(That's a view from the lounge chair in my front yard, where I'm going to be sitting later this afternoon watching the sun go down...)
For today - no matter what day you're reading this - how are you planning to work smarter? Or, where are planning to think bigger? These are the topics dominating my writing, thinking and speaking as I'm writing the final three chapters of the book (due to the publisher on August 22nd!)
Working Smarter: Watch you working. Really. The easiest way I know of to work smarter is to bring a very clear awareness to not just WHAT I am doing doing during the day, but how I'm doing it. I can work faster. I can work better. I can get more of the right things done...if I study my own methods.
For example, I've turned to writing blog posts and article drafts on my iPad. I travel "just about everywhere" with it, and even got the extra Bluetooth wireless keyboard. I find that I stay "in it" longer when I'm working off the iPad. That is, I stay focused and don't leave the screen to go to some other website or document. (Was this an accident or by design: It just takes a long time to leave the window I'm in, go to the home screen, and open up another window, wait for a page to load, and then surf on over to it. Instead, I stay here...writing.)
Thinking Bigger: I challenge you (just as I do when I'm working with you in your office, or with your team in the boardroom) to follow thought trails more...for longer periods of time. Two ways I know of to do this (and, I'm old-school, still advocating pen and paper; why? Easy, it takes longer, and slows you down a little bit. A way to work faster? Slow down more...)
1. Pen, Paper, Timer...GO! Set a timer for 12 minutes, and write. Anything. Everything. Twice (if it comes to mind). There are people I've worked for who have said, "Jason, I don't even have time to think." When I ask them to take 12 minutes and do just that, the results are amazing (and, oftentimes, surprising).
2. Pen, Paper, Timer, ONE project...GO! Ok, this one's cool. This time, you'll do the same process with a wildly different result. On the top of this page, write the name or code-name for one project/event/trip you're working on. THEN, set the timer for 12 minutes and write as much as you possibly can ABOUT THAT PROJECT! (Sorry for yelling.)
Either way, think about this: You could probably write down one thought every 10 seconds, right? So, in 12 minutes you could potentially capture ... yes, that's right 70 or more things!
By the way, after write those 70 things, pick a few to work on today. You just may find you move some things, along the way, further...faster!
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