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Take the Stairs: The path to true success

Posted on 02/16/2012 by ·

I’d like to introduce you to Rory Vaden, who has been a friend of mine for many years. He has a novel area of study---he is the world’s only Self-Discipline Strategist.  His first book, Take the Stairs, just released this week, reached the #1 ranking in all categories on Amazon.com as well as Barnes & Noble, and just yesterday, he’s #1 on the USA Today list and #2 on the famed NY Times list.  Rory sent me a review copy of his book, which I really enjoyed, as we somewhat play in the same sandbox (my book Leave the Office Earlier, had an entire chapter called “Discipline”). I recently connected with him to expand on some of the most interesting concepts presented in the book.  Laura: What do you think is the biggest challenge facing business today?  Rory: Procrastination is the most … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Performance · Tagged:

Overwork and Personal Productivity: the Reality

Posted on 02/13/2012 by ·

"Taking enough time to renew our strengths and resources is necessary to preserve and enhance the greatest asset we have, ourselves." -- Timi Gustafson, American health writer and dietitian. "We often hear of people breaking down from overwork, but in nine out of ten times they are really suffering from worry or anxiety." -- Sir John Lubbock (1834-1913), British polymath and Member of Parliament. "Make a distinction between work and leisure; don't skip your holidays; take care of your health and well-being..." -- Dr. Marianna Virtanen, lead author of "Long Working Hours and Cognitive Function: The Whitehall II Study." Say what you will about the slacker generation, most Americans don't hesitate when it comes to hard work. A willingness to jump in and get the job done has been an … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Personal Productivity · Tagged:

How to Leave Work Early and Enjoy Your Valentine’s Day

Posted on 02/03/2012 by ·

A few tips from expert Laura Stack to help you enjoy more time with your loved ones on Valentine's Day. Hectic work schedules have probably ruined more Valentine Day celebrations than we care to think about. It is easy to schedule business dinners for February 14th without a second thought…until the day before…when it finally hits us. More so than expensive jewelry or chocolates, many people are satisfied with having the undivided attention of a loved one for the evening. Laura Stack, Productivity Expert and author of Leave the Office Earlier, has these tips to help you create an unforgettable Valentine’s Day: Plan before you leave work. Double-check your planner and organize activities for the next day before you leave the office on Valentine’s Day. Getting tomorrow’s tasks out of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Life Balance, Performance · Tagged: , ,

Collaboration: Increasing Your Workplace Productivity Through Others

Posted on 01/30/2012 by ·

"The in-box culture is dead." -- Evan Rosen, author of The Culture of Collaboration: Maximizing Time, Talent and Tools to Create Value in the Global Economy "In the long history of humankind (and animal kind, too) those who learned to collaborate and improvise most effectively have prevailed." -- Charles Darwin, British biologist "Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean." Ryunosuke Satoro, Japanese poet. The term "collaboration" has a number of interrelated meanings in the working world. In one sense, it refers to broad community efforts designed to make work-life easier and more productive for everyone. In another, it applies to delegation: the practice of handing off part of the workload to others who can do it more easily or cheaply. The idea can extend to other … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Performance · Tagged:

The Productivity Academy returns to Denver March 15

Posted on 01/25/2012 by ·

What do you do when there’s TOO MUCH TO DO? You mark your calendar and come to THE PRODUCTIVITY ACADEMY with Laura Stack! Due to popular demand, we are once again presenting The Productivity Academy on March 15 at the Marriott Denver South at Park Meadows in the Denver area.  Past participants have said: You just have NO idea. Really. New planner. New plan. New tools. New knowledge. New mindset. New energy. New enthusiasm. New HOPE!! and I have benefited hugely from the tasking tools in Microsoft Outlook, particularly saving emails to tasks - as well as your 3-minute rule. My inbox is emptied every time I check my email! I am also using standing tickler files at work and home, which has helped me corral all that incoming paperwork! Finally, I am aware of what times of the day I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Personal Productivity · Tagged: ,

Delegation and Workplace Productivity in the Global Village

Posted on 01/25/2012 by ·
Delegation and Workplace Productivity in the Global Village

Modern job descriptions, especially those at the managerial level, often specify more responsibilities than anyone can accomplish within an ordinary workweek. This may seem ludicrous at first blush, but it reflects the reality of the business world as it exists today. No one really expects upper-level managers to directly handle all their responsibilities; nor could they. Trying to do so would wreck their lives inside of a week. It’s called "management" for a reason. True achievers know to parcel out most of the items on their plate to subordinates or even to people outside of their organization, before focusing on the few things they do best that profit the company the most and produce the highest value for the time worked. In other words, leaders delegate like crazy to those who can … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Business Productivity · Tagged: , ,

Super Bowl Time Management Tips

Posted on 01/22/2012 by ·

There’s a Lot to Learn About Personal Goal Setting From Football It’s that time of year again! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – The Superbowl offers a great acrostic game opportunity for learning productivity techniques.   What does time management have to do with Super Bowl football? Everything! Football pros competing in the Super Bowl use great goal-setting techniques. By studying the game, you too can learn a lot about how to set objectives. Successful football teams devote a great deal of thought and time to planning how to move the ball down the field. And successful people devote time to planning what they’ll accomplish in business and in life. Ask the coaches who’ve led teams to the Super Bowl. They know you can’t win without a good game plan. The term … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Time Management · Tagged:

Email and Productivity at Work, Part II

Posted on 01/13/2012 by ·

"My first reading of an e-mail is actually a screening process to determine what needs attention...I'll decide on the spot what to delete and what needs that second reading prior to taking action." -- Junior Morales, poll respondent, Puerto Rico "Depends on the message. If it's spam or FYI, then once is enough. If it's asking specific questions that need thought and/or research to answer, then as often as needed until it's clear how to proceed. " -- Davyd Breeskin, poll respondent, Washington, D.C. Several months ago, I posted a poll on LinkedIn asking how many times a day my followers checked their email. The results were rather eye-opening, and as you may recall, I blogged about them in early October 2011. Because I found those answers so intriguing, I posted a follow-up poll in … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Tools & Systems · Tagged: ,

How to Escape a Workplace Productivity Rut

Posted on 01/12/2012 by ·
How to Escape a Workplace Productivity Rut

To the casual observer, you might seem like a great performer—you’re keeping up with all your work with perfect consistency and maintaining an empty inbox. But you personally know you’re stuck in a productivity rut—a place where you get your work done, but only at a minimal level, and certainly without flair or inspiration. Your personal return on investment (PROI) in your job is very low, and you feel “stuck.” We've all been there at one time or another, for any of a number of reasons. Basically, you end up going through the motions, doing what you have to in a just-in-time fashion and staying busy without necessarily adding to your organization's bottom line (whether fiduciary or otherwise). Think back to your school days and the kind of grade such a level of effort might earn you … [Read more...]

Filed Under: General · Tagged:

Managing Your Time: Consider the Value of Your Time

Posted on 01/09/2012 by ·

Laura Stack, The Productivity Pro(R), shares her thoughts on managing your time, the value of time and why you should protect it. (C) 2011 Laura Stack. All Rights Reserved. https://theproductivitypro.com … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Time Management · Tagged: