Personal Kanban Strategy

This system is basically a system of tracking "to do's" with a tri panel of options, doing, done.  The key is that there can only be 3 items in the "doing".  The article below recommends only having one "in progress" or doing. 

This was a link from this article

Ideal

 

 

reality

I've read "Eat that Frog".  And need to remember to remember Godin's maxim that if you identify that item that you least want to do, it's like your compass for your highest yield item.

8 Traits to Foster Your Creativity from Ogilvie and Mather

Inspiring blog post from Farnham Street.
The full title of the book is

Eternal Pursuit of Unhappiness Being Very Good Is No Good,You Have to Be Very, Very, Very, Very, Very Good

It costs $270 on Amazon 

Click through to see the 8 traits.  

 

 

 

 

Going All In

I saw this post and recognized the "death" strategy from Buddhism and from Carlos Castenada.  Coincidentally, I used this approach on my last meditation retreat.  If you stay mindful and try to see each moment as your last, not only does it concentrate the mind, but gives you sense of tenderness towards the moment and life.  It also imbues a sense of fragility that is instructive and, let's face it, true.  The wording and sense of urgency in this post is similar to that in "War of Art."  A sort of "fight to the death" against the Resistance is Pressfield's mindset.

There’s something inspiring about knowing that you are going to die. That you are dying right now. It’s scary. But it inspires focus. It demands action, priority, and extreme behavior.

You’re suddenly "all in."

Because you have to be. Life demands it. You die if you don’t fight with every fiber of your soul.

You can’t be kinda “in.”  Or kinda sorta “in.”  You are “in” or you are “out”.

That’s it. The only choice.

Everything else appears to be a choice. But it’s just your brain’s way of protecting you — by lying to you.

If you want to be “in” all you need to do is act like it:

    Show up even when it hurts.

    Focus fiercely on the only thing that matters.

    Take extreme measures to make change happen

The difference is you.

Your intensity. Your relentlessness. Your unapologetic quest for answers and better results.

When you act that way, you’re guaranteed to do something incredible.

Because you’re “all in.

More Productivity Tips

http://www.businessinsider.com/the-science-of-productivity-video-2012-12?utm_source=alerts&nr_email_referer=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHfjvYzr-3g&feature=player_embedded

Not sure why I couldn't put the link on the image, but anyway.  There is a simple "accountability" log that appeals to me.  Instead of "planning" or having a "to do," you turn it around and keep a log of everything you do.  Of course, deadlines feature prominently.  Intense work followed by breaks. Breaking the project down into bite sized pieces.  Lots of standard advice, but useful and pithy.