Do the things you hate
We hear a lot about following your passion. Doing what you love. And why would you do anything else if you want a satisfying and successful life? At the career-level this is good advice. But…
GTD
Do the hardest thing first
What's the first thing you do when you sit down at your desk in the morning? If you are like most people, it's fire up your email and get to work on the priorities it…
Most of your decisions are wrong
We each make hundreds of decisions everyday. Some decisions are complex and based on detailed research, others are gut-feel, intuitive selections. Some are important with deep ramifications, while others are of little consequence. Most of…
Most of what you do is pointless
In 1906, Italian sociologist and economist Vilfredo Pareto discovered that 80% of Italy’s land was owned by 20% of its population. This Power Law, which later came to bear his name, is now a common…
The role of brute force in project management
Sometimes the only way to get the lid off a jam jar is through brute force. Sure, you can hold it under hot water or use a cloth to get better purchase, but ultimately what…
The power of No
The only way to grow a business, to reach a goal or to make something important happen is to say 'Yes'. 'Yes' is one of the most powerful, affirming words in our vocabulary. Everything that…
Meet your own standards
One of the side-effects of multitasking, is that we end up with too many tasks. We take on more than we can deliver to a high standard. Instead we skim across the top of each…
Do performance incentives really work?
In his excellent book, Drive, Daniel Pink suggests that performance rewards do not work for creative activities. Our motivation for tasks we find intrinsically enjoyable is actually decreased by the presence of a reward for…
Be a difference-maker
Although Stephen Colbert talks about it tongue-in-cheek, far too few people are difference-makers. It’s not about working hard, being smart or good at your job – lots of people are those. It’s about moving the…
Be passionate, not emotional
I spoke yesterday with a rather aggressive attorney about a fairly routine matter. During the course of the conversation he became heated as he struggled to make his point, got flustered and ended in slamming…