The daily news is filled with external stressors: slipping financial markets, war, terrorism, increased gas and food prices to name a just a few. Added to normal life pressures, these external stressors can increase the emotional tension you feel at work and at home. If you’re experiencing elevated stress levels, here are just a few [...]

All of our technology gadgets give us great boosts to our productivity. Or do they? Well, yes and no. When your goal is to be accessible and reachable at a moment’s notice, then yes…your cell, laptop, Blackberry, and any other wireless technology tool you can find achieves that purpose. These electronic gadgets let your customers, [...]

Leonardo da Vinci said, “I have been impressed with the urgency of doing. Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do.” The man in the picture is doing. His task is so compelling that he has stopped on the way to work to complete it. I’d like to [...]

I recently read an article by novelist Walter Kirn telling of his near death experience as he was driving late one snowy night on a two-lane highway in Wyoming. He was on his way to see his girlfriend in Colorado when his phone chirped indicating that a new picture had been sent to him, from [...]

In my post on October 5, we talked about no e-mail Fridays at Intel. The Intel blog has not yet reported on their success level, but research shows other companies have tried the policy including U.S. Cellular and Deloitte & Touche. The policy in these companies has sparked rich debate with pros and cons on [...]

Like professional artists and athletes, taking action and moving your life forward to greater success is self-determination and involves mastery of the basics before fancy moves can be successful. For an athlete, the basics are hitting, shooting, throwing, kicking … whatever the sport requires, practiced every day. For the musician, the basics are scales, warm-ups, [...]

Everyone longs to leave the office on time but few actually do. Why? The answer is complex but in my research, reasons for not leaving the office on time ranged from “I have so much work to do I can’t possibly get it all done in one day” to an honest “I had several conversations [...]

What makes you jump for joy and feel triumphant? The sale of the century? Winning a heated argument? Turning an angry cusomter around? Making the right management decision? Getting your dream house at the price you bid? Yes, yes, yes…all of these things would all make me jump for joy. For those seeking greater competence, [...]

Your morning hours must be productive because as morning turns into mid-day, you will probably experience chaos and mental madness as people ask for a piece of you, project deadlines loom, and undone tasks nag at you. For mid-day productivity, try these tips: 1. Assume everything will take longer than you think it will so [...]