by Caroline Leach | Apr 13, 2016 | Learning
Part of making the most of what you have is getting the most out of small snippets of time.
In my April adventure to do my daily dozen every day, I’ve not only found that minutes count. I’ve also learned that using these minutes has changed how I think about using time.
First, it focuses me on goals and accomplishments. Those are the priority items I work on each day. If those get done, I’ve made good progress.
Second, it crowds out busy work. Not everything needs to be done. Less essential tasks that might be tension-relieving to complete get squeezed out by more important actions.
Third, I’m becoming more comfortable with the messiness of life. That could be anything from slightly less perfect physical surroundings to a longer response time on non-urgent personal emails.
Fourth, it means leading a more digital life. I’m doing more things on the go. Waiting in line somewhere? My library of books is just a tap away. Appointment delayed? I can squeeze in my Spanish lesson.
Another minute-long activity is adding short tasks to a “power hour” list. This is a great concept by Gretchen Rubin to tackle uncompleted tasks that don’t have a deadline and therefore aren’t getting done.
The first task for my next power hour? Figuring out why Word Press doesn’t always display my personal photos as right side up on mobile devices (which may be why the clock pictured above from a Connecticut holiday visit may be appearing sideways).
It may not have been a coincidence that starting today your Google calendar will automatically find time in your schedule for your goals. While it sounds like there are some bugs to be worked out, the concept is intriguing.
How are you making your minutes count?
by Caroline Leach | Apr 12, 2016 | Learning
Sometimes it’s all too easy to think about the things you don’t have.
But writing down 3 things I’m grateful for every night has had an interesting benefit. It reminds me to to take full advantage of everything I already have.
Here are a few examples:
Your employer. Are you taking advantage of on-the-job and other learning opportunities at your company? I thought about this today as I completed an online marketing course on building strong brands through my company’s learning portal. It’s a blessing to be in an environment that invests in and focuses on learning and development for the future.
Your professional association. If you belong to a professional group, are you taking full advantage of the many networking, learning and leadership opportunities? I enjoy the webinars available through organizations such as IABC, PRSA and SHRM, plus the great professional networking in the Forum Group of senior-level corporate communicators.
Your alma mater. Are you involved with your college or grad school? There are great opportunities to give back through volunteering, mentoring and speaking. And you have a built-in network at your alma mater. If you live nearby, you can attend sporting and cultural events.
Your library. Many libraries are providing all kinds of new services, from e-books to the Lynda.com online learning platform. I love the “new releases” section of my library, where I can load up on interesting books for free.
Your gym. Is there a new class you could try at your gym? They’re often included with the membership and are a great way to add variety to your fitness routine. I’ve enjoyed sampling a variety of yoga classes, adding stretching and balancing to my cardio and weight program.
Your video provider. What are you streaming these days? I love my DIRECTV app and the apps I can access with my subscription, like HBO GO and TVLand. (Full disclosure: I work for this company and opinions in this blog are my own.) Great entertainment is always with my on my phone or tablet.
Your smartphone. How can your smartphone make your life easier? What new apps can you download? Your smartphone connects you to practically everything and everyone. A good question to ask when starting any new project is how you can do it on your smartphone. Mine is coming in especially handy for my daily 10 minutes of Spanish study on my Rosetta Stone app.
Your community. What’s going on in your community? Are there free concerts coming up this spring and summer? Other information and learning opportunities? These are great ways to connect with your neighbors and get more enjoyment from the community you call home.
How do you make the most of what’s already in your life?
by Caroline Leach | Apr 11, 2016 | Learning, Marketing & Analytics
Since small steps add up to big change, what are some blogs that accelerate learning about marketing analytics and big data?
A great place to start is with this post: Want to Learn Marketing Analytics? Start With These 9 Great Resources.
From that and other searches, these are 3 to check out regularly.
- The KISSmetrics Blog. Here there’s daily content about marketing analytics, marketing and testing.
- Alexandra Samuel’s blog. Here this “technology researcher, writer and strategist” covers how the social web is changing every aspect of our lives.
Is this last one strictly about marketing analytics and big data? No, it’s bigger than that. It’s about life.
And isn’t the point of analytics and big data to enable better decisions and therefore better lives?
My post 6 Brilliant Blogs for Marketers covers more general marketing blogs, including FiveThirtyEight on “using statistical analysis to tell compelling stories.”
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