Productivity In Other Countries

10 Steps Toward Safely Relying on Technology

Development: Make yourself smarter

Read, read and read. Then act and implement. Rinse and repeat.

Joel from Joel Falconer (rss)

There are few things that are as valuable as a regular plan for reading over your entire lifetime.

Listen, listen, and then listen some more.
Notice the patterns in everything.
Notice what is good before you try to fix what could be better.
Notice the way things work instead of wishing things were different.
Accept what is before you try to change it.
Surrender to what you cannot change.
Truly care about other people.
Seek to first understand before you judge any situation.
Be curious, avoid thinking you already know how people will react to things.

Ariane Benefit from Neat & Simple Living (rss)

It is amazing how much we don’t notice.  One of the ways humans deal with massive amounts of information is to ignore the things that don’t seem important.  By putting a little effort into noticing the things we’ve trained ourselves to ignore, we can see things that no one else does.

Easy: Work a little bit every day on something that you want to be skilled in or want to improve on. Here’s the secret though: It has to be every day. You have to make a conscious effort to work at least for a few minutes every day for your skill. But don’t worry… after a while it becomes a habit.

Glen Stansberry from LifeDev (rss)

It is the tortoise that wins.   15 minutes every day practicing a skill is better than spending a few hours over 2 weeks.  I think we tend to underestimate how much our skills develop when we aren’t working on them.  Working on something every day helps keep the skill active in our subconscious–even when we aren’t actively working on that skill.

I make sure I read every day, and not just blogs, but books, magazines, newsletters and newspapers. I also have the TV on in the background while I work and “watch” TIVOed shows from Discovery, TLC, History Channel, and the like.

I always like to find something that makes me say “I didn’t know that.” There is so much to learn in this world and so little time that I really make a concerted effort to keep learning and growing every day. If you don’t learn something new every day, no matter what it is, you’ll stagnate.

Charlene Anderson from Unravelings (rss)

Personally, I find it very difficult to watch something while doing something else, but Charlene makes a good point about how much information is available if we just take the time to consume it.  I have started trying to move most of my reading offline.  While I still take time to read blogs and some items on the web, I found that it was crowding out time that I would normally spend reading books.

I learned to teach myself. Any topic that has been written about, I can teach myself how to do it on a professional level. This has made me more valuable to my employers and to my clients. I also constantly expose myself to things that I either don’t want to do, haven’t tried, or wouldn’t normally do.

For example, I commonly read business books. I make sure to integrate strong literature in-between business books to open my thinking. I just finished reading “Personality Not Included” and am now reading “Notes from The Underground” before I begin the next business book.

Nathan Snell from The Technopian (rss)

From what I’ve read about how the brain develops, doing something new is about the best way to expand your ability to think.

I like using the car to learn. Because of spending a lot of hours in the car each week, I have found that it is easy to learn by using podcasts and ebooks to enhance your knowledge. It is so easy to learn something in your commute to work. In addition, being willing to attend classes, conferences, seminars, if your employer provides these opportunities, is also valuable to becoming more valuable to yourself and your employer.

Rolando from macNwinblog (rss)

I’ve been amazed at how many people don’t take advantage of their employer-sponsored educational opportunities.  I have left higher paying jobs to take a position that was willing to support more continued education.

I’m a planner and out of the box thinker and am not afraid to try new things.  I’m also pretty good at evaluating processes for efficiency and effective.  On the personal level, planning and trying new things ensures that I’m continually learning and growing.  On the social (valuable level), being able to plan and evaluate allows me to help others achieve their goals.

Charlie Gilkey from Productive Flourishing (rss)

Another vote for trying new things.

Audio books… have revolutionized my life. I try to listen to a new one each week. Business and self development titles rule. And the cool thing is I listen while I’m driving or doing other unproductive stuff.

I’ve learned more in the last year than in many a college lecture. Highly recommended!

John Richardson from Success Begins Today (rss)

I make use of podcasts and audiobooks from iTunes.

In 5 years, I will be the exact same person I am today except for three things:

1. The books I read.

2. The people I meet.

3. The websites I visit.

These three things have helped me become a much more smart individual, but they go deeper than just “smart.” These three things have helped me to become more “wise.” Being smart means that you know facts, being wise means that you know how to use those facts in a beneficial way.

Ron Haynes from The Wisdom Journal (rss)

Good point.  Having the knowledge isn’t of much use if you can’t apply it.  Someone who knows less, but is better at applying information is going to be much smarter in terms of actual results.

To break down and understand how and why I do the things I do; by which I mean that if I have achieved something I know others would like to achieve, breaking down how I did this into a process and logical steps that others can follow is one of the most effective ways of improving your own value and worth to others.

Not only are you then an example and case study of having achieved something, you can also show others how to do it too.

Lea Woodward from Location Independent Living (rss)

Being reflective and asking “why” is extremely valuable and something we don’t usually spend enough time doing.  As Lea points out this is particularly true in the areas where we are successful.  If something works well for you figure out what you are doing that works.

I’ve found that the best way to manage my time (and my stress) has been to focus on things that really matter. It’s about knowing what I absolutely have to do and what can either be postponed, delegated, or done away with altogether. It’s about knowing what to take seriously and what to let slide. It’s about taking care of the big things so the little ones take care of themselves and the really little ones don’t bother me at all.

Why do anything else? Why be one of those people who knows more about Hollywood’s hottest couple than they do about their own family and friends? Why be one of those people who spends hours and hours watching the latest reality show but never has time to take a walk or read a book? Those things aren’t important, so why not spend time focusing on the things that are?

Eugene from Varsity Blah (rss)

Defining your priorities is a very important part of knowing where to invest your time in yourself.

The best way to make yourself smarter is to always step back and look at the big picture and make a wise decision before you start down the wrong path.

Something only has value when it is demanded by another person. The way to make yourself more valuable has everything to do with how much others demand your time or skill. Becoming more skillful brings you much less benefit if you are not perceived as being skillful, regardless of what the reality is. Perception isn’t everything, but perception certainly is powerful.

Jason from World Fitness Network (rss)

Some good advice.  I particularly like Jason’s take on doing things deliberately.

Reading, of all sorts, and paying attention, so that I can to think up good questions and work out possible answers.

Michael Leddy from Orange Crate Art (rss)

Good point.  Just reading isn’t very helpful.  You have to actually pay attention to what you are reading.

I’ve been practicing Transcendental Meditation for 40 years. It has done miracles for me. It has increased my intelligence and made me more creative, healthier, happier, more insightful, more loving, and richer. If interested specifically in TM, you must learn how to do it properly. For that I would recommend visiting www.tm.org to find a trained teacher.

Fred Gratzon from The Lazy Way to SUccess

Interesting point of view.  I’m a bit suspicious of TM, but I do think most people don’t spend enough time reflecting.

I constantly consume podcasts and audiobooks while driving. As an added bonus, I mind the traffic far less!

Eva Holtz from College Admissions Secrets (rss)

This is something I do as well.  It is amazing how many great resources are available for free now days.

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CodeWeavers Giveaway

Protecting People From Themselves

Worry vs. Problem-solving

Dealing with Clutter

Jamming Paper Shredders

How Good do you Look

Investment allocation

Focus for Results

Procrastinating in Sheeps Clothing

Man of the Year Contest

Choosing a PDA

Streamlining your business

Ergonomic Giveaway

My EVDO Connection

Dealing with an Unorganized Boss III

Dealing with an Unorganized Boss II

Not Used to Television

Dealing with an Unorganized Boss

Make Decisions in Advance

Personal Development: How do you know it is time to look for a different job?

I think when you start counting down — hours to the end of the day, days to Friday, weeks to vacation — it is time to start finding something more fulfilling.  Wishing your life away is no way to live — when you are doing something deeply satisfying, time disappears and each day becomes exhilarating!

Kristen from BOOK CLUB CLASSICS (rss)

I think we underestimate the value of a minute spent doing something we really enjoy.

It’s time to look for a new job when you are spending too much time working to earn money that you will never have the time to enjoy, and trying to earn the respect of people who really don’t care about you. Life is too short to not be lived.

Jason from World Fitness Network (rss)

It is amazing what people will do to impress people they don’t really like.

Jobs are valuable only insomuch as they allow you to do other things.  If you are so physically or mentally exhausted that you cannot do anything else, it’s time to get a new job.  If you find that work gets in the way of you doing what you want to do more than it enables you to do those things, it’s time to get a new job.

The ideal condition, of course, is when work is play since your job is what you want to do.  If you’re happy doing what you want to do, success generally follows.  If you’re not happy doing what you’re doing, success generally will not follow.

The best time to quit your current job, if it meets the conditions specified about, is as soon as you find a better alternative.  There’s never a good time to switch jobs or change careers, but if you know something’s not working out for you, it is better to get off the boat while it’s still in harbor rather than some indefinite time in the future.

Charlie Gilkey from Productive Flourishing (rss)

I see many people getting an education in something that “pays well” without any thought as to what they really enjoy doing.  I think people should put effort into things that they enjoy.  Passion is often as valuable as knowing some well-paying skill. (Although it helps when you are passionate about something that pays well.)

If you don’t look forward to working when waking up in the morning then it’s clear that something is seriously wrong. Work is one of the things which should motivate you to get up in the morning, not make you wish that you were on holiday.

Alan Johnson from TheRatingBlog (rss)

If you wouldn’t prefer to be on holiday, I’d say you don’t know how to take good vacation.   But, good point.  If you wake up with dread instead of excitement, you are doing something wrong.

Good clues it might be time for a job change:  you don’t feel like you are learning anything new; you don’t feel like anyone “gets” you; you examine your job responsibilities and realize that few line up with what you are actually good at and are interested in; you have serious concerns with the leadership or stability of your company; you feel dread when you get up in the morning to go to work; your health is poor due to overwork and stress or finally you don’t see how this job contributes to your long-term career goals.

Pamela Slim from Escape from Cubicle Nation (rss)

Good point on the long term goals.  When I hire people, I always make it a point to find out where they are wanting to be in 5 or 10  years.  I know I can make their work experience much more rewarding if I can help them work toward those goals.

When you don’t have passion for what you are doing anymore!

John Richardson from Success Begins Today (rss)

Although I would caution about jumping around just when things get boring, sometimes it is a sign that you need to talk to your boss and ask for more responsibility.

When somebody you know and trust makes you an offer you can’t refuse, and not before. That said, always be working towards being the person that will be made that offer. Priority number 1, even if you are a CEO, is to know who your boss will be. If that isn’t going to be bettered, with a high degree of certainty, then don’t jump. Never run away from things, always be called forwards. Unless the thing is a lion of course!

Benjamin from WOWNDADI (rss)

I have heard of high-level employees who said they would take a job with the condition that their office was on the same floor as the CEO.  Another employee agreed to take a job as long as he was able to eat dinner with the CEO and other top executives a couple times each year.  Who you work for matters and if you want to really learn from them, you need to make sure you actually are around them.

There are three important factors that cause me to look for another job:

1. The most important factor in my personal  occupational satisfaction is that I enjoy my work. When the work becomes boring, unchallenging, or just pure drudgery and my boss doesn’t seem to care, I start looking elsewhere for employment.

2. Another important factor is that I am  appreciated and valued. How important I am to my organization is evidenced by how I’m paid, how much I’m paid, whether my opinions are valued, and how I’m treated publicly and privately by my boss. If these areas are lacking and the boss doesn’t seem to care, I start looking elsewhere for employment.

3. My third factor is that I want my work to be meaningful and fulfilling on some level. I don’t have to be saving thousands of starving people, but I want to know that my employment results in the betterment of someone’s life. It may be that I help keep a group of people employed and able to feed their families. It may be that I help a struggling customer with setting up a payment plan. When my work seems to become nothing but a meaningless wad or paperwork, I start looking elsewhere for employment.

Right now, I’m looking elsewhere for employment….

Ron Haynes from The Wisdom Journal (rss)

I hope you find a job that you like.  Your three items make an excellent read for managers who are looking at retaining people.  I think a lot of bosses forget to treat people in the way they would like to be treated.

Usually when the business school career center tells us to…

In the past though, it’s always been when you plateau on the learning curve.  If you stop growing and start stagnating, you slowly start to run into those things that really make your time at work stink.

It doesn’t mean you have to quit your company, but it does mean you need to either look for a promotion or for ways to expand your current job description.

Jared Degnan from Vanderbilt OwenBloggers (rss)

Good point.  Before jumping ship, it might be worth looking for ways to make your current job better.  If you are planning on leaving, it gives you quite a bit of leverage.

When you stop arriving an hour early just because you’re excited to start working.

Which would mean most people should start looking.

Joel Falconer (rss)

That is an interesting test.  I agree that if you are showing up an hour early just because you like the work, you probably have a pretty good job–or a horrible social life.

When you have really tried to find the value in what you do, but can’t.  When you feel like you are doing things that are unethical.  When the ONLY reason for doing what you do is to make money.

When you start wondering if everything you do is useless and there is no hope for ever making things better.  If these feelings are present much of the time at work, you are in the wrong job and probably in the wrong career too.

Ariane Benefit from Neat & Simple Living (rss)

Money is a good reason to work, but it is poor as an only reason.

For me, I know that I need to look for a new client when I am bored. If I am not learning and thinking and growing, I am stagnating. It’s time to move on.

LJ from simpleproductivityblog (rss)

This is a good reminder that people working for clients may sometimes need to switch to a new client in order to keep things interesting an fulfilling.

I’m entrepreneurial, but I believe strongly in multiple streams of income–that often includes working for another employer in addition to running my own business.

A year-and-a-half ago I made a career change from working as a Web Programmer to working as a computer Instructor and Courseware Author. I had identified in my 3- to 5-year plan that I needed to improve my public speaking skills and writing skills. Shortly after that, a great job opportunity became available to do just that. I’m loving it!

I’ve lost my share of jobs over the years as well, but each transition also turned into a better opportunity somewhere else.

More than anything, people need to follow their heart. Life is too short to spend it doing something you hate. Do what you love. Don’t be afraid to make a change when your own desires change. Give every job 110%, but don’t take anything so seriously that it ceases to be fun. When all the fun is gone it’s past time to leave.

Ricky Spears from Ricky Spears’ Blog (rss)

When you can see into the future and realize that the fun is going to be gone is a good time to leave.  Better to move on while you are ahead.

Though I don’t qualify for this anymore…three straight days of “I don’t want to go to work at that place” was a clear signal.

Mike Sansone from ConverStations (rss)

It wouldn’t take me many days of waking up like that to come to the same conclusion.  Fortunately, I’ve been able to move on before I got to that point at every job I’ve had.

I find this question difficult, because in a sense I’m always looking for a new job.  I would say the most obvious tell would be stomach aches and difficulty sleeping.  This is not a way to live life.

Anne from Writers Cabal Blog (rss)

If I’m going to get stomach aches and insomnia from my job, I’d rather be working for myself.  If you are going to take that level of stress, you need the associated chance of reward and that just isn’t present in most jobs.

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