Posts Tagged ‘Suggested Reading’
Project Update #4: AnthemVirtual.com
Okay, I can succeed with just those two items: A weekly plan and daily plans. I'm balanced because my plans include my body, mind, heart, and spirit. There's one more concept I came up with to help me keep my sanity. As this is a project launch that is essentially a new business launch, there are a lot of LITTLE THINGS that need to get done; and right now I'm the only one responsible for doing them. My motto has become "Get Going NOW, Tweak Along the Way". This means that the website won't be perfect; the process may not be totally smooth at first. That's okay. Keep moving. Otherwise, I'll get lost in the details, fall behind schedule, and find plenty of excuses to stall my progress. I created in my Wave, beneath my two weekly objectives, a TweakBox. In here I put anything and everything that needs to get done, but isn't priority. If I was budgeted for it, many of these tasks would likely be outsourced. This box allows me to, at a glance, see what needs to get tweaked and when I have a moment between peanut-butter sandwiches and playing tag (again, stacking: Family time with exercise), I can get some tweak time in. Now, there's an even more important role this TweakBox plays: It allows me to DUMP my thoughts as they arrive in my head regarding things that need to get done. Now, these thoughts don't cloud my productive time; they don't cheat me out of sleep or strive to raise my levels of anxiety. Writing things down puts you in control of the tasks. Having my TweakBox gives me permission to "do them when I can". After creating the TweakBox, I added a DailyBox, a WeeklyBox, and a ReadingBox. In these, I place the tasks that need to be done every day, or once or twice each week; as well as what books I want to read that apply to my work (right now it's "How Did That Happen?"). Again, I don't have to THINK, instead I FOCUS on the priorities, and I SNEAK in the Box-stuffs when I can. I'm about 5 to 7 days behind where I want to be in my 90-day plan... which feels like three months behind. This is good, only because I use the "pressure" to stick to the tasks before me. Make promises and keep them. It's a pretty simple plan. Kawasaki's book with some tactics from Ferriss, and the foundation of Covey, these help me format those promises in a way that keeps me in control of me, so I can move effectively forward in creating value. If you want a copy of my GoogleWave outline, email me at Dave@SelfEnterpriser.com. I'm happy to send you a copy, but don't want to make this post any longer than it already is. What's next? The value's been created, this week a system is being put in place to ensure consistency in that value; and marketing that value will begin (marketing, meaning making it easy for others to exchange dollars for that value). Tools: Stephen Covey's 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Tim Ferriss' The 4-Hour Workweek "Have A Nice Dave." :) --Dave C. Photo [...]
Project Update #3: AnthemVirtual.com
Let's see... I'm on day 29 of the AnthemVirtual.com launch. Many reasons for delay keep cropping up and begging me to call them excuses. However, this little drummer-boy is marching forward. I've been feeling overwhelmed with my acting-role of SuperDad. At the end of every day I found myself with feelings of great dissatisfaction, that I didn't get near enough completed. I finally found myself saying (okay, I was screaming), if I only had 3 hours of actual productivity every day, oh what I could do. Going back and forth with my wife, trying to figure out her work schedule with mine (hers is making money), along with the kids' schedules and the kids getting sick (seems each of them had something unique). On top of these "normal" abnormalities, there's an issue of chronic fatigue that comes into play in my frustration, too. Okay, enough of the Real-world (I only share to shout out to you and myself that there are no excuses good enough to stop me). Here's what I ended up doing. First, I realized that my 'night-owl' tendencies could serve me well. I have 3 hours from 10PM to 1AM every day. Viola! An instant 3 hours. Just what I was looking for, right in a time-slot that my fatigue rarely kicks my butt and the children are sleeping. Okay, next I needed to ensure that these three hours were PRO-DUC-TIVE! This meant I needed to have an absolute plan for things that were my absolute priority. Get this plan written down (long before the production period was to start; like the end of the previous work-day). Once things were written down, all I had to do was keep the promises I made (borrowed from Stephen Covey's '7 Habits of Highly Effective People'). As long as I'm making promises based on my priority objectives - to myself and others - then I do all I that is humanly possible to keep those promises, prosperity naturally follows (of course, tweaking priority objectives when needed). Create A WEEKLY PLAN using Google Wave (no other collaborators, just me). a. Plan should cover four areas: Heart, Mind, Spirit & Body (the PC in Covey's PC/P concept) b. Plan should cover top TWO major accomplishments for the business for that particular week (based loosely on Tim Ferriss' 4-Hour Workweek. If these are the ONLY 2 things accomplished this week, it will be a fantastic week for the business). Create a DAILY PLAN within the same Wave a. What are the TOP TWO accomplishments for the next business day. b. Any sub-tasks that need to go with this? I don't want to use anything more complicated than Wave, tho there are many project management programs out there; and I'll be using a project management program within AnthemVirtual. However, I want my Weekly Plan / Daily Plan to be very simple. As well, I chose Wave instead of a simple Google Doc only because I wanted to familiarize myself with Wave a bit more as I'll soon be using it to track communications between the company and our Clients [...]
What’s the dealio?
So, yes... I went from content 3 to 5 days/week to like, 1 new post a week. Not that you've been complaining (why not?). Here's why: I've been busy. Yes, that lame excuse that all of us seem to have at one time or another. Really, I just wanted you to know that it really IS me writing these posts and not some hired hand (Ha! Wouldn't that be great?). "Busy doing what?" I'm glad you asked. As the tagline of this blog'azine is "The Business of Being Yourself", I've been busy being myself. Note that the tagline USED to be: "Moving Ideas from Mind to Market on the Cheap." Well, I've been busy doing that, too. But wait, there's more. And I'm gonna tell you about it (Aren't you the lucky one?). One of the reasons I started this site is to embrace the ME that can't sit still (EADD: Entrepreneurial Attention Deficit Discombobulation). I love ideas. I love people bringing ideas together. I love bringing people and ideas together. I get bored with ideas once I see them taking hold and feel compelled to move on to the next new, shiny concept. Well, if this blog'azine counts as the first of the ideas I'm rolling out, it's time (in my little world) to start out on the next idea - which, conveniently enough, gets to act as an extension of the first idea; by my reporting on the implementation of the second idea. Lucky for my wife and family, and for those I owe money to, the second idea has been created with the idea of profitability in mind. In fact, I've got ideas coming down the line that will rely on this second idea in many ways. I'm hoping that YOU, with whatever it is you're working on, might also benefit from the new idea: I'm using Guy Kawasaki's book, The Art of the Start, as an outline for getting the concept launched in only 14 days; and for reaching that "Break Even" point in 90-days. You'll be able to follow along and see how I do, good and bad, and apply that to your own project or business.(Buy the book from this link: Any proceeds paid to me from Amazon to me will be sent to Doctors Without Borders to support the people of Haiti- Doctors Without Borders has a FOUR STAR RATING at www.charitynavigator.org) In addition, the type of project we're launching may be able to help you in other ways: There are many tasks that need to get done in a business project. Many of these tasks can act as a distraction from what actually puts dollars into the business account. Our concept can help minimize these distractions so YOU can remain productive (cheap plug alert - cheap plug alert). So, "What's The Big Idea," you ask? "Why have you deprived me of spectacular reading content for a week or two?" you inquire. The concept is called AnthemVirtual. We're using concepts learned starting back in 2008, when I created an online event called The Virtual Business Summit 2008. The event was a BOMB. No, not THE BOMB, but "A" BOMB. The speakers were fantastic, actually. I had a wonderful line-up. It's just [...]
How I use Twitter: A Conversation on Skype
Rick Says: When you get time I need help with twitter Dave Charbonneau says: I'm here. Rick Says: I am now but are you still there? Dave Charbonneau says: Hi. Rick Says: How are things Dave Charbonneau says: I'm good. Feel a bit like hurling; but I'm good. How're you?' Rick Says: well Rick Says: so how do I get a lot more followers on twitter Dave Charbonneau says: Um... Dave Charbonneau says: There's a cupla ways. Dave Charbonneau says: First, get a foundation to build upon. What are you using it for. What info are you wanting to get out there. Grab hold of a twitter philosophy. Dave Charbonneau says: I recommend NOT to think of Twitter as an outlet for spreading the word about something; and instead to see it as a conduit for CONNECTING with ppl who have similar interests. Dave Charbonneau says: Everybody hates spam and holds disdain for spammers. Good thing abt spammers = if you provide great value, you look intelligent and get LOYAL followers; these are ppl who share your stuff with others. Dave Charbonneau says: Have you read that Crush It book? Rick Says: NO Rick Says: did Dave Charbonneau says: Okay. That's a great place to gain that philosophy (everything begins w/philosophy). Rick Says: Then I shall read it Dave Charbonneau says: Next, hang on and I'll get you...
First Impressions: Kiyosaki’s Rich Dad Poor Dad’s Conspiracy of the Rich
It's been a long time since I've delved into a Kiyosaki book; tho I still would be quick to recommend Rich Dad / Poor Dad to anyone looking for a philosophical foundation for money. I've not read the entire book (um... that's why I entitled this "First Impressions"). My first impression (see, there's the title in action) is that it should be a pretty good read. While it's clear in calling today's financial disasters the result of conspiring men and women, it doesn't seem to be a book that's overly focused on the "Oh my gosh, how can men be so evil" downer side of things. Sure, mean people suck; but let's focus on what good people with good intentions can do to improve their own circumstances. That's the direction I feel this book is heading. Most people leave school not knowing even the basic differences between a stock and a bond, betweent debt and equity. Few know why preferred stocks are labeled preferred and why mutual funds are mutual... Many people think debt is bad, yet debt can make you rich. Debt can increase your return on investment, but only if you know what you're doing. Only a few know the difference between capital gains and cash flow and which is less risky. Most people blindly accept the idea of going to school to get a good job and never know why employees pay higher tax rates than the entrepreneur who owns the business. Many people are in trouble today because they believed their home was an asset, when it was really a liability. These are basic and simple financial concepts. Yet for some reason, our schools conveniently omit a subject required for a successful life-the subject of money. +++ Okay, so there we have one of the problems. Again, I feel the problems are introduced only as a stage to introduce solutions. He later states: +++ Smart investors understand that owning a business that adjusts to the ups and downs of the economy or investing in cash-flowing assets is much better than owning a diversified portfolio of stocks, bonds, and mutual funds- investments that crash when the market crashes. +++ This is how I see the book might appeal to Self-Enterprisers. We want our business to reflect who we are as a person; but we also want to be smart and not end up broke because we're, well... to put it in Kiyosaki's words, *playing by the wrong set of rules*. Do I recommend the book? I'm still undecided. I mean, if you just need to read something, and you've already read and understand the books on my Good-Enuff-To-Get-Going list, sure. Or, if you're finding yourself in paralasis by the bad news that's being presented daily (hint, turn off the news), then perhaps the book could be a booster shot of Vitamin B (B, meaning *Business*, of course). I believe it's a great time to start and build up a business. Perhaps better than any other time in history. To be able to take the things you care about the most and use these to create value for others makes for a great life, in my opinion. And the [...]
