Struggling with working for yourself/working from home/freelancing? Here are some tips. … [Read more...]
Tips for success from Siimon Reynolds
Looking at Siimon Reynolds' (yes, two i's) list of achievements, it's clear he's a busy guy. A former adman, Reynolds shot into the public eye in the 1980s, when he created the controversial Grim Reaper ads - one of Australia's first HIV education messages. His creative businesses boomed, and he then moved into writing books (five at last count), … [Read more...]
Why fake deadlines are (almost) as good as real ones.
Last week I wrote about deadlines, and why I think you should love them. No, luuuurve them. Really, you should. But what happens when you are self employed? Or starting a business? Or trying something new? The deadlines tend to be self imposed. Oh oh. Harder. Much harder. It's simple. If there are no deadlines out there. You need to make some … [Read more...]
Why deadlines are friend, not foe.
I’m wondering what happens to you when you hear the word “deadline”? If you’re like most people I know, the mere mention of these two syllables will get the heart pumping just a little bit faster than optimal. Not me. I’m a deadline nerd, although maybe not for the reasons you think (who knows what those are, but if they are flattering in any … [Read more...]
Why in business, less can be more.
Working on the road these last few weeks has reminded me of many things I already knew. Picnic lunches on remote beaches are far more exciting if I remember to buy the canned tuna with the ring top lid. Packing more than five days worth of clean underwear for a 24-day trip saves significant hassle. And last but not least, when it comes to working … [Read more...]
7 easy ways you could work smarter, starting now
Feeling frazzled? Sometimes it's the small stuff that chips away at our productivity. Changing one little thing can have a big pay off, if you choose well. This week I've been working on #3 - it's been great! (As for number #4, well, I'm a big fan of that, even on a bad week.) 1. Pick one work related task that's been annoying you lately. You … [Read more...]
How a “NOT to do” list can improve your week
I'm a big fan of to do lists. But recently I've realised I also work most efficiently when I'm abiding by my 'not to do' list. The concept - not rocket science but SO useful - is that while the items on your to do list are important, so are the items which aren't. Basically, your not to do list will be filled with a bunch of don'ts. Sticking to … [Read more...]
5 ways to make time for writing
Making time for writing is a bit like making time for exercise. No matter how flexible your schedule, there never seems to be enough time to do it. But just like we all need to stretch out our hamstrings fairly regularly, writers need to sit down at the keyboard and stretch the writing muscle, often. It's radical but true: if you plan on making … [Read more...]
Why it’s time to use a timer
There's nothing like a good footrace to motivate a person. And even if you're not motivated by beating others, you may just be motivated to race yourself to world domination success. If so, there's nothing like a timer to help you do it. With bezillions (yes, that's a real number*) of people, businesses and tasks clambering for our time, it's … [Read more...]
Are you hopeless at working from home? Try these 5 solutions.
This last fortnight at least half a dozen friends - mostly of the journo and/or blogger variety - have complained to me about their absolute lack of ability to work effectively from home. One friend started with phone calls, around lunchtime (around the time someone working from home realises things have been going downhill since breakfast). The … [Read more...]
What slow yoga taught me about fast thinking
I'm big into yoga. "Big" in that I like it a lot, it's helped me through various difficult points in my life, and in a former career, I used to teach it. Now I just write about yoga, and go to classes. My life has definitely sped up since my days of yoga teaching. Journalism, public speaking, teaching; these are 'busy person' tasks. And … [Read more...]
My favourite time saving tips
'Time is money'. It's an old cliché, but still rings true for me. Here are some tips from my Sydney Morning Herald/The Age columns on how to make the most of this valuable commodity: Are you an Owl or Lark? (view as PDF or read online). Learning what time of the day you are most productive can really help tick things off your to-do list … [Read more...]