About Me

• CEO of Inversoft• Software Developer for 16 years• Keyboard junky• Agro-efficiency nut– I take control of meetings when they go too slow

How can I do that?

Brian’s 7 Habits of Insane Productivity

Habit #1

NINJA SQUIRREL!!!

Distractions

• Close email• Close IM/Skype• Close web browsers (or hide them)• Silence phones– Put them out of reach

• Headphones

Habit #2

Avoid Spinning

• Where do I start?• I’ll try this one thing• But what about those other thing• Really there are like 50 things• I better plan for all of them (they might interact and overlap)• Where do I start?

The Fix?

PLAN, PLAN, PLAN SOME MOREBUT DON’T PLAN FOREVER

Parts, Steps, Pieces

• Always make a plan• Use a planning tool (we use Pivotal Tracker)• Break the plan into phases• Outline as many steps as you can (and make sense)• Avoid really fine detail– “In phase 3, I’ll take a coffee break for 15 minutes after I set the

footer color to cornflower blue…”

Example (New Website)

• Phase 1: Pick multiple design tools, rank them and eval– Build matrix of required and “nice to have” features– Search for 10 tools– Reduce set based on features– Pick 2 tools to evaluate– Build a single web page in both tools

• Phase 2: Build homepage– Write copy– Etc.

Example (New Website)

• Phase 3: Get feedback– Ask people for feedback– Capture feedback in matrix

• Phase 4: Implement feedback– Make changes

• Phase 5: Verify plan is still accurate– Make changes to plan based on feedback– Maybe repeat Phase 1-5

• Phase 6: Launch

Habit #3

Meetings: Agenda

• Make an agenda– Discuss last weeks email activity– Call out current open leads– Identify potential closeable leads for this week– Brainstorm ideas to close leads– List lost leads and why they are lost– …

Meetings: Agenda (anal-retentive version)

• Make an agenda– 0-5 minutes: Discuss last weeks email activity– 5-7 minutes: Call out current open leads– 7-10 minutes: Identify potential closeable leads for this week– 10-12 minutes: Brainstorm ideas to close leads– 12-15 minutes: List lost leads and why they are lost– …

Meetings: Duration

• Set meeting duration based on agenda– Try 15 or 30 minutes instead of 60– Sometimes 25 minute meetings happen and are okay– Don’t be afraid to end early– Don’t be afraid to end late (but only if you have a good reason to)

Meetings: Invites

• Include the right people– Avoid too many cooks in the kitchen– Avoid haters (people you know will push back on everything without

cause)– Think before you send– Go over the agenda and ensure you have the right people

Meetings: 5 Minute Rule

• 5 minute rule– After the first 5 minutes, stop– Anyone who feels they shouldn’t be in the meeting can ask to leave– The organizer can override only if they absolutely need that person

Meetings Re-invented

Planning Working

Meetings Re-invented

Working Planning

Sometimes Working Meetings Work

Pun intended

Habit #4

WAIT FOR IT . . . AHHHHH!!!

Reminders Demo

Reminders Recap

• One list for today• One list for later (but scheduled)• One list for WHENEVER (brain dump)• Add today in the morning• Re-org today in the evening• Move scheduled to today or just do it when it pops up

Habit #5

Ergonomics = Productivity

• Crappy chair = lost energy• Low-res monitor = lost energy• Bad monitor position = lost energy• Lame keyboard = lost energy• Lost energy = slow, tired, and busted

On sale right now for $7,500!!!

Habit #6

OR

In today’s episode of what the $*&@ is for dinner…

Remember this isn’t your last meal!

OR

Make Fast Decisions

• Go with your first thought• Usually you can change• Make it and move on• Embrace the possibility of failure

Speaking of foodDon’t forget to eat!

Habit #7

Speed

• Pick your tools• Learn every shortcut• Learn every menu item• Learn every concept• Learn how to be FAST

Mail Demo