Inbox Zero

Merlin Mann's chat with google workers, as he say, "knowledge workers", about "inbox zero" methodology it's very inspiring. ...
I'm applying this methodology, and it's really works !!!

You can watch the video or listen the mp3

GTD (Getting Things Done )

GTD it' s a simple principle: a person needs to move tasks out of the mind by recording them somewhere. That way, the mind is freed from the job of remembering everything that needs to be done, and can concentrate on actually performing those tasks.

That way, your work productivity gets better (or should be) ... GTD suposes that your are a motivated and ordened person.

GTD does not start his emphasis on setting priorities. Instead he advocates creating lists of tasks that are specific to a context, for example, having a list of telephone calls to make or errands to do downtown.

GTD suggests that any new task which can be completed in less than two minutes should be done immediately.


Source: Wikipedia (English Version )

Links Related :

• David Allen & Co. official site


• Lifehack.org The community blog on GTD and Productivity


• wiki summary of GTD


• GTD for Lotus Notes


• 43 Folders, a wiki devoted to GTD-related tips and tricks


• GTD: A New Cult for the Info Age (Wired magazine)



• Implementing GTD with your BlackBerry, blog article on implementing GTD with your BlackBerry.


• Flashpoint is a GTD application för Apple Newton Messagepad. Written by Eckhart Köppen.


• GTD Gmail Extension, a Firefox extension for using Gmail for GTD.


• Drupal Tasklist Advanced project, a Drupal Module using GTD.


• #GTD IRC channel IRC channel #GTD at irc.freenode.net



• ThinkingRock, a free stand-alone software application for implementing GTD.


• Entourage and GTD, a 5-part series on how to use Entourage (the Mac's version of Outlook) with GTD.

OTN Forum Member Rule

If your're using or administering Oracle Technology, probably are familiarized with OTN (Oracle Technology Network), and its formus. This formus you can find and GIVE solutions. Shay Shmeltzer's Weblog has an intersting post with 10 Rules to follow if you are an OTN Forum Member.

Source: Shay Shmeltzer's Weblog



THIS IS FROM SHAY'S WEBLOG

Five rules to getting a better solution

1. Have a meaningful subject line
I'm tired of seeing a subject line like "I need urgent help". Your subject should specify what the problem core is and in what area

2. Give details about versions and technologies
Are you using JDeveloper 10.1.3.1 or JDeveloper 9.0.4? Are you using ADF BC or EJB?

3. Give detailed error messages
Don't say - it throws an error - tell us what the error is and give the stack trace.

4. If possible provide steps to reproduce the problem
If something doesn't work for you - I can't know why if you don't tell me what you did. Sometime you can even post code that reproduce the problem

5. Search before you post
It's for your own good - it brings you the solution faster. Search both the forum and Google for your question - you'll be surprised how many times you'll find a solution that someone else got.

Five rules to become a better member of the community

6. Get a name
In your forums preferences you can set up a name or handle that will help us recognize you (and even a link to your blog). Do you really want to be known as user5667847? Using your real name is even better - then when someone meets you in a conference or an event - They'll already know who you are.

7. Post the solution
If your issue was solved post the solution on the thread so others that run into the same error can fix it faster. Just writing "I fixed it" doesn't count.

8. Mark solved problems with [Solved]
Once you found a solution to a problem edit the thread and add [SOLVED] to the subject line. This will help people identify solved problems.

9. Track your threads
In your forum preferences check the option that alerts/emails you when your thread has been updated. This way you'll be able to get better response time and also answer follow up questions.

10. Don't just ask question - give some answers as well
The forum is a community - the community will only grow if you'll be an active participant. Posting question is just one side of the coin - actually answering other people questions is even more important. So go ahead and show off the knowledge you have gathered - it is the first step to take if you want to become an Oracle ACE.

Youtube Videos, Firefox and Ubuntu

If you're using Fox and Ubuntu Linux, probable you're not able to listen Youtube videos, and worst of all, you won't see and listen the video that i will publish .... :(

So .. you have to do this simple steps ....

• sudo apt-get install alsa-oss
• edit /etc/firefox/firefoxrc and ensure that you have “FIREFOX_DSP=aoss”
• restart all Firefoxes

Si usas Firefox y Ubuntu Linux, probablemente no eres capaz de escuchar videos Youtube, y peor aún, no podrás escuchar y ver los videos que publicaré ... :(

Asi que .. debe ejecutar esto simples pasos

• sudo apt-get install alsa-oss
• edit /etc/firefox/firefoxrc and ensure that you have “FIREFOX_DSP=aoss”
• restart all Firefoxes

Total !!! ..

Total !!! .. Esa era la muletilla que tenía el locutor de un taller de Servicio Orientado al cliente que finalizó hoy. Cuando el locutor asentía una opinión, con entusiasmo decía: ¡¡ Total !!, lo que generaba una reacción positiva en la audiencia. Triquiñuelas de psicólogos ...

Este curso estuvo a cargo de la empresa Proacción consultores. En la evaluación final, me pareció muy interesante, latero a veces, pero con dinámicas y temas entretenidos que pueden extrapolarse a otros ámbitos de la vida. En la nota de "El poder de una escucha efectiva" entrego algunos ítems tocados en este taller.

Mi objetivo es interiorizarme en algunos aspecto y compartirlos en este humilde blog.

Messenger y Google Chat como herramientas de trabajo ..

Si no puedes vencerlas, únete a ellas.... Esa es la consigna usada en un estudio que demuestra que el uso de IM (Instant Message) como Messenger y Google chat son mejores herramientas en la creatividad que una comunicación via email.

Fuentes:

• Newscientist
• Smartmobs

El poder de una escucha efectiva

Comparto un artículo del sitio mvprensa.com.ar llamado "Lo que entendiste no fue lo que dije". Me parece interesante. Este artículo lo escribe Ariel Goldvarg.

Cada vez que nos comunicamos, nos encontramos con dos aspectos que resultan críticos: Lo que decimos y lo que el otro interpreta de lo que decimos.

En general, creemos que la otra persona por el simple hecho de oírnos va a interpretar literalmente lo que decimos. Pensamos que la claridad radica en el uso adecuado de las palabras y en la especificidad de los conceptos. Si bien laclaridad y la especificidad son claves para una comunicación efectiva, no son lo único necesario. El problema surge porque no siempre tenemos en cuenta los filtros con los que nuestro interlocutor nos escucha.

Entonces, podemos emplear los conceptos más brillantes para transmitir una idea, pero si no somos escuchados debidamente, nuestras palabras no servirán de mucho.

Este es el lado oculto de la comunicación: El poder está en quien escucha. Si queremos comunicarnos efectivamente no bastará con pulir nuestras palabras y aclarar nuestras ideas. También necesitamos generar la empatía necesaria en el otro para que nos escuche desde el lugar que necesitamos.

Generar empatía implica sintonizar con nuestro interlocutor, lo que permite romper barreras, acercar puntos de vista. Si empleamos un discurso diferente al del otro, o nos ubicamos en un lugar en el que se sienta incómodo o amenazado, es probable que parte de su atención se disperse en sus pensamientos internos. La comunicación no fluye. Se traba. Asiente con la cabeza como que comprendió todo y luego vienen los desastres.

Si bien este es un tema extenso, proponemos algunos pocos recursos para generar una escucha abierta que facilite el vínculo.

• Verificar : El lenguaje es ambiguo y genera confusiones. Verificar lo que el otro escuchó nos permite reconocer el grado de entendimiento de lo que dijimos y viceversa. El no chequear lo dicho genera muchos malos-entendidos. Cuando nos damos cuenta de ellos, casi siempre es tarde.

• Evitar suposiciones: Aquello que para nosotros resulta obvio, probablemente no lo sea para el otro. Los estándares cambian con las personas. Suponer que el otro va a interpretar exactamente lo que decimos puede resultar peligroso. Evitar suposiciones implica estar alerta de aquello que consideramos obvio.

• Sintonizar con el otro: Muchas veces pretendemos que la gente piense e interprete las cosas como nosotros. Esto genera frustración, nos separa. Quizás no lo digamos con palabras, pero nuestros pensamientos y actitudes nos delatan. Si miramos nuestro ombligo cuando hablamos, es probable que el otro también haga lo mismo. Por eso es importante conectarse con nuestro interlocutor.

Por último, nuestra capacidad para relacionarnos radica en nuestras habilidades para:

• Hacer pedidos,
• Ofertas,
• Nuestro compromiso para hacer y cumplir nuestras promesas.
• Saber fundamentar nuestros argumentos con hechos (afirmaciones) y
• Declarar aquello que queramos crear en nuestra realidad.

No somos islas y todos somos diferentes. Cada persona percibe las cosas a su manera y a partir de sus experiencias, educación, necesidades, deseos, etc.
Quizás por eso resulte ilusorio pretender una comunicación perfecta. No obstante, podremos disminuir notablemente nuestros desencuentros cuando podamos reconocer las sorderas propias y ajenas.

Es probablemente un camino relacionado con lo que Rafael Echeverría (creador de la Ontología del Lenguaje) denomina respeto: aceptar al otro como un ser diferente de uno, legitimo en su forma de ser y autónomo en su formad de actuar.

¿ Cuanto te gusta tu trabajo ?

Es un tema interesante el stress y cuánto te gusta tu trabajo. En mi caso, me gusta lo que hago, sin embargo, existen situaciones, personas, actitudes que construyen momentos desagradables. En este ámbito existe un sitio llamado positivesharing.com que tiene material interesante al respecto. Tiene licencia creative commons, así que me doy la libertad de publicarlo y entregales la url.

Fuente: Do not - I repeat - DON NOT like your job

Recomiendo también leer el libro Happy Hour is 9 to 5 (aunque yo no le he leído completamente)

Do not - I repeat - DO NOT like your job

With thanks to Kathy Sierra for letting
me borrow her visual style for a blogpost.

Except of course that her stuff looks much better :o)

After one of my recent speaking gigs about happiness at work, one participant told me this story:

I work as a programmer in a major bank. I used to go in every week, work my 40 hours (more like 50, but hey) and get paid a nice salary. It was a nice job in a good company, my boss was a good guy, my co-workers were neat people and the work was OK.

But as time passed, I felt like something was missing. Work was comfortable and secure, but I felt that there were sides of me that I never really got to use. I wanted to do work I could really feel proud of. I wanted to make more of a difference. And mostly, I was never really excited about work.

So I asked myself what it would take to improve things. I came up with three things:

1. Being more creative and working on more varied projects, as opposed to only maintaining the bank’s internal programs.
2. More fun at work. The mood in the department was very serious and professional, to the point of being boring.
3. Learning some new professional skills.

I asked my boss about this and he was very supportive. We drew up a plan for some courses and certifications and found some new tasks that I could work on. We recruited some like-minded allies in the group and worked on lightening the mood in the group together.

To my surprise, this didn’t just change my work life a little, it made a big difference. With my new skills, new projects and a more positive mood at work, I went from feeling OK about my job to feeling really great about it.

I do much better work as well. Partly because I’ve increased my skills and increased my work experience but mainly because I feel so much more enthusiastic about work now. The difference between being OK with my job and being happy about it has been huge for me.

Most job satisfaction surveys can divide people into three groups:

• People who HATE their jobs. Usually around 10%
• People who like their jobs. Around 70-80% of us.
• People who LOVE their jobs. Usually around 10-20%

This may sound strange coming from me, but I’m deadly serious here: Do not like your job.

Liking your job is nice. It’s comfortable. It’s safe. It’s OK. When you like your job you’re pretty efficient. You’re fairly satisfied. You can get by for years on liking your job.

But when you LOVE your job - MAN, what a difference that makes.

It’s a relatively small step from liking your job to loving it. It doesn’t take much and the things we need to do are relatively easy and available to all of us.

But the difference in outcome is humongous. As long as you like your job, you’re only a pale reflection of what you could be if you loved it. You’re realizing only a small fraction of your full potential. You’re not having nearly as much sun as you could have.

Studies show that there are huge benefits to crossing the threshold and getting to the point where you’re really happy at work, as opposed to merely satisfied. Among other things:

• You do much better work.
• You’re much more creative.
• You’re much more motivated.
• You have much more energy.
• You’re much more productive.
• You’re a much better co-worker.
• If your job involves sales, you’re a much better salesperson.
• If your job involves customer contact, your customers are much happier.
• Your quality of life outside of work is much higher.

And we’re not talking just a little more - we’re talking a LOT more!

Millions of people settle for jobs they like. The problem is that when you like your job there isn’t much pressure on you to change. Liking your job isn’t bad for you. It’s certainly much, much better than hating your job - which can make you sick or even kill you.

But when you love your job you are in a completely different league.

So I’m saying that we shouldn’t settle for any less anymore. Let’s make happiness at work the norm rather than the exception. It may take some work, but each and every one of us can get there.

First make that decision for yourself - decide that from now on, you will be happy at work. Then find out what you can do to get to love your job or what you can do to get a job you love. Then do it.

What about you - do you love your job? Have you had a job you loved? How does it affect you when you love your job? Write a comment!

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