During work time, work; during play time, play

Tuesday 29 May 2012 - Filed under On Working With Yourself + Practical Theory

But I would argue that this is not a problem intrinsic to academic life: it’s a problem for people who are lousy at time management. I decided long ago that the one absolutely key commitment one must make in order to survive as an academic is: During work time, work; during play time, play. It’s far too easy for academics — and most other knowledge workers as well — to allow work and play to blur together, so that, yeah, you’re writing that conference paper, but you’re also stopping every five minutes to check your email, tweet, IM with other friends who are similarly procrastinating, follow a rabbit-trail of links on the internet. It’s the habit of succumbing to these temptations that leads to evenings at the office when you ought to be having a glass of wine with your spouse or reading to your children.

Source

 ::  Share or discuss  ::  2012-05-29  ::  Cameron

Why People Don’t Really Like New Ideas

Thursday 24 May 2012 - Filed under On Working With Others + Practical Theory

The fact is that the better the idea the more fear it will instill in people. Scott Berkun said it best:

No matter how amazing an idea is, until proven otherwise, its imagined benefits will pale in comparison to the real, and nonimagined, fear of change. This creates an unfortunate paradox: the greater the potential of an ideas, the harder it is to find anyone willing to try it.

“Myths of Innovation“

 ::  Share or discuss  ::  2012-05-24  ::  Cameron

Innovation and Luck

Wednesday 23 May 2012 - Filed under Practical Theory

I’m currently reading Scott Berkun‘s excellent book Myths of Innovation. I plan on posted my full notes of quotes in recording from the book in the future but for now I want to share this particular gem:

Honoring luck doesn’t diminishing an accomplishment: it’s am acknowledgment to others that you can do everything right and fail, and do many things wrong and succeed.

 ::  Share or discuss  ::  2012-05-23  ::  Cameron

William McKnight’s Business Philosophy

Tuesday 22 May 2012 - Filed under On Working With Others + The Workplace

As our business grows, it becomes increasingly necessary to delegate responsibility and to encourage men and women to exercise their initiative. This requires considerable tolerance. Those men and women, to whom we delegate authority and responsibility, if they are good people, are going to want to do their jobs in their own way. Mistakes will be made. But if a person is essentially right, the mistakes he or she makes are not as serious in the long run as the mistakes management will make if it undertakes to tell those in authority exactly how they must do their jobs. Management that is destructively critical when mistakes are made kills initiative. And it’s essential that we have many people with initiative if we are to continue to grow.

Source

 ::  Share or discuss  ::  2012-05-22  ::  Cameron

Staying Sane at Work

Monday 21 May 2012 - Filed under The Workplace

Ryan Stephens recently wrote a really nice blog in how to overcome being overwhelmed at work that enjoyed very much.

I have recently felt a bit overwhelmed at work myself. With taking on more responsibilities stepping officially into a new role, while juggling filling in for someone recently leaving.

My biggest weapon against overwhelm is always organization (duh). When I don’t understand all of the things that need to be done an their context of when they need to be done I get stressed.

So I make sure to stay organized, lately using Asana. This allows me to anticipate problems areas and get help before a fire starts.

This last Friday I stayed late to get all of my STUFF organized just do I didn’t have to be stressed through the weekend. When I get to work on Monday I just have to look at Asana and I know what I need to do.

Having a big-picture outlook is also extremely important for me. When things get crazy I like to say myself “this too shall pass.” It’s a comforting phrase that give me a bit of perspective.

Reading books and talking to other people is also a good tactic to keep things in perspective.

Merlin Mann seems to agree with me on the talking to people thing

“I feel so much more grounded in the universe when I have regular contact with other people”

 ::  Share or discuss  ::  2012-05-21  ::  Cameron