Productivity, Leadership, and Motivation

Question: Do you have any tips on being more productive during the day?

• "Learn to say no. A computer runs at its slowest when it has too many operations open at once. The same applies to our own production." - Greg Reid


• "Divorce yourself of the idea that long hours and accomplishments are connected." - Vic Johnson

Question: Any advice on how I can be a better leader?

• "Be a person who can be counted on." - Cynthia Kersey

Question: How can I keep myself constantly motivated and on track?

• "The biggest problems people have in achieving goals is that they often try to make too many drastic changes all at once. Research indicates that when people are asked to make big, sweeping changes in their lives all at once, they get overwhelmed, become discouraged and commonly give up. The most effective way to create lasting change is to focus on one area at a time. Even the busiest person can find the time to take a single step." - CK

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Source: Success Magazine's 1on1: Getting the Most of Your Time (August/September 2008)

Platitudes & Attitudes

Some observations from Texas billionaire, T. Boone Pickens ...

MAKE THE CALL.

"Sometimes the window of opportunity is open only briefly... be willing to make decisions. That's the most important quality in a good leader. Don't fall victim to what I call the ready-aim-aim-aim-aim-aim syndrome. You must be willing to fire."

ANALYZE WELL.

"Information is everything. You can never have enough, and as you get older you find that keeping current keeps you in the game."

LEARN FROM MISTAKES.

"It's all right to get your fingers crushed in the door, but don't let the same door crush them twice."

KEEP PRIORITIES STRAIGHT.

"Far too many executives have become more concerned with the four P's -- Pay, Perks, Power, and Prestige -- rather than making profits for shareholders."

HIRE GOOD PEOPLE.

"What I am always looking for is people who can do a job better than I can."

BALANCE IT OUT.

"Work eight hours and sleep eight hours, and make sure they are not the same eight hours."

FORGET ABOUT AGE.

"Give young people a chance."

HAVE A PLAN.

"A fool with a plan can outsmart a genius with no plan."

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Source: Success Magazine (November 2008)

Zig Ziglar's Success Habits

1. Be a constant learner. Seek out information that you can learn and teach to others.
2. Encourage others and help them get what they want.
3. Express gratitude. "Gratitude is the healthiest of all human emotions," Ziglar says. "The more you express gratitude for what you have, the more likely you will have even more to express gratitude for."
4. Recognize the value of relationships and their role in creating balanced success.
5. Be consistent in your words and actions. "When you make a promise, keep it."

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Source: Success Magazine's Lessons from the Top (October 2008)

Poem In Your Pocket Day

Yup, that's right. Not only is April National Poetry Month, but April 17th is Poem in Your Pocket Day!

"The idea is simple:" says the Academy of American Poets. "[S]elect a poem you love during National Poetry Month then carry it with you to share with co-workers, family, and friends on April 17. Poems from pockets will be unfolded throughout the day with events in parks, libraries, schools, workplaces, and bookstores."

Or, if you prefer, you can download your favorite poems to your cell or smart phone: Poems to go!

Now I'm not a big fan of poetry, per se, but in honor of the day, let me pull out an old fave, Knots, by "Independent British Psychoanalyst, Social Phenomenologist, Radical Psychiatrist, Existential Philosopher," and poet if you ask me, R. D. Laing.

Here's an excerpt from Knots:

There must be something the matter with him
because he would not be acting as he does
unless there was
therefore he is acting as he is
because there is something the matter with him

He does not think there is anything the matter with him
because
one of the things that is
the matter with him
is that he does not think that there is anything
the matter with him

therefore
we have to help him realize that,
the fact that he does not think there is anything
the matter with him
is one of the things that is
the matter with him

(Can you see why the piece is called Knots?!)

Favorite Quotations - category archives

Follow this link to the GottaGettaBlog! archives for more postings from Barry Zweibel on the topic of: Favorite Quotations.

Also see: Notable Quotables.