Displaying All Posts by Mike Vardy

How Not to Become an Overachiever

Mike Vardy 30th December Productivity Leave a Comment

    There’s something to be said about being too productive, which my WorkAwesome colleague, Mark Garrison, alluded to in a recent article, I’d say that the old adage “less is more” is the best practical approach to any workplace situation.  We’ve all heard the quality usurps quantity time and tie again, yet it seems as if we’re always trying to do more…better.  The problem is, you can’t do “more” better if you first don’t learn to do “less” best.  The practice of doing more stuff adequately is classic underachievement.  You take on so much and even if you manage to pull it off and appease your superiors you know deep down that you’re capable of much better.

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    The Value of the Weekend

    Mike Vardy 17th December Productivity Leave a Comment

      Oh, how we all long for the weekend. There’s a certain buzz in the air once Wednesday passes by (ergo, we’re over the hump) and in the home stretch of what is known as “The Work Week.”

      Well, to some of us anyway.

      There are, however, those who work hard and play…er…occasionally. The cubicle is not necessarily everyone’s work environment, nor is a 9 to 5 schedule everyone’s to adhere to. Schedules can be static or fluctuate, often depending on the type of work but there is also the likelihood that it is the person themselves that dictates the work day—and work habits.

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      The Power of Preparedness

      Mike Vardy 15th December Goals Leave a Comment

        With the end of the year rapidly approaching (I know – seems just like yesterday that we were ringing it in) pretty much everyone is taking into account what he or she did achieve in the year speeding by and what he or she hopes to achieve in the one speeding towards us. The time of year is upon us where we take stock on we’ve got and (some of us) fill stockings hoping to give someone something they haven’t got.

        (Personally, I’m hoping for a nice LiveScribe pen in my stocking, so I’m hoping I haven’t been too naughty this year…)
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        Stop Deliberating and Start Delivering

        Mike Vardy 25th November Productivity Leave a Comment

          “The waiting is the hardest part.” – Tom Petty

          This adage applies on many fronts (remember desperately wanting to open gifts early as a kid?) and the feeling never really goes away, it just comes and goes in waves. Sometimes it is a result of others making you wait, and sometimes it’s because you’re either hesitating or are just plain stuck. It’s not unavoidable, but it’s bound to happen now and again. It’s a behavioral thing more often than not, and it’s not necessarily your behavior that has the greatest impact.

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          Will Google Wave Work For You?

          Mike Vardy 30th October Productivity Leave a Comment

            This post was meant to happen at least a week ago, but I simply got caught in the “current event” that is Google Wave.

            For those of you who aren’t familiar with Google Wave (and didn’t have or feel the need to sit through the 80 minute video when it was announced), it is the ongoing realization of the question:

            “What would email look like if we set out to invent it today?” – Lars Rasmussen, Software Engineering Manager, Google Wave

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            Blog Action Day 2009: How to Change the Climate in Your Workplace

            Mike Vardy 16th October Office Life Leave a Comment

              Today is Blog Action Day, and this year’s focus is on Climate Change. Now it would be easy for me talk about climate in the sense of what the overall “climate” is like in your workplace, but I’m pretty certain that isn’t what this initiative is about (but it would be quite clever). Truth be told, there is a direct correlation between being productive and being environmentally conscious – and the fact that the word “action” is in the title of this very worthy cause lends itself towards productivity as well. There are certain “actions” you can take that can make your work more productive and lower your carbon footprint at the same time – whether directly or indirectly.
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              Make Work Better with Your Desktop Decor

              Mike Vardy 30th September Office Life Leave a Comment

                I was checking out my new desktop wallpaper, which should look familiar to those who have been regularly perusing this here site, and as I laid out my icons accordingly on it I found myself organized and inspired in one fell swoop.

                It’s widely accepted that a messy desktop area leads to an unproductive working environment. This holds true not only for your computer’s desktop, but for your physical desktop. The idea of “zenning down” your desk area to the bare essentials is a good idea, but if you go too far towards that route your workmates and superiors may see you not as efficient, but rather wonder if you don’t have enough to do. Silly, yes – but remember that what people often perceive as reality becomes their reality.
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                The Flow Code: The Basics of “Getting To Flow”

                Mike Vardy 19th September Productivity Leave a Comment

                  In my last article, I alluded to the teachings of the venerable Barney Stinson, many of whom consider to be The Master of Awesome. Not only does he “walk the walk” and “talk the talk”, but he can also pen a solid opus about it. I recently read his work, The Bro Code, which is essentially a bible for the brotherhood of men. If you adhere to the carefully/comedically crafted code, you’ll become a “balanced bro.” Needless to say, I’m working on it. I’ll get there eventually.

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