The QLog

Content and Context

On the blogosphere, many people claim that "content is king" as good information is vital to a great post. However, this is only half the equation. Context is equally important. They are two-sides of the same coin.

Let me demonstrate what I mean with a simple sentence:

Woman without her man is nothing.

Wow. I can not believe such a sexist comment is on my blog...or is it? I am sure many of you read it this way: Woman, without her man, is nothing. Yet, is this the only conext? With a few dots of punctutation, I will illustrate the correct context to consider this statement:

Woman: without her, man is nothing.

You need not agree with either statement to understand my point. If "content is king" then "context is key" as both are needed to successful communicate the meaning of an idea.

Two Extremes and the Mean

When considering any major problem, it is useful to consider these three potential end-games.

1) What is the worst possible thing that could happen? Consider the bleakest consequence. What steps can be taken to decrease the possibility of this occurring?

2) What is the best case scenario? Stay objective when answering this; however, consider the optimum solution and the methods that would produce this successful result.

3) What is the most likely outcome? Why do you think this is the case? Analyze your assumptions.

Fear vs. F.E.A.R.

Fear is a legitimate emotion and it seems to be part of the human condition as a survival mechanism. Most importantly, it help protect children as it constrains many behaviors that could prove hazardous or fatal at a young age.

Nevertheless, many fears are really F.E.A.R or False Evidence Appearing Real. F.E.A.R holds people from achieving their absolute best. Often, it helps maintain 'the good' instead of promoting 'the great'. F.E.A.R. keeps many people doing average things in a mediocre way for years without growing beyond their status quo.

Five common examples are:

• Fear of failing
• Fear of looking foolish
• Fear of rejection
• Fear of success
• Fear of loss

Instead, embrace the mantra of the late productivity expert Dr. W. Edwards Deming: Drive Out Fear!

How? Below is a simple 7-step techniques to focus on the real problem and determine the best next action instead of being controlled by fear.

1. State the problem, situation, or opportunity as clearly as possible. Clarity is key. Write it down and include who, where, when, why, what, and how.

2. Review the data as you presented them for possible biases. Be as objective as possible. Determine which facts are really assumptions and personal interruptions.

3. Play Devil's Advocate. Is everyone in agreement on the above facts? What would an opponent claim? What is the opposite hypothesis and how might this point of view be correct? Be honest with this exercise.

4. Restate the REAL problem, situation, or opportunity as a question.

5. Create a list of potential solutions with a mindstorm, including both outrageous answers and conventional methods. Be creative and open to new ideas. Do not stop until you have at least 20 items on your list.

6. Review the list critically, considering variables such as cost, time, effort, and complexity. Pick the best two option on the list. One will be your primary course of action. The other will be your plan B.

7. Act today. Begin working on the solution to your fear now. 

D.R.A.F.T

If one plans to implement the guideline Only Handle It Once, then the D.R.A.F.T. technique is a very useful method for deciding the next step for paper or digital documents.

Delegate: Route the information to appropriate individual. This may include the assignment of a related task and the need for a later follow-up.

Read: Immediately review the information, especially if it can be done within 5 minutes. Longer documents usually are initially filed and then read at the next best time to do so.

Act: If something needs to be completed, and it is urgent and important, do it now.

File: This can be placing something within a file folder or recording it on a list.

Toss: If in doubt, throw it out.

Goals: External Benefits

Last summer, I wrote about S.M.A.R.T.E.R. Goals. I suggested these were the traits:

S – Specific, Significant, and Stretching
M – Measurable, Motivational, and Meaningful
A – Adventurous, Attainable, and Action-oriented
R – Realistic, Relevant, and Responsible
T – Time-Bound, Tangible, and Thoughtful
E – Energizing, Exciting, and Excellence
R – Roles, Recorded, and Reviewed

I have a modification. Instead, the E should represent External, Exciting, and Excellence.

Most people only consider goals from their viewpoint. An example might be "I will earn one million dollars by 2009" yet this kind of statement ignores how others will be impacted. Consider the external benefits of your goal as well. How is your goal a win-win situation?

Who stands to gain as well? Friends? Family? Employees? Clients? Society? Science?

Now, consider this revised goal statement "I will earn one million dollars by 2009 via helping 5,000 people lose weight and achieve their desired fitness level". The is powerful. The great thing about outlining the external benefit is it is easier to talk to others about your goal and get them excited too!

 

10 in 10 Redux

There are only 10 full weeks remaining in 2007; however, you can still achieve some significant short term projects. Remember: projects are the building blocks of long-term goals. It is also an amazing was to prepare for 2008. Get started on something new now.

Starting today, begin my 10 in 10 exercise. The idea is to accomplish 10 specific projects over a 10 week period that are part of larger goals. If you start today, your end date would be Saturday, December 29, leaving you two days to plan out 2008 more fully.

Good Luck

What's Your Excuse?

On Thursday, I missed a flight by one minute. It was more like 17 seconds. This was a first for me and you are right to guess it was a very stressful moment. In fact, the plane was still boarding when I arrived at the check-in desk; however, since only 29 minute remained before take-off, it was determined that I would not clear security and make it to the gate within the time left. I knew I could do; however, the airline had certain policies and I did not receive a boarding pass. Passengers must arrive 30 minutes prior to departure: it was an absolute cutoff.

Of course, in my head, I started to blame all kinds of external factors: the extremely slow traffic I had encountered, the major accident on I-94, the road construction, and the desk clerk at the airline. Yet, after a few weak moments, I realized there were empty excuses. Excuses are mental tricks to protect oneself. Clearly, this was my fault: had a left my house 30 minutes sooner, this would have not been a problem.

I did get another flight; however, I had to wait to Friday morning. And I made sure to get there early!

What are your excuses? Time to re-think them. Take responsibility for your actions, your reactions, and their consequences.

Three Marketing Questions Redux

Before considering any business solution, answer these:

1) Who is my market?

2) What is their problem?

3) How do they think & talk about it?

Bottom Line: Do not solve a problem that other people do not have or do not think they have.

Three Marketing Questions

Here are three vital questions for anyone who offer a service or sells a product:

1) Who is my market?

2) What do they want?

3) HOW would they prefer it delivered?

Although most corporations, entrepreneurs, professionals, and salespeople are great at answering the first two questions, often issues about formats or media type are ignored. For example, an informational product could be released in many ways: a traditional book, an ebook, a live seminar, streaming audio, a CD, a DVD, or a webcast. Some people who would buy a hardcover book might never consider the MP3 option.

Bottom Line: Ask HOW your own market(s) would they prefer your product or service delivered. Find the sweet spot.

Just Four Minutes!

What can you with just four minutes? More than you probably think. Since 1954, after Roger Bannister broke the four minute barrier, many people have run an entire mile in less than four minutes! WOW. That is productivity at it’s best.

Here are a few things you can do in four minutes with less training:

• Make a phone call
• Clean your desk
• Compose an email
• Do 30 push-ups
• Read a short article
• Post a blog entry
• Consider a problem
• Create a plan for the next four hours.

The Bottom Line: Do not treat micro-blocks of time as inconsequential. Just as enough drops of water will eventually create an ocean, wasted minutes become lost hours. If you are both effective and efficient, you can produce big results within small increments of time.