The term ‘Sixty four thousand dollar question’, whilst attributable to a popular game show, actually comes from the memoirs of Andrew Carnegie, one of the most successful entrepreneurs and businessmen of the early part of the twentieth century in America.
He is reported to have employed a consultant to answer the question, ‘How can I become more successful?’ The consultant took on the assignment, charging Carnegie a reported $64,000 for the answer. This was a huge amount of money at the time, and is not an inconsiderable sum now. After two weeks of following Carnegie around, sitting in meetings, travelling with him, watching him work, seeing how he made decisions and so on, the consultant came back in to see Andrew Carnegie and said ‘I now have the answer to the question on how you can be more successful and it is this’.
‘Only do the most important things’
Carnegie sat for a moment expecting the consultant to continue, but the consultant simply repeated the expression – ONLY DO THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS – that is the key to how you can become more successful. Andrew thought and later in his memoirs he said that was the best piece of advice that he ever paid for and was worth many times more than what he actually paid.
When you go about your daily work activity and routine, the one question you need to keep asking yourself is – ‘Am I working on the most important things right now?’ If you can answer that question and say Yes, then the results and the productivity gains and benefits will come to you. If the answer is No or Not Really, then stop what you are doing and move onto something that is the more important activity for you at that time.
If, during your work day, you constantly move from one task to another as a butterfly flits from one flower to another, then this is counter-productive. Each time you stop and start a task it takes a little bit of time. True, this may only be a couple of minutes to get the file out, access that part of the computer system or turn your attention to something else, but over the course of the day if we do that twenty or thirty times that will be the hour that we are looking to save, an hour that we could use productively if we just did things in a different sequence.
Work through activities by batching them together, for example, for all your phone calls, all your letter writing, all the filing, meetings, etc, and then moving on until finished.
And above all else – FOCUS! – ‘Do less and achieve more’.
Ever find yourself running out of day? You suddenly look at the clock and realise with a shock you have lots still to do and little time left to do it in. Well, you might want to try timeslicing your day.
Timeslicing is the name I give to a technique which I have evolved from applying Parkinson's Law (that is, "work expands to fill the time available." It can be applied in a number of ways:
In order to get started, trying keeping a time-log for day. An example can be downloaded from www.virtualpaplus.co.uk/workingsmarter. Every 15 minutes, quickly jot down the main task or activity that you were working on.
http://www.wecando.biz A business listing site.
http://www.bttradespace.com A UK based business listing site, with a good blog facility.
http://photoshopdisasters.blogspot.com A collection of ridiculous ‘bloopers’ and other abuses form the advertising world.
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There is a sign which says “A clear desk is a sign of a sick mind!” In very rare cases this might be true, but in most people’s experience a clear desk is a signal and a trait of someone who is organised, professional, and effective. There are numerous benefits for keeping a clear desk, here are just a few:
Whilst the benefits may be many actually achieving a clear desk can seem a quantum leap for some people.
For anyone who has not found this little free Google facility here it is - Google alerts. Set it up for your postcode, favourite actor, band, old school friends, hobbies, places even your own name! Whenever an entry is made on the Internet - you will be the first to know.http://www.google.com/alerts
Love trivia and lighter news stories - check out and register with http://uk.reuters.com/news/oddly and get free updates to make you smile and realise the world is still a crazy and wonderful place.
And, finally, if you are not on Facebook - get on it! Everybody else is - and try a bit of star finding! http://www.facebook.com/- and remember to add me as a contact! (be careful though – can become addictive!)
Simplify everything that can be simplified
Einstein, allegedly one of the most brilliant minds that ever walked the planet, once said "Everything should be as simple as possible, but no simpler". Look at every process, every procedure, every form, activity, email, conversation, decision, meeting, presentation and apply this rule.
For example, stop buying newspapers, books and magazines that you don't get around to reading. Unsubscribe from websites, clubs, and newsletters that you do not actively use. Clear out clutter and unused files, books and gadgets. Get to the point in communicating with others, especially when time is tight.
When making a decision, simply list ten possible solutions, on paper, no matter how outlandish or extreme. Force yourself to write down ten, then stare at the list for three minutes (use and egg-timer!) and the right answer will become clear. Given a choice of two options, toss a coin, heads for one and tails for another. You won't need to look at which side is facing up, you will know which one you HOPE it is! Still not sure, sleep on it, instructing yourself that you will know the right answer when you wake up.
Find out how Virtual PA Plus can help you make things simpler -click here
Websites that have caught my mouse this week: www.kissthisguy.com - the best site for misheard lyrics...great fun.
www.freeindex.co.uk A business listing site with multiple categories. Even though thousands of entries, has a large number of visitors.
www.jango.com New format for listening to music, potentially revolutionary.
Graham Roberts-Phelps