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When it comes to being productive, and Getting Things Done, I know someone I’ve learned a lot from over the years is Richard Branson. I’ve read his biographies, flown on his planes, worked out in his health clubs and even used his mobile phones! Here are three ways you can get momentum and move further, faster…in life, and at work.
You might know it’s good to have one. You may know someone who has worked with one. You may have even thought, “I need a mentor.” But, do you know why? Listen in for 4 reasons you need a mentor (and, request a report that outlines all 5 reasons I know of).
To demonstrate – live and unrehearsed – how we can reach out, ask for help, and move forward on projects, I’m sharing this podcast with ideas on how you can move forward…faster, with fewer resources than ever!
At the end of the day, look back and ask, “What did I accomplish today?” Oh, and listen to about the mid-way point. I make you an offer that just might change your life!
Here are three things I make sure to do so that when I travel, out of state or out of the country, to prepare to be as productive as possible.
When it’s time to end your day, there are two options. One gives you energy, one takes it away. Here’s how I end the day, close open loops, and get ready to rest. It’s how I’ll be at my best tomorrow!
Have you ever heard people talk about how they don’t set goals? I know why they say that, and I talk about it here. It’s time to Get Momentum and move toward those things you want. Here’s how!
Can you keep on doing, what you’re doing, at the pace you’re doing it at? The fourth – and final – pillar to productivity is the one that really engages you energetically. Listen in!
You know, there are ways you can use your tools MUCH more effectively, get MORE of the right things done, and save time in the process. Listen in!
How do you work with others? How WELL do you work with others? Get in there and tighten up your “working-together” skills and you’ll get more done, faster and easier, than ever before!
The way you THINK can influence your productivity. Learn how to “think better” and get more done (easier and faster than ever before).
From teaching high school (focused on single-day assessments) to advising global leaders (building portfolios of performance and productivity) here’s a little bit of the story of how Your Best Just Got Better came to be.
During a day – that is, during your 96 blocks of fifteen minutes each – you’re going to find yourself “waiting.” How can you not let waiting waste your time? Listen in for some ideas right now!
What’s your normal? What’s comfortable? And, what’s easy for you to do? Now, take a look at where you’d like to be “better,” and start taking repeatable action to make more things possible!
You see, in life, we’ll find ways to make some more money. But, being fully focused on what we’re doing right now? Priceless…
When you hear what you’re saying, do you like it? Years ago, a mentor gave me a few books on “Self Talk.” She said, “Jason, it’s time to change the voices in your head.” Here are some things to think about as you’re moving toward your own version of better.
Who’s responsible for things getting better? They are of course! You see, the more you spend time with the “right” them, you’ll see things getting better. Listen in, and I’ll share the importance of building your Social Network beyond just the big 4.
You know how important it is to get better – it’s the whole point of this podcast! – but, do you know the 2 plans you need to have in place to DO better? Here they are: Plan to ask for help and Plan to follow up. Listen to this week’s podcast, I’ll share with you how important I think these plans are.
It’s not a matter of WHETHER we’re focused on something negative or positive, it’s a matter of how long we stay there! We’re being influenced to change our thinking – and therefore our action – all the time. Here are two ways you’re being influenced today.
When it comes to making a new year any different than the old year, one way to achieve MORE is to put your attention on LESS. Yes, it seems counterintuitive, that’s why ya gotta listen to this podcast about Focus and Iteration.
There are three things to keep in mind as you clarify where you’re going…In life and at work. Thanks for listening, and as always, let us know what you think about the podcast!
Tis the season! With holidays – and the new year – just around the corner, you’re going to be busy. And then, a little busier. So, here are my two BEST tips for getting more done…in less time. Enjoy!
Look around your desk, when you get home, check out your shelves: Who do you let influence you? Go out, this weekend, and find a book or two from author you know…or want to know. Let them influence you to become “better.”
You’re busy; and, you’re going to get busier. Don’t let that stop you from learning! Here is one of the tactics I use to learn more, faster, from some of the most successful people ever!
When it’s time to get better – faster – one thing I’ll ask you to do is write more. Here are three ways that I’ve used paper and pen to get more done over the past decade.
When it comes to knowing what you want, getting there is just a few “action steps” away. How – however – can you make those steps as easy to take as possible? How do you work most effectively to get closer to your goals? Here are some ideas…
Not necessarily in my time – is email going away? – but, it surely is changing. How do YOU best share information, ask someone to do something, or “bunch” information for later access? Listen in and I’ll give you some of the best practices I’ve ever seen to “manage the email monster!”
If you know what you’re doing – and what you’re getting – it’s easier to change things up. Do something different…Chances are you’ll get something different. Here are two things to think about this week!
When it’s time to get the right things done, what habits have you put in to place? Where do you go to get your important work done? And, who do you surround yourself with to “think better?”
Where you work will absolutely affect WHAT gets done. Here is one of my favorite tactics for getting more done, easier and faster than ever before. As yourself, “How does context affect my productivity?”
Are you getting “out there” to get new ideas “in here?” I originally titled this podcast, “Open It Up, to Open It Up.” Here’s the task: Go increase your heart rate for 35-45 minutes, come back, and write down some things you can think of about a situation or problem you’re facing. Did you get some new ideas?
“What can you do, to get more out of your 10-hour days?” This is a question I’m working with one of my big New York City clients to answer. Here are 2 things to bring with you, everywhere, to show you respect your time.
One thing that can make life easier is when you know a “little bit more” about how your technology can help you through the day. Want to make your best work even better? Learn one or two things today! Here’s how…
If there are three things to do to achieve more, when would you want to know? This podcast tells you how to experience more success…and, I share my favorite website for learning something new!
Your best is getting better, ’cause you’re getting more done. If it is time to move toward your goals and get those projects done, this podcast gives you one of the secrets to more productive days: Change the verbs!
When it comes time to make RADICAL improvement – in your work AND personal life – you need to be able to ask for what you want. Here are three things you can do, to get more of what you’d like to experience.
I don’t know how to say this, except to just write it here: “There isn’t enough time.” Unfortunately, we all have more to do than we can get done; and, because of that we have to prioritize. Listen in to hear how important it is. Thank you for listening. (Oh, and do visit www.storycorps.org)
When is the right time to start? If you’re working on a project, a goal or some personal/professional development outcome, I say Start Now. Take an action; here are two tactics to use to get ahead…starting now!
Have you ever said, “I wish I had more time?” If so, this podcast is for you. In just 15 minutes, you CAN move the mission forward. Here are two reasons why thinking in 15-minute increments is critical to your success.
Working with colleagues, clients and vendors means you’re going to work with people who are different than you. ONE way that people work (and think) is by talking. Here’s what to do, if you figure things out by discussing them.
Do you know when you’re the most productive? How about setting up for a productive day? Those questions and more are answered in less than 7 minutes in this week’s podcast!
If it were possible to think better, to get more done during the day, when would you want to know? Well, here you go! In this podcast I share with you the secrets to thinking better and increasing your productivity 10-25% during the day.
Time is often looked at as the problem. As you go about improving your productivity, focus on three important question words: who, what, and when.
Tomorrow is coming…quickly. Now, how do you step in to that new day? Here are three ways the future changes; and, three things you can do about it. How can you make your future better?
When it’s time to make your best even better, start right where you are. Right here, right now, make a list of attributes of what “Better” means to you. Wanna take this to a next level? Tell a mentor, and ask them to help you get there!
What are the questions you ask, to see if you’ve achieved work/life balance? When it comes to making your best better, it’s important to start with the basics.
When it comes to making your best even better, there are two things to advertise that go a long way in getting you there…faster, and with fewer resources. Let people around you know where you need to be, and start collecting the information you need to get there.
When it comes to making your best better, you’re probably wondering where you start improving? Start with the areas that you’re already interested in, already good at, and grow from there. Here are two reasons to get better…at what you’re already good at!
Ever felt the need to change the way you’re doing things? Here’s an idea, just start doing a little part of what you’d like to be doing… I know it’s a small start, but sometimes that’s all it takes to get going!
If there were “secrets” that the most productive people knew about getting things done, and enjoying a positive Work/Life balance…when would YOU want to know? In less than 6 minutes, here are a couple of the keys to a more productive morning.
What’s the perspective you hold when it comes to setting a new direction or thinking of new goals? Here are the THREE questions to ask yourself when it comes to thinking bigger.
How you manage your attention says a lot about what you get done. If you want to get MORE of the right things done next week, watch how you communicate. There are three ways we all “talk” to each other. Here you go!
Lift yourself from where you are now to where you want to be. One major part of this is asking yourself the right questions. Listen in to learn about the questions…and the answers.
It isn’t something you just do once any more. Now a days, we’re always graduating. And, there are four things that will make it easier for you to grow into that next level of you: How you set up your ecosystem; what you decide to focus on; when you have energy during the day to do your most important work; and how you view that all-too-limited resource: time.
When it comes to creating new habits, it helps to start small; and, that’s what the five-day experiment is all about! By looking at two sides of the change equation – identifying by the WHAT and the HOW – you’ll be able to practice action action over the next 5 days, and perhaps even find something new that will help put that new routine on cruise control.
It’s a series of activities over time that get us from where we are, to where we want to be. As you move forward in making your best a little bit better, recognize how you’re engaging in three things that come together to influence your focus and your action: Mimicry (who can you copy?), Activity (what can you do this week or today?), and Consistency (where can you establish new routines for success?).
It’s easy to ask yourself the questions you are comfortable hearing. How about new questions? Make a deal with a coach or a mentor or a friend. Show them what you’re working on (your projects list and calendar) and what you’re doing (your current task list) and ask them to ask you questions that make you focus on the MITs – the Most Important Things.
It’s gonna happen: Failure. Or, what seems like failure. A couple of things here: (1) not achieving a goal may not ALWAYS mean you failed, and (2) there are more effective ways to get up and move forward. Chapter 4 of Your Best Just Got Better is all about the process of focusing your way to success. Listen in for two ideas on how to get going again.
Practice does not necessarily make perfect. And, before you physically start a new habit or routine, there is just 15 minutes of thinking that you need to do over a week to enhance that habit-to-be, and get the most from the effort it is going to take to make a change. 15 minutes this week; that’s less than 1% of one day. Take the time, start today.
It’s true, if you want to get something done, give it to a busy person. But, if YOU’RE that busy person, how do you know that what you’re doing is the most important thing? Here are some ideas on how you can build your vision, and achieve your dreams.
Have you ever felt like you were “spread too thin?” Is it true that you have too much to do? It is time now to Focus on Fewer. That’s right, this is the podcast where I encourage you to think big and deep about some of your MITs – those Most Important Things. By taking a look at ALL you have to do, you’ll be able to figure out how to give your ALL to what you decide to do.
Your Most Important Things are the roles and goals – the nouns of your work and life – that you’ve committed to. And, in reading this book, Your Best Just Got Better, you’re going to take initiative to improve on several of those at once. Here are some ideas you can use right away to keep the momentum going.
Ever wonder how you can do more…with less? Well, one trick I have come up with is to notice more of the details. When I see what’s going on, hear what people are saying, and trust my instinct (my gut…) about the smallest of things, it usually winds up saving me time, money and…from time to time…a headache. Listen in, I’ll share some techniques you can use today!
You’ve got it with you “almost” 24/7. Many people I meet with look at it last thing before they go to sleep, and first thing when they wake up. But, what’s it for…really? There are three kinds of conversations we have during a day; and, I think the smartphone as it exists today is great for one (ok, maybe two) of those kinds of conversations. What do you think? Should we try and do it all with the smartphone?
In this episode, you learn three ideas that go in to making your best better. There’s more to achievement than just setting a goal. Here I share why Chapter 1 is the starting gate to the whole book.
If you want to go far, AND fast, go together. Knowing what you’re asking for is Key #1 to making your best better. Key #2? That’s what I talk about in this podcast. You’ll find a secret to goal setting, as well as an idea on how to ask for support from your already powerful “social network.”
It’s true, I think, that “most” people can still bring to mind the name of a teacher, or coach, or neighbor, or friend who – at some point along the way – acted as a true mentor. Did you have one come to mind? Have you spoken to or written to them lately? Here are some ideas on how you can build, and build up, your social network.
We all have those same 24 hours in a day. If you want to get more of the right things done, you’ll need to optimize the minutes you have to move your own mission forward. Executives, entrepreneurs, volunteers, parents … and kids! … here are three ways you can NOT waste time and be more productive every day.
The great part about mentoring is that you are working with people who are willing to see you get great and get big. Now to get moving forward, moving faster, and moving further, we need to move together. Listen in to learn three things relative to finding, working with, sustaining, and eventually moving on from a mentor.
When you think about getting going for the new year, STOP setting goals and START setting deadlines. Here, I share a few ideas on how you can get MORE time to work on those Most Important Things.
If you’re ready to initiate a movement toward change – if you’re going to Work Smarter, Think Bigger and Make More – you’ll want to think about the people you’re spending the most time with. Change your Social Network (no, not your Social Media network…that’s another story) and you MAY change what you experience!
It’s the beginning of a new year. Some people have asked me, “Is it good to set new goals at the beginning of a new year?” My response is that at this point, during the month of January, more people around you will accept the fact that you’re thinking of making some changes. Just remember the most important thing to setting – and achieving – goals: Pacing. You’ve got to sustain focus on the change.
In order to do the Great Work (that’s what Michael Bungay Stanier calls it), you need to have “room to work.” Making room for something new might require getting rid of something old! Listen in to a few ideas I have about making it possible to think bigger AND get more of the important things done!
You know, there is more that affects your performance and productivity than what’s getting in the way of your performance and productivity. Listen in, and you’ll get an idea or two about how to work smarter and think bigger.
If you’re looking toward getting some new experiences, learn some new things, and expand into new areas of focus and responsibility, it’s time to get a new mentor. As you listen to this week’s podcast, think about the people that come to mind. If possible, reach out to one or two of them over the next month. If you can, get an extra conversation in with them in the near future, and let them know you’re looking for advice and ideas
The “Return On Investment” for higher productivity is high. Getting more things done during a day is not JUST about staying busy. There are a few things efficiency brings, one being increased self-efficacy. (Listen to the podcast for the other two!) Efficacious thoughts lead us to higher levels of engagement and contribution. Listen in, and consider the benefits to YOU of improving your productivity.
There are people out there who are willing to help us. What about the ones that we can support? Think about how you can work together…together. It may be possible to get more done, think bigger, and contribute more as you work together.
There are four things to do more of; that is, if you want to be better organized and get more of the right things done, you need to: Identify. Define. Experiment. Assess. As you head in to another day or week of “being productive,” remember that sometimes your workflow habits of old may be getting in your way. Find one thing to change, and practice with it this week!
How are your morning habits and routines impacting your own productivity? Start a 5-day experiment, where you track WHAT you do between the time you wake up and about 10am. Do this for a week, and you’ll surely find some things you can STOP doing. That will give you the time you need, to do what you want!
As you sit down and think about the next 6-12 months, and then the next 3-5 years, you’re really considering two types of goals. Direction based goals are about the process, about what’s happening along the way. Destination based goals, those are all about the product, what you’ll have when you get there. Balance these two types of goals and you’ll achieve more…and it will be more interesting when you get there!
You have studied productivity, right? You know “what” to do, to have a high performance day; but, do you know WHY productivity is important to you? I didn’t know exactly what it was, only that I was always interested in getting a “little better.” Then, I understood the significance of labeling my Productivity Profile. Think about why you want to be more productive; make it easy by looking at what’s around you.
Think about the discussions you’re involved in every day. You’re always moving between: Transactions, Plenary Conversations and Strategic Thinking Sessions. Move between these three, and identify what you can do, who you can meet and when you can achieve on some of your goals that will show you making your best…even better
Everyone will ultimately have their own reason for getting more productive. What’s yours? To begin with, take some time to stop and write down your own definition of the word. You’ll get the opportunity to think a bit, craft some ideas, and more importantly create some kind of a filter for what you put attention on tomorrow.
Do you know how long it takes to make something in to a habit? One week? 21 days? 35 days? Maybe a lifetime? Well, here I want to talk about something very important. I want to know whether or not I should make something a habit in the first place! The only way I know of to do that is to experiment with something; try it out, every day, once a day, for 5 (or so) days.
What are you anticipating coming toward you – projects, events or situations – that you’re going to improve toward? When it comes to pacing, it’s important to know there are 3 very different approaches you take toward personal improvement. 1. What you think about. 2. The projects you take on. 3. Taking specific actions on those outcomes.
The movement of improvement requires action, attention and review. When you think about your role in making your best better, you need to know what an ideal, productive day would look, sound and feel like. Oh, and it helps to know when you’re at your best, too! Take time, after you listen to this podcast, to write about one YOUR own Ideal Days.
There are three things that directly influence your productivity, and ultimately your success: Homeostasis, Context, Network. First, we tend to do what we’ve always done. It’s normal! Second, we change what we do, based on where we’re working. Third, the people we spend time with will influence what we think about, work on and do…it’s true!
In order to make more (more of whatever you’d like to make!) you’re going to have to think about how you think. Self-efficacy is the ability to “believe” you can do what it is you want to do. What can you look back on? What can you use as a reference point? What can you move toward? Address the way you think, and you’ll change the way you work.
With “just” 96 fifteen-minute blocks of time during each day, the more important things to manage are your attention and your actions. By identifying what needs to be done during the day, you can most effectively manage what gets done in the time you have.
One thing I know about making my best better is that in order to get “there” from where I am “here” I’m going to have to learn something new. And, I’m experienced enough to know that learning and practicing something new (aka: making a change) is perhaps one of the hardest things to do. Here’s how to get started: Study your practices.
Starting with the moment you wake up in the morning, you’re on a path to productivity. However, did you know there are some things you can do today, and early tomorrow morning, that increase the likelihood that tomorrow will be a better day? Here are the ideas you need, to make your best…better!
I’m sure “you have a lot of work” to do. And, I’m sure it’s challenging…it’s yours! However, you want to know the MOST difficult thing you do during the day? Deciding what to do! Think about it: Email, Voicemail, Meeting Invitations, Reports and Presentations. You must DEFINE your work, before you can do it!
In 1,440 minutes (24 hours), how many times to you get distracted? How about 600 minutes, that’s a good 10-hour day. Say you get to the office, or it’s a travel day, or you’re attending an off-site meeting. During that time, you NEED these tips to help you stay focused on the work you need to do.
Sometimes we get so busy just trying to keep up that we forget our “why.” Listen in on some strategic tips to help you become more comfortable focusing on your priorities while getting the important work done. During this short episode, you’ll have time and get the tools to think about your MITs (Most Important Things).
There’s a saying in computer programming: GIGO – Garbage In, Garbage Out. However, in the human psyche, all to often it’s Garbage In, Garbage Stays! It’s up to you to get some new information in. Doing so, you’ll have new ideas, find new answers and change your perspective.
We do what we do…the way we do it. Over months (or years) in our same professional position, we create patterns of productivity and time management that (of course) used to work for us. Are they still working? One way to find out. Record yourself…at work!
When you think things “should” be different, it’s time to to make changes. However, you have probably already found that knowing what to do and “doing” what you know you need don’t always come together at the same time. Here’s how you can put action to intention.
If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together! I heard that while working once at the G.E. Crotonville learning campus many years ago. Here are some ideas you can use to build – and build up – your own professional learning and development team.
Sustained success requires we “celebrate completion” somewhat regularly. Instead of waiting until month-end, pause for a few moments at the end of each day to acknowledge accomplishment. For an added bonus, identify someone on your team who has made progress and let them know you noticed!
Everyone works a little bit differently. (You probably know “morning people” as the ones who are ready to go, go go!) There are three main working styles to know about: Kinesthetic, Visual and Auditory. Here are some tips you can use.