I met Larry Chiang of Duck9.com at the National Speakers Association conference this week---smart young man---brimming with ideas and enthusiasm. I liked his formula for blogging called 1-2-3: 1: Have 1 focus 2: Post 2 pictures 3: Write 3 paragraphs It was fascinating to watch him give out his cell phone number at the beginning of the talk (650-283-8008) and encourage us to use it to send him questions. While he was talking, he intermittently checked it and responded. You could sense the difference in ages, as some were aghast by this behavior, but I thought it was authentic and engaging. … [Read more...]
Top 50 Productivity Blogs to Watch in 2010
Posted on 07/15/2010 by ·
We're excited to be included among the terrific blogs on Evan Carmichael's "The Entrepreneur Blog" list of top productivity blogs to watch in 2010! The list includes great blogs in the areas of business, personal, technology lifestyle and more. Check it out! … [Read more...]
Time Management: Video: What You Should Do First Thing in the Morning
Posted on 07/06/2010 by ·
Laura Stack, The Productivity Pro(R) Talks about finding the best use of your time in the morning. (c) 2010 Laura Stack. All Rights Reserved … [Read more...]
Business Productivity: SHRM Interview on Social Media with Laura Stack
Posted on 07/02/2010 by ·
SUPERCOMPETENT KEY #5: ACCOUNTABILITY
Posted on 06/30/2010 by ·
This article correlates to the fifth key in my newest book SuperCompetent: The Six Keys to Perform at Your Productive Best (Wiley), to be released on August 9: ACCOUNTABILITY. Accountability recognizes that "the buck stops here." SuperCompetent people mean what they say and say what they mean. They're authentic, and other people know this and appreciate them for it—and also for their refusal to blame others when unforeseen circumstances trip them up. Their intense focus on their values is borne out in their demeanor and their sense of personal responsibility. Accountability involves your commitment to yourself and others. It's about the promises we make to the people who rely on us—and to ourselves. It's about consistently hitting goals, meeting deadlines, fulfilling promises, and … [Read more...]
Time Management: Social Media Un-Productivity: How to Avoid Addiction
Posted on 06/23/2010 by ·
SOCIAL MEDIA UN-PRODUCTIVITY – HOW TO AVOID ADDICTION I’ve coined the term Obsessive Compulsive Social Media Disorder. Do you have it? Many people confess, “Facebook is my secret addiction. I’m obsessed! I don’t really know how to cure it, but I spend hours every day on Facebook, plus LinkedIn, Twitter, and all my other social media sites. I’ve not yet been able to monetize the results of this activity and am not really sure whether I am getting any business off of it.” It’s a common complaint. You absolutely need to have a presence in social media and spend time doing it; however, it can be a huge productivity drain if you are not careful. Here are a few tips to make it more manageable and more productive: 1. Do not leave your Twitter feed open and observe posts in real time. … [Read more...]
Performance Improvement: Daily Routines and Morning Rituals
Posted on 06/21/2010 by ·
How would you describe your morning routine? Perhaps you get to work, fetch your coffee, line up your snacks, figure out what you didn’t do yesterday, catch up with your coworkers, post your social media updates, and check your email. Now what time is it? Lunchtime! And your energy is fading fast. So perhaps you got Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter updated, your favorite blogs read, and your email done…but you kept adding to your to-do list…and you didn’t accomplish much of anything significant. I’m issuing a productivity challenge for tomorrow: I dare you to break your typical routine. If you usually come in the morning and get a cup of coffee, I would challenge you to bring your coffee. If you usually open up your Outlook and check your messages, I would ask you not to do email first. … [Read more...]
Increasing Productivity: Reducing Your Reading Pile: Productivity Minute Video
Posted on 06/17/2010 by ·
Laura Stack, The Productivity Pro(R) shares tips and tricks on reducing the reading pile and keeping it under control. (c) 2010 Laura Stack. All Rights Reserved … [Read more...]
Workplace Productivity: Protecting Yourself From Drop-In Interruptions
Posted on 06/15/2010 by ·
Protecting Yourself From Drop-In Interruptions 1. Set up a self-help center. If you have people walking into your office and asking for forms or answers to their questions, create an answer area outside of your office. You could use a document sorter, cabinet, or wall storage. Every time you’re asked for something, stock it in the self-help center. That way the next time someone comes in and asks for that exact same information, you can say, “Absolutely. It’s out there in the self-help center.” And guess what? Pretty soon people start helping themselves, saving you time. 2. Use an understood signal. Use an understood signal with the rest of your team that communicates “I am really up against a deadline right now. I would really prefer not to be interrupted. If there’s an emergency, come … [Read more...]
Free Webinar Sponsored by Day-Timer(R) – SuperCompetent
Posted on 06/10/2010 by ·
In partnership with our sponsor, Day-Timer(R), please join Laura Stack for a complimentary webinar based on her newest book, SuperCompetent: The Six Keys to Perform at Your Productive Best (Wiley, August 9, 2010). https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/178545971 This work culminates Laura's 18 years of studying the art and science of personal productivity and describes the six behaviors high-achieving employees demonstrate over their lower-performing peers. all of us must learn to be competent—and not Simply Competent—but SuperCompetent(R). In this competitive economy, just being able to do your job is no longer enough. Competence is expected; you’ve got to be SuperCompetent(R) to get an edge. Whether you’re an employee, an entrepreneur, a team leader, or all of the above, SuperCompetent … [Read more...]
