Jeff Davidson's Blog, page 40
October 25, 2013
All Work and All Play?
This massive New York Times article illuminates the state of work and play in contemporary society, and is well worth your perusal.
September 23, 2013
Are You Wasting Time on the Job?
According to an online survey conducted by Salary.com, workers waste more than two hours a day on average by surfing the Web, conducting personal business, chatting with co-workers, and just zoning out.
We Cannot Control Everything
A reader comments; “I could be more responsible regarding use of my time but certainly there are some things that are out of my control...”
Yes, for one thing your productive work life is finite. You will only be able to work for so many years at such and such a pace. One day that will no longer be possible. The big absolute, of course, is that life is finite and death is guaranteed, so far. If you are in your thirties, you have about 12,000 to 14,000 days and that's it.
Day to day, change is out of your control – it is guaranteed that how you used to do it or what worked yesterday will have less and less value with each passing day. You certainly want some stability in your life particularly in the areas of values and relationships, but don't fear change or close yourself off to it.
Yes, for one thing your productive work life is finite. You will only be able to work for so many years at such and such a pace. One day that will no longer be possible. The big absolute, of course, is that life is finite and death is guaranteed, so far. If you are in your thirties, you have about 12,000 to 14,000 days and that's it.
Day to day, change is out of your control – it is guaranteed that how you used to do it or what worked yesterday will have less and less value with each passing day. You certainly want some stability in your life particularly in the areas of values and relationships, but don't fear change or close yourself off to it.
Capturing Your Great Ideas
The late author, songwriter, and comedian Steve Allen was among the most prolific talent in broadcasting history. He wrote more than 9,000 songs, including "This Could Be the Start of Something Big," which is still often played at New Year's Eve galas. Not bad for someone who played by ear. He wrote TV scripts, gags, jokes. He also managed to write 50 books: first mysteries; then on show business; then self-help topics like presenting, speaking, and humor; and then later on social issues before passing away early this century.
Like many others in TV, Allen's career began in radio where, as a young DJ, he once announced a Harvard vs. William & Mary football score as "Harvard 14, William 10, Mary 7." His interests extended beyond show business as well. A tireless advocate, Allen was instrumental in the airlines' smoking ban.
I met Steve Allen in the 1990s at the American Bookseller's Convention in Los Angeles. It was rumored that he never traveled without a pocket tape recorder and when I asked him if this was true, he took out his pocket tape recorder and showed me. Allen once explained that although he was thought of as extraordinarily productive, he figured he owed his high output to "Not letting good ideas get away." He recalled that even back in the 1950s, when tape recorders were bulky and expensive, he had one in each room of his house, even the bathroom!
Like many others in TV, Allen's career began in radio where, as a young DJ, he once announced a Harvard vs. William & Mary football score as "Harvard 14, William 10, Mary 7." His interests extended beyond show business as well. A tireless advocate, Allen was instrumental in the airlines' smoking ban.
I met Steve Allen in the 1990s at the American Bookseller's Convention in Los Angeles. It was rumored that he never traveled without a pocket tape recorder and when I asked him if this was true, he took out his pocket tape recorder and showed me. Allen once explained that although he was thought of as extraordinarily productive, he figured he owed his high output to "Not letting good ideas get away." He recalled that even back in the 1950s, when tape recorders were bulky and expensive, he had one in each room of his house, even the bathroom!
August 27, 2013
Are You a Pack-rat?
Ten Ways to Know You're an Office Pack-rat:
10. You can't remember what the top of your desk looks like.
9. Your file drawers are so stuffed that it's impossible to put anything else in them.
8. You dread the moment when someone will ask you to retrieve something from your files.
7. You keep hard copy drafts of drafts of drafts, and you save outdated backup disks.
6. While seeking an article you filed last week, you find an article on the new IBM electric typewriter.
5. People need to call out your name to find you in your office.
4. The piles on filing cabinet exceed the volume of papers inside your filing cabinet.
3. You have a "system" of filing that no one but you could even begin to understand.
2. You fear that the cost of moving everything you've collected will bankrupt you.
1. You save junk mail because you never know when you might need to apply for that fifth gasoline credit card.
Patent Office needs Breathing Space
The National Research Council issued a report on the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, which is beset with challenges. The report showed that vigorous competition among businesses “to file and enforce patents” is a major reason why the Patent Office is often swamped and faces a backlog of patent applications.
August 23, 2013
Patent Office need Breathing Space
The National Research Council issued a report on the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, which is beset with challenges. The report showed that vigorous competition among businesses “to file and enforce patents” is a major reason why the Patent Office is often swamped and faces a backlog of patent applications.
August 19, 2013
Heading Out of Control
Early warning signs when you’re heading for an "out of control" situation: Control is always based on your perception; still any time you start stacking horizontal piles on your desk you are operating in a malfunctioning mode.
If you find yourself perpetually 5 to 10 minutes late for meetings and always handling activities up to the last minute before turning your attention to what is next, you are leaving yourself wide open for some anxious moments. Also if you don't give yourself enough physical space to handle a task you are also likely to feel out of control.
If you find yourself perpetually 5 to 10 minutes late for meetings and always handling activities up to the last minute before turning your attention to what is next, you are leaving yourself wide open for some anxious moments. Also if you don't give yourself enough physical space to handle a task you are also likely to feel out of control.
August 12, 2013
Master Your Environment
At my speeches audience members say to me, "I'm able to handle the tasks in front of me for the day, but if I get one more call or one critical email, everything is just thrown off." That's why it is important to condition your work environment.
Observe your office, your car, your home, and all of the other physical spaces in your life, and ask, "What can I do to make these spaces work for me in the way I work and in the way I live my life?"
Take your desk, for example: realize that it must be specifically set up for you. Position your PC monitor in the way that's most comfortable for you. If you need tissues, candy, or certain supplies, then put them on your desk, close at hand.
Look at your desk in new ways. Align it so that it supports the way you work, regardless of how it looks to anyone else. Never mind what the person down the hall thinks! Identify the items you need, and then condition your desk to work for you. Remove piles from the window sills or cabinets tops and put them into file folders. Gain some clear space!
Observe your office, your car, your home, and all of the other physical spaces in your life, and ask, "What can I do to make these spaces work for me in the way I work and in the way I live my life?"
Take your desk, for example: realize that it must be specifically set up for you. Position your PC monitor in the way that's most comfortable for you. If you need tissues, candy, or certain supplies, then put them on your desk, close at hand.
Look at your desk in new ways. Align it so that it supports the way you work, regardless of how it looks to anyone else. Never mind what the person down the hall thinks! Identify the items you need, and then condition your desk to work for you. Remove piles from the window sills or cabinets tops and put them into file folders. Gain some clear space!
Breathing Space and Teen Driving
Words worth heeding from Felix Smith and the Car Owner Blog at www.carinsurance.org
"If you’re seeking a car insurance plan, there are many, many
factors that get taken into account, particularly if you have a family
with kids in it -- kids who will one day likely be sitting behind the wheel
of your family car. Getting your teen started down the road with a
learner’s permit can be one of the most nerve-wracking experiences in
your entire adult life."
"Most teens are ready and eager to hit the open
road, but there’s a lot of consideration that needs to go into making
sure your teen is safe and insured properly for any circumstance that
may arise. Teenagers and younger drivers are hands-down the most
accident prone demographic on the road: They crash more, seem to think
less, and tend to engage in more risky behaviors, like drinking and
driving or texting while behind the wheel."
"You want your teen to be
safe, and you also want them to be taken care of by your insurance plan.
If you’re curious about the proper way to be sure your teen is well
cared for by your insurance plan, check out this handy guide
to the best insurance for your young driver. Every parent’s ultimate
desire is for their teen to stay safe, but the odds of your 16-year-old
getting into a fender bender are too high to not make entirely sure that
your insurance policy is reliable and effective for any situation."
