Bee Muses

The 4-Hour Work Week: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich

The above is a title for a book by a man called Tim Ferriss.  This is a very clever title for a book but the title is totally misleading (in my view).  The book itself is very interesting and has lots of great ideas on how to automate as much of your work as possible.  However, the idea that you can get all your work done in just 4 hours per week is wishful thinking.   One of the key attributes of successful entrepreneurs is that they work hard.  As a title for a book however it’s great as it grabs your attention!  The book is a great read and well worth buying.  I think what this book is all about is working smarter and getting more done.  Working smarter frees us to be more creative and spend more time doing things that we would love to do – sports, leisure, hobbies etc.

You can find out more on Tim Ferriss (who appears to be quite a talented guy) by searching for him on YouTube.

If you would like to buy the book the ‘Four Hour Workweek’ – please click on the link below:

 

Getting Things Done (GTD) by David Allen

One of the most useful books in the time management field is by David Allen called ‘Getting Things Done’.

I read this book number of years ago, and it is an excellent book on how to be more productive with your time.  As with all books, it's easy to read but to actually implement what it says is the real challenge!!  I think it’s the type of book someone needs to refer back too on a constant basis to fully understand what it says. 

This book contains excellent advice and ideas on how to be more productive.  One of the key concepts in the book is that we have to get things out of our minds and into a trusted system where we can deal with the things we have to do.   If we have to try and store ‘to dos’ in our head this is not very efficient and we forget things and this causes us stress.  Once we know that our ideas/tasks and appointments are stored out of our mind in a system that we can trust we are much more relaxed and much more productive.  

The GTD system should work in a smooth manner so that we know what we have to do in any particular context.  An example is that if you are out shopping then your system should remind you of what you need to be reminded of in that particular context (such as what you need to buy) and not remind you of things that you cannot act on, such as things you need to do while sitting at a computer etc.

The key is to develop a good system which will work in the background without a lot of effort.  There are many possible tools such as computer software, planners, portable devices such as mobile phones and Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) that we can use to implement GTD.  The big challenge that I have found is that we can spend so much time tweaking our system that we have no time left to do anything!  This is the big danger of GTD methodology.  I personally have implemented aspects of this methodology but have not completely mastered it.  I do however intend to re-read this book, and to try and implement the methodology more fully.  Overall this is an excellent book, which if implemented in full will change your life!  I fully recommend it!

You can purchase a book by clicking on the link below:

 

 

SixMinutes To Success:

  I signed up to the SixMinutes To Success website with Bob Proctor, Canadian author and motivational speaker.  I came across this website, on the Internet, and was interested in the idea that someone can get inspiration from a daily video and exercise.  The big drawback of this programme is the cost.  The cost is $30 per month, or roughly one dollar per day. 

How it works is that every morning during weekdays, Monday to Friday, you receive an e-mail with an inspirational quote.  The e-mail is also a reminder that you have to log in to the SixMinutes To Success website, where a new video is added daily.  This video normally lasts for about two to three minutes, and contains a message from Bob Proctor.  Each video has a particular topic and a short associated exercise, which usually lasts an additional two or three minutes.  The videos are added each morning so as soon as you get out of bed, you can log in and view your video for the day. 

I find this is an interesting and an inspirational way to start my day.  Bob Proctor is very much a fatherly figure, and the daily video is much like a chat with an older respected mentor.

Overall I'm happy with this website and with the videos contained therein.  I'm happy to continue paying the fee as long as I am benefiting from the advice given!  A dollar a day is money well spent if I can use it to improve my life!

If you would like to sign up for a free trial please click on the link below:

SixMinutes To Success

19/10/2010

Just an update on the Six Minutes programme as outlined above.  From my point of view one of the major drawbacks is the monthly cost which adds up.  The videos are great and Bob Proctor is a great teacher but given the fact that once the videos are made there is little or no cost involved for them, they should reduce the price.  I think $5 per month would be fine.  Then they might get more people to sign up and share the good ideas with more people and still make more money!  Anyway the Six Minutes programme is worth a try (until you get tired of the monthly fee!) - Tom

 

 

 

 

Goal Setting Software - Goalpro

Goalpro from Success Studios is another goal setting software that I have used for a number of years.  This is an excellent software programme although it is not as simple to begin using as goalenforcer (but its not difficult either - its very intuitive).  It is however a very powerful programme once you get into it and define all your goals and start using the software. 

You can easily define your major goals and then break them down into sub goals, tasks and appointments.  The programme encourages you to carry out a daily review - both am and pm and also a weekly review of all your goals.  This review process is very powerful in itself.  You can attach pictures, sound files and videos to your goals.  You can also review motivational quotes etc  which encourages you to stay on track.  The programme gives you feedback on your performance in achieving your tasks, goals, motivation in using the programme etc.

You can also export your tasks and appointments to Outlook and other programmes.  Download a free trial of Goalpro from the link below:

Goal Setting Software

I have been looking for the past number of years for good goal setting software and have tried out a number.  It is useful to have a completely independant assesment of the different software available.  When you read the testimonials on the various websites the thing you notice is that they all say how brilliant and life changing their software is.  It can be very confusing to know which software to choose.

My current favourite goal setting software is Goal Enforcer (see link below)

I like this software because of its simplicity - its really easy to learn and use.  Its very simple and intuitive.  It works along the lines of mind mapping.  I found it boring and difficult to look at lines of text in other goal setting software.  With Goal enforcer everything is visual and easy to input and manipulate. 

Click Below To Enter the Goal Enforcer Website And View their software:

My PhD - Frustrations and lack of concentration

I am not sure what to start blogging about so I will start with a moan about my PhD.  I started this nearly 4 years ago and collected data.  I am tring to write stuff up - I find it hard to concentrate as I am also working and have a wife and 3 kids.  I find it hard to focus on the study.  I prefer watching TV or movies or just relaxing and having a good time when I am off work............The kids need allot of attention too.  However I need to push myself and get through this - its like a major goal in my life and unless I tackle it and finish the PhD it will always be hanging over me!

Tom's Blog

This blog is about my own personal quest to develop myself and all my skills and talents and have the best and most enjoyable life possible.