Learn more about problemsolving with this collection
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How to enhance your creative thinking
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Projects and areas
The most effective way to organise work and life is by projects and areas of responsibility.
A project is an endeavour that has
- a desired outcome that you can mark off as complete,
- a timeframe by which you'd like it done.
An area of responsibility has
- a standard to be maintained that
- is continuous over time.
In essence, a project ends while areas continue indefinitely.
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MORE IDEAS ON THIS
Every area of responsibility has a standard to be maintained
There is no end date or final outcome with the area of responsibility. Your performance may increase or decrease over time, but the standard continues indefinitely and requires a certain level of attention.
Areas have no finish line you can reach that allow...
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Project people vs Area people
“Project people” are good at sprints. Give them a clear goal and a path to get there, and they'll chase after it.
The weakness of sprinters: Once they've reached their goal, they will lose interest, only to change direction and run after the next goal.
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The explosive power of projects
When you launch a new project, you have to set aside many of your usual habits, routines, and boundaries you usually rely on. You must let go and focus every bit of energy on a single outcome. For example, when you’re about to close a big sales contract with an important client, that isn't the ti...
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Projects and areas are interdependent
At a deep level, projects and areas depend on each other.
A project is like a rocket taking off. It starts with an explosion of energy toward an objective. Your areas are like the stable infrastructure that enables that rocket to take off.
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Project person: improving your ability to sustain your areas
- Adopt a morning or evening routine
- Set limits to your working hours
- Take regular breaks and walks in nature
- Journal and write out your internal anxieties and thoughts
- Create a mindful habit
- Set your intentions each day, week, month, or year
- Eva...
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Area person: improving your ability to execute projects
- Set a deadline with consequences
- Use “timeboxing” to concentrate your energy output
- Promise someone that you’ll deliver by a certain time
- Schedule a meeting or presentation during which you’ll show your work
- Reduce the scope of the project and drop features as...
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Every project has a corresponding area that it falls within
- Running a marathon is a project. Health is an area.
- Publishing a book is a project. Writing is an area.
- A vacation to Thailand is a project. Travel is an area.
In the above examples, the projects have completion dates. The projects finish when the desired outcome ...
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Related collections
Other curated ideas on this topic:
Refinement of Planning and Execution
Refine your current budget and create attainable goals
Identify at least two areas that you would like to work on within your current budget and decide whether you want to decrease your expenses or place an additional budget for it.
By evaluating how much you've spent on a certain ma...
Starting good habits and sticking to them
- Harness the dopamine effect: identify the desired outcome. Mentally walking yourself through the process of success and the joys and benefits it brings can teach your brain to be motivated by something other than dread.
- Start with baby-steps: identify the “tiny habits” ...
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