Getting things done

Every no and then I got across people who uses David Allen´s «Getting things done», so I would like to introduce him for my readers.

This is some of the reviews on Amazon.com.

David Allen, a management consultant and executive coach, provides insights into attaining maximum efficiency and at the same time relaxing whenever one needs or wants to. Readers learn that there is no single means for perfecting organizational efficiency or productivity; rather, the author offers tools to focus energies strategically and tactically without letting anything fall through the cracks. 

 As whole-life-organizing systems, David Allen’s is pretty good, even fun and therapeutic. It starts with the exhortation to take every unaccounted-for scrap of paper in your workstation that you can’t junk, The next step is to write down every unaccounted-for gotta-do cramming your head onto its own scrap of paper. Finally, throw the whole stew into a giant «in-basket»

That’s where the processing and prioritizing begin; in Allen’s system, it get a little convoluted at times, rife as it is with fancy terms, subterms, and sub-subterms for even the simplest concepts. Thank goodness the spine of his system is captured on a straightforward, one-page flowchart that you can pin over your desk and repeatedly consult without having to refer back to the book. That alone is worth the purchase price.

Start with ordering the book here: http://www.amazon.com/Getting-Things-Done-Stress-Free-Productivity/dp/0142000280?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1248197209&sr=8-1

Just Do It!

Think now of one thing that will make you successful. Write it down and ask yourself what feelings it will allow you to achieve this (eg. To be promoted will make me proud, confident and happy).

Decide to feel the emotions instantly!

RIGHT NOW! JUST DO IT!

Creating Your Character

Is it like an Artist Creating a Sculpture?

Jim Rohn means that and in his latest newsletter he write some about it. Here is what he said:

Could creating your character be likened to an artist creating a sculpture? In my opinion, I believe that character is not something that just happens by itself, any more than a chisel can create a work of art without the hand of an artist guiding it. In both instances, a conscious decision for a specific outcome has been made. A conscious process is at work. Character is the result of hundreds and hundreds of choices you make that gradually turn who you are, at any given moment, into who you want to be. If that decision-making process is not present, you will still be somebody. You will still be alive, but may have a personality rather than a character.

Character is not something you were born with and can’t change, like your fingerprints. In fact, because you weren’t born with it, it is something that you must take responsibility for creating. I don’t believe that adversity by itself builds character and I certainly don’t think that success erodes it. Character is built by how you respond to what happens in your life. Whether it’s winning every game or losing every game. Getting rich or dealing with hard times. You build character out of certain qualities that you must create and diligently nurture within yourself. Just like you would plant and water a seed or gather wood and build a campfire. You’ve got to look for those things in your heart and in your gut. You’ve got to chisel away in order to find them. Just like chiseling away the rock in order to create the sculpture that has previously existed only in your imagination.

But do you want to know the really amazing thing about character? If you are sincerely committed to making yourself into the person you want to be, you’ll not only create those qualities, but you’ll continually strengthen them. And you will recreate them in abundance even as you are drawing on them every day of your life. Just like the burning bush in the biblical book of Exodus, the bush burned but the flames did not consume it. Character sustains itself and nurtures itself even as it is being put to work, tested, and challenged. And once character is formed, it will serve as a solid, lasting foundation upon which to build the life you desire.

What is your opinion? How did you create your character?


Your best year so far?

At the end of 2010 I shared with you a serie from Darren Hardy in The Success Magazine, I wonder of are you doing now? Have you followed the steps?

One of the things to start with was to get an understanding at where you where in the start, this is the important ground. Using the SWOT.

Using the S.W.O.T. framework you will come to better understand yourself.
You’ll see the tremendous advantages you possess and how you can leverage them to begin to separate yourself from your peers.
You’ll also discover special talents and abilities that you may need to further develop to achieve your most ambitious goals.

 

Where are you now?

How to enter a room

The Magazine Entrepreneur have an article in their latest issue about how to enter a room. This is not only for networking or meetings but also for us mentors. When you say yes to be a mentor in a mentoring program you will the first time come in this situation. You are new as a mentor (or new year, new mentee), all the mentee are new and you go into the room for the opening assembly.

Watch the video and get tips.

(This video has been removed by the user.)

 

The tips from the video:

1. WHEN people introduce themselves, say their names back to them or take a mental note. But try to keep their names in your head. Saying a person’s name back to them 20 or 30 minutes after you’ve met them suggests graciousness and respect, and it will endear you to them.

2. DO NOT give out business cards before the meeting begins. Because it makes you look like a blackjack dealer.

3. LOOK everyone in the eye for, like, a millisecond longer than is comfortable.

4. Don’t carry yourself in a way that could be described as «jaunty.»

5. IF there are fewer than six other people in the room, shake everyone’s hand. If there are six or more, shake approximately five hands, and then nod amiably to the rest. The shaking of hands can get out of hand.

6. At no time say, «Let’s do this!»

7. NO fist bumps.

8. DON’T talk about anything that isn’t pleasant, such as how much traffic you were just in or how hot it is or how you have a cold.

 

Good luck!

Do the Work by Steven Pressfield

Michael Hyatt recommend the book Do the work, http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1936719010/fwis-20

And he says that If you are a writer—or a creative of any time—this book is must reading. It is not that different from the War of Art, but he found it more focused and helpful.
If you are having a hard time getting started on that really important project or if you are stuck, this book is for you!

I know that this is on my reading list, thank you Michael Hyatt, http://michaelhyatt.com/

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My three most important tips for a trainer

Many people come to me and says I get easily in touch with the attende on my trainings and not at least I get them to open up for me. Many of my trainings are quite personal and you make some «soulsourcing» and we get on a very personal level.

There may be things being said to me in confidence or in plenary. It should be noted that I have been participated in several trainings where the trainer don

´t get the same contact with the participants.

In one training the trainer was really focused on the training and he was not open for discussions in the  breaks. He was focusing on the trainings and if he should change something for the next session

He therefore had no contact with participants during the break. I believe that it´s in the breaks you can «pick up» new things or clarification etc.

So here are my three most important tips as a trainer:

1. Be Precense

2. Respect the person and what he is saying

3. Show that you care

What are your top three tips?

 

An interview with a great young entrepreneur

I am doing a serie of interviews of entrepreneurs in Norway and I am especially looking for young entrepreneurs which are the up and coming leaders in Norway. Emil Lindegaard Carlsen (18) has a very interesting story and is a big success so far. I am looking forward to follow this guy in the future.

Emil started his first company, Garden Services, as a 13-year-old. When he was 16 he was managing director of a youth enterprice in school, and when he was 17 he started a «real» company with a colleague. Emma AS which has been on for 1.5 years selling patch of all kinds in grocery stores in Norway, a series of products for first aid.

Now they have hired two «adults», a general manager and a salesman. Emil takes even the role of Sales and Marketing. Now the High Schools senior students on their way to their vision to become a leading player in the Nordic market.

Emil is the entrepreneur of the month and you can read the whole interview in norwegian, at this link: http://norskgrunderforum.no/maanedens-grunder/juni-2011

Difference between good and great trainers

There is a discussion going on, on www.linkedin.com about the difference between good and great trainers. What is your opinion about this?

Read more on http://www.linkedin.com/groupItem?view=&srchtype=discussedNews&gid=2011285&item=55444364&type
=member&trk=eml-anet_dig-b_pd-ttl-cn

Avinash Naidu who started the discussion means that you have to combine passion, intelligence, commitment, and cutting edge skills to deliver programs of lasting value. I loved that.

What do you think is the difference between a good and a great trainer? And the next question will then be, how can YOU be a great trainer?