Which animal are you?

One of the great things about a long project, like the book I’m finishing now, is not only the source of satisfaction at the end — but also what you learn about yourself and how you work along the way.What I’m discovering, or perhaps confirming, this time around is what kind of animal I am.To […]

Avoiding bad habits the Eames way

In preparing for a visit to NeoCon 2009, I’ve been doing a fair bit of research on the utterly fascinating lives of Charles and Ray Eames.The Eameses, as most of you know, created, well, everything. Furniture. Graphics. Sculptures. Medical equipment. Films.In the 1930s, Charles, at the time somewhat frustrated with his architectural practice, picked up […]

Free teleconference: Thursday June 11

Join me, Pam Slim, and John Jantsch for a conversation with Keith Ferrazzi, author of Never Eat Alone, about his new book … Who’s Got Your Back.WHEN: Thursday June 11 at 3pm (EDT).Sign up here. It’s free!

Breakfast with Alan Webber

If you’re in D.C., please consider coming to a great event sponsored by the Washington Board of Trade: A conversation with Alan Webber about his terrific new book, Rules of Thumb.Tuesday, June 2, 20098am to 10amThe Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner1700 Tysons BlvdMcLean, VA Register here

Johnny Bunko Lesson One: Google it

Johnny Bunko continues to be the unknown muse of 2009 commencement speakers. Here’s Google CEO Eric Schmidt echoing Bunko Lesson One:
“Don’t bother to have a plan at all. All that stuff about having a plan, throw that out.”

(HT: Drew Weilage, via Jeff Jarvis)

Advice from the ultimate road warrior

Ten or fifteen years ago, if you walked into a typical hotel room catering to business travelers, you’d likely encounter a dodgy, uncomfortable chair behind what was nominally a work desk.  If you visit a business-oriented hotel today — particularly chains like Hyatt and Marriott — you’ll likely be able to plop your behind into […]

I doodle, therefore I am

NPR has a terrific story — complete with this official Barack Obama scribble-pic — about why the human brain often prompts the human hand into doodling during boring meetings and phone calls.Turns out that this aimless artistry isn’t so aimless after all. It’s keeps us from doing a full Walter Mitty when we’re not sufficiently […]

Cult of done

Regular readers know I’m slightly addicted to productivity tips and tricks. (In fact, I just picked up Gina Trapani’s Upgrade Your Life for some exciting airplane reading.)So I was especially taken by the Cult of Done manifesto, which has been flying around the productivity geek crowd on the web. Check it out below.
1. There […]

The peculiar syllogism of late 2008

I’m not OK. You’re not OK. Therefore, I’m OK.Read more here.

10 Steps to Happiness

Alternet gleans several years of research from the field of positive psychology to reveal “10 Things Science Says will Make You Happy.”  The list, paraphrased, is:

Stop and enjoy the present.
Don’t compare yourself to the Joneses.
Don’t obsess over money.
Aspire to leave an imprint.
Be intrinsically motivated on the job.
Build a supportive network of family and friends
Act optimistic even if you […]