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Focus

  • Enough Fluff

    Enough Fluff

    In today's society, we are surrounded by fluff: low value information whose noise gets in the way of solid analysis, improved relationships, and personal excellence. Some of the fluff is mis-aimed advertising, some fluff is reply-all emails, and other fluff is "analysis" that doesn't really analyze. We see fluff at [More]

  • Persona Grata

    Persona Grata

    When you are doing a major presentation, writing a blog, or posting online, how do you know whether what you say is hitting the mark? And how can you improve the effectiveness of your message? One of the more clever techniques that marketers use for this purpose - and you [More]

  • White Space

    White Space

    Graphic designers know that if you have one element on the page, and lots of white space around it, the eye is drawn to that one element. Professional speakers know how to use a pause - silence - to emphasize a point. And musicians know that a break in the [More]

  • Singletasking

    Singletasking

    Without a doubt there are at least some people who are reading this Tipsheet while also listening to music, having an instant-message conversation (or two), and speaking on a telephone conference call. Supposedly, multi-tasking skills improve with time: eventually, like the computers we rely on, we believe our brain can [More]

  • You Don’t Start a Bonfire, You Light a Spark

    You Don’t Start a Bonfire, You Light a Spark

    What starts you on your path - and what prevents you from taking that first step? While there are many contributing factors, consider this concept: you don't start a bonfire; you light a spark. Those who are so focused on lighting the bonfire often give up. The enormity of the [More]

  • Ability

    Ability

    Have you ever had an athletic injury, and found yourself on the sidelines? Interestingly, this happens off the field too: we let a professional "injury" shunt us to the sidelines as well. Athletes quickly learn that a leg injury just means a renewed focus on the upper body. So should we [More]

  • It’s not what you say, it’s what they see

    It’s not what you say, it’s what they see

    Who doesn't remember the old adage "Do as I say, not as I do"? For today's sophisticated manager, this expression is certainly not appropriate. But how about "It's not what you say, it's what you do"? This variation is better, as it focuses on action. Furthermore, when you do and [More]

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