Practically Perfect PA

FEBRUARY 9, 2016

Many of us will have no doubt at some level been involved in the Staff Away. Love it or loath it, they are events that we need to support. I’ve actually in the past run the entire event and it is such a large challenge. So when I came across this example of a Staff Away Day that Gallus Events ran I had to share it. It is a wonderful case study; if only all of our Staff Away Days’ could be so useful! Initially the organisation was not sure at all about running an away day.

2016 138

2016 Gossip Budget Environment 138

Dumb Little Man

FEBRUARY 8, 2016

From a young age we are being taught to be selfless. To consider the feelings of the people around us and put them before our own. Selfless people are likeable, always nice to be around and they just make our lives a little bit easier. But are they happy? Some of them certainly are. I am not saying there is no happiness to be found in helping others. Especially the people that are close to your heart deserve to be treated the best way possible.

2016 132

2016 132

Small Business Labs

FEBRUARY 8, 2016

You rarely sees the words "interesting" and "academic paper" in the same sentence. But despite its title, Coworking: A Transdisciplinary Overview  is one of the best and most interesting articles I've read on coworking.    Key quote from the paper's abstract on what it covers: It argues that coworking is a complex social phenomenon that can be differentiated from other spatial concepts that relate to work, learning and social interactions.

2016 130

2016 Collaborate Environment Learning 130

Office Organization Success

FEBRUARY 9, 2016

As exciting as working from home can be when you first start out, after a while it can become very isolating. Even though I’ve been doing this for over 14 years, there have been times where I’d wished for the office environment again just so that I can be with people and have face-to-face conversations. Over the years I’ve developed some tricks and strategies to help combat the isolation that we can sometimes feel: 1. Get dressed for work every day.

2016 126

2016 Environment Calendars Networking 126

Practically Perfect PA

FEBRUARY 6, 2016

The Bruntsfield Links Golfing Society are Golf’s great wanderers. The fourth oldest Golf Society in the world their Society dates back to 1761. The society originally played in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle before moving twice along the Edinburgh coast during the 1800s before settling (and I would imagine for good this time) on the very edge of Edinburgh looking over the Forth river to the rolling hills in Fife. A perfect location for a corporate Golf Day.

2016 130

2016 International Networking Skills 130

Dumb Little Man

FEBRUARY 10, 2016

According to surveys, in today’s modern corporate world, women are proving to be more adaptive in nature than men. They are open to frequent business travels, are able to manage both house and job and are super efficient when it comes to multitasking.

2016 127

2016 Travel Google Management 127

Small Business Labs

FEBRUARY 11, 2016

CB Insights The United States Of Startups: The Most Well-Funded Tech Startup In Every US State  illustrates that there are tech companies all across America. The article chart below (click to enlarge) shows the tech startup that has raised the most money by state. In addition to pointing out there are tech companies everywhere in the U.S., the article also shows how quickly things move.

2016 116

2016 116

Eco-Office Gals

FEBRUARY 10, 2016

This probably isn’t a question that you ask yourself often, but: just how eco-friendly is your furniture? As a matter of fact, what is eco-friendly furniture anyway? In the simplest possible terms, eco-friendly furniture is furniture that is created in a manner that has minimum negative impact on the environment. For example, where wood is used, it has to come from renewable sources, and any chemicals used in the process do not pollute or otherwise harm the environment.

2016 109

2016 2002 2011 Agencies 109

Dumb Little Man

FEBRUARY 7, 2016

Let’s talk about Your success for a moment. The one you have always dreamed of. The image that fills your mind the moment I say the word. Yes, that one! That success that you have been making passes at. That success that you have entertained in surges of motivation. And shelved in moments of apathy. That success that has led you to the glossy covers of magazines. And the promises of self-help books. You won’t find it in those pages. It is not present in those advertisements.

2016 125

2016 125

Small Business Labs

FEBRUARY 9, 2016

Last week Intuit released The Five Faces of the On-Demand Economy , which covers 5 common profiles of on-demand workers. This is a follow on report to their On-Demand Workforce report from several weeks ago, which covers the motivations, attitudes and demographics of those working via on-demand economy (ODE) work intermediation platforms such as Uber, Upwork, Fiverr, etc.

2016 109

2016 109

Office Dynamics

FEBRUARY 8, 2016

Love yourself. In honor of the month of love, I am going to offer some great info I wrote a few years ago with my BIG Life project. People often describe their self-esteem like a thermometer. It goes up and down. If someone is complimenting them or they have done a good job, they have high self-esteem. But if someone belittles them or their work, they tend to have low self-esteem. I especially find this an interesting topic with women.

Self Esteem 145

Self Esteem 2016 Assertiveness Gifts 145

Productivity Bits

FEBRUARY 11, 2016

Productivity on any business travel is necessary, but it can become a major setback. We don’t always get to leave at the most opportune times, and that means we wind up having to shift our priorities to what we’ll be able to do at the moment. There’s no reason to agonize while you’re on the road. You can’t bring your office with you, but you can work remotely with what you have. There’s no reason to agonize while you’re on the road.

2016 100

2016 Travel Constant Contact Holidays 100

Dumb Little Man

FEBRUARY 12, 2016

Rumi, also known as Mawlānā, is one of the world’s greatest poets of all time. Born in the city of Balkh, located in Northern Afghanistan, this mystical man was heavily influenced by Sufism and had a deep love for humanity. Throughout the centuries, his poems and quotes have sang to the hearts and souls of millions and millions of people…inspiring greater love, faith, comedy and humanity in the world. Here are 30 of Rumi’s most inspiring quotes.

2016 125

2016 125

Clutter Coach

FEBRUARY 10, 2016

by Years ago I had a client who was plagued by what she called CHS. That stands for Convenient Horizontal Surfaces. Whenever there was one, she found herself filling it up with something and then had to work to get it free again. Your desk is a prime candidate for attracting piles, especially when there is empty space on it. It’s a conundrum; you want to have space to work at your desk, yet that empty space inevitably calls out to have paper piled on it.

2016 100

2016 Promotion Home Office UPS 100

On The Job

FEBRUARY 10, 2016

When you love your job, but hate your boss, it can be tough. While you may look forward to doing your job every day, the thought of dealing with your boss is enough to make your morning latte curdle in your stomach. It's often said that people don't leave jobs -- they leave bosses. That's certainly true when the the boss is an idiot, a jerk and a moron. But what if you don't want to leave because you like the work, your colleagues -- even the customers? Can you stick it out?

2016 133

2016 Interviewing Travel Email 133

Daily Writing Tips

FEBRUARY 10, 2016

The English language abounds with word describing occupations and professions that are rare or obsolete or are otherwise unusual and hence obscure. Here is an incomplete but extensive list of such terms, along with brief definitions. ackerman : a plowman or oxherder. alewife : a proprietor of a tavern. alnager : a wool inspector. arkwright : a carpenter specializing in wooden chests. bowyer : a bowmaker. brazier : a brass worker. catchpole : an official who pursues those with delinquent debts.

2016 63

2016 Clothes Suppliers Negotiating 63

Dumb Little Man

FEBRUARY 11, 2016

We’ve all been there… You engage in a few minutes of small talk with the rest of the table. A couple of bread baskets later, it’s time to get this party started. The waiter looks straight at you… and blurts out those much anticipated – yet – most frightening words: “What wine would you like to order, sir?” ” You take a deep breath. The next few words have great power. What you say directly affects the outcome of your entire experience.

2016 119

2016 Restaurants 119

Clutter Coach

FEBRUARY 7, 2016

by Sure, you can put some fancy European handles on your kitchen cabinets or install track lighting, but designer Christopher J. Grubb also recommends this approach (this quotation came from today’s New York Times and the link may only be temporarily available): The fastest and least costly way to update your kitchen is by removing clutter. “Do Do you really need the canister set, breadbox and all of the appliances out on the counters?” Mr. Grubb asked.

2016 100

2016 100

On The Job

FEBRUARY 8, 2016

If you want your team be happier and more productive, help them develop the individual habits that are right for them and you will reap the rewards of a better team. Do you have team members that drive you crazy? Perhaps one employee hates rules and fights any kind of oversight. Another worker seems to get upset when not given lots of deadlines and structure. In frustration, you decide everyone will just do as you say – with no whining.

2016 100

2016 Management UPS 100

Productivityist

FEBRUARY 9, 2016

This is a piece that was originally published in The Productivityist Weekly newsletter. I wanted to share it with you on the blog as well to explain why Productivityist no longer writes or focuses on the GTD methodology. If you would like more updates, Click here and you’ll get it delivered to your inbox every week. So I’m no longer practicing Getting Things Done. To be fair, I haven’t been practicing GTD in its purest sense for over a year and a half now.

2016 57

2016 Goals UPS 57

Dumb Little Man

FEBRUARY 9, 2016

Although feeling overwhelmed and confused during divorce is normal, remember to avoid the egregious divorce mistakes. It will save you time, money, and your sanity so that you can move on to the next chapter of your life better, not broken or bitter. Not looking at the big picture One of the reasons why divorce feels horrible is because you probably weren’t taught how to plan ahead in divorce. It’s funny, isn’t it?

2016 107

2016 Retirement 107

Daily Writing Tips

FEBRUARY 11, 2016

Answer is a word of noble pedigree—it dates back nearly a thousand years in its original sense of “swear against” (from Old English andswaru ). However, it’s bland and neutral, and a variety of synonyms with more precise connotations exist. Reply often has a sense of a thorough reaction to a communication, though it can simply refer to an answer in general.

2016 53

2016 Legal 53

Brilliantly Better

FEBRUARY 6, 2016

For the last 2 years I lived in a block house downtown Bucharest. It’s a small and cosy place and it’s very close to the center (that’s why we picked it in the first place). It certainly has it quirks,… The post Chasing Pigeons, Motivation and Barking appeared first on Dragos Roua. Personal Development

2016 48

2016 48

Productivityist

FEBRUARY 9, 2016

This is a piece that was originally published in The Productivityist Weekly newsletter. I wanted to share it with you on the blog as well to explain why Productivityist no longer writes or focuses on the GTD methodology. If you would like more updates, Click here and you’ll get it delivered to your inbox every week. So I’m no longer practicing Getting Things Done. To be fair, I haven’t been practicing GTD in its purest sense for over a year and a half now.

2016 57

2016 Goals UPS 57

BioTeams

FEBRUARY 8, 2016

I am very pleased to announce the release of my new guide book: A SYSTEMATIC GUIDE TO GAME-BASED LEARNING (GBL) IN ORGANIZATIONAL TEAMS. My friend Charles Jennings who introduces the book kindly notes in his foreword that ' it provides a deep analysis and clear guidance to help practitioners develop effective social game-based learning solutions

2016 40

2016 Learning 40

Daily Writing Tips

FEBRUARY 6, 2016

I heard a reporter on NPR refer to something that had been “inundated by water.” Looking online, I found this headline: Family of Five Inundated by Water No Assistance Provided—Belize News. In each example, “by water” is redundant. As a transitive verb, inundate means “to overspread with a flood of water.” It does make sense to add a prepositional phrase if something other than water—or a specific kind of water— is doing the overflowing.

2016 52

2016 2008 Forms 52

Clutter Coach

FEBRUARY 11, 2016

Many a blog post has been written about turning off your phone and closing your email program and browser so you can get some work done. Tips about deflecting office visitors and avoiding meetings can combat those in-person distractions. But there's another subtle way that you get off track, and that's by doing other people's work. The thing is, it's usually easier to solve someone else's problems than your own.

2016 100

2016 Calendars Promotion Phones 100

Productivityist

FEBRUARY 11, 2016

I’ve just finished reading How to Live on 24 Hours a Day by Arnold Bennett. I discovered this book through reading Cal Newport’s latest book, Deep Work. I’m surprised I hadn’t heard about this book before as it tackles the topic of time management. I can only presume that the reason it wasn’t on my radar was due to its age: it was published in 1910.

2016 55

2016 Social Media Training Goals 55

Productivityist

FEBRUARY 11, 2016

I’ve just finished reading How to Live on 24 Hours a Day by Arnold Bennett. I discovered this book through reading Cal Newport’s latest book, Deep Work. I’m surprised I hadn’t heard about this book before as it tackles the topic of time management. I can only presume that the reason it wasn’t on my radar was due to its age: it was published in 1910.

2016 55

2016 Social Media Training Goals 55

Productivityist

FEBRUARY 8, 2016

On this edition of the podcast, I speak with founder of Think Productive and productivity ninja Graham Allcott. We focus on the nine characteristics you need to have to become a true productivity ninja and dive into a myriad of other offshoot topics as a result. I had a lot of fun chatting with Graham and I’ll be having him back on in short order to dive deeper into even more! Relevant Links. Think Productive UK. How to be a Productivity Ninja by Graham Allcott | Amazon.

2016 53

2016 Twitter Learning Management 53

Productivityist

FEBRUARY 8, 2016

On this edition of the podcast, I speak with founder of Think Productive and productivity ninja Graham Allcott. We focus on the nine characteristics you need to have to become a true productivity ninja and dive into a myriad of other offshoot topics as a result. I had a lot of fun chatting with Graham and I’ll be having him back on in short order to dive deeper into even more! Relevant Links. Think Productive UK. How to be a Productivity Ninja by Graham Allcott | Amazon.

2016 53

2016 Twitter Learning Management 53

Daily Writing Tips

FEBRUARY 7, 2016

When listing hail as one of the words used to describe precipitation recently , I thought about the other definitions of the word. Hail is also used as an interjection to acclaim (“Hail to the chief!”) or salute (“Hail, fellow well met!”) someone, though it’s an archaic usage rarely applied anymore. This meaning stems from the Old Norse word heill , used for the same purpose but derived from that word’s original meaning, “healthy.”

2016 51

2016 Health 51

Daily Writing Tips

FEBRUARY 9, 2016

What’s the rule for attaching an -ing ending to a one-syllable, short-vowel word ending in -ge ? Is the act of doing something too much, for example, an instance of bingeing , or has one been binging ? As it turns out, according to Merriam-Webster’s website, the -ing form of binge can be spelled either way, one of only two members of the class of words of this type with such flexibility. But among the others, the retention or omission of the e is inconsistent (but sensibly so).

2016 49

2016 Forms 49

Daily Writing Tips

FEBRUARY 12, 2016

A reader coming across this sentence in Arthur Miller’s An Air-conditioned Nightmare (1945) was puzzled by the use of the word let: Night and day without let the radio drowns us in a hog-wash of the most nauseating, sentimental ditties. Asks the reader, “Could this be a typo for “without let-up”? The English word let functions as a verb, a noun, and an adjective. Its use as a noun meaning hindrance or obstacle dates to the twelfth century.

2016 49

2016 Legal Interviewing Forms 49

Daily Writing Tips

FEBRUARY 8, 2016

Scribe , from the Latin term scribere , meaning “to write,” referred to a person who performed the responsibilities of an accountant, a secretary, or both but later denoted any writer. Scrivener is a synonym from medieval Anglo-French.) The term is rarely used outside of historical contexts but occasionally appears as affected slang to refer to a professional author or writer; the same is true of its use as a verb to refer to the action of writing.

2016 48

2016 Email Learning 48

Productivityist

FEBRUARY 11, 2016

I’ve just finished reading How to Live on 24 Hours a Day by Arnold Bennett. I discovered this book through reading Cal Newport’s latest book, Deep Work. I’m surprised I hadn’t heard about this book before as it tackles the topic of time management. I can only presume that the reason it wasn’t on my radar was due to its age: it was published in 1910.

2016 43

2016 Social Media Training Goals 43

Productivityist

FEBRUARY 8, 2016

On this edition of the podcast, I speak with founder of Think Productive and productivity ninja Graham Allcott. We focus on the nine characteristics you need to have to become a true productivity ninja and dive into a myriad of other offshoot topics as a result. I had a lot of fun chatting with Graham and I’ll be having him back on in short order to dive deeper into even more! Relevant Links. Think Productive UK. How to be a Productivity Ninja by Graham Allcott | Amazon.

2016 43

2016 Twitter Learning Management 43