at my house.
I started small, one drawer or shelf at a time, and separated things into Action, Reference, Recycle, To Someone Else and Trash stacks. The project went much faster than I thought it would. I delivered things to others, filed my important paperwork and old bills, and then stared at the stack of leftovers. What was I going to do with this stuff?
Some of the items were straightforward things that I could add to my Outlook system at work, like an upcoming party of a friend or a gift I needed to order for a friend. But other things were more ambiguous – they were someday/maybes or reference things that didn’t have a home like vacation ideas or recipes that I had ripped out of magazines. And, there were a lot of them. Hmmmm….
The problem is that I read a lot – magazines, newspapers, blogs, books, you name it. All this reading spurs great ideas; those “ooh, I want to do that/try that” moments. I needed a place to put those things and the Outlook Notes feature wasn’t going to cut it. Keeping it all in paper binders wasn’t practical either. I needed a technology solution.
Enter Evernote (http://www.evernote.com/), one of the coolest applications I have ever used. Evernote is a database application that allows you to store information and access it from just about anywhere. It loads a copy of the database on your computer and syncs it with an online version (this is called cloud computing). If I load a recipe in the database, I can log on to Evernote from anywhere, including my iPhone, and find that recipe.
You can tag the documents with keywords so that they are grouped and located easily. I have recipes, travel ideas, gifts, crafts and exercise routines all saved in Evernote. Each month, when I read my magazines, I find the articles that I want to save online and clip them to Evernote. When I’m out doing errands and see something that I want to keep up with, like a gift idea, I can take a picture of it with my iPhone and store it on Evernote.
While The Effective Edge doesn’t endorse applications as an organization, I have found Evernote truly helpful. If you have a paper “issue,” I recommend using it or a similar tool to help you stay organized. I also recommend that you find a solution that will synchronize with your SmartPhone/PDA so that you can access it anywhere.
I no longer have stacks of magazine clips all over my house and I can find what I need quickly. Definitely EDGE-y.
Getting the EDGE at work was one challenge, but Getting the EDGE at home was another story entirely – more like a nightmare. I noticed that while I was now organized and effective at work, I was flailing at home and it was causing problems. It was time to take control, so I initiated Project Clean Up/Clear Out at my house.
I started small, one drawer or shelf at a time, and separated things into Action, Reference, Recycle, To Someone Else and Trash stacks. The project went much faster than I thought it would. I delivered things to others, filed my important paperwork and old bills, and then stared at the stack of leftovers. What was I going to do with this stuff?
Some of the items were straightforward things that I could add to my Outlook system at work, like an upcoming party of a friend or a gift I needed to order for a friend. But other things were more ambiguous – they were someday/maybes or reference things that didn’t have a home like vacation ideas or recipes that I had ripped out of magazines. And, there were a lot of them. Hmmmm….
The problem is that I read a lot – magazines, newspapers, blogs, books, you name it. All this reading spurs great ideas; those “ooh, I want to do that/try that” moments. I needed a place to put those things and the Outlook Notes feature wasn’t going to cut it. Keeping it all in paper binders wasn’t practical either. I needed a technology solution.
Enter Evernote (http://www.evernote.com/), one of the coolest applications I have ever used. Evernote is a database application that allows you to store information and access it from just about anywhere. It loads a copy of the database on your computer and syncs it with an online version (this is called cloud computing). If I load a recipe in the database, I can log on to Evernote from anywhere, including my iPhone, and find that recipe.
You can tag the documents with keywords so that they are grouped and located easily. I have recipes, travel ideas, gifts, crafts and exercise routines all saved in Evernote. Each month, when I read my magazines, I find the articles that I want to save online and clip them to Evernote. When I’m out doing errands and see something that I want to keep up with, like a gift idea, I can take a picture of it with my iPhone and store it on Evernote.
While The Effective Edge doesn’t endorse applications as an organization, I have found Evernote truly helpful. If you have a paper “issue,” I recommend using it or a similar tool to help you stay organized. I also recommend that you find a solution that will synchronize with your SmartPhone/PDA so that you can access it anywhere.
I no longer have stacks of magazine clips all over my house and I can find what I need quickly. Definitely EDGE-y.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Productivity Zappers! UGHHH!
by Skip Colfax
Imagine yourself sitting at your desk totally engrossed in creating a document you need to complete today. You’re totally focused and making great headway, feeling on track for getting the document finished. Finally, you’re being productive. It seems that many of your days are spent spinning, instead of getting your work done. As you’re working, a little flag scrolls up in the right hand bottom corner of your screen that says, “You have a new message.” It’s a small flag, not really alarming, not even colored brightly. What happens when that little, innocuous flag appears? Most of us stop what we’re doing and go into our email to see what the message is. Sometimes you’ll handle the need right now by making a phone call or simply responding to the email, but usually you don’t do anything with it because you don’t have time to work on it now, so you leave it in your inbox with the thought that you’ll come back to it later. Sound like you?
My point here is that you were working hard, being productive and, “in the zone” when that little flag distracted you and pulled you out of productivity in just a split-second.” Can you count how often that happens every day? It used to happen to me countless times every day. I was so tied to my email, I couldn’t get much else done. One of the best golden nuggets I got from “Getting the Edge” training, was reducing those pesky productivity zappers.
For most of us it takes 2-3 minutes of concentration to get into “the zone”, where we’re really being productive, and only a split second to get pulled from “the zone”. Even if we ignored the insidious little flag and went right back to our task, it would take us another couple of minutes to get back into the productivity zone. If that happens often enough each day, it’s no wonder we feel like we’re spinning rather than being productive.
Since I’ve completed the “Getting the EDGE” productivity training, my ability to stay in the zone for longer periods of time has remarkably increased! By removing as many of those annoying little productivity zappers from my environment as I could, I get more things done. As I implemented the EDGE system, I learned many new ways to think about my work and new ways to use Microsoft Outlook, but removing those distracters has enabled me to be much more productive, right from the beginning.
I miss the flags, beeps, buzzes and flashes sometimes, but getting so much more done each day motivates me to easily deal with my separation anxiety.
Imagine yourself sitting at your desk totally engrossed in creating a document you need to complete today. You’re totally focused and making great headway, feeling on track for getting the document finished. Finally, you’re being productive. It seems that many of your days are spent spinning, instead of getting your work done. As you’re working, a little flag scrolls up in the right hand bottom corner of your screen that says, “You have a new message.” It’s a small flag, not really alarming, not even colored brightly. What happens when that little, innocuous flag appears? Most of us stop what we’re doing and go into our email to see what the message is. Sometimes you’ll handle the need right now by making a phone call or simply responding to the email, but usually you don’t do anything with it because you don’t have time to work on it now, so you leave it in your inbox with the thought that you’ll come back to it later. Sound like you?
My point here is that you were working hard, being productive and, “in the zone” when that little flag distracted you and pulled you out of productivity in just a split-second.” Can you count how often that happens every day? It used to happen to me countless times every day. I was so tied to my email, I couldn’t get much else done. One of the best golden nuggets I got from “Getting the Edge” training, was reducing those pesky productivity zappers.
For most of us it takes 2-3 minutes of concentration to get into “the zone”, where we’re really being productive, and only a split second to get pulled from “the zone”. Even if we ignored the insidious little flag and went right back to our task, it would take us another couple of minutes to get back into the productivity zone. If that happens often enough each day, it’s no wonder we feel like we’re spinning rather than being productive.
Since I’ve completed the “Getting the EDGE” productivity training, my ability to stay in the zone for longer periods of time has remarkably increased! By removing as many of those annoying little productivity zappers from my environment as I could, I get more things done. As I implemented the EDGE system, I learned many new ways to think about my work and new ways to use Microsoft Outlook, but removing those distracters has enabled me to be much more productive, right from the beginning.
I miss the flags, beeps, buzzes and flashes sometimes, but getting so much more done each day motivates me to easily deal with my separation anxiety.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Sleep Filled Nights
by Angela Ware
In our classes, we ask our participant to engage in a process called the “Mind Sweep”. This activity allows everyone to clear their mind of all of the stuff floating about in their subconscious in an effort to gain greater focus.
In as much as I teach this process on a weekly basis, I am always thankful of the reminder of its benefits in my professional and personal life.
With an abundance of the technical gadgets clipped to my belt, in my purse, backpack and on my desk top, all capable of holding my ideas and To Do’s, I occasionally succumb to the impulse to use my head as a note-taking and reminder device. Why!? All of that “stuff” just sits-in-wait in my subconscious for the right wrong moment to rush to my conscious mind.
And when is that? Two minutes after I lay my head on the pillow. Sleep interrupted!
Here’s my play by play… Just as I get comfortable and begin to relax, my eyes pop wide open and my To Do list and don’t forget items all begin to fight for position as active thoughts. Now, the old me would fight the thoughts until sleep won out, after about 30 minutes to an hour or two or three. Not anymore!
When I fail to Mind Sweep during a busy day, I make it a point to grab my note taking device and clear my mind before heading off to sleep. The benefit of my routine is “sleep filled nights.”
In our classes, we ask our participant to engage in a process called the “Mind Sweep”. This activity allows everyone to clear their mind of all of the stuff floating about in their subconscious in an effort to gain greater focus.
In as much as I teach this process on a weekly basis, I am always thankful of the reminder of its benefits in my professional and personal life.
With an abundance of the technical gadgets clipped to my belt, in my purse, backpack and on my desk top, all capable of holding my ideas and To Do’s, I occasionally succumb to the impulse to use my head as a note-taking and reminder device. Why!? All of that “stuff” just sits-in-wait in my subconscious for the right wrong moment to rush to my conscious mind.
And when is that? Two minutes after I lay my head on the pillow. Sleep interrupted!
Here’s my play by play… Just as I get comfortable and begin to relax, my eyes pop wide open and my To Do list and don’t forget items all begin to fight for position as active thoughts. Now, the old me would fight the thoughts until sleep won out, after about 30 minutes to an hour or two or three. Not anymore!
When I fail to Mind Sweep during a busy day, I make it a point to grab my note taking device and clear my mind before heading off to sleep. The benefit of my routine is “sleep filled nights.”
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Work/Life Balance
by Kim Brewster
“All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” This ancient village proverb is as relevant now as it was then. Jack had no work/life balance.
To some, work/life balance is a phrase completely devoid of meaning or attainment. To others, it is a delicate balancing act where some days work consumes more of our time yet life is able to assert its rights mightily on other days, so the scale once again becomes level.
If you have taken our Getting the EDGE course, you may remember the section on the Weekly Recharge. This is a set time per week (because you set a task reminder) to capture the prior week’s events, successes, sales, everything from your calendar. The recharge includes completion of outstanding emails, voice mails, and items without categories. It’s your creative place, if you will, of your outlook on life (not necessarily the Microsoft program). Who knows, a review of the items on your someday/maybe list may have borne fruit.
A cursory read of the above paragraph may lead you to believe that all those items are work related only. However, you know you have just one life, so why would it be separate from work? If you are using your Outlook tools to the fullest, your hair appointments, workout times, shopping, cultural events, et al, will be there. Moreover, the things you long to do, like take a fabulous trip, remodel your house or setting aside time to read a book, will be there in your someday/maybe.
By assembling the information from the weekly recharge into a weekly update email that is shared with my colleagues, I have a snapshot of my life at work and life not at work. I can see where imbalances may be occurring.
Intuitively we know when we need to take a break. This is where PTO or vacation time comes in handy. Just like having a savings account, having a PTO account ensures a bank of time for me to use as I wish, even if only half a day. As my own PTO banker, I am in charge of making sure I have extra time stored for an emergency, but it is also my responsibility to take time for myself. I don’t want to end up like Jack.
“All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” This ancient village proverb is as relevant now as it was then. Jack had no work/life balance.
To some, work/life balance is a phrase completely devoid of meaning or attainment. To others, it is a delicate balancing act where some days work consumes more of our time yet life is able to assert its rights mightily on other days, so the scale once again becomes level.
If you have taken our Getting the EDGE course, you may remember the section on the Weekly Recharge. This is a set time per week (because you set a task reminder) to capture the prior week’s events, successes, sales, everything from your calendar. The recharge includes completion of outstanding emails, voice mails, and items without categories. It’s your creative place, if you will, of your outlook on life (not necessarily the Microsoft program). Who knows, a review of the items on your someday/maybe list may have borne fruit.
A cursory read of the above paragraph may lead you to believe that all those items are work related only. However, you know you have just one life, so why would it be separate from work? If you are using your Outlook tools to the fullest, your hair appointments, workout times, shopping, cultural events, et al, will be there. Moreover, the things you long to do, like take a fabulous trip, remodel your house or setting aside time to read a book, will be there in your someday/maybe.
By assembling the information from the weekly recharge into a weekly update email that is shared with my colleagues, I have a snapshot of my life at work and life not at work. I can see where imbalances may be occurring.
Intuitively we know when we need to take a break. This is where PTO or vacation time comes in handy. Just like having a savings account, having a PTO account ensures a bank of time for me to use as I wish, even if only half a day. As my own PTO banker, I am in charge of making sure I have extra time stored for an emergency, but it is also my responsibility to take time for myself. I don’t want to end up like Jack.
Friday, June 19, 2009
A Good Night’s Rest
by Laura Finney
I remember hearing a quote that said, “I’ll sleep when I’m dead.” The reference was from a billionaire, who worked countless hours to achieve that wealthy status. The successful billionaire was known to sleep 4 hours per night. Many successful people have followed this very same way of living.
Many average everyday employees sleep only 4 to 5 hours per day, and not because they are working on a career or financial goals. This particular group of people is not getting good night’s sleep because their minds are not at rest, which means their bodies are not at rest. They are not resting because of the mind clutter that is being stored in the conscious and unconscious parts of their minds. This group has not learned the value of Emptying Your Collection Points.
Remember the commercial about a specific nighttime cough medicine that will help you get a good night’s rest? The commercial used two people to give a visual example of someone who had taken the medicine and of someone who had not. The person that had taken the cough medicine is shown sleeping peacefully while the other person, who had not taken the medicine, was coughing, tossing and turning the entire night.
Would it not be wonderful to sleep peacefully and not worry about what you may have “forgotten” to do? You can rest assured by consistently emptying your collection points and putting those thoughts into a single seamless system. Then you will be free of worry and wondering if you have forgotten to remember something. You will no longer have to worry or wonder if you emailed everyone that is supposed to be on the conference call in the morning. Or, trying to remember to remind yourself, everyday, to schedule the doctor’s appointment. Or, if you packed everything you need for your trip.
Always remember to empty your collection points into your single seamless system. Then you will be able to go and enjoy a good night’s rest.
I remember hearing a quote that said, “I’ll sleep when I’m dead.” The reference was from a billionaire, who worked countless hours to achieve that wealthy status. The successful billionaire was known to sleep 4 hours per night. Many successful people have followed this very same way of living.
Many average everyday employees sleep only 4 to 5 hours per day, and not because they are working on a career or financial goals. This particular group of people is not getting good night’s sleep because their minds are not at rest, which means their bodies are not at rest. They are not resting because of the mind clutter that is being stored in the conscious and unconscious parts of their minds. This group has not learned the value of Emptying Your Collection Points.
Remember the commercial about a specific nighttime cough medicine that will help you get a good night’s rest? The commercial used two people to give a visual example of someone who had taken the medicine and of someone who had not. The person that had taken the cough medicine is shown sleeping peacefully while the other person, who had not taken the medicine, was coughing, tossing and turning the entire night.
Would it not be wonderful to sleep peacefully and not worry about what you may have “forgotten” to do? You can rest assured by consistently emptying your collection points and putting those thoughts into a single seamless system. Then you will be free of worry and wondering if you have forgotten to remember something. You will no longer have to worry or wonder if you emailed everyone that is supposed to be on the conference call in the morning. Or, trying to remember to remind yourself, everyday, to schedule the doctor’s appointment. Or, if you packed everything you need for your trip.
Always remember to empty your collection points into your single seamless system. Then you will be able to go and enjoy a good night’s rest.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Look for the Signs
by Angela Ware
I recently experience a situation that I had only heard about and had often laughed about. After attending a concert a group of friends and I decided to go to a local restaurant downtown for breakfast before heading home. The parking lot in front of the restaurant was full but we were able to find parking in the lot across the street. Great location!
After an hour or so we left the restaurant to find that all of our cars were gone; and not just the cars of our group, but a number of others as well. A crowd of about a dozen irate people had formed in the parking lot. After about two minutes of people asking each other “did you see anything?” a gentleman comes over and points out a small sign on a Pay Box at the north east corner of the lot. Mind you most cars enter in from the south west corner, because all of the streets in the area are one-way driving. Meaning we would have seen the Pay Box on our way out, not on our way in.
As I walk toward the Pay Box I notice a sign about two feet off of the ground that reads “All cars must pay, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week”, then I see a sign that reads “All violators will be towed at the owner’s expense.” This is no longer a great location!
As I am calling the tow service to get information about our cars and the process for getting them back, I hear one of my friends say, “I knew it was too good to be true, free parking downtown on a Saturday night”. I thought about his comment for a moment and decided he was right! Free parking on a Saturday night? We should have looked for a sign.
Because we were so eager to find a parking spot we forgot to consider our surroundings. Downtown on a Saturday night in a dining and entertainment district, we should have looked for a sign. Because we didn’t, we learned a $195 lesson.
My take away from this experience… when you are in a hurry, pause and look for signs that you are making the best decision. Acting fast may get you the first seat at the table but it may also cost you more than the price of the meal when you leave.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Unexpected Help
by Russell Tibbits
It’s triathlon season again and I just started training for my second of the season. While the first race was the shortest triathlon I’ve completed, the next one, in July, is the longest, so I’ve ramped up my training. My last workout was a few days ago, Sunday and I typically don’t remember workouts, but this one stands out. My goal was to complete a long, intense swim workout followed immediately by a standard run to downtown and back. Sunday proved difficult however, because the temperature in the late afternoon hovered around 95 degrees. As I finished the swim, I felt better than anticipated. And with my running background, this run should be no problem. I started my jaunt through the neighborhood to the main road that leads to downtown. Upon hitting the main road, I began to pick up speed. I felt really good; my legs still had power. Tired but managing, I approached the halfway point, when I suddenly I realized why my legs and my lungs still had more to give. I had been running slightly downhill the entire time. The final half was all uphill.
I looped around and began my ascent to the top of the hill. As I eyed the top far in the distance, the lactic acid started to creep into my legs and lungs, and I began to notice how hot it was. I would run for a few minutes, but seemed to be no closer to my destination. Toward the top of the hill, about a half mile from my car, I was gassed. I thought to myself, there’s no shame in walking and jogging back after this run. As I was about to give up, I passed a homeless man, weathered by the blistering sun, sitting on the curb. He looked up at me from underneath his dingy white hat and all he said was, “You can do it.” I don’t know if he was trying to be funny or actually motivate me, but I easily made it back to my car, feeling like I could run another loop.
Here is someone that probably aches constantly, can’t find a place to escape the heat of the bright sun, thirsts for a cool drink all hours of the day and he’s helping me. It was such a humbling experience. How often do I complain about the little things in life? How frequently do I miss out on chances to support or inspire someone? If I can accomplish something I didn’t think was possible from a single line of encouragement, what could he accomplish with my support?
It’s triathlon season again and I just started training for my second of the season. While the first race was the shortest triathlon I’ve completed, the next one, in July, is the longest, so I’ve ramped up my training. My last workout was a few days ago, Sunday and I typically don’t remember workouts, but this one stands out. My goal was to complete a long, intense swim workout followed immediately by a standard run to downtown and back. Sunday proved difficult however, because the temperature in the late afternoon hovered around 95 degrees. As I finished the swim, I felt better than anticipated. And with my running background, this run should be no problem. I started my jaunt through the neighborhood to the main road that leads to downtown. Upon hitting the main road, I began to pick up speed. I felt really good; my legs still had power. Tired but managing, I approached the halfway point, when I suddenly I realized why my legs and my lungs still had more to give. I had been running slightly downhill the entire time. The final half was all uphill.
I looped around and began my ascent to the top of the hill. As I eyed the top far in the distance, the lactic acid started to creep into my legs and lungs, and I began to notice how hot it was. I would run for a few minutes, but seemed to be no closer to my destination. Toward the top of the hill, about a half mile from my car, I was gassed. I thought to myself, there’s no shame in walking and jogging back after this run. As I was about to give up, I passed a homeless man, weathered by the blistering sun, sitting on the curb. He looked up at me from underneath his dingy white hat and all he said was, “You can do it.” I don’t know if he was trying to be funny or actually motivate me, but I easily made it back to my car, feeling like I could run another loop.
Here is someone that probably aches constantly, can’t find a place to escape the heat of the bright sun, thirsts for a cool drink all hours of the day and he’s helping me. It was such a humbling experience. How often do I complain about the little things in life? How frequently do I miss out on chances to support or inspire someone? If I can accomplish something I didn’t think was possible from a single line of encouragement, what could he accomplish with my support?
Monday, June 8, 2009
Am I the Hamster Running on the Wheel?
by Zahra Petri
I was watching TV recently and although I DVR everything to skip the commercials, I kept noticing this one interesting commercial. It begins with dozens of hamsters each running on a wheel on roads, highways, intersections…etc. Then a zippy little red car pulls up next to the hamster wheels at a red light and there are 4 hamsters inside smiling with sunglasses on giving the thumbs up. The light turns green and they zip off leaving all the hamsters stuck on their wheels running in place.
Now even though this is clearly a car commercial, it always catches my attention because I sometimes feel like that hamster on the wheel, stuck in the middle of the road, getting nowhere. When this happens, I used to stress and feel my anxiety level immediately rise. However, I now have a series of trouble shooting processes to turn to. Instead of panicking, I look at my task list to see what I need to accomplish next. I first see which items have due dates to determine which task takes priority. I also check my calendar to see if I have any upcoming appointments that I need to prepare for. This is all part of my system, my Getting the EDGE system.
If I ensure that I am using my system appropriately, inputting new tasks as they appear, marking my calendar correctly, emptying my inbox and managing my project flow, then I know that I can trust my system to guide me and push me forward when I feel stuck. The most important question I ask myself when I am in that place is: what is it I want to accomplish, what is my end goal? The answers to these questions are in my Desired Outcome statement, which is a statement I’ve created for each project I am working on and can easily refer to for a motivational reboot. This combined with my GTE system gets me motivated and energized so that I can speed off past the other hamster wheels in the zippy red car!
I was watching TV recently and although I DVR everything to skip the commercials, I kept noticing this one interesting commercial. It begins with dozens of hamsters each running on a wheel on roads, highways, intersections…etc. Then a zippy little red car pulls up next to the hamster wheels at a red light and there are 4 hamsters inside smiling with sunglasses on giving the thumbs up. The light turns green and they zip off leaving all the hamsters stuck on their wheels running in place.
Now even though this is clearly a car commercial, it always catches my attention because I sometimes feel like that hamster on the wheel, stuck in the middle of the road, getting nowhere. When this happens, I used to stress and feel my anxiety level immediately rise. However, I now have a series of trouble shooting processes to turn to. Instead of panicking, I look at my task list to see what I need to accomplish next. I first see which items have due dates to determine which task takes priority. I also check my calendar to see if I have any upcoming appointments that I need to prepare for. This is all part of my system, my Getting the EDGE system.
If I ensure that I am using my system appropriately, inputting new tasks as they appear, marking my calendar correctly, emptying my inbox and managing my project flow, then I know that I can trust my system to guide me and push me forward when I feel stuck. The most important question I ask myself when I am in that place is: what is it I want to accomplish, what is my end goal? The answers to these questions are in my Desired Outcome statement, which is a statement I’ve created for each project I am working on and can easily refer to for a motivational reboot. This combined with my GTE system gets me motivated and energized so that I can speed off past the other hamster wheels in the zippy red car!
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Protect Your Private Time
by Alison Chapman
You would probably think twice before skipping out on work, a business call or a doctor's appointment. Your private time deserves that same respect. You need to ensure you take time for yourself and your personal relationships. You should guard this personal time and do not let work or other distractions intrude on it. During this time, do not check your email, make any business phone calls, or even think about work. There are not many people or things that are so important they cannot wait until you finish.
If work constantly interferes with your personal time, you need to make the necessary adjustments. If you are working long hours, you need to reevaluate your work schedule. More hours does not necessarily mean more work or better work. Protecting your private time often leads to more satisfaction in both work life and personal life.
You have to create boundaries for yourself. For example, I am completing my Master in Business Administration and working part-time. I have minimal personal time so when I have it I value it. I schedule in a portion of it every week or on the weekends. I will usually turn my phone off on Friday night and I will not turn it back on until Sunday evening or Monday morning. If someone really needs to get a hold of me, they know how to do it.
I think that this down time is important to refresh your mind, body and spirit. I also believe that if you truly honor the different aspects of your life, such as work, play, and family, you will be more successful and fulfilled in each area. If I neglect my personal relationships or 'me' time, I would not consider myself successful. I think it is important to maintain a balance between each part of my life. I am much happier and more self full-filled.
You would probably think twice before skipping out on work, a business call or a doctor's appointment. Your private time deserves that same respect. You need to ensure you take time for yourself and your personal relationships. You should guard this personal time and do not let work or other distractions intrude on it. During this time, do not check your email, make any business phone calls, or even think about work. There are not many people or things that are so important they cannot wait until you finish.
If work constantly interferes with your personal time, you need to make the necessary adjustments. If you are working long hours, you need to reevaluate your work schedule. More hours does not necessarily mean more work or better work. Protecting your private time often leads to more satisfaction in both work life and personal life.
You have to create boundaries for yourself. For example, I am completing my Master in Business Administration and working part-time. I have minimal personal time so when I have it I value it. I schedule in a portion of it every week or on the weekends. I will usually turn my phone off on Friday night and I will not turn it back on until Sunday evening or Monday morning. If someone really needs to get a hold of me, they know how to do it.
I think that this down time is important to refresh your mind, body and spirit. I also believe that if you truly honor the different aspects of your life, such as work, play, and family, you will be more successful and fulfilled in each area. If I neglect my personal relationships or 'me' time, I would not consider myself successful. I think it is important to maintain a balance between each part of my life. I am much happier and more self full-filled.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Getting My EDGE on Sleep
by Skip Colfax
Ahh Sleep! It’s time that our bodies and minds need to refresh, energize and rebuild. The importance of getting enough deep sleep is difficult to overemphasize. There is nothing better than sitting up as the sun is peeking over the horizon, stretching with a yawn, and looking forward to a great day ahead. Being well rested helps us:
One of the best practices I learned in the Getting the Edge, is the practice of “mind sweeping” and entering all of the things I need to remember to do into my EDGE System. I know from experience that my mind is not very good at storing and organizing information, so by entering them all into my system, I don’t worry about forgetting anything. In Getting the Edge, we refer to a wonderful Chinese proverb that I have come to know as a truth, “The palest ink is better than the brightest memory.” I’ve learned to Write It Down! and I’ll sleep better.
One of my colleagues, Robertt Young, says, “Control/Shift K, will make your day!” That has become my mantra, and, as I said earlier, I’m sleeping great these days!
Ahh Sleep! It’s time that our bodies and minds need to refresh, energize and rebuild. The importance of getting enough deep sleep is difficult to overemphasize. There is nothing better than sitting up as the sun is peeking over the horizon, stretching with a yawn, and looking forward to a great day ahead. Being well rested helps us:
- Make good decisions.
- Be more creative.
- Handle our stress more effectively.
One of the best practices I learned in the Getting the Edge, is the practice of “mind sweeping” and entering all of the things I need to remember to do into my EDGE System. I know from experience that my mind is not very good at storing and organizing information, so by entering them all into my system, I don’t worry about forgetting anything. In Getting the Edge, we refer to a wonderful Chinese proverb that I have come to know as a truth, “The palest ink is better than the brightest memory.” I’ve learned to Write It Down! and I’ll sleep better.
One of my colleagues, Robertt Young, says, “Control/Shift K, will make your day!” That has become my mantra, and, as I said earlier, I’m sleeping great these days!
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Organized Shopping in the Sky
by Kim Brewster
Ever present on most commercial planes, in the seat back pocket, is SkyMall, the catalogue for a captive audience. In it are items you may not encounter in your brick and mortar mall or unique gift ideas when shopping for the person who has everything. Many offerings purport to make your life easier and save time.
Got pets? SkyMall offers the latest in furniture that houses litter boxes, ramps for your pets to get on the bed (yours) or in the car and motion activated alarms to discourage pets from getting on furniture and countertops. Hope the four-legged friends aren’t too confused about where they are allowed to be.
Organizationally challenged in the bedroom? Not to worry – available for purchase is a platform bed containing 12 drawers, 2 attached bedside tables and lighted headboard with storage above. You may not remember which drawers your things are stored in, but the handy out of sight, out of mind reference comes to mind.
Unless you host a lot of backyard parties or work at carnivals, would you need a 53” high popcorn or snow cone cart? What is your time worth to clean and store something which can’t be disassembled? That 19” margarita mixer is starting to look good – at least it can be stored more easily.
After practicing EDGE techniques for the past few years, I sift the idea of potential purchases through buckets of a deciding model:
Is the item that has me salivating its purchase a Want or a Need?
Is it in my Budget?
Can I benefit from it Immediately and Long Term?
Often the answer is to defer the purchase to my Someday/Maybe list. When or if all my questions about the potential purchase align, it may even be on sale. Deferring definitely has its benefits.
I look forward to each flight with a new Sky Mall, wondering what will they come up with next.
Ever present on most commercial planes, in the seat back pocket, is SkyMall, the catalogue for a captive audience. In it are items you may not encounter in your brick and mortar mall or unique gift ideas when shopping for the person who has everything. Many offerings purport to make your life easier and save time.
Got pets? SkyMall offers the latest in furniture that houses litter boxes, ramps for your pets to get on the bed (yours) or in the car and motion activated alarms to discourage pets from getting on furniture and countertops. Hope the four-legged friends aren’t too confused about where they are allowed to be.
Organizationally challenged in the bedroom? Not to worry – available for purchase is a platform bed containing 12 drawers, 2 attached bedside tables and lighted headboard with storage above. You may not remember which drawers your things are stored in, but the handy out of sight, out of mind reference comes to mind.
Unless you host a lot of backyard parties or work at carnivals, would you need a 53” high popcorn or snow cone cart? What is your time worth to clean and store something which can’t be disassembled? That 19” margarita mixer is starting to look good – at least it can be stored more easily.
After practicing EDGE techniques for the past few years, I sift the idea of potential purchases through buckets of a deciding model:
Is the item that has me salivating its purchase a Want or a Need?
Is it in my Budget?
Can I benefit from it Immediately and Long Term?
Often the answer is to defer the purchase to my Someday/Maybe list. When or if all my questions about the potential purchase align, it may even be on sale. Deferring definitely has its benefits.
I look forward to each flight with a new Sky Mall, wondering what will they come up with next.
Friday, May 22, 2009
How Did This Happen?
by Laura Finney
During the first week of December 2008, I had purged my "perfect" chronological filing system with the files from 2007. No, not 2008, because I may need those (or so I thought) for reference in 2009. This was my tradition every December in the previous years. It was such a feeling of relief and pride, relief to be rid of the old and pride in being "pro-active" by preparing and filing empty folders for the upcoming year.
In January 2009, something happened. My two, very full, yet very organized desk file drawers were almost empty. How did this happen? What happened to my (at least twenty) categorical green hanging file folders and tabs? Where did all my "reference" aka inactive files go? All of the "projects" files and the "just in case" files are gone. This was no mystery. This was my old system being streamlined into my new system, my Paper Effectiveness system.
Getting the Edge's Paper Effectiveness system has transformed my working file drawers. The two drawers have gone from full to almost a quarter filled. From twenty (or more) tabbed file folders to three tabbed file folders (Project Reference, Actions, and Handy Reference). Implementing this system has allowed me to create a work environment that is neat and easy to manage. The Paper Effectiveness system has eliminated my using the file drawers as storage space filled with bulging file folders; full of information I would not need immediate access to. There are no "just in case" file folders in my newly organized file drawers.
The Paper Effectiveness system uses three categories: Project Reference, Actions, and Handy Reference. This system focuses on what works. In Project Reference, I put my supporting materials for current projects. Under Actions, you will find only paper that is needed to take action on any of my categories that begin with a double dot. And, the Handy Reference contains the paper of my frequently used list such as my phone list and contacts. That's it!
This sort of relief cannot be explained, it can only be experienced by using the Paper Effectiveness system in Getting the Edge. Using this system will give you the transformation to a clean, neat, and organized filing system.
During the first week of December 2008, I had purged my "perfect" chronological filing system with the files from 2007. No, not 2008, because I may need those (or so I thought) for reference in 2009. This was my tradition every December in the previous years. It was such a feeling of relief and pride, relief to be rid of the old and pride in being "pro-active" by preparing and filing empty folders for the upcoming year.
In January 2009, something happened. My two, very full, yet very organized desk file drawers were almost empty. How did this happen? What happened to my (at least twenty) categorical green hanging file folders and tabs? Where did all my "reference" aka inactive files go? All of the "projects" files and the "just in case" files are gone. This was no mystery. This was my old system being streamlined into my new system, my Paper Effectiveness system.
Getting the Edge's Paper Effectiveness system has transformed my working file drawers. The two drawers have gone from full to almost a quarter filled. From twenty (or more) tabbed file folders to three tabbed file folders (Project Reference, Actions, and Handy Reference). Implementing this system has allowed me to create a work environment that is neat and easy to manage. The Paper Effectiveness system has eliminated my using the file drawers as storage space filled with bulging file folders; full of information I would not need immediate access to. There are no "just in case" file folders in my newly organized file drawers.
The Paper Effectiveness system uses three categories: Project Reference, Actions, and Handy Reference. This system focuses on what works. In Project Reference, I put my supporting materials for current projects. Under Actions, you will find only paper that is needed to take action on any of my categories that begin with a double dot. And, the Handy Reference contains the paper of my frequently used list such as my phone list and contacts. That's it!
This sort of relief cannot be explained, it can only be experienced by using the Paper Effectiveness system in Getting the Edge. Using this system will give you the transformation to a clean, neat, and organized filing system.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
What Does It Really Mean to Prioritize?
by Robertt Young
Before I joined the Effective EDGE I tried several types of time management programs. You could say I was a time management groupie. if there was a time management course to be attended within 50 miles, I was there. While I picked up a lot of great ideas over the years, the one thing that never seemed to work for me was how these classes would teach prioritization. The first class I ever attended taught to make a list of the top ten things we wanted to accomplish that day and work on job one until it was done, then work on job two and so on and so forth. This process was to continue until you had completed everything on your list, then you could go home feeling satisfied, productive and absolutely great about what you had accomplished. They told us that this worked because it was invented by Benjamin Franklin. Well let’s see what did old Ben have to do in those days; what did his list look like?
So what are the best practices around prioritization?
There are several:
Before I joined the Effective EDGE I tried several types of time management programs. You could say I was a time management groupie. if there was a time management course to be attended within 50 miles, I was there. While I picked up a lot of great ideas over the years, the one thing that never seemed to work for me was how these classes would teach prioritization. The first class I ever attended taught to make a list of the top ten things we wanted to accomplish that day and work on job one until it was done, then work on job two and so on and so forth. This process was to continue until you had completed everything on your list, then you could go home feeling satisfied, productive and absolutely great about what you had accomplished. They told us that this worked because it was invented by Benjamin Franklin. Well let’s see what did old Ben have to do in those days; what did his list look like?
- Buy a kite
- Buy some string
- Get some keys
- Wait for a storm
- Buy a ticket to France
So what are the best practices around prioritization?
There are several:
- Collect everything in one place. Have all your action items on your task list/to do list or on your calendar depending upon the timing of the action item, i.e. if it has to be done to day, it goes on your calendar. All the others go in the proper category on your task list.
- Manage from your lists not your head.
- Move expiring action items, those that are due today, from your task list/top do list to your calendar.
- Complete all your day specific items first.
- Then, look at your ..Actions category and ..Calls and apply the EDGE TEST Criteria to determine the Next Action.
- T = Time, how much time do I have?
- E = Energy, how much Energy do I have?
- S = Location/Context, Where am I? Can I make calls? If not, then I can’t do anything in my ..Calls category.
- T= Top Level, what is the highest leverage action you can take at this moment?
Friday, May 15, 2009
Quicksand: Then and Now
By Paige Webb
Do you recall an era when fictional television characters like Tarzan and Zorro came to the rescue of damsels in distress or travelers who found themselves in the unfortunate situation of sinking in quicksand? The sight of this always caused me to writhe with anxiety. Would they make it out of the quicksand? Would they suffer injuries? How did they get there in the first place? Despite the fictional nature of the television program, and the fact that there was a 99% chance the episode had a happy ending, the anticipation of a scene in quicksand caused me, and I’m sure other viewers, stress.
The era when we were more in tune with television has evolved. Our society is now more in tune with the internet, and with the internet comes email. I like to think of an email inbox as a modern-day quicksand scene, where I find myself in distress and in need of a rescue. I go about my days committed to my calendar appointments and tasks on my list, but if I am not careful, I slip into my email inbox, and begin to sink. The “pre-EDGE” me would sink and sink further, flounder, and stress out from digging myself out of email quicksand. By leaving emails in my inbox, each time I view it, I get stuck. It’s the perfect analogy, including the stress associated with that feeling.
Each of us is forced to process our email inboxes to get through our days to prevent things from falling through the cracks. In fact, I can’t recall a day in the last ten years when I didn’t have new email every day, and each required a decision about whether to store the information for reference, or how to take action. Client questions, project updates, those pesky “reply to all” emails, family updates, newsletters, and advertisements are just a few examples of the types of emails that make up the quicksand effect. The EDGE Deciding Model comes to the rescue, much like Tarzan and Zorro did. The sinking in the quicksand will cease when the process is applied. Whether the email is something I can delete, do, delegate or defer I know the next action I’m responsible for.
When I began trusting my EDGE system soon after being taught, I had no problems leaving my inbox alone more often. The “EDGE-y” me might visit my inbox a few times a day, because I keep it lean and clean. There’s no sinking or drowning allowed, nor do I find myself in the stressful situation of digging through quicksand! My EDGE system is my hero.
Do you recall an era when fictional television characters like Tarzan and Zorro came to the rescue of damsels in distress or travelers who found themselves in the unfortunate situation of sinking in quicksand? The sight of this always caused me to writhe with anxiety. Would they make it out of the quicksand? Would they suffer injuries? How did they get there in the first place? Despite the fictional nature of the television program, and the fact that there was a 99% chance the episode had a happy ending, the anticipation of a scene in quicksand caused me, and I’m sure other viewers, stress.
The era when we were more in tune with television has evolved. Our society is now more in tune with the internet, and with the internet comes email. I like to think of an email inbox as a modern-day quicksand scene, where I find myself in distress and in need of a rescue. I go about my days committed to my calendar appointments and tasks on my list, but if I am not careful, I slip into my email inbox, and begin to sink. The “pre-EDGE” me would sink and sink further, flounder, and stress out from digging myself out of email quicksand. By leaving emails in my inbox, each time I view it, I get stuck. It’s the perfect analogy, including the stress associated with that feeling.
Each of us is forced to process our email inboxes to get through our days to prevent things from falling through the cracks. In fact, I can’t recall a day in the last ten years when I didn’t have new email every day, and each required a decision about whether to store the information for reference, or how to take action. Client questions, project updates, those pesky “reply to all” emails, family updates, newsletters, and advertisements are just a few examples of the types of emails that make up the quicksand effect. The EDGE Deciding Model comes to the rescue, much like Tarzan and Zorro did. The sinking in the quicksand will cease when the process is applied. Whether the email is something I can delete, do, delegate or defer I know the next action I’m responsible for.
When I began trusting my EDGE system soon after being taught, I had no problems leaving my inbox alone more often. The “EDGE-y” me might visit my inbox a few times a day, because I keep it lean and clean. There’s no sinking or drowning allowed, nor do I find myself in the stressful situation of digging through quicksand! My EDGE system is my hero.
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