Know What You Know
There’s a “classic” model for looking at knowledge that’s known as the “Conscious Competence” model. It describes the evolution of knowledge about any subject. There are four stages: Unconscious Incompetence. Here, you don’t know what you don’t know. You might not even know that the subject of knowledge is a “thing” that other people know. […]
Are You Addicted to False Productivity?
I love to read. Sometimes, that means online (on a computer), or on a device such as my Kindle. But mostly, I love to read actual paper-based books and magazines. This is due in part to my age. I grew up reading books. More specifically, I grew up reading books with a pencil in my […]
How to Minimize Interruptions
The last few posts have been about minimizing interruptions. Interruptions are literally the single greatest productivity killer in your business or personal life! If interruptions are coming from an outsider, including clients, it is easy to set up rules to deal with this. But insiders (your employees and family) are a different story. You can’t […]
The Interruption Diet
In the last post, I talked about avoiding interruptions. Here’s a great exercise for making interruptions visible to you. Create an “Interruption Diet” like this: Interruption Time Start / Stop Importance Notes Example:Phone Call 8:45 am – 8:50 am Not! Sales call. Grrr. Create a whole sheet like this for each day of the week. […]
Do Not Be Interrupt-Driven
This is an Absolutely Unbreakable Rule. In both your personal and professional life, you should avoid interruptions. This rule follows from another: Prioritize Everything!. I’m a huge fan of silencing my phone and having it off at all times. With rare exceptions, for example when I’m expecting a call, my phone is off, and it’s […]
Success Is a Habit
Some people who follow me on social media think I am an unreasonable boss, over-controlling, and that I ask the impossible from my staff. Those who have read my books tend to have a very different perception. I think the main difference is that those who dig in and read a book are more likely […]
You Need Rules for Success
One of the most important things that you can do in your business is figure out why you’re in business. If you haven’t done so already, go read Start with Why by Simon Sinek. It’s a truly spectacular book. So that’s your first homework. It’s also a good audiobook. Sinek points out that nobody buys […]
Some Things Won’t Get Done
Here’s a little reality check for you. In the end, the very lowest priority tasks will probably never get done. I know that’s startling. The lowest priority tasks will never get done. And, to be honest, at some point you will die with work undone. You will. I don’t want to be morbid, but […]
Practice . . . Everything
There’s an interesting truth that we all conveniently ignore or deny when we take on a new task: Before you can be good at something, you have to be bad at it. Or, said another way, You can never be “good” at something you don’t do. And, one of my favorite related truths: Frustration is […]
Webinar June 3rd – The Seven Stages of Wealth in Small Business
Join me for a free webinar: The Seven Stages of Wealth and the EconomyA Model for Small Business Owners June 3rd9:00 AM Pacific / 12 Noon Eastern Register in advance for this webinar:https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_RVlXu41kR0K8-uAhAsjPfQ In this free webinar, I present my model for growing wealth in your small business. I describe the seven “stages” or states […]
