Month: August 2010
How Helpful is Blue Sky Thinking?
The blue sky view. Not a cloud in sight. Perfect conditions, endless opportunity, unlimited potential. People often formulate ideas using the “blue sky view,” a hypothetical landscape where challenges are nonexistent, success is straightforward, and every lucky break seems to go your way. Advocates of blue sky thinking say thatRead More
Individual Contributor vs Manager: What’s Your Preference?
In roughly 30 years of full-time employment, I have been both a manager and an individual contributor. Through the years of experience I’ve developed my own preference, of course. While I’ve come to my own conclusion on the matter, some of you are just beginning to explore both options as possibilities. Let’sRead More
Do You Prefer a Single or Dual Monitor Setup?
A dual monitor setup is something which I have considered for a long time. I am yet to go for it because, honestly, I think it could distract me instead of enhancing my productivity. Having said that, a lot of people seem to work better with two monitors. Even withRead More
5 Great Links for Speed Reading and Concentration
In an earlier article, I discussed the merits of teaching speed reading in schools. While it doesn’t appear to be something on the immediate horizon, the web has a few options worth considering if you want to upgrade your speed reading skills: Speed Reading Techniques This is a quick guideRead More
Real Life Organizing
Tips on keeping organized and staying on track when you’re juggling multiple projects simultaneously.
Do You Have an Intern from Hell?
Ah, summertime in the northern hemisphere! If your company takes on interns this is the time of year where you’ve got your share of college kids walking around the office in their only pair of crumpled slacks and inappropriate shoes. By the average office standards, my “intern shoes” weren’t exactlyRead More
What Are Your Office Etiquette Pet Peeves?
Office etiquette issues are mostly behind me, but before I fled cubicle hell for coffee shops and other freelance hangouts, I shared workspace just like (almost) everyone else, so I’ve dealt with the quirks of toxic coworkers — and they’ve had to cope with mine. One cubemate was deeply disturbedRead More