Spicing up your meetings isn't complicated. Here's an idea you "knead." What does having a meeting and having a pizza have in common? Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos calls it the “two pizza rule.” And it's simple: Bezos says that the more people you pack into the meeting, the less productive the meeting will likely be. The [...]
Already broken your New Year's resolutions? What if I told you that there are three small things you can do to win big at resolutions. Imagine for a moment what your life would be like if you had achieved all your New Year’s Resolutions. I don’t know about you guys but if I had, I would [...]
Every accomplishment starts with a decision, in fact, living is the constant process of deciding what to do. Decision making and productivity go hand-in-hand. Have you ever noticed when you go out to eat with your friends or family that often the hardest part is simply deciding where to go--and when you get there, deciding [...]
Streamlining communication can definitely increase your personal productivity. In the NBC Sitcom “The Office” at one point one of the characters, Kevin Malone, decides to increase his productivity. Much to the chagrin of his coworkers he does this by eliminating what he deems to be unnecessary words. As he says, “Why waste time say lot [...]
If it’s been a while since you’ve updated your task list or appointment calendar, it may be time for a productivity renovation. Have you ever renovated your home or at least watched one of the many TV series about renovating? Often we'll launch these massive renovations when we find that our homes have been damaged [...]
Behaviors are the foundation of processes--and at the foundation of behaviors are habits. Habits consist of three elements. In fact, these three elements govern any habit. Let’s start at the beginning... What is a habit? It’s a shortcut for the brain, habits makes things more efficient. How do habits work? Charles Duhig breaks down [...]
By not taking a few minutes for daily planning you may be tripping yourself on the way to winning the day. Even if you’re working harder than anyone you know—but not working on the most important, high-leverage tasks—you may not be as productive as someone who works half as much as you! Here’s how to [...]
Have you ever met those people who just seem to naturally productive? They seem to always be busy achieving amazing things. If you’re anything like me, you may have felt a little envious toward these people who seem to effortlessly float from one accomplishment to another. I’ll let you in on a little secret I’ve [...]
Once, an old farmer was known around town for being exceptionally good at making sure the furrows in his field were absolutely straight. One day, a young man asked the farmer to tell him his secret. The old farmer quietly explained that, while plowing each row, he picked some sort of object, like a tree, [...]
Deadlines can help you increase your overall productivity. In the comic series “Calvin and Hobbes” by Bill Watterson, Calvin once says “You can’t just turn on creativity like a faucet, you have to be in the right mood.” When asked what this magic mood is that facilitates creativity he replies “last minute panic!” Now to [...]
Some of the most popular shows on TV are cooking shows. Have you ever watched a real chef prepare a meal? A big part of a chef’s success is because they’re extremely organized. In the kitchen—and even out of the kitchen—chefs have a place for everything. In fact, they’re trained to organize their work space [...]
What happens when everyday, every employee’s behavior, attitude, and practices bring you closer to your strategic objectives? Then you have a “Process Culture.” Here are the 5 ways you can develop your Process Culture. What's a Process Culture? If you’ve ever had a Big Mac at McDonald's, you’ve probably noticed it tastes the same whether [...]
