One easy way to make your day more productive

To plan or not to plan.... that is the question.....

While doing some research on project management for one of my classes it occurred to me that project management is not just for business purposes but that it can be and should be applied to our personal lives. In fact we routinely ‘project manage’ aspects of our lives. Some persons just do a better job at it than others.

Most of us live lives that are hectic, filled with responsibilities such as family responsibilities, work obligations, social and personal commitments and other duties yet there are some people who seem to handle the myriad of issues that life throws at them amazingly well. Could there be some form of ‘project management’ at work?

Activities in our lives can be broken down into small projects to make them easier to manage and to enable the best chance for successful completion with minimum stress (Remember the 80/20 rule).

In addition, take the following example

Baking a cake with children

Initiation – Hmm perhaps the firm decision to bake this cake with the children

Planning – Schedule a day and a block of time to bake the cake. If you want to start at 9am, start at 9am to prevent stress later especially if you or the children have later commitments. Develop a lists of tasks and ensure you have your list of ingredients, recipe etc. All cake bakers must also agree to a goal (e.g. bake a chocolate cake)

Executing – Buy your ingredients, assemble your ingredients and start to bake the cake. Ensure everyone knows and agrees to their tasks.

Monitoring and Controlling – Observe the children’s actions, keep track of time etc

Closing – The project is complete when the beautiful chocolate cake comes out of the oven. YUMMY!

So take a look at your TO DO LIST and take note of which activities are really mini projects and treat them as such. I really hope you keep a TO DO LIST on your phone, computer or even in a note book. If not start one today and you will see a big difference in what you are able to accomplish daily if you break activities into small projects. I recommend Stephen Covey’s version of a ‘TO DO LIST’ or Time Management matrix on this blog

http://sidsavara.com/personal-development/nerdy-productivity-coveys-time-management-matrix-illustrated-with-xkcd-comics on this blog.

While ‘project managing’ your life or applying the 80/20 rule may seem a bit technical, it really isn’t. A reader of this blog applied the 80/20 rule with great results. So, Say Yes to applying these techniques today! It’s about leading, planning, organising and controlling life’s sometimes ‘pesky’ activities so that they don’t end up controlling you.

What do you think about the concept of project managing your life? Drop me a comment below and share your thoughts. Have a fabulous and productive day, today!

A Pumpkin Experience

True story – So a while back, my mom threw out some pumpkin seeds and a short while later, we noticed a pumpkin vine which quickly spread. A couple of days ago I saw a baby pumpkin and I was so excited.

Anyways, today I was examining the pumpkin patch and I saw the grown pumpkin in the picture. I screamed in excitement. I literally could not have been more excited if I had grown that pumpkin myself.

I immediately called my boyfriend to share the news of my grown pumpkin and like a proud mother I sent a picture of my grown pumpkin to one of my Blackberry groups which contains some of my close friends.

I shared the story of my pumpkin and I told my friends I now want to farm. Here is where the story takes a turn. My girlfriend says...’Farm Shelly.... Really?’ And just like that, my head came out of the clouds and reality set in. I was not going to be a farmer. I don’t like dirt. I don’t have the time or will. I don’t have a passion for it.

That doesn’t mean that I won’t grow stuff. My boyfriend planted a mango tree for me which I have been watering regularly (even though it’s still not doing too well).  I will even go so far as to plant some other seeds and my lime tree which has been in a pot for months. However, the reality is despite this feel good experience of finding a pumpkin, I won’t be a farmer.

Have you ever had a pumpkin experience? Did something good happen to you by a fluke? Did you reap a reward without sowing seeds?  Did you stumble upon a pumpkin and jumped straight into farming?

I learnt a few lessons from my pumpkin experience and my very brief farming aspiration:

1)    Whether it is your next relationship or your next career move...think it through before jumping into it. Is it someone or something you are passionate about?

2)    Very seldom do we get long lasting benefits from an initiative in which we do not put in hard work and commitment (for e.g. unless someone starts to weed my pumpkin vine, all the baby pumpkins may not survive).

3)    It is good to have a friend who will say ‘Get Real’ sometimes. Of course, if this friend is just a naysayer and negative all around, this person should not be your friend. But, if this friend is also supportive for things she/he knows you will succeed at, nurture that friendship.

So, I mentioned my mango tree earlier and I will keep you updated on its progress. My mango tree is struggling but I have faith that it will survive. Similarly, I have faith that my relationship, my career and my other dreams will also continue to strengthen.

I continue to Say Yes to Today every day. I hope you say yes to today too.

Let’s talk about Poise!

 ‘Poise is the art of raising the eyebrows rather than the roof’

This quote was sent to me a few days ago as a ‘thought for the day’ and I wanted to share it with you. Do you agree with this quote? Do you disagree?

Poise is defined as a dignified, self-confident manner or bearing; composure; self-possession.

Guess what? Having poise, good manners and good etiquette will never go out of style. You can spot a person with poise or good etiquette from a mile away just as you can quickly spot a person who does not possess these characteristics. Similarly, it is easier and more pleasurable to deal with someone who possesses these characteristics than with persons who have poor manners and are loud and temperamental. 

Here are some simple tips which you can use daily to enhance your poise. These tips will win you points with your friends, family, boss, co-workers and customers.

1)   Seriously, think before you speak, text, blog, BB, tweet etc. Once you put your thoughts out there, you can’t take them back. Have you ever been in a meeting or at an event and just cringed at something a speaker said? Similarly, how do you feel about some of the things people choose to post on Facebook?

Ensure your message is clear and simple. Remember, regardless of the situation, curse words, negativity and bringing others down are unnecessary in order to get your point across. You don’t have to sacrifice dignity and composure to make a point.

2)      Sit properly and stand up straight. It’s amazing how much we slouch and bend these days. Good posture speaks volumes to employers, for example, so develop this habit early. In addition, good posture is simply just good for your health.

3)       Smile...ok smile at least a few times a day. You have plenty of reasons to smile and sharing a smile and a warm greeting shows good manners and will earn you tonnes of admiration. In addition, being able to smile in the face of insults or embarrassment shows amazing strength of character and will result in you also earning respect. That’s Poise!

As a youth ambassador, I have been fortunate to interact with dynamic and successful young persons and dignitaries from around the world. Many of these display poise and dignity in their speech and actions.

In order to grow personally and professionally, you must strive to develop a habit of poise and simply 'raise your eyebrows' at negative comments and insults. Focus on your positive development today.

A Make Up Story!

Hi everyone

Thanks for checking out my blog. If you like it, please comment and share it with others.

I was on Facebook tonight and someone had posted this video called ‘Worst Makeup Look Tag: Beyonc.’ Note it said ‘Beyonc’ and not ‘Beyonce.’ I decided to check it out. It was hilarious but I was happy to see at the end that it was a spoof video and that the girl in the video really did not plan to leave the house with that make up look – whew what a relief.

Personally, I don’t wear much make up as you can tell from all my photos. That’s my personal choice. Here you can see the one picture where I actually have semi-red lips...I believe this was taken in 2007 or 2008. As I love to learn and try new things, I have attempted to experiment with my hair and makeup but for the most part au-naturel is my choice.

I should have been studying but.....

So, how about you?  What is your make up preference, hair preference, and clothes preference? Whatever look you choose to wear just ensure that you wear it well. At work, try to display both an inward and outward appearance of professionalism. The bright blue and green eye shadow covering your eye lids is probably a No-No. The skirt with the hem length which is 2 inches below your derriere is a definite No-No.

You get the gist....think carefully about the image which you want to display and about how seriously you want to be taken by customers, your co-workers and management. Remember, there is a day make up look and there is a night make up look.  There are styles which may be suited for your age and body type and there may be styles you should avoid. There is professional wear and there is casual wear.

When you speak about personal development and improvement you should seek to better yourself on the inside and on the outside. It is truly true that when you look good, you feel good. When you feel good, that positive attitude you display causes positive ripples in the universe. So tomorrow, when you go to your closet or to your make-up mirror, think carefully about the image you want to portray.

Don’t be afraid to try something new. Let your true beauty shine through. Do it today.

How to avoid embarrassment in meetings

 Good morning!

My colleagues were at a seminar some time ago which they indicated was a very painful experience. Painful, because the expert person who had to speak did not prepare and was stuttering, unable to explain concepts and a generally poor communicator.

The embarrassment this person and the audience felt could have been avoided through simple preparation by the speaker.

Usually, if we are asked to make a presentation on a topic, it is because it is believed we are an expert or should have knowledge in that area. For example, I get asked questions about tourism and youth development quite often. I therefore strive to stay abreast of what is new in both fields. I thus feel relatively comfortable answering questions and giving opinions on these topics. 

Be prepared is an old adage for good reason.  When you are prepared you can give knowledgeable, well articulated and factual presentations. You thus come across as a true professional in your area or field. Today, ensure that no one walks s away from a conversation, meeting or seminar with you thinking- that truly was the most painful experience of my life.