PRODUCTIVITY: Always have a email account to spare?

Friday, January 14, 2011

No secret I use a lot of email accounts. For a purpose. For a community. For relatives. For friends. For projects.

Interesting that some ISPs (i.e., Saint Peter’s University Hospital and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital) offer free wifi.

Unfortunately, like most things you get for “free”, they both have their own “unique” opportunities.

Not everyone has a VWBBIE (i.e., a Verizon Wireless Broad Band Service for 70$/month) or an IPAD with the AT&T 3G turned on!

SPUH doesn’t permit email. I chatted with a fellow nerd from a past employment and he had no idea why or even who “decreed” this. But the diktat couldn’t be overturned.

Now clearly with web access, you can use the web front end that most email providers have. But that’s not a very efficient or effective imho. Your really want a unified mailbox for the different account with the capability to send from the correct account.

GMAIL to the rescue.

It was trivial to set this up so that “emergency” could read and write in the “important” accounts.

Now when I need it, I have it.

Kudos to GMAIL.

/44

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PRODUCTIVITY: Book price war

Friday, October 16, 2009

http://www.resourceshelf.com/2009/10/16/price-war-breaks-out-between-amazon-and-wal-mart-over-10-new-books/

Price War Breaks Out Between Amazon and Wal-Mart over 10 New Books

*** begin quote ***

In this time of eBook, eBooks and more eBooks we think it’s worth noting that a price war has broken out over 10 pre-order hard cover titles. We wonder if it more books will be added to the list, the price keeps getting reduced, and if other online book providers will join in.

It began yesterday when Wal-Mart announced that they were reducing the price of ten titles to $10 for books purchased on Walmart.com. Then, Amazon.com came back by lowering the price for those same titles to $9. This morning (Friday), Wal-Mart returned the volley and is now selling the books for $9.

*** end quote ***

Ain’t capitalism wonderful!

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PRODUCTIVITY: Copyrights hinder wisdom

Thursday, September 10, 2009

http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2009/10/death-of-a-president200910?printable=true

A Clash of Camelots

Within months of J.F.K.’s death, the president’s widow asked William Manchester to write the authorized account of the assassination. He felt he couldn’t refuse her. Two years later, nearly broken by the task, Manchester found himself fighting a bitter, headline-making battle with Jackie and Bobby Kennedy over the finished book. The author chronicles the toll Manchester’s 1967 best-seller, The Death of a President, exacted—physically, emotionally, and financially—before it all but disappeared.

By Sam Kashner

October 2009

*** begin quote ***

By virtue of their original agreement with Harper & Row, the Kennedys continue to control the fate of The Death of a President. Even now, after William Manchester’s original manuscript has come home to Wesleyan, where it is held under a kind of house arrest—heavily censored, and subject to extremely restricted use—the Kennedy family has allowed the book to go out of print, according to John Manchester. Sitting in the bar at the Four Seasons Hotel in sight of Boston Common, where his father had first met Kennedy, when both men were newly home from the war, he says, “The Death of a President helped build that library, but if you go there today, there’s no mention of it or him anywhere. He was written out of their history.”

*** end quote ***

Interesting. Copyright law was intended to allow ideas to spread. Shouldn’t books that are “out of print” go into the public domain? With vendors like Lulu Print On Demand, there should NEVER be a reason for books to go “out of print”!

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PRODUCTIVITY: feet to shoot

Sunday, August 2, 2009

http://slashdot.org/story/09/07/30/0117222/EMI-Only-Selling-CDs-To-Mega-Chains-From-Now-On?from=rss

EMI Only Selling CDs To Mega-Chains From Now On

from Slashdot by samzenpus

*** begin quote ***

farrellj writes “According to Zero Paid, record company EMI has been notifying small music stores that they will no longer be able to buy EMI CDs from EMI, and will have to buy product from Mega-Chains like Walmart. Independent Record store customers are some of the most loyal music buyers around. You are not going to find the back catalog, what used to be the staple of the music business, at your local Walmart. One wonders when the Music Business is going to run out of feet to shoot?”

*** end quote ***

I like clever formulations.

“… when the Music Business is going to run out of feet to shoot?”

That seems so descriptive of some of my best disasters.

Argh!

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PRODUCTIVITY: WOW, I have at least one FAN!

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

http://onebeverage.net/2009/05/06/lagniappe-oprah-and-the-big-turkey  

My head just got two sizes bigger.

I’m speechless and that doesn’t happen very often.

How can I repay someone who has “nominated” me to Oprah?

I’m not an Oprah fan. Not enough hours in the day to watch lots of TV. Even in “retirement”! (?)

But, you have to admire someone like Oprah who puts together a media empire.

No doubt, if some one put my book on Oprah, then I’d be on the metaphorical “trail” of a second career. Watch out James Patterson. (Also a Jasper!)

If Oprah does call, then I’m going to buy a lottery ticket!

Thanks, Lane.

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PRODUCTIVITY: Differentiating between REAL and imaginary

Thursday, April 30, 2009

http://c4ss.org/content/388

The Law Isn’t Worth the Paper It’s Written On
Posted by Kevin Carson on Apr 18, 2009 in Commentary • 2 comments

*** begin quote ***

As Barney Fife said, “Rule Number One: Obey all the rules!” Here in Arkansas, gas pumps bear signs with the stern visage of a state trooper warning potential scofflaws that driving off without paying for gas will cause their drivers’ licenses to be revoked. The assumption, apparently, is that someone who will steal gas without any moral qualm or fear of getting caught, will nevertheless be afraid to drive without a license.

*** end quote ***

Make all the laws you want.

It’s really a misnomer to call what legislators produce as “laws”. Now the “Law” of Gravity; that’s a real LAW! You can’t break it in most human frames of reference.

We need a new meme that differentiates between: LAWS like gravity and laws like come form Congress.

And, let’s not even get started on “regulations”, which I call diktats.

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PRODUCTIVITY: DELL has a SMB presentation on FACEBOOK

Monday, February 23, 2009

Click to access Learn_To_Listen_SMB.pdf

http://yourblog.dell.com/SMB_Facebook/pdf/Join_The_Conversation_SMB.pdf

http://yourblog.dell.com/SMB_Facebook/pdf/Start_A_Blog_SMB.pdf

http://yourblog.dell.com/SMB_Facebook/pdf/Tap_into_Twitter_SMB.pdf

http://yourblog.dell.com/SMB_Facebook/pdf/Crowdsource_Your_Next_Big_Idea_SMB.pdf

http://yourblog.dell.com/SMB_Facebook/pdf/Harness_The_Power_of_Facebook_SMB.pdf

http://yourblog.dell.com/SMB_Facebook/pdf/Share_Your_Photos_And_Videos_Online_SMB.pdf

http://yourblog.dell.com/SMB_Facebook/pdf/Measure_Your_Online_Success_SMB.pdf

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PRODUCTIVITY: Keep a “day book”. Start now!

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

*** begin quote ***

As a member of the class of ‘XX, my recollections may be as unreliable as a deposition from Rod Blagojevich, but this is my recollection.

*** and ***

Most of this I am fairly confident I have right as to the essence.

Where I am fuzzy is how it unraveled. My recollection is that part of the deal with

*** and ***

Where I am most uncertain is how the deal unraveled.

*** and ***

What I do recall is that some of us were very suspicious/cynical that shortly afterwards

*** and ***

Now that I have written this all down, I am beginning to suspect my memory, because in 1970 when this would have unraveled

*** and ***

Anyway, that’s my story, open to revisions of those with clearer memories.

*** end quote ***

Interesting the human mind.
So vivid, yet so frail. Perhaps social networking and blogging will allow people to remember better.
Clearly, I’d urge all young people to start a diary and keep a “day book” to document their progress thru life day by day. Then when they reach the end of life’s road, they wouldn’t be struggling to remember.
I can only imagine all the good ideas, acquaintances, and stuff that are lost forever by a failure to remember.
All very sad!
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PRODUCTIVITY: Play the Point, Not the Score

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

http://www.feld.com/wp/archives/2009/02/play-the-point-not-the-score.html

Play the Point, Not the Score

*** begin quote ***

{Extraneous Deleted}

Brad Gilbert – a great tennis player (and coach) in his own right – was one of the announcers for the finals. He annoyed me at first with his whispery affect until I realized that he was courtside. He completed redeemed himself when he uttered the line of the tournament: “Nadal is so incredible because he plays the point, not the score.”

Ponder that – Play the point, not the score.

{Extraneous Deleted}

This is such a powerful metaphor for business (and life). Play the point, not the score. Down 4-1? Doesn’t matter – play the point. Just had someone quit on you. Doesn’t matter, play the point. Fell short of plan for the month of January – doesn’t matter – play the point. Just had a big deal go off the rails? Doesn’t matter – play the point.

When you are in the game, play the point. Play every point. Regardless of the score.

*** end quote ***

Seems so simple. But, then most great ideas are.

The problem is that we are always in some game or another.

When does one pull out of the game and take stock. Assess where you are in life.

Like the famous Drew Carey quip … in his series Whose Line Is It … “and, the points don’t matter”

Hmmm?

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PRODUCTIVITY: Why don’t businesses use blogs … …

Thursday, January 15, 2009

… … with rss for knowledge worker’s. I’ve tried this several times. But, never could get management or leadership interested. Most want a big central system tied into “human resources” and annual performance appraisal “systems”. Unfortunately, it’s about productivity; not “gotchas”. Might be just my impressions, but the honchos were worried about bad press. As opposed to getting all their “human resources” in alignment. With the appropriate categories and tags, anyone in the Enterprise could tap into status information.

Might be interesting to work that idea up for some one?

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PRODUCTIVITY: Free ebook on “less”

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

http://thepowerofless.com/2008/12/free-ebook-thriving-on-less-simplifying-in-a-tough-economy/

Free Ebook: Thriving on Less – Simplifying in a Tough Economy

*** begin quote ***

“In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” – Albert Einstein

A FREE download is available now: Leo Babauta has written a companion to The Power of Less — a free ebook called “THRIVING ON LESS: Simplifying in a Tough Economy“.

Thriving on Less: Simplifying in a Tough Economy (pdf format)

Feel free to share it on your blog, via email, on forums, in social media, or however you like! (Click on the “Tell-a-friend” button below to easily share with friends.)

*** end quote ***

Always appreciate free wisdom.
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PRODUCTIVITY: Leaders empower their people

Thursday, December 18, 2008

http://execunet.blogspot.com/2008/12/best-email-of-day-award.html  

Tuesday, December 09, 2008
The Best Email of the Day Award

*** begin quote ***

…Goes to Peter Clayton, producer/host of Total Picture Radio. It needs no further commentary from me as it eloquently speaks for itself. Good on ‘ya Peter.

“Capital goes where it’s welcome and stays where it’s well treated.” Walter B. Wriston

Dear Dave,

When “The Citi Never Sleeps” ad campaign was first launched in 1978, Walter Wriston was running the place, and the motto had real meaning. Wriston was highly regarded, as was the institution he lead. Citibank / Citicorp was a cherished brand by its employees and a respected competitor in the financial services industry. Citibank had a unique, authentic, brand identity

*** and ***

According to David, “82% of shareholder value is intangible.” According to John, one-third of all shareholder value is attributed to “brand.
“So here’s an idea I’d like your help with: If we could find 24,000 Citibank employees willing to donate $10 each into a fund to “keep the trains running,” it might give the employees of this beleaguered institution something to be proud of, and smile about. I bet through Twitter, LinkedIn, Xing, and Facebook we could mobilize enough Citibankers to take up the cause. Next year, the Holiday Trains at Citigroup Center exhibit could be “In memory of Walter B. Wriston.” The fund could be set-up as an old-fashioned “Christmas Savings Account.”
*** end quote ***

Dave always finds the great challenging ideas. Worth every nickel of my free RSS subscription.
It is clear that the current crop of “leaders” isn’t worth the power to blow them over. Poof! They’re gone. Gone; absconding with the salary, bonus, options, perks, and benefits. (I laffed at the Ford guy taking a $1/year! If the Congress MYOBed and Ford had to do Chapter 11, he could wave “bye” to his stock and options.)
It’s sad that “leaders” are so dishonest.
The time of large corporations is so OVER!
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PRODUCTIVITY: Doing differently

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

http://personalbrandingblog.wordpress.com/2008/12/05/what-would-you-differently-if-you-were-in-college-again/

What Would You Differently if You Were in College Again?

December 5, 2008 at 12:24 pm | In Career Development, Personal Branding, Success Strategies, gen-y |

*** begin quote ***

From time to time, I get asked certain questions that I think could benefit a larger audience. Many of my blog readers are still in college right now, so I figured today would be the perfect day to go through two questions, so you can think about them this weekend. If you, like me, are a college graduate, you might want to take this time to reminisce, laugh or give suggestions in this posts comment section that can benefit us.

Question: “Thinking back when you were in college what would you have done differently with the knowledge that you now have?”

The context of this question relates to career development, branding and getting a job upon college graduation. It has nothing to do with partying really hard, hooking up with girls/guys and alcohol abuse (not that we have done any of that ;) ). This is a tricky question because social media wasn’t important or heavily used back then. I didn’t know about it and I bet you didn’t as well (I graduated Bentley University in 2006). I learned about social media in late 2006.

*** end quote ***

That’s easy!

I’d have started collecting McKay66’s on everybody I ever met. I’ve lost so many potential contacts that I can’t even envision them all.

Argh!

But I did manage to hang onto a vunderbar woman who tolerates my stupidity!

Maybe less drinking and more saving, but it was SOOOO long ago. Who remembers! LOL, like it was yesterday.

Rage at the dying of the light!

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PRODUCTIVITY: Getting refocused?

Saturday, November 29, 2008

http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/stop-worrying/

What Do We Worry About?

*** begin quote ***

When it comes to worry, studies have shown the following statistics:

40% never happens – so in essence we are wasting our time by worrying.

30% of what we worry about has already happened. Learn to “let go” and forgive yourself and others. You cannot change the past – no one can. Accept it for what it is and go on.

12% are needless worries, such as what someone else thinks about us.

10% are petty and unimportant such as we worry about what’s for dinner, we worry about being late, we worry about what to wear.

8% of what we worry about actually happens. Of this percentage…

4% of our worries that happen are beyond our control. We cannot change the outcome. These worries may include our health, the death of a loved one or an impending natural disaster. Often times the reality of these events are more bearable than the worry.

4% of what we worry about we have some if not all control over the results. Basically I think this is the consequences of our actions or inaction on the problems and challenges we face.

Given these statistics, you may find it worthwhile asking the following questions:

* How many times do we work ourselves into frenzy over a situation that is beyond our control?

* Why do we allow worry to stress us out so much that we become ill?

* Why do we waste our mental energy with worry?

*** end quote ***

I remember reading this. I have no idea if the stats are right. But, I’m internalizing it as I get refocused. Argh!

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PRODUCTIVITY: Forcing change

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

I write a weekly ezine of news for my fellow Jaspers. In an effort to reduce the amount of time spent on it, I’ve been morphing to different strategies, tactics, processes, programs, and procedures. In an ill-measured trek, I’ve chopped it from a horrendous weekly effort of tens of hours to a hard to measure 90 minutes. One of the big strategy changes was, to instead of collecting text files on my notebook, I created a blog. Each day, when finding something, I’d put an entry on the blog. Slightly less time spent doing that. And, ensuring that I had the entire week’s collections was trivial. All I had to do was cut ‘n’ paste from the blog to the webpage. In changing platforms from LUGGABLE (a dell xps) to MCBA (Mac Book Air), I have now for the first week transitioned completely onto MCBA. Where I used to use Microsoft Word and Filezilla, I now use IWORKPAGES, NVU, and FILEZILLA on MCBA. It’s apparent to me now that I can just use NVU for everything. Next week will be even easier.

Just thought I’d share a lesson learned, just forcing yourself to a better place is often not as bad as it seems.

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PRODUCTIVITY: Disney’s $100,000 Salt + Pepper Shaker

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

http://darmano.typepad.com/logic_emotion/2008/07/disneys-1000000.html

Disney’s $100,000 Salt + Pepper Shaker

*** begin quote ***

The story is simple. At 12 years old, a young Randy Pausch was exploring Disney World with his family and he and his sister decided they wanted to show their parents their appreciation for the trip. So they did what any other grateful children would do—they pooled their allowance money and headed straight for the Disney gift shop. A few minutes later, they emerged with the perfect gift. A ceramic Disney salt and pepper shaker featuring two bears in a tree holding the salt and pepper (not the ones in the photo above.) Randy and his sister left the store excited to see their parents faces when they opened the gift.

Minutes later, a mini-tragedy struck when Randy accidentally dropped the shaker, breaking it on impact. A nearby adult suggested that they should take it back to the store and they did so hesitantly, not expecting a positive outcome. To their surprise and delight, the Disney employee who had sold them the items apologized for not wrapping them appropriately and gave them a new set, no questions asked.

{Article Continues}

In recent years as a consultant, Randy would often ask Disney executives this question: “If I sent a child into one of your stores with a broken salt and pepper shaker today, would your policies allow your workers to be kind enough to replace it?”

Randy says, “the executives squirm at the question. They know the answer: Probably not.”

*** end quote ***

So we know have a new Leadership meme: “Does your org support 100k salt shakers?”

Hmmm, a very hard question to answer.

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PRODUCTIVITY: “SLUGGING”; how do we do more of it?

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

http://bentoncrane.net/2008/09/19/avego-the-new-slugging/

Avego–The New Slugging
September 19th, 2008

*** begin quote ***

I recently moved to the Washington DC area. I experimented with various different ways of commuting. I tried driving, riding the bus, and taking a train. With some help from the locals, however, I found that slugging is my ideal way to commute.

Slugging is a funny blend of carpooling and hitch-hiking. It came about over 20 years ago as a result of northern Virginia’s HOV-3 lanes. The I-95 freeway has the typical Northbound and Southbound lanes, but unlike most other freeway systems it has a third artery down the middle.

*** end quote ***

Aren’t people smart? And, without a gooferment centralize planner to ‘processize’ the process! How could that ever be?

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PRODUCTIVITY: “Abandon ship” doesn’t mean “linger aound”!

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

http://fseg2.gre.ac.uk/HEED/Email/safety_tips/index.html

*** begin quote ***

evacuation Information that could save your life

The World’s largest study into the 911 evacuation of the World Trade Center has just begun. However, there have been several smaller studies into the WTC evacuation based on printed accounts from WTC evacuees (for example, go to the following pages to find the UK Building Disaster Assessment Group (BDAG) analysis of the evacuation: http://fseg.gre.ac.uk/fire/BDAG_project.html). While these studies have been limited in their scope we have learnt a number of important lessons that could save your life.

Lesson One – Don’t do anything to delay your departure

Lesson Two – Know your way out

Lesson Three – Don’t stop on the way to reassure friends and family

Lesson Four – Ladies, don’t discard your shoes on the stairs

Lesson Five – Know how long it will take to get out

*** end quote ***

When I had a group in WTC, during the first bombing, the supervisor there called me for instructions what to do. My answer was quick: “Send everyone home now! Have them call me when they get home. Go home yourself, and do the same. We’ll figure it out from there. Go now!” And, I hung up on her.

I didn’t check with anyone. Didn’t have to. It was common sense.

I then called my boss to tell him what I did. “Good! At least you’re not one of the stupid ones I have working for me. But, don’t expect a medal. Now get off my phone. You must have work to do!” And, he hung up.

p.s., I got gigged in my annual appraisal for not checking with HR for the correct policy.

Seems easy to me. You can always find another job!

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PRODUCTIVITY: be better at D ‘n’ P

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

http://zenhabits.net/2007/08/
five-great-ways-to-achieve-happiness-through-serving-others/

http://tinyurl.com/35byc6

Five Great Ways to Achieve Happiness Through Serving Others
This guest post was written by Stephen Smith, editor and publisher at Business Development in Context.

*** begin quote ***

4. Keep your promises. You can create an atmosphere of service simply by doing the things that you say you will do. Dependability and punctuality are the hallmarks of the service-oriented individual. When people can trust you it creates happiness all around.

*** end quote ***

Creating trust is a common failure I see in IT all the time. Just today, I was trying to explain why a team’s participation was need in a group effort. All I heard was that the subteam didn’t feel they were getting value out of the effort. No concern over the grou[‘s perception that they were “mia” and not part of the team. I’m not sure if I got thru the self-centered objection. Sigh!

I’m going to be better at D ‘n’ P.

p.s.: oops, almost said “try”!

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PRODUCTIVITY: An envelope for the housekeeper

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

First time I ever saw it. An envelope for the maid. It even had a soft message on the front that went something like: “If you are planning to leave something for the maid and we’re not saying you have to, please use this envelope. Our people are scrupulously honest and any money they find loose in the room will be left there on the table.” What a great idea. Frau and I have decided to make up our own for all future trips.

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PRODUCTIVITY: Losing your email address!

Thursday, August 14, 2008

My favorite Socialist was just forced, due to exasperating availability on his cable system, (No, he didn’t have Comcast!), to switch to another Internet Service Provider. So he has to change his email address.

What folks don’t realize is the you LOSE all the people who have your email address that:

  • you don’t know about (i.e., the recruiter stores your email in the search firm’s database),
  • can’t reach (i.e., the recruiter with your dream job is unknown to you), and
  • are stored in a static form (i.e., your old resume has the old email address on it)!

You can offset the loss by have robust presences on social networking sites where you can be found or “looked up”. Like LinkedIn, Facebook, the much despised Plaxo, or even MySpace. You can somewhat compensate by a free updater like Plaxo or CardScan.

But, bottom line, there is no substitute for your own domain, with a supporting website, and your own email connected to that domain. It’s so cheap there is no excuse. It’s so easy and executive can do it.

No sympathy here!

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PRODUCTIVITY: You need to own your own email!

Saturday, July 26, 2008

http://www.tuaw.com/2008/07/26/
unlucky-1-percent-of-mobileme-email-users-get-some-relief/

http://tinyurl.com/59f66y

Unlucky 1 percent of MobileMe email users may get relief
Posted Jul 26th 2008 9:00AM by TUAW Blogger
Filed under: Bad Apple, .Mac, MobileMe

*** begin quote ***

Apologies are well and good — but considering the MobileMe terms of service, that’s about all you can expect to see, as Apple isn’t liable for lost business or damages due to the outage. If there’s a lesson in this, maybe it’s that mission-critical users should own their own domains and public-facing email addresses, so that they can redirect incoming mail in a crisis. Depending on a single provider for mail (even ones with a reputation for reliability) can bite you.

Written by Michael Rose. Thanks to everyone who sent this in.

*** end quote ***

I’ve ranted and raved about email control. Anyone, who is serious about computer using, needs to “own” this critical entry point into your world.

You need the capability to have a primary and alternate emil address. Buy one and use a free service if money is tight. If your primary goes out, then you need the capability to redirect to the alternative.

Note this means that your domain registrar, website provider, and email provider should NOT be the same entity.

And, you should never allow that all-importnt email address to be controlled by anyone. Companies get sold, go out of business, or just whimsically decide to change their names. You shouldn’t lose your email address because of this.

I made that mistake a long time ago with AT&T as my ISP. Never ever again.

reinke dot cc for me.

(Some day I plan to visit the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, an Australian territory.)

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PRODUCTIVITY: “Zerstreutheit” and the Attention Management Cure

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

http://www.43folders.com/2008/06/13/zerstreutheit-and-attention-management-cure

“Zerstreutheit” and the Attention Management Cure
Merlin Mann | Jun 13 2008

Linda Stone: Is it Time to Retire the Never-Ending List?

Linda Stone – who coined the phrase “continuous partial attention” – makes a thoughtful distinction between managing time and attention, deflating the misconception that making long lists and then overscheduling your day can be a bulwark against distractions, interruptions, and the crippling feeling of being overwhelmed.

*** AND ***

What did surgeons, artists, and CEO’s have in common? Most of them reported that they managed both their time and their attention. In surgery, in the studio, and in the time carved out to think through strategies and issues, these professionals reported shutting down the devices and endless inputs (email, phone, interruptions), at scheduled times, and claiming those moments to focus. In almost every case, these professionals reported experiencing “flow” (a la Csikszentmihalyi) in their work.

*** AND ***

… share this William James quote, which Stone’s post mentions in passing (my emphasis).

Every one knows what attention is. It is the taking possession by the mind, in clear and vivid form, of one out of what seem several simultaneously possible objects or trains of thought. Focalization, concentration, of consciousness are of its essence. It implies withdrawal from some things in order to deal effectively with others, and is a condition which has a real opposite in the confused, dazed, scatterbrained state which in French is called distraction, and Zerstreutheit in German.

*** AND ***

“Zerstreutheit.” I love it when there’s a German word for my problem.

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me2!

It seems that this descibes the modern enterprise with its overbooking meetings, berry email during presentations, and just ‘no time to focus’. I heard someone (maybe Covey?) describe it as “the Important pushed out of the way by the Urgent”.

Quiet time?

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PRODUCTIVITY: Lessons Learned from spinning plates

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

All the productivity gurus urge doing “first things first”. But, not one of them can stuff more hours in the day. If one learns anything from my time trying to keep all the plates spinning, the key lesson is “no!”. Firmly, gently, honestly applied. “No, I have no more … not bananas, but time today”. On the first of each month, I’m going to ruthlessly prune all the task that I have taken on with an eye to eliminating them.

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Posted by reinkefj

PRODUCTIVITY: My ideal for meetings

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Good meeting discipline

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PRODUCTIVITY: Everybody, I guess, needs a mokki.

Sunday, February 24, 2008

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/21/garden/21mokki.html?ex=1204347600&en=a7ebad4fcb301ed6&ei=5070title

NO VISITORS
The author spent a year building a backyard retreat for himself, hiding the nature of the project from his wife.
By PHILIP BESONEN
Published: February 21, 2008

***Begin Quote***

I also had a very particular cottage in mind. I wanted something like the little buildings called mokkis (rhymes with hokey) that I had seen while visiting my relatives in Finland. Mokkis were relatively small and nothing special to look at, but they were invariably off by themselves near lakes or trees, in settings where you could find peace. The feeling of serenity was the most striking thing about them.

***End Quote***

Where’s yours? Where’s mine? Sigh!

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Posted by reinkefj

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