“The quality of coworkers is the single greatest determinant of workplace happiness, and fully engaged participation by everyone is the primary way by which everyone exercises direct power over making their job experience better.” — Yishan Wong
(Read more Hiring Is Number One)
Do you prefer the “60 60 30” or “50 20 50”? The former “solution” is from Internet marketing super hero Eben Pagan and the latter from the “marketing philosopher” Dean Jackson. What am I talking about? These are simple, not always easy, methods of focusing your brain and your time to do the work that really matters – the hard thinking work that you will do anything to avoid, but no one else can do for you.
Manage your day like a series of sprints instead of a marathon and you’ll be much more effective. Set up your “sprints” as manageable one to two hour sessions of intense focus, no interruptions allowed. This is where those numbers come in. Pagan’s version of this entails 50 minutes on with a 10 minute break, twice, then a longer break, 30 minutes, where you might get a light meal or even take a nap, whatever works for you. The Dean Jackson version is similar, and in practice I prefer it. You start with the same 50 minutes, but take a 20 break, then another 50 minute jam session to finish your two hour block.
When you take your breaks, do NOT check email, voicemail, social media, etc. All of that stuff will only plant the seeds of distraction. In fact, I highly recommend that you avoid email until you’ve done at least one of these peak productivity blocks each day. I never check email first thing in the morning, because you can isolate yourself from people, email, and mobile phones, but your own thoughts can be harder to escape.
To paraphrase Dean Jackson “make time to play G.O.L.F. every morning.” Set yourself up for success. Start with a Goal, ideally you’ll have list of your top priorities to choose from. Create an Optimal Environment, a quiet clutter-free office or room helps. Limit Distractions by turning off your phone etc. Trust that in the Fixed Time Frame (two hours or so) that the world won’t end if you don’t reply to emails, phone calls, and people with questions.
The further into the day that you can impose your will the more successful you will become. Am I able to do this every day? No, but I always try, and invariably the days that I succeed are the days when we move the ball down the field.
Notes:
A good friend and former colleague recently asked my opinion about someone we had both worked with years ago. My friend had been contacted by this person about job opportunities. This person had an IQ that could boil water, quick analytical and strategic reflexes, significant executive level experience, and was even a hard worker. The problem is, and there’s really only one way to say this, this person is an @sshole. All business all the time, with no real friends in the company. The overall morale for the team this person led was never great, and one result is that some of the star players left. I asked my friend: “Is having those assets on the team worth the other baggage?” I don’t think it is.
In a painful example of my hiring for talent alone, several years ago I brought in a ringer for the position I had open. Some perceptive HR folks warned me that the candidate might be an issue, but I wouldn’t listen. I got my way and made the hire. For a while, it seemed like a complete and total win. My new hire knew everything we didn’t about this area of the business. Processes were improved, bad contracts renegotiated, and junior staff got to learn from a pro.
Unfortunately, this superstar brought so much drama to the squad that the upside just didn’t matter. Some of the best, most loyal and competent folks I’ve ever had the pleasure to work with were caught in the crossfire. Team morale took a huge hit, and I was frequently distracted managing situations and “feelings” where I hadn’t had to before. We were no longer all pulling in the same direction.
In my experience, people who are willing to work hard and got along well with the team, invariably make it to the “friend” category. The upshot: Because we spend half of our waking lives at work we should hire people we like to be around, even if it means settling for slightly less individual expertise or performance. It’s the team performance that matters most. Protect it at all costs.
“All courses of action are risky, so prudence is not in avoiding danger (it’s impossible), but calculating risk and acting decisively. Make mistakes of ambition and not mistakes of sloth. Develop the strength to do bold things, not the strength to suffer.” – Niccolo Machiavelli The Prince
That’s how we do it. Hey! I just made a Facebook page for this blog. Please click the “Like” button over there on the right.
We just got the cards delivered yesterday. I normally wait until we have them mailed before I post about the latest card, but since some folks may not get theirs before Christmas I thought I would share it now.
As you can see in the video our dog Mika was determined to be part of the action. So, for the first time in his eight years we have included him.
And speaking of being included, if you’re not on our list just let me know and we will correct that.
Next year we’re going to try something different.
And here is the shot before the PhotoShopping… Read the rest of this entry »
“It’s one thing to study war and another to live the warrior’s life.” – Telamon of Arcadia
Talk about DIY! OK, I will. This is my long lost cousin (probably) Terri Sigler. Not only has she learned the complex art of glass blowing she has managed to build her own studio completely from scratch. And from scratch includes her skill set. She had to research how to design it, then learn the various trades to construct it, from welding to electrical.
In the video above she and an intern are making Christmas ornaments at a recent studio open house. In the video below takes us on a tour of the glass blowing shop she built.
We stopped by an open studio/holiday sale to see our friends Judith and Terri in action. Judith’s specialty is bookmaking, and she also repairs old books. People want this type of high level craft in their lives. Look how popular the the DodoCase for the iPad has become. Now, if only Judith had something I could link to… We gotta get her goods online!
“Confronting, challenging, and rethinking long-held beliefs and habits is provocative and often profitable but rarely comfortable or enjoyable.” – Dan Kennedy
I’ve never done a corn maze before. Hickory Nut Gap Farm is a popular one near us in Asheville. I would say the maze, the farm animals, the barn, and pumpkin patch are great for families with young kids. We enjoyed it with our teenagers, but it’s a pretty low-key experience. Of course the short drive out there is beautiful. And who doesn’t like goats? Especially micro goats.
Check out Hickory Nut Gap Farm.
A couple pics of the kids.
Want to know what it's like to have brain surgery? Well here's the long version of my experience. Complete with pictures and videos! Read all about the Brain Surgery Experience.