Organize IT

Last week I published a guest post from Chrissy of Executive Assistant’s Toolbox about the art of conversation. One point that stood out for me was asking “questions about what people think and what they’ve experienced” This is typically achieved with open ended questions, which encourage the person you are talking with to say and reveal more, rather than giving “yes” or “no” answers. Ironically, last week I also had a training session at work that discussed the importance of using such questions. The problem is, in the heat of conversation – especially with a new person or a customer – it’s hardly realistic to stop and pause while you analyze what open question to ask.

It’s been a while since I added to my collection of productivity templates so I thought I would rectify that situation today. My latest template basically allows you to easily implement Jerry Seinfeld’s productivity secret. The idea is that each day you work on a big project or habit you put a large cross over the appropriate date on a calendar. If you repeat this process everyday you end up with a chain effect. This really motivates you to keep working on your project or habit because you really won’t want to break that long chain you’ve built up.

Following on from my look at influences, here is a House special.

“The great thing about telling somebody they’re dying is it tends to focus their priorities. You find out what matters to them. What they’re willing to die for. What they’re willing to lie for.”

Cuddy: “Dr. House! Need you here.”
House: “No thanks. Lots of sick people. I might catch something.”

“What else turns you on? Drugs? Casual sex? Rough sex? Casual, rough sex? I’m a doctor, I need to know.”

“Dying people lie too. Wish they’d worked less, been nicer, opened orphanages for kittens. If you really want to do something, you do it. You don’t save it for a sound bite.”

Chase: “How would you feel if I interfered in your personal life?”
House: “I’d hate it. That’s why I cleverly have no personal life.”

Organize IT recap for 25th January 2008

• On Wednesday I asked my readers what weird things influenced you. No responses yet, so if you haven’t read the post yet, it would be great if you can check it out and leave a comment!
• Posture is important, especially as so many people spend so much time at the computer nowadays. Not only is it important for health reasons, it’s also important for appearance reasons; standing up straight and walking with purpose can really boost confidence. With this in mind, Spine Health has ten tips to improve your posture.
• A few months back, David Allen went to Google where he presented the keys to GTD. The video of it is can be found at Youtube and you should definitely check it out. There are some interesting points which may also hint at what he will be writing about in David’s next book.
• Recently I discovered an article that discussed some classic advice from Arnold Schwarzenegger. However, what about Albert Einstein? Here are ten golden rules from the genius.

Recently two of my favorite blogs have taken big steps forward. This has had a motivational affect on me and my aspirations for Organize IT (more on all this in a future post) and it got me thinking about influences. Over the years, particularly as a child, I’ve had a few weird/funny ones, some of which are listed below. What weird influences have you had?

• Friends (the TV sitcom)
  In my naive pre-teen optimism I thought it was perfectly normal to have such a close group of friends who knew each other from college and were conveniently neighbors too. I also thought Chandler (Mathew Perry) was super cool, which probably explains where I get my sarcasm from…
• The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13¾
  Oddly perhaps, this book was one of the first influences that put the idea of being a writer into my head. Looking back over ten years later, I can’t remember why that was, but that might just be me blocking out my memories of teenage angst.
• House M.D.
  It’s one of my favorite shows and Gregory House is a brilliantly written (and performed) character. I’m not sure how it’s influenced me on any deep level, but I’m a walking stick away from being able to pull of a half-decent impression of him at a fancy dress party so that must mean something.