Getting More - And Doing Less

Hi All,

Getting More - and Doing Less - that's the title of this blog post...and boy is it going to be helpful to you in your work and daily life and other endeavors.

What is the 80/20 Rule? The 80/20 Rule (also commonly known as the Pareto Principle - named after the Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto) states that, for many events, roughly 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes. For example, "it is a common rule of thumb in business that 80% of your sales come from 10% of your clients". 

Imagine what you can do with this when you apply it to your job with respect to projects, tasks and other aspects of work!  What about your daily life and applying the 80/20 rule to relationships, entertainment, reading, eating, exercising and other areas of your life?

Yep - it means you'll get more out of life - the important things in life - by doing less.  You'll be doing less of the 'scut' work that doesn't mean as much - and that doesn't have as much impact in your life as the large - more important things. 

So...follow the links to learn how to apply the 80/20 rule to various aspects of your life. 

ScienceMag.org - Applying the 80/20 Rule to Your Job Search

Askmen.com - Applying the 80/20 Rule At Work 

Mint Life - Applying the 80/20 Rule At Work 

Mark Manson - How to 80/20 Your Life 

Personal Excellence - Apply 80/20 to Your Life Now in 3 Simple Steps 

Arbitrage Magazine - How to Apply the 80/20 Rule To Everyday Life 

Scott H Young - Twenty Unique Ways to Use the 80/20 Rule 

Brian Tracy - Apply the 90/20 Rule to Everything in Time and Life Management 

Entrepreneurs-Journey.com - What is the 80/20 Rule and Why It Will Change Your Life 

YouTube video of Richard Koch - a very popular, well regarded, author on the 80/20 Rule 

Enjoy the links and efficiency you'll see during the year if you practice the 80/20 rule!

Regards,
Stu

Being More Productive

Hi All,

As longtime readers of this blog probably know by now I really, really like lists.  Shopping lists, to do lists, lists of books, lists of all kinds.!

I just came across this site on MSN Lifestyle.  The title of the webpage is 28 Productivity Hacks to Make Your Work Day Easier.  I was struck by the simplicity and intuitive advice in this slideshow.  Plus, many of these efficiency hacks are easy to implement and use regularly.

Take a look at the article by clicking here.  Who knows...even picking up 2 or 3 of these tricks will help you become more productive and more efficient!

Also...interested readers might want to click on any of the next 3 links to learn even more about becoming more productive in daily life and at work.  Enjoy the links and your new found efficiency.

5 Productivity Hacks That Will Change Your Life - Happier.com

10 Mini-Productivity Hacks to Ease Your Life - Lifehack.org


23 Best Productivity Hacks of the Year - Inc.com

Regards,
Stu

How to Become More Productive?

Hi All,

Let's call today, 'Efficiency Tuesday' because today, is, well, Tuesday. And besides, who doesn't want to become more efficient?  You get more done with less work and you can spend time doing the things that you really, really want to do.

So...read on and become, well, more efficient at work.

One of the more well known small business magazines, Inc., has created an article titled, '6 Things Really Productive People Do'.  Click on the prior link to get to the article.  So, what does the article say readers should do? 
1. Pick Your Priorities
2. Go For Efficiency
3. Integrate Your Activities
4. Actively Manage Time-wasters
5. Be An Active Learner
6. Lighten Up

All good ideas - especially the last one - lightening up....

From the work and employment point of view, readers might want to click on this link from US News and World Report for this article titled, '10 Ways to Be More Productive At Work'.  And who wouldn't want to become more productive at work - especially since we spend roughly 25% (40 hours out of a total of  168 hours in a week) of our time at work.  We may as well be efficient and do good job!

As you will see the list is more holistic and appeals the mind and body of the employee - especially when compared to the prior list. 

The 10 ways are...
1. Take breaks
2. Prioritize
3. Set long-term goals
4. Start your day earlier
5. Surf the web - occasionally
6. Don't multitask
7. Meditate
8. Snack right
9. Power nap
10. Counter interruptions

So there you have it - two really good links that will start you on your way to becoming more productive at work.  The real question is, will you take the next step and click on the links? I bet you will!

Enjoy the sites and good luck on becoming more productive!

Regards,
Stu

Productivity, Efficiency - Getting Things Done!

Hi All,

There is a way for folks to become more productive and efficient at work. Its an important skill to master in these busy times and it might just make your work life less stressful. It make just also make your job easier. Wouldn't that be helpful?

So...follow this link to find an article entitled '6 Things Really Productive People Do'.  Simply put the 6 things are:
1. Picking Your Priorities
2. Becoming More Efficient
3. Integrating Your Activities
4. Actively Managing Time Wasters
5. Being an Active Learner
6. Lighten Up!

Readers of this blog know by now that I like to plug the libraries' resources.  This subject matter - productivity and efficiency and getting things done at work - is no different.  The library has a large and continually growing collection of management, job efficiency, and productivity related titles.  One of the most well known titles is 'The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People: Restoring the Character Ethic'.   Of which, we have a copy of this bestselling title.  Click on this link to find out whether or not the book is in the library or if someone has taken it out.

First written in 1989, the book is quite possibly one of the most well known self-help, personal growth, job/career productivity books ever written.  With chapters that deal with topics like:
1. Being Proactive
2. Focusing at the Beginning With the End in Mind
3. Practically Fulfilling habits 1 and 2.
4. Six Paradigms of Interaction
5. Effective Communication
6. Combing Habits 1-5 and Creating Synergy
7. Recognizing and Amplifying the Greatest Asset You Have: Yourself.  Renewing Your Physical, Emotional, Mental and Social Nature....

I suspect that if you were to read this book it will start you on a lifelong journey of self-exploration, personal growth and quite possibly a more successful life than if you hadn't read the book.

Enjoy the title!  I hope the entry helps you become more effective and efficient in life and in your job!

Regards,
Stu

Multitasking - So Much To Do, So Little Time

Hi All,

With the myriad things the modern family has to contend with, how is it that we ever get anything done? Easy (or not easy since that is the topic of this blog entry) - we multitask these days.

What is multitasking? Indeed, click here for the a link to wikipedia on multitasking... Also, click here for another link to some background about what multitasking is and what it is not.

Recently, there has been a debate recently about whether or not multitasking actually works - in other words, does multitasking really work? Click here to get one researchers point of view on the topic.

Also, click here for some more commentary on the advantages and disadvantages of multitasking. And from here also!

So, now that you are multitasking, click here to find out how to do it even better and more effectively! And click here for yet another link on how to multitask even more effectively!

Now, you might want to keep track of all the various projects that you are juggling either at work or at home. Have I got a website for you! Click here for a link to IDidWork.com Note that some users might like the site, others might not - your mileage and use might vary! Also note that you will have to sign in and create a username and password to get the full functionality of the site.

Finally, if you want to keep track of your time, click on this link from Freelanceswitch.com - you'll find 6 different tools (websites) to track how you spend your time at home and/or at work.

Enjoy - hope you become more effective and efficient and get more done!
Stu

The library has a Facebook presence - click here! We also are on Twitter - click here!

New Posts in Old Wine Bottles - We're Baaaack....

Hi All,

After a month or so hiatus, I'm back. We've got lots of news for you so let me get started.

First, the library is done with the first phase of the library renovation project...which means that the side entrance to the library is complete. The first floor renovation is also complete.

So...we would love to see our library patrons and our library members come to the beautifully and newly renovated library. It looks great! Spacious, great lighting, fantastic furniture and a sumptious new Children's Room to boot! New lighting, carpeting and much more awaits you as you come to the library.

Click on this link to see a quick summary of what we've done! (It is a Flicker slideshow of the library renovations...)

Just a bit of administrative 'stuff' to take care of...I'm going to try to post on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from now on. Before -as in last year - I was posting on a somewhat random basis.

Yes - I was posting about 3 times per week, but there was no set schedule. I'd like to try a set schedule in 2011 - I think folks will read the blog a bit more consistently that way.

So, on to today's post...

It is a new year (okay, we are about 3 weeks into it) and you might have made a New Years' resolution regarding getting more done at home. Or you might have promised yourself that you want to get rid of excess paper and junk....perhaps...

Has the library got a program for you. On February 17 at 7pm we are going to be hosting a program entitled, 'Time and Paper Management For a Well Run Home' in our Quiet Meeting Room. Click on this link to view the library calendar to make a reservation for this program. Scroll down about a quarter of the way down the page to read about the program and to make a reservation.

Finally, click here to find a few books on time management that we have in our collection at the Farmingdale Public Library.

Enjoy the links and it is nice to be back blogging again. Tell your friends about this blog - they'll love it and heck, it'll be useful!

Regards,
Stu

Friend the library on Facebook by clicking here or follow us on Twitter by clicking here.