Brilliant Time Management

I have just received the Arabic language copies of: Brilliant Time Management (left) and Brilliant Influence (right).   They are published by Jarir Bookstore.

At the heart of my original book on personal time management, “Brilliant Time Management” was a simple principle: The OATS Principle. I originally planned to place it at the start of the book, but as the book took shape, I decided to make it the summary of much of what came before, rather than introduce it early.  But it remains the key to the whole book. So much so, in fact, that when I came to write what I view...

Three of my Brilliant title are now available in Polish translation:    

This autumn has been an extremely busy time for me, and early in the autumn, I started trialing a new work-planning and organising system.  It is very simple and, my conclusion is, it works magnificently. It is based on an inexpensive stationery item, a simple multi-part folder.  In my case, I use a none-part file like this one: http://amzn.to/U2dqJh. What I did – initially with pencil and, now I have decided to stick with the system, with printed labels – is label...

Seth Godin blogged a few days ago to remind readers of a little book he wrote in 2007, called “The Dip”. This was an important book for me to read – not least because, when my review copy arrived from Training Journal, it was the first time I had heard the name Seth Godin. I read the book quickly and then, I recall, I read it again: it’s a short book.  It gave me a clear idea for how I...

Polychronicity is the tendency to multi-task.  High multi-taskers are “polychrons”.  Research shows that is, for most people at most times, less efficient and effective than serial monochronicity – doing one thing at a time, one after the other. But the realities of modern life include interruptions, multiple sources of information, and constantly growing demands.  Evidence also seems to suggest that younger generations, who are growing up with social networking technology as a norm of their lives are more comfortable with...

I’ve been starting to use a great new piece of web software called Wunderkit.  I love it! Recently, I became a fan of Trello – and wrote about it on my other blog, Shift Happens! Take a look at that article. Trello is not a project management tool, but it is suitable for project collaboration.  You can also use it for your own task management and it is well worth taking a look at. Wunderkit is also not a “proper”...

Work smarter: not Harder It almost deserves one of those corny motivational posters that you see: a bit like this, I suppose: Wisdom demands more than just smarter work practices, however.  If you want to get more out of your day, you need to understand how your brain and body work.  And for most of us, that means recognising a natural dip in alertness in the early afternoon.  All the research shows that a fifteen to twenty minute nap –...

My friend Rich is an artist blacksmith, working at the Much Hadham Forge. I asked about the status of a screen he is finishing for me and got this reply: “Your screen is top of my list now. Unfortunately for you my list isn’t chronologically arranged.” Marvellous!

Have you ever been let down by someone? Maybe you asked a colleague to go prepare an analysis for you.  Perhaps you asked a client to make a decision.  Or did you order something form an online retailer? Then what happens? You get on with your work or your life but hey… Where is that analysis? I need to meet a deadline, but no decision. Where is that thing I ordered and need today? You want to get angry …...