If you ever come to the end of the work day, throw up your hands, and exclaim "What happened?!!" you might need to get a grip on your time. But it's hard to make adjustments in your time management behaviors if you don't know where the time even went. If your days go by in a blur, and you don't feel you've accomplished anything significant, you might want to track your time. I've placed a time log template, instructions, and analysis directions on my site at https://theproductivitypro.com/FreeStuff/Time_Log.doc. Perhaps with a little data, you can tweak your routines and see some improvement. … [Read more...]
Setting up a reference filing system for your home
Posted on 07/20/2006 by ·
I'm often asked about my personal organization at home, usually around where I keep paperwork, how to organize it, what to call the files, how long to keep it, etc. So I've typed up an outline of my personal filing cabinet at my house, so you can get a sense of how it's laid out. I file by groups of files, not by A-Z. So each title in CAPITAL letters on the left is the name of the category, and the indented names are filed behind that. It's https://theproductivitypro.com/pdfs/reference_file_system.pdf. Enjoy! … [Read more...]
Paper versus electronic time management systems
Posted on 07/17/2006 by ·
If you want to test out whether you are more of a "paper" person or an "electronic" person, I have a test at https://theproductivitypro.com/FreeStuff/TEST_paperORelectronic.xlt that will run a macro and give you a score and a recommendation. … [Read more...]
Productivity Boost Using Three Screens Per Worker
Posted on 07/13/2006 by ·
I'm mulling about my monitor. I was reading an article at online.wsj.com/articles/talking_tech about a research study done by Microsoft's Center for Information Work, which looks at the way office workers use computers. They found that with three monitors per worker, productivity jumped NINE PERCENT. That's unreal. Nine percent might not seem like a lot to you, but it's getting to the point where it's really hard to squeeze a few extra productivity points out of workers, so that's a very large amount. When you look at the stock market trading floor, you see multiple monitors everywhere---that group has already realized it's required to see all that information. Perhaps I wouldn't have three monitors, but I'm seriously considering adding a second. It … [Read more...]
The Ten Commandments of cell phone etiquette
Posted on 07/07/2006 by ·
I just had a conversation with my assistant about this very issue today. She only works part-time a few hours on Mon, Wed, Fri. When she comes to work, she shares my office, which isn't the best arrangement, but I work from home. My husband John has the second office, so, well, there you have it. Like anyone, she gets personal phone calls at work on her cell phone. I frankly don't really care when people call her. She's very diligent and works hard, so it doesn't bother me that she answers her cell phone. What *does* bother me is having her carry on her personal phone conversations a few feet away from me. She's been working for me for a year and a half now, and I can't believe I haven't said anything so far, but today I had to speak up. She talked with her lawn guy for five … [Read more...]
What are you tolerating today?
Posted on 07/05/2006 by ·
I just got fed up. My Treo 600 wasn't connecting to my email server unless it had a really full battery charge. Which wasn't a problem IF I remembered to plug it in every night. Until a few days ago, when I forgot, and I was out and about on appointments and couldn't get my messages. I'd been putting up with this for several weeks, because the battery is internal and can't easily be replaced. So I just bought the new Treo 700p and am so jazzed! I can watch tv, view Web sites easily, use my new bluetooth ear piece, and take really great pictures and videos. Why didn't I do this sooner? Then I started looking around and wondering what else I've been tolerating that's irritating or otherwise slowing me down. My printer! Ugh! … [Read more...]
Creating a productive environment
Posted on 07/03/2006 by ·
What do you surround yourself with to make you feel productive? I have an "I love me" wall with degrees, certificates, awards, etc., to remind myself that I am living up to a lot of expectations. I keep a wall calendar to remind me that my job is to keep it full with speaking engagements. I have photos of my family, husband, and children, to remind me that a lot of people are depending upon me. I keep my dog and cat running around in my office to remind me to play. And my newest environmental addition...two Siamese fighting fish (a.k.a. betta fish)...no fancy filtration systems needed. Just watching them swim around on my desk relaxes me and knowing I get to feed them gives me another good reason to look forward to coming to work. The glass … [Read more...]
How to be productive on the 3rd of July
Posted on 06/30/2006 by ·
I was reading about a survey by Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc. of 100 human resource executives, which found 56 percent said they would have normal office hours on Monday, citing the global nature of their businesses. Many people took the day off, turning it into a 4-day weekend. Those that are left in the office wish they weren't. So how to you get some last-minute pre-holiday productivity? Roll in giant recycling and trash bins and stage a paper-tossing contest between departments. Have employees clean out their filing cabinets, and whoever gets rid of the most paper in weight (adjusted to % based on the # of people in the department) gets a pizza party at lunch and leaves early. Of course, buy everyone pizza and let everyone go early, but you'll at … [Read more...]
Television needs a time management lesson
Posted on 06/29/2006 by ·
People always tell me how lucky I am to have the opportunity to be on television. "Wow, it must be nice to be such a celebrity!" they say. Right. So I'm supposed to appear on the CBS Early Show on June 26, live, to be interviewed about my newest book, Find More Time. I give up a weekend day with my family and make the long trek from Denver to NYC on Sunday. I arrive, fight NYC traffic for 90 minutes, check into my hotel, get something to eat alone (by the way, Sarabeth's Kitchen www.sarabeth.com has the best tomato soup I've ever had; their preserves are fabulous too), and sit down to think about the interview. Phone rings. It's the PR rep for my publisher. "Your segment's been bumped," she says. "Huh?" I … [Read more...]
Laura Stack to be interviewed on CBS Early Show!
Posted on 06/22/2006 by ·
Friends, please tune to the CBS Early Show on Monday, June 26, where I'm to be interviewed LIVE about my new book "Find More Time"! It will help me be less nervous in front of 3.2 million people knowing you are all rooting for me. … [Read more...]
