Life management tools

There are three influences in my life management planning that I feel worth mentioning:

• Anthony Robbins' RPM
  Outcome-based system... the taxonomy of getting things done by focusing upon the desired result, rather than remaining fixated upon the mechanisms for achieving that result.
  Projects - Master Plans - Weekly Plans - Daily Plans,
  Weekly planning process,
  Must-time vs Total time,
  Leverage,
  Communication capturing,
  Monthly time commitments
  
• Stephen Covey's PlanPlus
  Roles-based planning,
  Mission statements,
  Hierarchical project planning has just been introduced in version 3 in their "Project Task List",
  Weekly planning process,
  PowerNotes, much like Microsoft Office OneNote,
  Synchronises to PDAs, though only through its own conduits
  Review Mission, Schedule Goals (aligned with overall goals), Schedule Compass, Schedule Tasks
  
• David Allen's Getting Things Done
• • Context-based thinking...
  • Levels of thinking and planning...
    
  Collect in inbox, process quickly (do now, don't do, process once, empty inbox each day)
  Action it now (in which case, describe as a successful outcome; if more than one step, it's a Project, and identify the next steps): Do it-Delegate it-Defer it(assign)
  Organise
  Non action by filing, referencing, putting on the someday/maybe list.
  If deferred, insert into calendar, put onto task list and mail summary to self.
• Review: Daily, Weekly and Occasionally.
• In the moment: Context, then Time available, then Energy available then by priority.
• In each moment, you can either do Predefined work (though this takes discipline), Defining (knowing all your work) and doing work as it shows up (though risking the urgency trap)
• Structure of thinking: Current actions, Current projects, Areas of responsibility, 1-2 year goals, 3-5 year visions, Life planning

What do you think?

A few new books from Hong Kong airport

While I was strolling through Hong Kong airport on Christmas Eve, I came across two books that particularly struck my interest:

• Speak Like a CEO, by Suzanne Bates, is a very interesting and very practical guide to speaking in business. It looks very interesting for all speakers, particularly those who want to act with authority and power in whatever context.
• The Rules of Work, by Richard Templar, is another interesting and again very practical guide, this time to progressing through the corporate ladder. The rules are clearly laid out and simply explained, and worth looking at for all aspiring world leaders.
  

Check them out and let me know what you think...

Do-Gooders - Social Entrepreneurship is alive and well!

Entrepreneurs make themselves rich by making the world a better place. Sometimes, this ddoesn't work so well - thieves, deception and ill-conceived ideas are magnified by scale too - but there are some great stories about how business can really make a difference. Red Herring is a great source for updates... Here's a sample:
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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2005 WEEKLY UPDATES
IN PRINT: Do-Gooders There's no rule that says do-gooders can't make money. David Green's Aurolab in India, for instance, sells intraocular lenses, a treatment for cataracts, at $4 a pop in India, compared to the $100 price tag for such lenses in the United States. Yet the nonprofit company boasts 52 percent profit margins, with sales of 600,000 units in 86 countries, and 7.5 percent of the sector's global market share.

"Profit and production capacity are utilized to fulfill social mission," says Mr. Green. Red Herring profiles six other do-gooders like Green who're using technology to help others. Jhai Foundation founder Lee Thorn has brought $200 PCs to Laos, helping farmers find better prices for basic commodities they grow like rice. And in the United States, Internet service provider owner Mac Dearman helped family members displaced by Hurricane Katrina get in touch with each other by setting up a VoIP phone network after the storm. Find out more about social entrepreneurs in our story, "Do-Gooders: Six Who've Applied Tech To A Good Cause."

Young Leaders of Tomorrow Programme

Hong Kong University has a great programme to identify and promote
future leaders. I wonder what would happen if we were to bring something of the sort
to Australia...