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Archives for September 2008

Study Tips

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As the school year starts back up, I wanted to take some time to share some tips for studying. 1. Read a chapter ahead Most students listen to the lecture and then read the textbook if necessary.  It is much better to read the text book to understand the section and then use the lecture to help solidify your understanding. Keep a list of questions while you are reading and then make sure the professor answers those questions in class.  If your questions aren't answered, be sure to ask the teacher. This type of approach uses the lecture to refine and augment what you already know (from reading the textbook), which better leverages your static resources (books) and your professor's … [Read more...] about Study Tips

Travel Tip: Create a Checklist

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If you travel a lot, it can be helpful to create a checklist of items you need to take with you.  This lets you perform the decision making process once, instead of repeating it again each time you go on a trip.  Obviously you may need to tailor your plans to match a particular trip, but your list can help make sure you don't forget anything important and can help reduce the feeling of, "I'm forgetting something, but don't know what it is." … [Read more...] about Travel Tip: Create a Checklist

Links for Setting Up a Filing System

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Everyone needs some type of filing system. Even if you are attempting to go paperless, chances are you will still need some type of filing system--even if it is computer based. The five articles below look at different ways to setup and improve your filing system. They deal paper based systems, but some of the principles will apply to paperless systems as well. Taking a little time to improve your setup can be a very good investment. If you can reduce the amount of time you spend hunting for things each day by even just two minutes, it will save you 12 hours per year. If you have an article that you would recommend on filing, please add it in the comments. Filing Organization … [Read more...] about Links for Setting Up a Filing System

Productivity at the Fringes

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The physics most of us are familiar with is called Newtonian physics.  You can use it to calculate how fast a ball will fall when dropped from the Eiffel tower, where a canon ball will land when shot at a particular angle and all kinds of other useful things.  However, if you start dealing with things that are very small or very large, Newtonian physics is no longer accurate. When dealing with very small things like computer processors, individual photos and other partials, you have to use Quantum Theory to produce meaningful results.  When dealing with very large things, distances and objects, you have to use Einstein's Theory of Relativity. With Newtonian physics, the GPS in your … [Read more...] about Productivity at the Fringes

Failing Quickly

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Failing can be one of the most productive things you can do.  Most people try to avoid failure. I'm not saying that this is bad, but in many cases they are just delaying failure to a later point in time.  If something you are doing is going to result in failure you should do your best to make sure it happens sooner rather than later.  With few exceptions, failing now is going to be less expensive (in time, money, mental stress) than failing one year from now. As an example, think about a relationship.  If two people are dating and they discover a particular area where they aren't compatible at all, they can avoid that area.  However, this may extend their relationship and just cause it … [Read more...] about Failing Quickly

9 Programs Worth Buying for OS X

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Here some of the software I have spent money on and that was well worth worth the cost. Most of these deserve their own post and screencast just to show you how truly useful they are, but for now, here is a high level overview of each program. 1Password - I owned this software for about a year before using it. It was part of a MacHeist packaged deal. I didn't think I would ever want to use a password manager. (Real men keep their passwords in their head right?) Grant mentioned that it was a must have piece of software, so I finally decided to try it out. It really is incredible. I've been blown away by how much time I was wasting dealing with passwords. If you deal with passwords for … [Read more...] about 9 Programs Worth Buying for OS X

How big are your blocks?

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The ability to be productive is not something that is evenly distributed to each human.  Take five random people and give them all the assignment to create a storage shed and a week to work on it.  At the end of a week, how much variance would you expect to find?  Some individuals wouldn't have started while others would be completely finished. There are several reasons for this.  If one of your subjects happens to be a carpenter, it makes sense that he would make more headway than the Wal-mart clerk.  So skill and past experience definitely have an impact.  However, there is another difference that is even more important that has to do with how different people see a problem and what … [Read more...] about How big are your blocks?

$10,000 Stack of Paper

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In my computer bag, I have small stack of papers that is worth a bit over $10,000.  This is a story about the importance of keeping good records. Before my wife and I went to Mexico, we decided we needed a new car.  Our Buick had well over 200,000 miles on it.  The high mileage wasn't a problem, but the area where we were going couldn't easily get Buick parts.   It was a similar situation with our 20 year old BMW.  After some checking, we found that Volkswagens were pretty common and there was even a dealership in the area where we were planning to live. We test drove about 15 vehicles before we found one we liked.  It was an off-lease 2003 Passat with a bit over 50,000 miles on it.  … [Read more...] about $10,000 Stack of Paper

Interview with Kevin Butler & Giveaway

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Fellowes, a company known for paper shredders, is promoting some of their ergonomic non-shredding products.  Their approach was interesting.  I was contacted and asked if 1. I'd like to try out some of their items, 2. if I'd like some free stuff to give away, and 3. if I'd be interested in interviewing their certified ergonomic consultant. I was particularly intrigued with the chance to ask a professional ergonomist some questions. This post contains Keven Butler's answers. Kevin  is a Board Certified Professional Ergonomist and works as a consultant for Fellowes, Inc. Make sure read through to the bottom for our first ergonomic giveaway courtesy of Fellowes. 1.    What is the most … [Read more...] about Interview with Kevin Butler & Giveaway

Gift Cards and Bankruptcy

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I've seen people talk about using gift cards as a way to save for large purchases.  Where I live this doesn't make sense because of the fees that chip away at the value, but some states like California don't have that limitation.  Regardless of where you live, gift cards become pretty much worthless if the company goes bankrupt as people who hold gift cards from Sharper Image and The Bombay Company are learning.  If you want to save money, the best place to keep it is in a bank. … [Read more...] about Gift Cards and Bankruptcy

Webinars? Input Please

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I am toying with the ideas of doing a series of webinars on some of the topics we talk about here at Productivity501.  The idea would be to bring in some experts for 30 to 45 minute live discussions on particular topics. What do you think?  Is this something that would interest you and if so what topics would you like to see covered?  (Also if you can recommend a particular webinar product, I'd love to hear what you have found works well for you.) … [Read more...] about Webinars? Input Please

Chimps and Children

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Psychologists have been doing some experiments with chimps and young children looking for differences in the way they solve problems.  In one of the experiments, they gave chimps a clear box containing food.  The scientists showed the chimp how to open the box, but included several steps that were obviously unnecessary.  When the chimps were left alone with the box, they retrieved the food imitating the method they had been shown.  However, the chimps eliminated the unnecessary steps. The scientists then tried the same experiment with 3 and 4 year olds.  Unlike the chimps, children imitated the entire sequence of actions they had been shown, including the unnecessary steps. This is an … [Read more...] about Chimps and Children

Perfect Tools

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One of the biggest hindrances to personal productivity is the search for perfect tools. Let's consider an analogy. John is a carpenter and he wants to be the most productive carpenter he can possibly be.  To reach this goal, he decides he needs the best tools possible, so he sets out to find the perfect hammer. John visits many stores and tries out different hammers.  They all work fine, but he notices subtle differences.  He finally settles on a wonderful  hammer that he uses for a week, but then he discovers that it gives him a blister, so he sets out to find a better hammer. John may or may not ever find the perfect hammer.  However, the productivity gain between a "good" … [Read more...] about Perfect Tools

Windows on a Mac

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If you use a Mac, but need to run windows programs you have two options.  Bootcamp (requires a reboot to change OS) and something like Fusion or Parallels (runs Windows in a box on top of OS X).  I've been using Fusion and am very happy with it, but I've found that XP performs much much better than Vista in this environment.  If you want to run Windows on top of OS X, I'd stick with XP for now. … [Read more...] about Windows on a Mac

Skype for Tech Support Calls

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When I call a tech support line, I usually use Skype.  This keeps my other lines free and gives me the greatest freedom to stay on hold if necessary. I don't have to worry about my cell phone battery going dead or tearing through hundreds of cell phone minutes that could be put to better use elsewhere.  With a reasonably comfortable headset, I can continue to do other work while waiting to speak with a support representative. … [Read more...] about Skype for Tech Support Calls

Define and Conquer

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There was an interesting experiment done by the American Pulpwood Association when they were looking to increase the productivity of loggers.  Half of the loggers were given a specific, high goal to achieve.  The other half were encouraged to do their best. The people who were assigned goals started bragging to one another as well as to family members as to their effectiveness as loggers. Productivity soared relative to those crews who were urged to do their best. Goal-setting instilled purpose, challenge, and meaning into what had been perceived previously as a tedious and physically tiresome task. A by-product of the goal intervention was that, within the week, employee attendance … [Read more...] about Define and Conquer

Destroying Magazines

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I find that magazines are much more useful once you recognize that it is ok to tear pages out of them.  Rip out the articles that you think look interesting and take them with you to read while waiting.  Once you finish reading an article you can throw it away.  An article that you read and toss is worth far more than one sitting on a shelf that you never have time to read. … [Read more...] about Destroying Magazines

Deep Decluttering

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One of the most effective methods of decluttering is to move everything out and then just put back what you need.  The next time you need to clean your office, the kitchen cabinets, or a closet, consider moving everything out as your first step.  Get a three large boxes.  One for stuff that goes back, one for stuff that gets thrown away and one for stuff that should go elsewhere.  Most people find it is easier to organize when the items have already been removed.  It helps keep you from leaving something that belongs elsewhere. … [Read more...] about Deep Decluttering