The "List Project"

Dave Packard's 11 Simple Rules

Dave Packard's 11 Simple Rules

1. Think first of the other fellow. This is THE foundation — the first requisite — for getting along with others. And it is the one truly difficult accomplishment you must make. Gaining this, the rest will be "a breeze."

2. Build up the other person's sense of importance. When we make the other person seem less important, we frustrate one of his deepest urges. Allow him to feel equality or superiority, and we can easily get along with him.

3. Respect the other man's personality rights. Respect as something sacred the other fellow's right to be different from you. No two personalities are ever molded by precisely the same forces.

4. Give sincere appreciation. If we think someone has done a thing well, we should never hesitate to let him know it. WARNING: This does not mean promiscuous use of obvious flattery. Flattery with most intelligent people gets exactly the reaction it deserves — contempt for the egotistical "phony" who stoops to it.

5. Eliminate the negative. Criticism seldom does what its user intends, for it invariably causes resentment. The tiniest bit of disapproval can sometimes cause a resentment which will rankle — to your disadvantage — for years.

6. Avoid openly trying to reform people. Every man knows he is imperfect, but he doesn't want someone else trying to correct his faults. If you want to improve a person, help him to embrace a higher working goal — a standard, an ideal — and he will do his own "making over" far more effectively than you can do it for him.

7. Try to understand the other person. How would you react to similar circumstances? When you begin to see the "whys" of him you can't help but get along better with him.

8. Check first impressions. We are especially prone to dislike some people on first sight because of some vague resemblance (of which we are usually unaware) to someone else whom we have had reason to dislike. Follow Abraham Lincoln's famous self-instruction: "I do not like that man; therefore I shall get to know him better."

9. Take care with the little details. Watch your smile, your tone of voice, how you use your eyes, the way you greet people, the use of nicknames and remembering faces, names and dates. Little things add polish to your skill in dealing with people. Constantly, deliberately think of them until they become a natural part of your personality.

10. Develop genuine interest in people. You cannot successfully apply the foregoing suggestions unless you have a sincere desire to like, respect and be helpful to others. Conversely, you cannot build genuine interest in people until you have experienced the pleasure of working with them in an atmosphere characterized by mutual liking and respect.

11. Keep it up. That's all — just keep it up!

Technorati Tags: business, commercial, creativity, HP, list, list project, Hewlett Packard, Dave Packard

17 ways to save money in your office (and be green at the same time)

Here are some resource saving habits that you can get into in the workplace. They save not only natural resources but also save your business money.

1. produce only double-sided documents.
2. collect paper which has been used on one side only, and reuse it for: fax cover sheets, draft documents and note paper. Stroke out the used side to avoid confusion.
3. circulate documents and post memos rather than distributing copies to all individuals.
4. edit documents on-screen rather than printing unnecessary drafts.
5. ensure that all publications meet environmentally responsible printing standards
6. use electronic mail instead of hard copies
7. rejuvenate laser printer cartridges
8. dispose appropriately of any hazardous products whose use cannot be eliminated
9. regularly update subscription and mailing lists to ensure accuracy
10. reduce fax-related paper waste at both ends by using a cover sheet that is: reusable (a laminated sheet with dry ink pen) printed on the flip side of a used piece of paper designed with space to list multiple recipients; and with space for a message on only a partial page.
11. send longer documents by mail unless urgency demands that they be faxed
12. establish a routine for turning off all lights, computers and non-essential equipment
13. return binders and other folders to the print shop for reuse
14. use reusable cloth or stainless steel coffee filters in all office coffee machines
15. use personal mugs for coffee/tea; keep extras on hand for visitors.
16. buy products with maximum recycled content available
17. encourage car-pooling, public transit and human-powered commuting

Technorati Tags: commercial, conservation, list, list project, business, save money

16 bullets to live your life by

From Stefan Sagmeister:

1. Complaining is silly. Either act or forget.


2. Thinking life will be better in the future is stupid. I have to live now.


3. Being not truthful works against me.


4. Helping other people helps me.


5. Organizing a charity group is surprisingly easy.


6. Everything I do always comes back to me.


7. Drugs feel great in the beginning and become a drag later on.


8. Over time I get used to everything and start taking if for granted.


9. Money does not make me happy.


10. Traveling alone is helpful for a new perspective on life.


11. Assuming is stifling.


12. Keeping a diary supports my personal development.


13. Trying to look good limits my life.


14. Worrying solves nothing.


15. Material luxuries are best enjoyed in small doses.


16. Having guts always works out for me.

Technorati Tags: creativity, happiness, life, lifehacks, list, list project, stefan sagmeister

9 ways to get "real" sleep

My Wife doesn't sleep very well at night, she lies there, tosses and turns and occasionally watches the TV at three in the morning. Dale Carnegie wrote: "If you can't sleep, then get up and do something instead of lying there worrying. It's the worry that gets you, not the lack of sleep". Seems like a valid viewpoint.

Anyway, here are 9 points to assist you (her and ultimately me) in getting some meaningful sleep at night:

1. Let go of your concerns and worries.

Anxieties often seem magnified in the still of the night. Dealing with them can help you sleep. Write down your worries and possible solutions before you go to bed, so you don’t need to ruminate in the middle of the night. A journal or “to do” list may be very helpful in letting you put away these concerns until the next day when you are fresh.

2. Do some deep-breathing exercises.

Find yourself constantly yawning? Some experts believe it may be linked to not getting enough oxygen to the brain. Deep-breathing exercises, in which you focus on taking long, deep abdominal breaths, may help relieve pent-up tension and the yawns.

3. Cut the light at night.

Avoid bright light, which signals the brain to be alert, within 2 to 3 hours of bedtime or if you wake up during the night. Using dimmer switches in living rooms and bathrooms before bed can be helpful. And consider blackout shades or an eye-shade to keep out early morning light.

4. Hide your clock.

A big, illuminated digital clock may cause you to focus on the time and make you feel stressed and anxious. This is very difficult for most of us, so turn the clock away from your eyes so you would have to turn it to see the time. You may decide not to make the effort and go right back to sleep.

5. Follow the 20-minute rule.

If you can’t fall asleep in about 20 minutes, whether at bedtime or after awakening in the night, don’t just lie in bed. Do something else, like reading, watching television, or listening to music, until you feel tired. The anxiety of being unable to fall asleep can actually contribute to insomnia.

6. Do some visualization.

Do not torture your mind with troubled thoughts which will not allow you to sleep. Instead focus all your attention on your toes or visualize walking down an endless stairwell. Thinking about repetitive or mindless things will help your brain to shut down and adjust to sleep.

7. Get up and eat some turkey.

Turkey contains tryptophan, a major building block for making serotonin, a neurotransmitter, which sends messages between nerve cells and causes feelings of sleepiness. Note that L-tryptophan doesn’t act on the brain unless you eat it on an empty stomach with no protein present, so keep some turkey in the refrigerator for 3am.

8. Redo your bedroom.

Make your bedroom more sleep-friendly. Make sure it is well ventilated and the temperature consistent. And try to keep it quiet. You could use a fan or a “white noise” machine to help block outside noises. Also replace a sagging mattress and deflated pillows. If you must keep a computer in the bedroom, cover the green light on the monitor with black electrical tape. And eliminate clutter, another possible anxiety inducer.

9. Wake up with the sun.

Sunlight helps the body’s internal biological clock reset itself each day. So if possible, expose yourself to bright light within an hour of waking up for the day, either by taking a 30-minute walk outside or by lingering in a part of the house that gets a lot of sunlight.

Sleep is more important than you may think. So be aware of the critical role sleep plays in your performance, productivity, and health. You’ll be healthier and happier.

Thanks to Ririan.

Technorati Tags: dale carnegie, Drinking, energy, getting things done, gtd, insomnia, life, Lifestyle, list, list project, personal productivity, sleep

Music used in Apple Commercials

Here is the list of songs Apple used in their commercials:

1. Caesars - Jerk It Out (iPod)
2. Feature Cast - Channel Surfing (iPod)
3. The Vines - Ride (iPod)
4. Steriogram - Walkie Talkie Man (iPod)
5. Ozomatli - Saturday Night (iPod)
6. U2 - Vertigo (iPod)
7. Black Eyed Peas - Hey Mama (iPod)
8. Jet - Are You Gonna Be My Girl (iPod)
9. Jason Nevins - Rockstar (iPod)
10. Propellerheads - Take California (iPod)
11. John Murphy - Split (Mac)
12. Jimi Hendrix - Purple Haze (Mac Cube)
13. SteppenWolf - Born To Be Wild (Mouse)
14. Benny Golson - Music To Think By (iMac)
15. Rolling Stones - She's a Rainbow (iMac)
16. Bob Dylan - Forever Young (iMovie)
17. Barry White - You Turned My Whole World Around (iBook)

Rock out man!

Technorati Tags: apple, commercial, ipod, itunes, Marketing, music

My 6 favorite GTD tools (for my Mac)

I am a Mac user so these are all Mac tools but if your really into GTD, your probably in that mindset anyway. So here goes:

1. TextExpander by SmileOnMyMac:

An application to save thousands of keystrokes and time. ($30)

2. iGTD:

   A great GTD style task manager (free)

3. TagBot by Big Robot:

   Easy File Tagging to simplify file grouping, smart folders and spotlight searches ($20)

4. QuickSilver by Blacktree:

   A great launcher for OS X (free)

5. Growl:

   An awesome utility to centralize any program alerts. No more bouncing Icons! (free)

6. NewsFire by David Wantabe:

   An RSS aggregator with a slick interface ($20)

All of the paid applications have some form of trial period, so they are well worth checking out.

Technorati Tags: 43folders.com, business, collaboration, email, getting things done, gtd, instant messaging, life, list, merlin mann, Products

The List Project has started

Hi there and welcome.

This is my list project. Periodically, I will post topical lists of things that may or may not be useful.

Tell me what you like, tell me what you don't like. These are my lists.

Enjoy

TC.

Technorati Tags: life, list, personal productivity, gtd, self-service