Nicholas Bate

Seven Productivity Boosters

1. Every 45 minutes, take 5 minutes. Stretch, walk, sip water, look out of a window at the horizon and ask what's really important at this moment?
2. Control what you can, which is a lot: your mood, choosing what's really important not just urgent (see 1, above) and your dealings with people. Ignore that which you cannot change: give them zero time and energy. The weather, the crazy whims of Head Office Mother Ship and junk TV.
3. Regularly hide so you cannot be distracted by The Five Addictive Cs: caffeine, connections of the digital kind, confectionery & cookies, cubicle cynicism and cooler chit-chat.
4. Have a flight-deck: one place, one view, one perspective of what you need to focus on. This is not your in-box.
5. Slow down enough that you can recognise the tantalising seductive but perspective destroying, energy depleting and soul withering nature of the blisteringly urgent, but actually not at all important.
6. Say 'no' more. Say it constructively. Say it nicely. Say it helpfully. But say 'no' more.
7. Do a few things totally brilliantly every day. And feel very productive.

 

July Redux II, 7

 

1. What Are Hands For ?
2. Scissors beat Paper...
3. Don't press buttons
4. Decisions 7
5. Camo Bags
6. How To Escape The Cubicle
7. Alcohol, nicotine....

 

They Clearly Had Fun

Mmmm

July Redux 15, Part I

1. Secret Tips Seven.
2. Key Tips: Build a Better Business
3. That business colour chart in full.
4. How To Escape The Cubicle
5. Mmmm: those addictions one more time.
6. 100 word story
7. Make Choices. Walk Tall. Never Be A Bystander.
8. One to Seven.
9. There Are Two Kinds Of...
10. Jagged Thoughts for Jagged Times.
11. Weekend meditation options.
12. Mmmm: with exercise it would grow.
13. A Tough Week for the Ink Blot
14. The Water Molecule & Life at the Edge.
15. Deeper Punctuation.

Bonus 1: January 2013 Redux

Bonus 2: February 2013 Redux

Bonus 3: March 2013 Redux

Bonus 4: April 2013 Redux

Bonus 5: May 2013 Redux

Bonus 6: June 2013 Redux

Bonus 7: the essential posts of 2012

Bonus 8: fresh thinking in How To Be Brilliant 

Things Happen At The Edges

Jagged Thoughts for Jagged Times: 45

Without a Monday, the week simply couldn't get better as it progresses. It's one of the many reasons to love your local Monday.

 

WhatAreHandsFor?101

1. Blowing a kiss across a snowy platform at Inverness station.
2. Feeling your way in the power cut.
3. Shading ones eyes against the glare of the sun in true T. E. Lawrence style.
4. Moulding clay until it is worth sticking sticking pins in.
5. Tying their shoelaces hurriedly before school.
6. Making a paper aeroplane. Yep, you still remember.
7. Pounding bread dough: never mind the bread, think of the therapy.
8. Weeding the borders of the country estate.
9. Shaking a hand a little nervously at the interview.
10. Handling rope aboard your boat as your ensnare Greek islands.
11. Pulling her close. No, closer than that. In true Dylan album cover style.
12. Certainly not just for sending texts.
13. Handling oils with a brush on a canvas.
14. Leaning back and resting ones head: a job well done.
15. Massaging the temples after a demanding meeting.
16. Protecting ones face in the ring. Breathing hard, blood dripping: keep those jabs coming.
17. Tunnelling with them bare, be it in Tom or Dick or Harry.
18. Waving goodbye.
19. Wiping a tear.
20. Slinging a cargo bag and heading off to adventure.
21. Playing a guitar and hoping for inspiration.
22. Holding her hand.
23. Hiding a yawn.
24. Throwing the ball.
25. Beating the eggs.
26. Pulling on socks.
27. Leaning a ladder.
28. Scratching a head.
29. Pointing the way.
30. Chopping wood.
31. Certainly not just for surfing the net.
32. Carrying water.
33. Pressing up.
34. Tying a bow tie.
35. Pulling up.
36. Undoing a zip.
37. Knitting a Fair Isle jumper.
38. Sewing a patch on favourite jeans.
39. Double-digging the allotment ready for potatoes.
40. Wrapping a scarf tightly.
41. Packing up after graduation. Sigh: what next...
42. Applying sun cream.
43. Guiding a nail to hang a picture to make it home.
44. Estimating a width when lacking a rule. Is that a span?
45. Clapping with enthusiasm: far better than expected.
46. Eating a sandwich, pulling out the onion bits.
47. Drinking a beer, gripping tightly as the condensation confuses the surface.
48. Gesticulating in Italy.
49. Boosting your shouting at the game.
50. Hoisting your little one onto your shoulders so they can see the elephant properly at the zoo.
51. Prayer.
52. Adjusting a trilby in the mirror.
53. Lighting incense.
54. Clasping an arm as you both prepare for bad news.
55. Lighting candles for dinner.
56. Clearing up after the party.
57. Checking the mirror before settling off into the traffic.
58. Applying lipstick.
59. Tearing up and starting over.
60. Guiding ones dive into the pool.
61. Felling your arch enemy with one swift karate chop.
62. Engaging four-wheel drive as your encounter the glacier.
63. Handling the binoculars and surveying the terrain from the armoured vehicle.
64. Removing the veil and staring into her eyes.
65. Patting your dog.
66. Folding the newspaper.
67. Buttering toast and adding marmite
68. Not just for updating Facebook.
69. Holding ones chin as options are reviewed.
70. Hand washing socks on the camping trip.
71. Sketching in the cathedral.
72. Releasing the jar of crunchy peanut butter.
73. Applying the rubber band around the old architectural plans.
74. Finger prints and helping police with their enquiries.
75. Selecting flowers.
76. Pumping bicycle tyres.
77. Covering ones eyes in total distress.
78. Banishing an insect.
79. Doing a hand stand.
80. Steadying a friend.
81. Pushing an enemy.
82. Lighting a cigar in Havana.
83. Swiping the card to enter the inner sanctum.
84. Wiping a fevered brow.
85. Reading them and telling the future.
86. Letting sand run through them and feeling absolutely in the moment.
87. Checking the freshness of the garlic in the market in Souillac that Friday.
88. Protecting ones ears from the siren.
89. Sharpening a stick to grill a fish over a camp fire.
90. Tearing bread amongst friends.
91. Pouring wine.
92. Making palm prints with kids.
93. Pulling your arms around you to stay warm at the match.
94. Running your fingers through her gorgeous hair.
95. Grabbing ice from the fridge and putting it in the cocktail shaker.
96. Bond selecting perfect cuff links for the card game ahead.
97. Massaging your tired feet.
98. Finger writing in the condensation as the storm pounds outside the camper-van.
99. Pressing repeat on The Beatles I Wanna Hold Your Hand.
100. Power whistling through fingers.
101. To Be Grounded.

 

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