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Productivity Hacks
- 4. About Me • CEOof Inversoft • Software Developer for 16 years • Keyboard junky • Agro-efficiency nut – I take control of meetings when they go too slow
- 8. How can Ido that?
- 9. Brian’s 7 Habitsof Insane Productivity
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- 15. Distractions • Close email •Close IM/Skype • Close web browsers (or hide them) • Silence phones – Put them out of reach • Headphones
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- 18. Avoid Spinning • Wheredo I start? • I’ll try this one thing • But what about those other thing • Really there are like 50 things • I better plan for all of them (they might interact and overlap) • Where do I start?
- 19. The Fix? PLAN, PLAN,PLAN SOME MORE BUT DON’T PLAN FOREVER
- 20. Parts, Steps, Pieces •Always make a plan • Use a planning tool (we use Pivotal Tracker) • Break the plan into phases • Outline as many steps as you can (and make sense) • Avoid really fine detail – “In phase 3, I’ll take a coffee break for 15 minutes after I set the footer color to cornflower blue…”
- 23. Example (New Website) •Phase 1: Pick multiple design tools, rank them and eval – Build matrix of required and “nice to have” features – Search for 10 tools – Reduce set based on features – Pick 2 tools to evaluate – Build a single web page in both tools • Phase 2: Build homepage – Write copy – Etc.
- 24. Example (New Website) •Phase 3: Get feedback – Ask people for feedback – Capture feedback in matrix • Phase 4: Implement feedback – Make changes • Phase 5: Verify plan is still accurate – Make changes to plan based on feedback – Maybe repeat Phase 1-5 • Phase 6: Launch
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- 27. Meetings: Agenda • Makean agenda – Discuss last weeks email activity – Call out current open leads – Identify potential closeable leads for this week – Brainstorm ideas to close leads – List lost leads and why they are lost – …
- 28. Meetings: Agenda (anal-retentiveversion) • Make an agenda – 0-5 minutes: Discuss last weeks email activity – 5-7 minutes: Call out current open leads – 7-10 minutes: Identify potential closeable leads for this week – 10-12 minutes: Brainstorm ideas to close leads – 12-15 minutes: List lost leads and why they are lost – …
- 29. Meetings: Duration • Setmeeting duration based on agenda – Try 15 or 30 minutes instead of 60 – Sometimes 25 minute meetings happen and are okay – Don’t be afraid to end early – Don’t be afraid to end late (but only if you have a good reason to)
- 30. Meetings: Invites • Includethe right people – Avoid too many cooks in the kitchen – Avoid haters (people you know will push back on everything without cause) – Think before you send – Go over the agenda and ensure you have the right people
- 31. Meetings: 5 MinuteRule • 5 minute rule – After the first 5 minutes, stop – Anyone who feels they shouldn’t be in the meeting can ask to leave – The organizer can override only if they absolutely need that person
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- 36. WAIT FOR IT. . . AHHHHH!!!
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- 38. Reminders Recap • Onelist for today • One list for later (but scheduled) • One list for WHENEVER (brain dump) • Add today in the morning • Re-org today in the evening • Move scheduled to today or just do it when it pops up
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- 41. Ergonomics = Productivity •Crappy chair = lost energy • Low-res monitor = lost energy • Bad monitor position = lost energy • Lame keyboard = lost energy • Lost energy = slow, tired, and busted
- 43. On sale rightnow for $7,500!!!
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- 45. OR In today’s episodeof what the $*&@ is for dinner…
- 46. Remember this isn’tyour last meal!
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- 48. Make Fast Decisions •Go with your first thought • Usually you can change • Make it and move on • Embrace the possibility of failure
- 49. Speaking of food Don’tforget to eat!
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- 54. Speed • Pick yourtools • Learn every shortcut • Learn every menu item • Learn every concept • Learn how to be FAST
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