4 Internet Apps I use to be more productive

April 25th, 2011 by John Gallagher 1 Comment

To stay productive, there are some specific Internet technology that I use.  When I open up Internet Explorer each day, here are the tabs that I see:

 YouVersion is a free Bible app that I use for daily reading.  Currently, I am going through the New Testament in a year.  I also have this on my Blackberry.

Hootsuite is a tool I use to compile of multiple feeds including Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.  I can review the feeds quickly and also make lists of people I want to follow so I don’t have to look at ALL the people that I follow at once.

I use Google reader to compile the blogs that I follow so I don’t have to remember each web page and it also helps to keep my email cleared out.  Anytime a blogger I follow puts out a new post, the RSS feed is pulled into Google Reader.  I currently follow about 75 blogs.  Of course, I don’t read EVERY post, but it allows me again to quickly peruse the list.

LoseIt is a free Internet app that I use to track my calorie intake and exercise calorie burn.  Since using this app, I have lost 12 pounds in about 8 weeks!!  It makes for a great accountability tool!

These are the apps that I use on a daily basis to be more productive. 

What apps do you use to be productive?  What else should I be using?

Posted in Discipline, Productivity | 1 Comment »

Are you approachable…or do you change like the weather?

April 1st, 2011 by John Gallagher No Comments

I was in Boston this week and the weather there this time of year can be a little inconsistent and volatile.  On Wednesday evening, the view from my hotel room looked like this:

Just 36 hours later on Friday morning, it looked like THIS:

Hard to believe that things could change that rapidly.

This reminded me of the importance as a leader of being consistent and approachable.  When your team or your colleagues approach you, can they expect you to be consistent, or are they concerned that your ‘mood’ is going to change like the weather?

As a leader, approachability is such an important characteristic.  When you are consistently approachable, the following results occur:

1) Your colleagues are more likely to bring you issues with confidence

2) Your colleagues will share bad news with you sooner and thus, you will be able to identify and solve problems before they turn into a storm!

3) Mutual respect is built, thus increasing your effectiveness, and subsequently results.

So, are you approachable consistently…or do you change like the weather? 

Posted in Leadership, Leadership metaphors, Relationships | No Comments »

The hotel stairs are NOT just for fire escapes!

March 31st, 2011 by John Gallagher No Comments

Do you want to change up your exercise routine while traveling?  Getting tired of the treadmills being taken when you want to exercise?  Have you ever seen this sign before in a hotel?:

Well, the stairs are NOT just for fire escapes.

Recently, I posted on the stairs being “my friend” when traveling.  Here is another ‘twist’ on taking the stairs for a good cardio and/or strength workout.  My basketball brethren will get this one real quick.  (Remember the “monsters”?) Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Discipline | No Comments »

5 tips for being”In the zone” as Leaders

March 24th, 2011 by John Gallagher No Comments

As a basketball player, there is no better individual feeling than being “in the zone”.  Shooting the ball into the hoop is no longer a challenge. Getting open is easy, the defense seems to moves slower than normal, and most importantly, there is an extremely high level of focus and confidence that is a part of being in the zone.

My question is, as leaders, can we be “in the zone”?  I believe we can.  Here are 5 tips for putting yourself ”in the zone” as a leader: Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Continuous Improvement, Discipline, Leadership, Leadership metaphors, Learning | No Comments »

My Nook after 90 days…

March 5th, 2011 by John Gallagher No Comments

 

Because I travel regularly and I normally have a few books going at once, I decided to purchase the Barnes and Noble Nook.  Here are my observations after the first 90 days I have had it.

Pros:

  • I only have to carry one ‘book’ to have all of my books on it.  I have read 3 books so far and I have my Bible on it as well.
  • The screen is clear and easy to read
  • It has Sudoku on it as well!
  • The highlighting and note features are both easy to use after a short training period.
  • Love the ‘Lookup’ feature for when I don’t know what a word means.  This was VERY important when I read ‘Mojo’ by Marshall Goldsmith.  A really good read, but some of the vocabulary he used was well-advanced!

Cons:

  • The web browser is just OK.  Of course, I am not a fan of touch screen keypads due to my large fingers. 
  • When using on an airplane, my reading time is reduced since I must turn my ‘electronic device’ off during takeoff and landing.  I cringe when seeing other people continue to read their print books!
  • While I find the note taking feature easy to use, I find it very difficult to navigate through the notes after I am finished.  On the ereader vserion on my laptop, I can easily see the comments, but am unable to copy and paste them into Evernote. 

So, after a few months, I am still not ready to completely retire my hardback books.  Until Barnes and Noble is able to make it easier to manage the notes and highlights (as the Kindle IS able to do), then I will only consider the Nook an OK tool for the novel reader, but it lacks the necessary tools for a business book reader looking to add to their personal development.

Do you have an ereader?  What do you consider to be the best and worst features of your ereader?  Have you completely switched away from print?

Posted in Book review, Leadership, Productivity | No Comments »

How 10 minutes = 7 weeks lost productivity

February 26th, 2011 by John Gallagher 1 Comment

You know the person…The one you can ALWAYS count on to be late for meetings to get started.  They always have a good excuse, right?  You get the obligatory “Sorry, I am late”:

But, do you know that being just 10 minutes late for a meeting can result in WEEKS of lost productivity per year for your team?

The math is very simple. 

  • You regularly arrive 10 minutes late for a meeting
  • You are in 5 meetings a week on average (250 meetings per year – we can talk about having too many meetings later!!!)
  • You have 7 people in each meeting on average

Do the math:  250*7*10 =17,500 minutes = 292 hours, 0r 7.3 weeks’ productivity!!! 

There it is…New Math  10 minutes = 7.3 weeks…LOST!  You cannot get that time back no matter how hard you work.

Being on time for meetings is productive.  It is also more respectful of the people you are working with each day.

Do you have a picture of this person?  Is this person always late for meetings YOU?  Next time someone is late for a meeting, show them the math.

Posted in Discipline, Leadership, Productivity | 1 Comment »

6 tips to get 4 hours of work done…in 2 hours

February 1st, 2011 by John Gallagher 1 Comment

The most productive time I have each week happens on Monday mornings at my home office.  I feel like I am able to get about 4 hours of work done in 2 hours’ time. 

There are certain disciplines I need to get completed on a weekly basis.    When completed, I really do feel that I have gotten about 4 hours of work done in a short period of time.  How am I able to do this?  There are 6 things that must be done:

1) Schedule the time – Put it on your calendar.  If you don’t plan your time, someone else will.

2) Have a standard agenda – What are the things that must be done in that 2 hour period?  Create a checklist.  My checklist currently has 7 items on it that I need to complete on a weekly basis.  This list changed periodically based upon my needs.

3) Learn to say “NO” – Too often, others will ask to have things done during your time.  You know how it happens: “John, do you have a minute?” Generally, that minute turns into 5 or 10 or even 30 minutes.  You have got to learn to say No.  Or, at a minimum, “Not now, but can we meet at 11:00?”

4) Remove all the distractions – Turn off your social media, your email system, and all the other distractions(if you work out of a home office lime me, you will need to set boundaries with your family as well!).  It has to be focused time.

5) Start and end ON TIME  – a 2-hour block of time is about as long as any meeting can last to be effective.  (Even a meeting with yourself!).  If you don’t get all the work done in 2 hours, schedule another block of time later in the day to complete the tasks.  If you find yourself always running longer than 2 hours, you may need to re-evaluate your list! 

6) Reward yourself – If you are able to complete steps 1 through 5 successfully, reward yourself.  Maybe it’s a good cup of coffee or something that you enjoy. 

Now, if I can just figure out how to do this with the REST of my week!

What is your most productive time?  What tips can you share that help to make it productive? Please share by commenting below.

Posted in Continuous Improvement, Discipline, Leadership | 1 Comment »