Getting things done

How to be in the 'zone' at all times? The utopia of always be in a 'Productive State'?

It is the mental state when 'everything just went right', 'felt connected to everything', effortless' and 'can't do anything wrong'.


First you need to learn how to cope with stress.
Most of the stress people experience comes from inappropriately managed commitments they make or accept. Think of 802.1ag STFM. Lots of customer expectations but no proper source of internal info to deliver.

I compromised my position and exposed myself of looking stupid. this is an example of an inappropriate commitment. a better outcome could be relieving myself a week in US and working this through with the SME to yield a better output, ready for customer questions.

Strategic vs Tactical. What's the difference?

“Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat.” Sun Tzu

It's essentially the why vs the how.

The word strategy was derived from military which means a plan of action designed to achieve a particular goal. Tactics is the individual engagement of a particular task.

Applying to business management,a strategy is the overall goal of the business. Tactics are the set of tools or actions taken to fulfill strategy.


Many managers will say our strategy is to make money and soldiers would say our goal is to win the war. That’s an over simplified viewpoint, which has no thought processes and is worthless. Give it some thought on why your organization is in existence. Who do you serve? Why do you serve? What’s your goal?

Demystifying OTC drugs

Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs are medicines that may be sold directly to a consumer without a prescription from a healthcare professional, as compared to prescription drugs, which may be sold only to consumers possessing a valid prescription.

Here are the most common and what they're used for in Oz:


Ibuprofen.
A non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Because it decreases swelling associated with an injury or after surgery, it decreases the pain associated with inflammation. It also reduces fever. NSAIDs are irritating to the stomach, so must be taken with food. Not recommended for people with asthma, as it can worsen symptoms.
Common brands: Nurofen, Herron Blue

Description: Nurofen works where it's needed - at the sight of pain. It quickly relieves pain, reduces inflammation and lowers temperature. It provides relief from headaches, period pain, dental pain, migraine, backache, muscular pain, rheumatic pain, neuralgia, cold and flu symptoms, and feverishness.



Aspirin.
Is similar to ibuprofen in nature. It is also an NSAID, but it does not reduce fever. Aspirin also thins the blood, so must not be taken by anyone with a clotting disorder, or on blood thinners such as warfarin. Aspirin can also cause stomach upset.


Paracetamol.
Is a painkiller. It does not have any anti-inflammatory properties. It is very effective in reducing fever, and does not cause stomach upsets.

Description: Panadol is a paracetamol based analgesic and provides fast, effective temporary relief of pain and discomfort associated with: headache, tension headache, period pain, cold and flu symptoms, migraine headache, muscular aches, arthritis/osteoarthritis, backache, and toothache.
Panadol also helps to reduce fever.
Panadol is a good choice of pain reliever for people with sensitive stomachs, stomach ulcers and other stomach disorders. Panadol can also be used by breast feeding women.



For pain, a combination of paracetamol and ibuprofen, or paracetamol and aspirin is safe. It is not recommended to combine aspirin with ibuprofen. For period pain, paracetamol and ibuprofen is safest, because neither of them have blood thinning properties.

What is the difference between panadol and panadeine?
Panadol is the brand name for paracetamol/acetaminophen.

Panadeine is the brand name for a combination product of paracetamol/acetaminophen and codeine. Because it has two active ingredients, panadeine should be stronger (and thus better for pain) but this is not the case for everyone. For codeine to be able to provide analgesic relief it has to be converted to morphine in the body. Some people (approximately 6 to 10% of caucasians and 1-2% of Asians) lack the enzymes required to convert codeine to morphine and therefore are unlikely get any pain relief from it.

Ref: Australian Medicines Handbook 2010

What is the difference between aspirin and panadol?

Aspirin and panadol are both pain killers. Aspirin is the actual drug name, but panadol is the brand name for paracetamol or acetaminophen.

Aspirin is a good anti-inflammatory pain killer, whereas acetaminophen or paracetamol is a good general pain reliever. While both have interactions and cannot be used in certain conditions, paracetamol or acetaminophen is generally considered the safer of the two. (NB: Aspirin should not be used in young children as it can increase their risk of Reyes syndrome. Instead, use ibuprofen as a good pain reliever).

(FDA) recommend that aspirin and combination products containing aspirin not be given to children under 19 years of age during episodes of fever-causing illnesses. Hence, in the United States, it is advised that the opinion of a doctor or pharmacist be obtained before anyone under 19 years of age is given any medication containing aspirin

Good info on aspirin:
http://health.howstuffworks.com/medicine/medication/aspirin.htm

Great list of essential medicines from WHO:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WHO_Model_List_of_Essential_Medicines

The ABCDs and being a first-aider

Do what you can, when you can, while you still can - Anonymous

Not too long ago, i went for my PADI Rescue, and part of getting certified meant i had to do the Emergency-First Response as well as an O2 course.

Course was a great refresher on my expired CPR skills and definitely learnt a few nifty knowledge to have in a dire situation.



ABCD's are a great way as an emergency first responder @scene and stands for:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
A -Assess the Situation, Alert Emergency Services and Airway Check
B - Breathing (look, listen and feel), Rescue Breaths
C - Chest Compressions (2 breaths and 30 compressions cyce)
D - Defibrillator (Using AEDs)
S - Serious Bleeding/Shock/Spinal Injury Management

This also prompts me to check for my:
1) Local Emergency Number:
A: 112 or 000

000 is the 'main' emergency number in Australia

112 is, as defined by the GSM standard the 'global number' for emergency services. GSM (mobile) phones in Australia will direct any 112 call to the local 000 service (even if it's an overseas mobile.) Many mobiles, including pretty much all sold in the EU and North America, include firmware that allows 112 to be dialled even if the phone is on a password-protected screen lock.
Most GSM mobile phones can dial emergency calls even when the phone keyboard is locked, the phone is without a SIM card, or an emergency number is entered instead of the PIN.

As a rule of thumb, if you want an emergency service pretty much anywhere in the world, dial 112 - it should work on any mobile in any country.

Note: 911 or 999 does not work in Australia.

2) For first aid kit:
The Red Cross recommends that all first aid kits for a family of four include the following:

http://www.first-aid-product.com/industrial/gauze-dressing-pads.htm


2 absorbent compress dressings (5 x 9 inches)
What it's for: serves as a sterile wound and trauma dressing. compressed over a wound and secured/tied with first aid tape.


25 adhesive bandages (assorted sizes)


1 adhesive cloth tape (10 yards x 1 inch)


5 antibiotic ointment packets (approximately 1 gram)
WIF: help prevent infection in minor scrapes, cuts, and burns


5 antiseptic wipe packets



2 packets of aspirin (81 mg each)
What it's for: Its analgesic, fever-reducing, and anti-inflammatory effects make it useful in treating headaches, muscle and joint aches, arthritis pain, and the symptoms of mild fevers and infections.1 blanket (space blanket)


1 breathing barrier/pocket mask (with one-way valve)
WIF: Standard resuscitation techniques can be used and helps prevent contact with patient's saliva or blood


1 instant cold compress
WIF: Cold Compression Therapy combines two of the principles of R.I.C.E. (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) to reduce pain and swelling from a sports or activity injury to soft tissues and recommended by orthopedic surgeons following surgery. The therapy is especially useful for sprains, strains, pulled muscles and pulled ligaments.
Most ice wraps that use ice, have a built-in protective layer, so ice is not applied directly to the skin, which can result in a burn to the area sometimes known as a "cryoburn".

2 pair of nonlatex gloves (size: large)


2 hydrocortisone ointment packets (approximately 1 gram each)
WIF: Relieves minor skin irritations, itches and rashes due to eczema, dermatitis, insect bites, poison ivy and allergies to soaps or detergents. .9 grams per packet.

Scissors


1 roller bandage (3 inches wide)
1 roller bandage (4 inches wide)


5 sterile gauze pads (3 x 3 inches)
5 sterile gauze pads (4 x 4 inches)


Oral thermometer (non-mercury/nonglass)

Note: What is a fever?
http://firstaid.webmd.com/body-temperature
Normal human body temperature varies slightly from person to person and by the time of day. Consequently, each type of measurement has a range of normal temperatures. The range for normal human body temperatures, taken orally, is 37.0±0.5 °C (98.6±0.9 °F).[1] This means that any oral temperature between 36.5 and 37.5 °C (97.7 and 99.5 °F) is likely to be normal.

In most adults, an oral temperature above 100°F (37.8°C) or a rectal or ear temperature above 101°F (38.3°C) is considered a fever. A child has a fever when his or her rectal temperature is 100.4°F (38°C) or higher.


2 triangular bandages
WIF: Also known as a cravat bandage, a triangular bandage is a piece of cloth cut into a right-angled triangle, and often provided with safety pins to secure it in place. It can be used fully unrolled as a sling, folded as a normal bandage, or for specialized applications, as on the head

Tweezers

First aid instruction booklet/Iphone app - 'First Aid'

Performance Challenge

This is the time where we plan the strategic and execute the tactical!

As we go further up the food-chain, the more you're asked to do outside your zone of control, but not outside our zone of influence.

Look for lead-in measures.

Use the SMART methodology. We're not trying to boil the ocean here but maintain 6P (Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance)!

CO2 aka "What's your carbon footprint?"

Assertiveness

A quick tip to being assertive in conversation is cut down the number of words you use to express something... when you wish to say it, challenge yourself to reduce it down to 5 words and no more.

Give it a go!