"In knowledge work, the task is not given, it has to be determined"
you start asking questions such as:
What are the expected results from this work? - yields productivity
And it is a question that demands risky decisions. There is no right or wrong but choices instead. and results have to be clearly specified if productivity is to be achieved.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Managing Action
Things rarely get stuck because of lack of time. They get stuck because the doing of them has not been defined.
The real problem for so many projects and commitments is a lack of clarity and definition about what the project is , and the associated next-steps.
Clarifying things on the front end, when they first appear on the radar, rather than on backend, or hindsight after trouble has developed, allows people to reap the benefits of managing action.
The real problem for so many projects and commitments is a lack of clarity and definition about what the project is , and the associated next-steps.
Clarifying things on the front end, when they first appear on the radar, rather than on backend, or hindsight after trouble has developed, allows people to reap the benefits of managing action.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Navy Seal Requirements
TO be even considered in the Navy Seal, the initial physical screening test includes the following procedure:
1.swim 500 yards in 12.5 minutes or less, followed by a 10-minute rest
2.do 42 push-ups in under two minutes, followed by a two-minute rest
3.do 50 sit-ups in under two minutes, followed by a two-minute rest
4.do six pull-ups, followed by a 10-minute rest
5.run 1.5 miles in boots and long pants in less than 11.5 minutes
- takenfrom HowStuffWorks.com
One thing which i caught of interest is a 50m underwater swim. Today was the first time i managed a 25m underwater swim, so i'm excited how far i can push or hit that elusive mark.
one interesting post on how some guys are struggling to get past this test on the navy seal forum is this requirement, and how the hypoxic training from some dude named stew smith can help. its basically training and pushing beyong with a lack of oxygen in the blood :)
keep reading
1.swim 500 yards in 12.5 minutes or less, followed by a 10-minute rest
2.do 42 push-ups in under two minutes, followed by a two-minute rest
3.do 50 sit-ups in under two minutes, followed by a two-minute rest
4.do six pull-ups, followed by a 10-minute rest
5.run 1.5 miles in boots and long pants in less than 11.5 minutes
- takenfrom HowStuffWorks.com
One thing which i caught of interest is a 50m underwater swim. Today was the first time i managed a 25m underwater swim, so i'm excited how far i can push or hit that elusive mark.
one interesting post on how some guys are struggling to get past this test on the navy seal forum is this requirement, and how the hypoxic training from some dude named stew smith can help. its basically training and pushing beyong with a lack of oxygen in the blood :)
keep reading
Saturday, April 17, 2010
How to make it all work.
As David Allen said, "To lead an effective life we need to be able to make things happen" - to engage with our world so it will supply us with the experiences and results we seek.
Making the right choices and ensuring their efficient execution have always been key elements of success.
With that comes the plethora of workshops, courses, seminars to give you the tools to succeed.
Experience has shown there is still a wide gap between understanding and implementation.
Approaching work is a game, and one that's fun to play, as long as we know the purpose(what we're employed for), the boundaries(show-stopper decisions and no-no like harassment, discriminations), the contents(things we need to know to be successful in our jobs) and the rules(deadlines).
When any of those parameters are unclear, we develop unnecessary stress and are ineffective. On the other hand, if a bulletproof trusted process is in place which you can apply anytime no matter what's going on, we get a heightened sense of spontaneity in the job and more confidence everything is in order.
The game of work, and business life are really the same thing when it comes down to principles, behaviours and techniqus that eliminate distraction and foster beneficial focus.
Making the right choices and ensuring their efficient execution have always been key elements of success.
With that comes the plethora of workshops, courses, seminars to give you the tools to succeed.
Experience has shown there is still a wide gap between understanding and implementation.
Approaching work is a game, and one that's fun to play, as long as we know the purpose(what we're employed for), the boundaries(show-stopper decisions and no-no like harassment, discriminations), the contents(things we need to know to be successful in our jobs) and the rules(deadlines).
When any of those parameters are unclear, we develop unnecessary stress and are ineffective. On the other hand, if a bulletproof trusted process is in place which you can apply anytime no matter what's going on, we get a heightened sense of spontaneity in the job and more confidence everything is in order.
The game of work, and business life are really the same thing when it comes down to principles, behaviours and techniqus that eliminate distraction and foster beneficial focus.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Youth is the fountain of life
Carpe diem.
listening to Kelly Clarkson's 'Life would suck without you'
listening to Kelly Clarkson's 'Life would suck without you'
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Time management 101
The dilemma of moving into management with added responsibility of a coach and engineer. This us just too much to handle. Too muh to do.
Where do I start??
1) Determine what my role is, and break up my responsibilities into key goals. Prioritise accordingly and seek clarification with manager if necessary of what the expectations are
- Manage up (be seen to have a good handle of my given deliverables, day-to-day events (bug scrubs) and managing timely day-to-day information flow from the team up)
2) Assess how well I'm managing time
- Track how long each item takes so i can plan more accurately next time (also helps in shaping the role with manager or decide if its better to delegate)
- More disciplined in sharing my time
3) Organize the to-do's into 3 piles:
- Must do
- Can wait
- Easy to knock off
Start with the must-do to build confidence. Work on the Easy to knock off pile once work is in a less overwhelming size, FInally when some blocks of time frees up, deal with the Can-waits.
Don't avoid a Must-do with an easy task as this is very detrimental. Start chewing off bits of it and it'd unravel itself if we keep working bits of it than making excuses time and again.
Where do I start??
1) Determine what my role is, and break up my responsibilities into key goals. Prioritise accordingly and seek clarification with manager if necessary of what the expectations are
- Manage up (be seen to have a good handle of my given deliverables, day-to-day events (bug scrubs) and managing timely day-to-day information flow from the team up)
2) Assess how well I'm managing time
- Track how long each item takes so i can plan more accurately next time (also helps in shaping the role with manager or decide if its better to delegate)
- More disciplined in sharing my time
3) Organize the to-do's into 3 piles:
- Must do
- Can wait
- Easy to knock off
Start with the must-do to build confidence. Work on the Easy to knock off pile once work is in a less overwhelming size, FInally when some blocks of time frees up, deal with the Can-waits.
Don't avoid a Must-do with an easy task as this is very detrimental. Start chewing off bits of it and it'd unravel itself if we keep working bits of it than making excuses time and again.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Garmin Forerunner 405CX
I bought it! a bit of haggling, and Rebel sport price match meant i got a better deal than RRP, down from 499.95 to 450.
The deal could have been sweeter due to Rebel's 10% price match guarantee but the bitch wouldnt give it to me when her boss was standing behind her.
now, the fun stuff begins to log it into SportTracks.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Project T
Train Smart not Hard.
In preparing for the elusive Ironman, sacrifices has to be made on top of my other personal goals for 2010. By taking on a long-term goal, there are other key areas and skills I'd like to pick up as part of the training.
this means adopting a Minimalist approach, taking the law of diminishing returns (80/20) tp great considerations and being smart about it. http://tiny.cc/v4yk5
The Ironman consists of 3 legs:
The Swim (3.8km), the Bike(180km) and finally the Run(42.195km).
the problem with training for such event is cultivating a training plan and good training habits.
For the swim leg, working out harder and longer is not always the right answer for your performance. Technique is No 1 which will be my focus through online videos (Ian Thorpe) and swimming equipments to improve technique and build strengths such as using Speedo Tech Paddles, pull buoys and kickboards
Program: Subscribing to a well devised workout from effectivewaterfitness.com http://tiny.cc/eqih8
Aa 5 day/wk over 4 week program (I'm expanding it to 8 weeks giving me a weeks break to review before my trip back Malaysia)
Time required: Approx 90mins/session, 7 1/2 hours /wk
You can't manage what you don't measure, so I'll be tracking improvements along the way. http://tiny.cc/vql0y
so i spoke about other areas and skills to learn along the way earlier. For the swim leg, these are:
* Improve technique across Freestyle and Breastroke (body position, breathing, arm stroke, body rotation, leg kick)
* Swim the Butterfly
* Improve on lung capacity
* Proper use of Tennessee, dolphin kick and flipturns http://tiny.cc/qxpdt
* Prepare for Open water tri-swim http://tiny.cc/ps8uz
* Complete a Lifeguard Training and First Aid if applicable (short course)
* Able to swim without goggles (after LASIK)
Which hopefully gets me to the next phase of overcoming motion sickness (http://tiny.cc/65no5) with the PUMA method and getting on to SCUBA.
Future:
Get a swim coach to correct and improve technique
Watch videos for Tri changeovers
Moving on to the Cycle leg, I've invested on a 2010 Giant TCR Advanced 1 full CF bike to start training.
yet to find a good unobstructed route apart from Beach Rd.
Over the next few days, I'll be getting my hands on:
1) foot pump for road bike http://tiny.cc/uwl8r
2) cyclocomputer that measures pedaling cadence, speed and odometer - http://tiny.cc/2wgrw (Cateye Strada Cadence) or http://tiny.cc/xshgt (without Cadence)
3) rear light for early or night riding
4) emergency repair kit
5) bicycle carrier if feasible
Training Program:
Cycle to work 2 days a wk (weather dependent)
SPIN classes 5 days/wk
1 Outdoor cycling 60km (Beach Rd, bike trail to Frankstron)
Future:
Join cycling group and ride events
Time required: 8 hours/wk
For the final leg, the run and what i consider most difficult of them all.
Marathon running requires not only enduranc build-up but conditioning of the body and legs to handle the distance.
To gauge my level to handle progressive improvements, the plan is to register for a few running events prior to Ironman Langkawi.
San Francisco Marathon - July 25th
Shepparton Half Ironman -Nov 14th
Training program:
Every alternate day to cycling to work is a 2 lap around Albert Park in the morning
Time required: 3 times on weekdays (an hour each) and 1 time on weekends (15km) 4 1/2 hours
Total training time: 19 hours / wk
Nutrition
Follow Kathy's tips from the workshop, and Biggest Loser trainer Michelle Bridges cookbook for healthy eating followed by a 14 day Detox program before June.
A point to remember: When it comes down to weight management and better health, food is more important than exercise.
weight loss is 70% diet nd 30% exercise.
Exercise is good for muscle tone and increasing your metabolism rate and helps burn calories but its ultimately what you eat that gets you where you want to be. calorie deficit or count is key to weight control.
Some key facts on weight management
------------------------------------
Take responsibility of my own nutrition and break those old habits!
Confidence in the kitchen is the key to weight management. Low calories and high in flavor. Dieting is not sustainable.
Habits are learned and can be unlearned
some maths:
For guys: avg 1300-1800 calories / day. 3 meals each around 400-500 calories plus 1 or 2 snackts at around 200 calories.
1 calorie = 4.2 kj
To lose 1 kilo a week, you need to have a deficit of ard 7500 calories.
Part 1: Counting the Calores and Getting Organized in the Kitchen
GH = Good Habit.
GH: Have breakfast. a nutritious, low GI carb early meal sets us up for a successful day.
GH: Wholefood whenever possible (food that looks as close to its natural state)
GH: Never have dessert. End of story. Take control of your choices
GH: Eat Regularly.
GH: Don't get so hungry that you make poor food choices.
Calorie counting:
Large Avocados: 500 calories each!
Cashew nuts: 10 calories
Vegetables: very low calorie. have as much as you want
Fruits: can add up significantly. have 1 or 2 each time.
Salad dressing: can turn a healthy meal into calorie-fest
Part 2: 9 Week Menu Plan to develop eating habits that last a lifetime :) hopefully
Strength conditioning:
Ability to do 12 pull-ups, 70 push-ups, 3 handstand pushups
Prime weight of 69kgs and BMI in the median category of normal
Work on abs
Boxing sessions and do super-sets
In preparing for the elusive Ironman, sacrifices has to be made on top of my other personal goals for 2010. By taking on a long-term goal, there are other key areas and skills I'd like to pick up as part of the training.
this means adopting a Minimalist approach, taking the law of diminishing returns (80/20) tp great considerations and being smart about it. http://tiny.cc/v4yk5
The Ironman consists of 3 legs:
The Swim (3.8km), the Bike(180km) and finally the Run(42.195km).
the problem with training for such event is cultivating a training plan and good training habits.
For the swim leg, working out harder and longer is not always the right answer for your performance. Technique is No 1 which will be my focus through online videos (Ian Thorpe) and swimming equipments to improve technique and build strengths such as using Speedo Tech Paddles, pull buoys and kickboards
Program: Subscribing to a well devised workout from effectivewaterfitness.com http://tiny.cc/eqih8
Aa 5 day/wk over 4 week program (I'm expanding it to 8 weeks giving me a weeks break to review before my trip back Malaysia)
Time required: Approx 90mins/session, 7 1/2 hours /wk
You can't manage what you don't measure, so I'll be tracking improvements along the way. http://tiny.cc/vql0y
so i spoke about other areas and skills to learn along the way earlier. For the swim leg, these are:
* Improve technique across Freestyle and Breastroke (body position, breathing, arm stroke, body rotation, leg kick)
* Swim the Butterfly
* Improve on lung capacity
* Proper use of Tennessee, dolphin kick and flipturns http://tiny.cc/qxpdt
* Prepare for Open water tri-swim http://tiny.cc/ps8uz
* Complete a Lifeguard Training and First Aid if applicable (short course)
* Able to swim without goggles (after LASIK)
Which hopefully gets me to the next phase of overcoming motion sickness (http://tiny.cc/65no5) with the PUMA method and getting on to SCUBA.
Future:
Get a swim coach to correct and improve technique
Watch videos for Tri changeovers
Moving on to the Cycle leg, I've invested on a 2010 Giant TCR Advanced 1 full CF bike to start training.
yet to find a good unobstructed route apart from Beach Rd.
Over the next few days, I'll be getting my hands on:
1) foot pump for road bike http://tiny.cc/uwl8r
2) cyclocomputer that measures pedaling cadence, speed and odometer - http://tiny.cc/2wgrw (Cateye Strada Cadence) or http://tiny.cc/xshgt (without Cadence)
3) rear light for early or night riding
4) emergency repair kit
5) bicycle carrier if feasible
Training Program:
Cycle to work 2 days a wk (weather dependent)
SPIN classes 5 days/wk
1 Outdoor cycling 60km (Beach Rd, bike trail to Frankstron)
Future:
Join cycling group and ride events
Time required: 8 hours/wk
For the final leg, the run and what i consider most difficult of them all.
Marathon running requires not only enduranc build-up but conditioning of the body and legs to handle the distance.
To gauge my level to handle progressive improvements, the plan is to register for a few running events prior to Ironman Langkawi.
San Francisco Marathon - July 25th
Shepparton Half Ironman -Nov 14th
Training program:
Every alternate day to cycling to work is a 2 lap around Albert Park in the morning
Time required: 3 times on weekdays (an hour each) and 1 time on weekends (15km) 4 1/2 hours
Total training time: 19 hours / wk
Nutrition
Follow Kathy's tips from the workshop, and Biggest Loser trainer Michelle Bridges cookbook for healthy eating followed by a 14 day Detox program before June.
A point to remember: When it comes down to weight management and better health, food is more important than exercise.
weight loss is 70% diet nd 30% exercise.
Exercise is good for muscle tone and increasing your metabolism rate and helps burn calories but its ultimately what you eat that gets you where you want to be. calorie deficit or count is key to weight control.
Some key facts on weight management
------------------------------------
Take responsibility of my own nutrition and break those old habits!
Confidence in the kitchen is the key to weight management. Low calories and high in flavor. Dieting is not sustainable.
Habits are learned and can be unlearned
some maths:
For guys: avg 1300-1800 calories / day. 3 meals each around 400-500 calories plus 1 or 2 snackts at around 200 calories.
1 calorie = 4.2 kj
To lose 1 kilo a week, you need to have a deficit of ard 7500 calories.
Part 1: Counting the Calores and Getting Organized in the Kitchen
GH = Good Habit.
GH: Have breakfast. a nutritious, low GI carb early meal sets us up for a successful day.
GH: Wholefood whenever possible (food that looks as close to its natural state)
GH: Never have dessert. End of story. Take control of your choices
GH: Eat Regularly.
GH: Don't get so hungry that you make poor food choices.
Calorie counting:
Large Avocados: 500 calories each!
Cashew nuts: 10 calories
Vegetables: very low calorie. have as much as you want
Fruits: can add up significantly. have 1 or 2 each time.
Salad dressing: can turn a healthy meal into calorie-fest
Part 2: 9 Week Menu Plan to develop eating habits that last a lifetime :) hopefully
Strength conditioning:
Ability to do 12 pull-ups, 70 push-ups, 3 handstand pushups
Prime weight of 69kgs and BMI in the median category of normal
Work on abs
Boxing sessions and do super-sets
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Unable to start the car...bummer
shit happens and it will, so may as well be prep next time.
on my way home from dinner and found the car has shat itself.
What can i do?
* Ring RACV Road Assistance 131111
* Pushstart the car
What may have caused it?
* Possible flat batt
* Loose connection
* Starter issue
* Short circuit somewhere
* Battery corrosion
Time for a KT and work out Possible Causes and a PPO to prevent future occurrence
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
KPIs
KPI must be key to organizational success. used in the right way, they're a performance management tool that gives everyone in the organization a clear picture of what's important, and what they need to make happen. Use a Performance Challenge and Team Charter tool if required to flush out the mission statement for the team, and goals into objectives and deliverables.
Team leader KPIs are more aligned towards the objectives, while the crew down the ranks can teeter more towards the deliverables. again, they're long term measures not short term wins.
If implemented correctly, KPIs also allows stretch targets placed on individuals (e.g. meeting a specific level of SLA within a timeframe from an overall team) driving change and improving your team. just make sure you map the right KPIs to the right performer (e.g. star performer, workhorse, etc).
KPIs helps an organization define and measure progress towards organizational goals an cascade down with each employee one rung below supporting their superior's KPI. "rolled into one". At the very top, its all revenues and figures, EBITDA and company bottomline.
by setting your overall KPIs to support your boss, we make sure that the overall year strategy or company mission is aligned to the same direction.
And KPIs should be set between 3-5. anymore, and we've lost the employer's attention and focus. In addition, it is important to distinguish that these are not your job descriptions/BAU. they're indicators that measure your progress and success in the overall organizations goals. meaning if good KPIs are drawn, by satisfying the objectives of those indicators you'd have met the critical success factors of the organization.
KPIs are generally:
* long term
* reflect the organizations goals
* quantifiable
On the last point, we need to employ the SMART methodology. Specific, Measurable, Agreed, Realitic and Timely to each KPI.
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