Blog recommendation
I recommend the business blog Trizle.com. Sparse. Concise. Insightful. Accurate. Helpful. Enjoyable. Motivational. Informational. Rockin’.
I recommend the business blog Trizle.com. Sparse. Concise. Insightful. Accurate. Helpful. Enjoyable. Motivational. Informational. Rockin’.
Joy and laughter
I was working on an article about motivational posters and while doing a little research I came across a web page with some motivational poster parodies that made me laugh so hard I had tears rolling down my cheeks. I thought I’d share them with you, since the old saying “laughter is the best medicine” has much evidence for its truth. Go to http://villageofjoy.com/25-motivational-posters/. [Warning: Profanity.] And if you like those, try http://despair.com/lithographs.html — it’s a store, but it doesn’t cost anything to look and laugh.
The entire website at http://villageofjoy.com/ is entertaining and thought-provoking.
I was working on an article about motivational posters and while doing a little research I came across a web page with some motivational poster parodies that made me laugh so hard I had tears rolling down my cheeks. I thought I’d share them with you, since the old saying “laughter is the best medicine” [...]
Project Management and Other Tools for Small Business
Today I published a guest article about using project management in the small business and I wanted to add a few notes of my own.
In her article, Cheryl McNeil explains how to do project management using Microsoft’s Word® and Excel® rather than expensive project management software. While the explanation is very usable, I’d like to add that you also don’t need to invest in the software she mentions either. There is a perfectly good open source (free) multiple-platform office software suite. OpenOffice does word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics and databases. All the stuff your name brands do, pretty much the same way they do it. And it is compatible with all the name brands for importing and exporting documents. If you have a small business or are a “solopreneur,” you always need to keep expenses down. Go get OpenOffice.
Additionally, as I’ve mentioned before in this blog, there is an excellent online service called Zoho.com which provides an amazing set of tools in both free and paid versions. They include word processing, database, presentation, project management, invoicing, meeting, spreadsheet, notebook, planner, contact relationship management and more. Yes, some of the free versions are limited (e.g. project management for one project at a time), but most small businesses will find them sufficient and if you need more, you will find the paid versions reasonably priced.
Today I published a guest article about using project management in the small business and I wanted to add a few notes of my own.
In her article, Cheryl McNeil explains how to do project management using Microsoft’s Word® and Excel® rather than expensive project management software. While the explanation is very usable, I’d like [...]
“No problem” management
Yesterday, I published a guest article about problem-solving by Jeanne Sawyer, and it reminded me of a lesson I learned in management and employee problem-solving some time ago.
A wise executive I know has a policy about employees who bring problems into his office: they take the problems with them when they leave. He simply doesn’t accept people dumping their problems on him to resolve. That is not what he’s there for — he’s there to help them figure out how to solve their own problems. And avoid having those problems recur. So he talks with them about the issues involved, the resources available, their proposed solutions, his experience in dealing with the same problems in the past, and so forth. He helps them think it through, and if they don’t come up with solid plans before they leave, he refers them to others who might help.
Too often managers with a strong “hands-on” approach will end up doing some of their employees’ work for them when they have problems with it. That is especially true of managers who have done the work themselves and consider themselves expert in the subject matter. That’s a mistake. The point of management is to facilitate workers doing their jobs — managers plan, organize, coordinate, direct and monitor what employees do. Managers of high performance/productivity departments and teams train, coach and direct employees to work independently and solve their own problems with their assignments.
Read the guest article I mentioned, on the same subject.
Yesterday, I published a guest article about problem-solving by Jeanne Sawyer, and it reminded me of a lesson I learned in management and employee problem-solving some time ago.
A wise executive I know has a policy about employees who bring problems into his office: they take the problems with them when they leave. He simply doesn’t [...]
Another articles update…
Below is an update on the guest articles I’ve published over the last week, plus today’s article. In reverse chronological order.
Below is an update on the guest articles I’ve published over the last week, plus today’s article. In reverse chronological order.
Just a New Year’s Greeting…
May your new year be filled with peace and prosperity — and excellence in productivity and performance. Hope you enjoy the greeting card below. If you like it, feel free to make a copy of it and use it in your own emails or on your website.
May your new year be filled with peace and prosperity — and excellence in productivity and performance. Hope you enjoy the greeting card below. If you like it, feel free to make a copy of it and use it in your own emails or on your website.