Tag Archives | planning
The Thinking Man sculpture at Musée Rodin in Paris

Got a great idea? How to Do Something About it!

By on January 16, 2012 in Inspiration, Personal Growth, Success, Tools

The Thinking Man sculpture at Musée Rodin in Paris

Image via Wikipedia

We all know someone – probably more than one someone – who has said, “I had that idea!” “If only I had pursued it, I’d be rich.” Well, actually that’s not necessarily true. Having an idea or concept is no guarantee of success. So many other factors come into play, but the reality is thinking, dreaming, and planning means nothing without action.

Many people have great ideas, few actually act on them. And believe me, if you don’t somebody else will. It’s what you do with your creative notions that matters, not what you think. Whether it is an innovative design, a brilliant invention, a fabulous book idea or a unique business concept doesn’t matter. The world needs pioneers who have ground-breaking ideas.

So, you have a dream, an idea, a splendid thought for a new and improved or never before done…something. Do something with it. Just start moving forward. If you don’t know how…ask, research, find out. There are many resources available. Get a mentor; pick the brain of someone who has done something similar.

Tell someone

Get support

Brainstorm possibilities

Flesh out your idea

Determine what need it fills

Decide what end result you want

Make sure you have the proper motivation or desire

Make a plan of action

Now, do something!

Just start in some small way to take steps to move your idea forward. Otherwise, in a few years you will be that sad, pathetic person who says, “if only…”

Is there something you’ve thought of but never pursued? Care to share?

 

 

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English: Quads Aces, to represent poker games.

BUSINESS IS A GAME

By on January 6, 2012 in Success
English: Quads Aces, to represent poker games.

Image via Wikipedia

I loved this concept from Tony Hsieh.

BUSINESS IS A GAME

Everything I know about business I learned from poker: financials, strategy, education, and culture.

FINANCIALS

  • The guy who wins the most hands is not the guy who makes the most money in the long run.
  • The guy who never loses a hand is nor the guy who makes the most money in the long run.
  • Go for positive expected value, not what’s least risky.
  • You will win or lose individual hands, but it’s what happens in the long term that matters.

STRATEGY

  • Learn to adapt. Adjust your style of play as the dynamics of the game change.
  • The players with the most stamina and focus usually win.
  • Hope is not a good plan.
  • Stick to your principles.

EDUCATION

  • Never stop learning. Read books. Learn from others who have done it before.
  • Learn by doing. Theory is nice, but nothing replaces actual experience.
  • Just because you win a hand doesn’t mean you’re good and you don’t have more learning to do. You might have just gotten lucky

CULTURE

  • To become really good, you need to live it, breathe it, and  sleep it.
  • Be nice and make friends. It’s a small community.
  • Have fun. The game is a lot more enjoyable when you’re trying to do more than just make money.

Tony Hsieh is the CEO of Zappos.com and the author of Delivering Happiness. Tony’s (longer) blog post is Everything l Know About Business I Learned from Poker.

What are your thoughts? Do you agree? Disagree?

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Create a Life Plan in 30 Minutes or Less…and Why You Need to

By on January 2, 2012 in Happiness, Life Balance, Personal Growth, Questions

Do you have a life plan? If not, it’s time to think about creating one. We are not talking about some 20 page research paper with charts and graphs and maps. Just a general snapshot of where you are right now in all the areas that matter and where you’d like to go in the future.

This should take no more than 30 minutes. This is your life we’re talking about…you can find 30 minutes. And if you can’t …we need to talk, you and I.

How would you rate your life on a scale of 1 – 10? – Are you satisfied with that rating? What would you be satisfied with?

Write a brief description of the current state of your life. – Health, relationships, work, finances, spiritual or emotional well-being, community, etc. Whatever is going on. Just briefly jot it down.

What makes you happy? – There must be some good things, some things that bring you joy and make you laugh.

What are the drains on your energy and happiness? – What people, situations or behaviors are your kryptonite? We all have these things (or someones) that suck the life out of us like vampires draining our life force.

What isn’t working in your life? - These are the obstacles to living a satisfied life of fulfillment…Do you need to lose weight, be more organized, find a different job, end or change a relationship, manage your stress better or maybe just learn to laugh again.

Now describe your ideal life. - I’m not talking about a commercial for the “Rich and Famous,” some Hollywood fairy tale. I’m talking about what kind of life would truly make you happy to get out of bed in the morning. What would you be doing? Who would you be with? How would you be feeling?

What do you need to do to get that life?  – What needs to happen for you to get from point A to point B? Again, not a detailed outline of actions for the next 20 years, just some general goals to work toward, a few habits to adopt or a change in attitude or surroundings to adopt.

Something to think about…Why? Why do you want whatever it is that you want? What do you really want to accomplish in this life? What kind of person do you want to be? What do you want to be remembered for?

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Ignore Rework if You Dare

By on November 16, 2011 in Good Reads

Unlike most business books that give you the same old advice, Rework, written by Jason Fried and David Heinmeier Hanson of 37 Signals fame, endeavors to rewrite the rules of succeeding in business with a fresh, down-to-earth approach.

Rework is a quick read, but it is packed full of concise, practical and useful advice to get you moving quickly in the right direction. Rework shows you a new, radically different approach to succeed in business. Read it and you’ll know why plans can actually be harmful, why you don’t necessarily want outside investors, and why you’re better off ignoring the competition and forging ahead on your own path.

Their message seems to be that you don’t need all of those things that traditional business gurus say you do. You don’t need a large staff, an office, meetings or to work 10 hour days. What you really need to do is stop planning and making excuses and start working. This book shows you how to get started doing that. Be more creative, more productive, more visible and more successful.

It’s a tall order, but I think “Rework” delivers. This book isn’t for everyone, though. It depends on your vision of success and how you prefer to get there. If you’re looking for a fresh perspective, then this is a good resource for you and well worth your time.

Seth Godin says “Ignore this book at your own peril.” I agree. Even if you don’t agree with the ideas put forth by the guys at 37 Signals, you will benefit by at least entertaining some new concepts and re-examining the way you do business.

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Illustration depicting thought.

Want to be More Productive? You Need a Work Routine

By on November 14, 2011 in Productivity, Tools

Illustration depicting thought.

Image via Wikipedia

Simple Steps

Develop a work routine

In keeping with our simplifying theme this month, one great strategy to simplify your day and improve your productivity at the same time is to develop a work routine. Routines work well for all aspects of our lives. The most successful people I have coached use routines to help them achieve their goals, balance their lives, stay healthy and all around get things done.

It’s actually very simple. Once you cultivate a set of habitual actions that work best for you, you have a routine. No extra planning, decisions or thought process necessary. It’s far more productive than having to stop and decide what comes next.

An example routine might consist of:

Choose 3 top tasks for the day

Spend 20 minutes doing an email check and sort

Take 20 minutes to check and return voicemails

Spend 20 minutes on social media marketing

Use 60 minutes to work on top priority

Take 15 minute break

30 minutes to make phone calls

Spend 90 minutes with team or individually to work on project

Lunch break

And so on…

People tend to get more done both at work and at home when they have routines to support them. So, your challenge this week is to develop a work routine that will enable you to get more done with less stress.

*Bonus – Try using routines in the morning, evening and weekends too! It’ll be easier to fit in exercise and remember to take your vitamins and whatever else you have packed into your days.

Question everything, move forward, enjoy the journey.

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Veterans Day

5 Lessons Veterans Can Teach Us About Life and Business

By on November 11, 2011 in Personal Growth
Veterans Day

Rather than just celebrating another day off from school, and for many of us work, maybe we should take a look at what we can learn from those brave men and women we celebrate on Veteran’s Day.

The whole is greater than the sum of its parts – When you work together as a team, the results you achieve can be far greater and more productive than anything an individual can accomplish. Enlist help and collaborate as a team when possible.

Do it even if you don’t feel like it – Some days we don’t feel like making calls, writing proposals, cleaning up the kitchen or getting up and driving to work. So what! Don’t even think about whether or not you “feel” like doing something. Just move on to the next item and complete it.

Keep your eye on the big and the little picture – Advice abounds, “think about the big picture” or “just focus on what’s in front of you,” but the reality is…you need to pay attention to both. Place your attention on doing what’s in front of you and pay attention to the details, but also keep in mind the overall goal and what you’re trying to achieve.

Be clear on what you’re trying to accomplish – You need to be very clear on what you’re trying to do and why. What is it that you want out of your life, your business or career and what specifically is the desired outcome for each project or goal. You can’t get where you want to go if you don’t have a destination in mind.

Plan, but be flexible – Plan your actions, decide what you’ll do, how and when, but also be prepared to deviate if necessary. It’s often not possible to plan for every contingency, so when things shift or schedules change be willing to be flexible and regroup.

Can you think of anything I’ve left off? Have you learned a valuable lesson from a veteran that you’d like to share?

Question everything, move forward, enjoy the journey.

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Plan C

Simple Planning Process = Successful Outcome

By on October 5, 2011 in Success
Plan C

Image via Wikipedia

When I made the decision recently to do a complete re-design of my own website, I quickly realized that I would get better results if I could throttle back on my impulse to dive right in and instead stop to make a plan first. I needed to be clear on exactly what I wanted to accomplish, why I wanted or needed to achieve this goal and how much time and energy I could or should expend. The results while always a work in progress were astonishingly close to the picture I held in my head and I finished within my self-imposed deadline.

As always, I am eager to share my methods (though they may sometimes resemble madness) in the hopes that it will help you be successful in making changes in your life or business, whatever they may be.

Total view – Take a step back (or twenty) and get the overview.

How does this project, goal or outcome fit in with the total picture of your business or your life?

What do you want the final project to look like? (Can you picture it in your head or put it on paper?)

How much time can you or are you willing to devote to achieving your outcome, goal or changes?

Now is the time to think about the project scope, design, impact and end result. It is also the time to question your available resources (usually time and money) and whether it is worth tackling at all.

Detail view – Now, we get down to the nuts and bolts.

What will it take to get this project or achieve this goal from start to finish?

List all of the steps, actions or decisions necessary to get your result.

Will you need help with any steps? Either through delegation, hiring outside help or simply asking others to assist you?

Do you need more information about any aspects of your project?

Do you have a deadline or timeline in place? If not, make one.

Determine the order if any of your steps.

Action Plan – Decide what action you will take first.

Then choose what either logically or logistically comes next. Repeat.

Revision – Once you start making progress, don’t be afraid to change direction or shift course. If something doesn’t look right, doesn’t feel right or simply doesn’t work, try something different.

Good luck with your creative endeavors and please let me know what you’re working on!

Question everything, move forward, enjoy the journey.

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Hands.Pen.Paper.DupontCircle.WDC.17sep05

Why You Need to Do a “Mind Download” Daily

By on September 19, 2011 in Life Balance, Productivity, Simple Steps
Hands.Pen.Paper.DupontCircle.WDC.17sep05

Image by Elvert Xavier Barnes Photography

Simple Steps

Our minds are really like human computers. If we want to improve our productivity and efficiency, we need to empty the cache of temporary “files” and reboot for our brains to perform at their peak levels. Otherwise we can suffer from brain overload with too many circuits firing at once and so many programs (thoughts) running in the background that we either “freeze up” and can’t remember anything or simply process the information much more  slowly than we’d like.

Sounds difficult. But it’s not. It only requires a few minutes and some manner of recording your thoughts.

Choose your time – Try first thing in the morning and again before bedtime, but if that doesn’t work for you any time can work. I prefer to sit with my morning coffee for a few minutes and let my brain wake up. I apparently need the caffeine kick to form coherent thoughts.

Choose your method of recording – You can keep an electronic list on your mobile phone or computer, use a voice recorder or similar app or go the traditional pen and paper route. Though I tend to be a “techie” by nature, I still prefer to use a pen and pad for this process.

Now, take just 5 minutes and write down whatever is in your head or on your mind. Sounds doable.

And I mean everything… Not just tasks, but thoughts, concerns, questions and ideas too. You can sort them later, just get them out of your brain so that they can stop cycling through and using up precious brain power and space.

Once you’re finished you can add any tasks to your ongoing tasks list (you have one of those right?) Add any new ideas to an idea file to pursue later and record questions or concerns in a journal to mull over at another time. (If you never go back to mull them over, then they weren’t that important.)

By making it a habit to take just a few minutes each day to empty and organize your brain, you can drastically improve your ability to focus, complete tasks, achieve goals, find better balance and increase your energy. Not bad for 5 minutes work.

Question everything, move forward, enjoy the journey.

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Structure Your Day Like Goldilocks to Get Results

By on September 13, 2011 in Productivity, Success, Wisdom

Image via Wikipedia

Goldilocks? Huh? Has she lost her mind? Well maybe…but bear with me for just a little bit.

When thinking about a structure, schedule or routine for your day, your week, your business or your life, think like Goldilocks. Not too hot, not too cold. Not too hard, not too soft.

Try not too rigid, not too flexible.

What you’re going for here is a structure that keeps you on track and focused without stifling your creativity and flexibility.

Some ideas to try:

  • Determine a focus for each day, hour, week or specific time block.
  • Allot a specific amount of time for projects, calls, errands or type of work you’re doing.
  • Set aside a certain time during the day or week to return voicemail, do the laundry, file or whatever.
  • Decide what is “good enough” for your day. Only you can know what that is. It might be 3 articles, 20 sales calls, 5 meetings, 3 top tasks, some progress on several projects. It will vary widely.

I discovered this when I was trying to adhere too strictly to writing every day and spreading clients out, only doing marketing, networking or research during specific blocks each week. I tend toward the rigid end of the spectrum, but I find I actually do better with a bit more flexibility. For instance, I might write 5 or 10 posts or articles in one day and then only speak with clients or do marketing another. It all sort of works better that way rather than be controlled by a straitjacket of a schedule.

Just make sure you don’t go too far the other way… Everyone I have worked with does better with some form of routine, so the trick is to try for a happy medium.

Question everything, move forward, enjoy the journey.

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A photo of a cup of coffee.

On This Day: New Facebook Reminder Valuable Tool for Balance and Productivity

By on August 30, 2011 in Tools
A photo of a cup of coffee.

Image via Wikipedia

I really love the “On this day in 2010″ feature on Facebook!

My entry for today 2010: “Perfect way to start my day – watching the sunrise, wrapped in a blanket on the porch, drinking first cup of coffee & enjoying my newspaper. It’s going to be a beauty of a day!”

Why?

1. It gives me a snapshot of where I was and what I was doing and thinking a year ago.

2. It serves as a reminder of how much has happened over the last 365 days.

3. Most importantly, it prods me to think about where I want to be on this day next year.

Where have you been? What are you doing? How will you spend the next year?

Valuable questions… Don’t you think?

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