Quick List: 10 Things to Prune
If you’ve just tuned in to Business Class this week - we’re talking about pruning and it’s impact on morale and productivity. In case you want to “catch up”, see:
Today is Quick List Day, when we post 10 by 10 on Tuesday.
So – here are 10 things or areas in which most businesses could use some pruning:
- Paper
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Forms and reports
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Items on to-do list
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E-mail
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Junk mail
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Magazine/newspaper subscriptions
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Meetings
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Interruptions
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Mistakes
As you make decisions about what to prune, keep in mind your desired end result. Prune anything that will hold you back or take energy away from the activities needed for that end result.
Mad because I’m not giving you more direction on what and how to prune the 10 things/areas above? If I did that, it wouldn’t be a very Quick List.
I’ll give more hints later on but don’t wait for that. I think you already know lots of things that are draining your time and energy. Don’t you? Those are the first ones to prune!
As a reinforcing reminder, post the Quote of the Week(below) on your computer screen. Get directions for doing this at: Quote of the Week: On Pruning .
The Quote of the Week is from the 2 Little Time section of our Quote Library which contains over 130 motivational quotes for business. Valuable business tools, ready to post, print and share – available for free right here in our Quote Library.
copyright 2010 – Business Class Inc
Related Articles:
Pruning: A PowerTool for Business
Pruning is a power tool for boosting morale and productivity - yours and your team’s. It helps those who feel they have 2 little time. Making it easier to get 2 goal. And for those of you in search of ways to be a better manager, knowing how and when to prune, teaching others the same and empowering them to do so, will make you a better manager. It may even make you a hero in their eyes.
I came to understand the power of pruning about 20 years ago when Jennifer came to work as my assistant.
During her first week of work – she came into my office with her scissors and started cutting my plants. A snip here, a snip there. And then on one – she snipped and snipped – cutting it all the way down to the dirt.
I gasped! and said, “Jennifer! No! ”
“Jan”, she said, “ the leaves are dead! You killed them. Now I’m going to keep you from killing the roots.”
“But Jennifer – it just needs some water!”
“No it doesn’t need water. You were drowning it by giving it more water!”
I stared in disbelief as I said to myself, “There is no way that plant is ever coming back.” Read more
Quote of the Week: On Pruning
It’s time to prune the shrubbery…and for me, that’s always a good reminder of the value of pruning in all parts of life. It’s a strategy that:
- provides relief to those who feel stressed by 2 little time
- provides focus for those eager to get 2 goal
- brings an immediate, lingering and usually lasting boost to both morale and productivity
Thought/discussion questions:
1. What are the most important areas of focus for you right now?
2. What ”miscellaneous activity” can you “stop off” so that you can “concentrate your force” on the items you mentioned in question #1? For additional ideas on this, see 10 Things to Prune in Your Business. Meanwhile, as a reminder of the importance of pruning season, post the above quote on your computer screen. See directions below.
Related Articles:
Directions for downloading above quote to your computer screen: Read more
Is your vision missing in action?
Note: This article is for you if you want to be a better manager, especially if you often feel like there is 2 little time to “get it all done”. And even more so if you often find yourself angry at others for not helping more. It may be just he thing you need to help you get 2 goal without quite so many nightmares. A sure boost to morale and productivity.
*****
Years ago, I was on the decorations committee for a large event. Connie was committee chair. For five months, she planned elaborate decorations. Occasionally she asked committee members for help finding odd objects or materials. Other than that we had little involvement until the day of the event when all fifteen members of the committee were asked to be at the site from 9 am until 3 pm to put the decorations in place.
At 9 am, she arrived with a car full of boxes and crates and bolts of fabric and on and on. Our first task was to help unload her car.
We stacked all the items just inside the door of the room in which the event was being held, then stood and waited for our next assignment.
Connie turned and looked at the fifteen of us eagerly waiting – looked at the stack we made – then impatiently told us we had stacked everything right where she was going to build a decorative volcano. Read more
Team retreats can be a stupid waste of time.
Team retreats can be a stupid waste of time.
They can also be powerfully productive tools for managers and business owners who care about morale and productivity.
Like the one this person attended:
“It strengthened the work of all departments
by unifying and reinforcing company-wide goals.”
Learn more about how to have the kind of team retreat this person attended.
Quote of the Week – On Sprinkles
Working, shopping, wrapping, decorating, cooking, partying…it’s enough to make you sick.
And tired and stressed and maybe even a bit Scrooge-like.
Have you ever gotten that way? I sure have.
For some reason, when Ryan was six years old, I thought to ask him, “What is most important to you during the holidays?”
His response: “It really doesn’t matter much Mommy – as long as I get to stay home and make cookies with you.”
So — we made cookies. Not lots of different kinds or even fancy kinds.
Just sugar cookies.
With icing.
And LOTS of sprinkles.
Yes – there were sprinkles everywhere! Read more
The Story of Janta Claus
Several of our recent posts have referred to Janta, Santa’s sister.
In case you are wondering…here is the story of Janta Claus.
During my years at University Directories, tradition called for a surprise visit from Santa.
I’m not sure if anyone knew this, but it wasn’t really Santa who came to our parties. Since it was such a busy time for him, Santa delegated this to my date for the party.
I must not have made expectations clear with my date for the 1985 party, because when it came time for him to don the suit, he refused, saying he “wasn’t in the mood.”
With everyone waiting downstairs for Santa and his gifts to arrive, there was only one way to handle this party emergency Read more
Happy Take Back Your Time Day
And Happy Birthday, Teresa!
I hope you like your present.
And I hope you take it back.
I hope all of you take it back.
Celebrate Take Back Your Time Day by taking the time to do something you’ve been wanting to do – even if it’s for only ten minutes.
In addition - if you typically rush around all day,
walk slower.
Drive slower.
Look at the trees swaying in the breeze against the Carolina blue sky.
Do something that brings you joy.
Smile.
Laugh.
Take time to enjoy your precious present.
copyright 2009 – Business Class Inc
You can use the above quote as background or wallpaper for your computer with just three clicks.
1. Click on the image above.
2. Right click on the image that appears.
3. On the pull down menu that appears, click on “set as background”.
Voila! There’s still plenty of room on the left side of the screen for all your shortcut icons.
There is also a printable version for you to post, pass and share. You can find it in the 2 Little Time section of our Quote Library.
130 additional quotes are available. Valuable business tools, available for free right here in our Quote Library.
Note:
If you don’t like your new wallpaper, don’t want to replace it with a quote from the Business Class Quote Library and don’t know how to get rid of it……
Go to your control panel. Select “Display”. Select “Desktop”. And then choose from the designs offered.
Take It Back
Rush rush
Hurry hurry
Still behind
Late for a meeting
Heart racing
Boss waiting
Stacks of paper
Staffers waiting
100 Emails
Bottleneck
Bulging briefcase
Car pool
Step on it, Mister
Don’t miss the light
Kids waiting
Drive through
Eat in the car
Soccer game
On sideline
Phone in hand
Cheer the team
Return call
Cheer the team
Return next call
Homework
Load of laundry
Fall into bed
Aching head
copyright 2006 – Jan Bolick, Business Class Inc
It’s so easy to get caught up in the traffic and e-mail and voice mail and rush rush push push hurry hurry.
Apparently it’s happening nationwide because October 24 is Take Back Your Time Day.
What will you do to celebrate?
Quote of the Week – Take Back Your Time
October 24 is my sister’s birthday. When we were little, we each got a present on the other’s birthday. Those days are long gone, BUT there IS a way for ALL of us to get a present on her birthday because October 24 is also Take Back Your Time Day.
What kind of present would you like?
This week’s quote will help you keep that question top of mind.
We’ll be posting additional tools throughout the week – tools that will help you Take Back Your Time!
You can use the above quote as background or wallpaper for your computer with just three clicks.
1. Click on the image above.
2. Right click on the image that appears.
3. On the pull down menu that appears, click on “set as background”.
Voila! There’s still plenty of room on the left side of the screen for all your shortcut icons.
There is also a printable version for you to post, pass and share. You can find it in the 2 Little Time section of our Quote Library.
130 additional quotes are available for free right here in our Quote Library.
Note:
If you don’t like your new wallpaper, don’t want to replace it with a quote from the Business Class Quote Library and don’t know how to get rid of it……
Go to your control panel. Select “Display”. Select “Desktop”. And then choose from the designs offered.
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