background preloader

Tools and tips for effective time management strategies, goal setting, and motivation.

Tools and tips for effective time management strategies, goal setting, and motivation.

liquidplanner Since I've been serving proudly as the LiquidPlanner Social Media Evangelist for almost a year now, I wanted to take some more time to evaluate other online project management tools and get a better understanding of what the competition is like in the space. This post will not be another comparison of Basecamp, I think I've made it pretty clear that Basecamp shouldn't even really be called a project management tool, but merely a decent collaboration system, lacking in critical project management features & functionality. Clarizen was next on my list, so I spent some time checking it out. Both tools have task & resource management, time tracking, collaboration, gantt view, reporting, and a way to include clients in project collaboration. What I spent the most time evaluating was task scheduling and management, since I think these are the most powerful features of LiquidPlanner and I'm always curious to see how other systems handle them.

Commonly used architectural patterns in Java applications Proper Java package design promotes the use of two common patterns: layering and partitioning. They may be used separately or together when building applications. Properly designing packages (i.e., reducing the coupling between packages and increasing cohesion within packages) promotes the design and development of resilient, robust, and maintainable Java applications. Proper design offers valuable guidance when implementing common architectural patterns. I will use two such patterns, layering and partitioning, to illustrate the importance of the relationships between the packages that compose your applications. Java packages Learn more about Java packages from these Builder articles: LayeringLayering is a common architectural pattern employed to help break up complicated software. When layering an application, consciously defining the coupling between layers is paramount. A purpose for layering our application is to increase reusability. However, layering must be done judiciously.

Move contacts to another computer - Outlook - Microsoft Office Important notice for users of Office 2003 To continue receiving security updates for Office, make sure you're running Office 2003 Service Pack 3 (SP3). The support for Office 2003 ends April 8, 2014. If you’re running Office 2003 after support ends, to receive all important security updates for Office, you need to upgrade to a later version such as Office 365 or Office 2013. For more information, see Support is ending for Office 2003. When you purchase a new computer, you will probably want to use Outlook with your existing contact list instead of entering all those names again. Who wouldn't? First, you need to export your contacts to a Personal Folders file (.pst) (Personal Folders file (.pst): Data file that saved your messages and other items on your computer. How? Important You should not export items (item: An item is the basic element that holds information in Outlook (similar to a file in other programs). On the File menu, click Import and Export. Click Finish. Tip

10 Counterintuitive Things to Add to Your Day to Get More Done Add more things to my todo list, you say? I don’t have time that for that. But, what if adding things to your list would actually make you more productive in your day? Too often we rush to get to our work. We rush to get things done. And along the way, there are many things that we don’t get done. Some of them are essentials and others would actually help us get more done in our day. “Counterintuitive as it may seem, adding to your todo list can actually help you get more done in your day.” It’s all about adding the right things to your list. Here are 10 Things to Add To Your Day To Get More Done: Workout – Many people cut exercise out of their schedule when they “don’t have time.” When you are busy, it can seem counterintuitive to add more to your list. However, each of these activities can help you reach higher levels of productivity. They can motivate, recharge, and improve your efficiency. Sometimes adding to your todo list can actually make you more productive.

Effective status meetings lead to successful projects One of the most valuable tools you have as a project manager is a weekly project status meeting. I approach any significant project by holding weekly project updates. These status meetings help:The new project members develop as a team.Me, as the project manager, identify weaknesses early enough to make corrections.Me, as the project manager, reinforce key points and provide early coaching.An astute project manager uses a status meeting to go beyond simply learning about how the project is progressing. PreparationTo be an effective project manager, prepare for every project status meeting by checking with each of your key project team members before the meeting. I prepare in several ways: Detail project review: I walk through each of the tasks due to be completed within the next two to four weeks to determine the status of each. Consider these approaches when working with each agenda item. Roll callLet everyone know who is in attendance before starting.

Chapter 3: Architectural Patterns and Styles For more details of the topics covered in this guide, see Contents of the Guide. This chapter describes and discusses high level patterns and principles commonly used for applications today. These are often referred to as the architectural styles, and include patterns such as client/server, layered architecture, component-based architecture, message bus architecture, and service-oriented architecture (SOA). For each style, you will find an overview, key principles, major benefits, and information that will help you choose the appropriate architectural styles for your application. It is important to understand that the styles describe different aspects of applications. An architectural style, sometimes called an architectural pattern, is a set of principles—a coarse grained pattern that provides an abstract framework for a family of systems. “&#2026a; family of systems in terms of a pattern of structural organization. An understanding of architectural styles provides several benefits.

Mullins' Seven Domains Model - Strategy Tools From MindTools Analyzing Business Opportunities Mullins' Seven Domains Model allows you to look at a potential project or venture from seven different angles. © iStockphoto/blackred Can you imagine buying a car without first taking it for a test drive? Or buying a home without first inspecting every room? In everyday life, it's instinctive to test products and to look at them from different angles before parting with your money. This helps you confirm that you're making the right choice. The same should be true before you start a business, or launch a new project or product. You need to look at it thoroughly, and examine it from a number of different perspectives. Mullins' Seven Domains Model helps you explore the impact of seven key factors – or "domains" – on your planned venture. We'll look at the seven domains in this article, and suggest questions and tools that you can use to explore your business idea. About the Tool It was created for entrepreneurs interested in starting new businesses. Note: Next Steps

Great Resume Designs that Catch Attention--and Got People Hired Inspiration June 21, 2011 When applying for a job, you have no choice but to do your best to outshine competition. Even before winning an interview, your qualifications (or in some instance, your character) are already judged by the resume you’ve submitted. It is then important to make your resume or CV as honest, concise, and striking as possible. Take a look at how other designers compose their creative resumes. View Source View Source View Source View Source View Source View Source View Source View Source View Source View Source View Source View Source View Source View Source View Source View Source View Source View Source View Source View Source View Source View Source Author: Cadence Wu Cadence is You The Designer's senior blogger, and the most jack-of-all-trades of the staff.

Wilson Perumal » Blog Archive » Implementing the 7 Element OEMS: Determining the Size of the Prize If you don’t know where you are going, it is difficult to plan how you will get there. That might not seem like an earth-shattering revelation to you, but it is an idea that gets overlooked all too often in business planning and determining where you want to go is the essential first step in implementing the 7 Element Operational Excellence Management System. Understanding the potential upside - determining the size of the prize - for your firm is pretty straightforward: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Having done that, you will have a clear, objective vision for what your company’s performance can and should be in the future. We have seen the powerful impact benchmarking and understanding performance gaps can have in countless situations. 1. 2.

Related: