January is Fitness Month, if you can rank it by good intentions.  Resolutions to get in shape abound, and gym memberships swell.  This past fall Maximum Fitness for Men magazine interviewed me for an article called “Take Back the Power,”  and Time Management, my topic, was one of the ways you regained that control. The [...]

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It can be harder to plan and make ends meet these days with the economic crisis and the extraordinary government responses to it. The value of our hard-earned money seems intent on nosediving; as a result, today’s penny is gaining more importance. Saving pennies has never been more prudent. What the construction business is doing to [...]

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In a recent blog I described how corporate productivity measures such as computerized scheduling can adversely affect business growth. My example was WalMart’s decision to reschedule employee shifts so they reflect the peaks and valleys of customer hours. Unfortunately, the shift changes made it very difficult for employees to schedule any family or personal activities, [...]

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In my monthly article, titled “Being Organized During Natural Disaster,” I mentioned how Hurricane Ike in Houston affected me and the checklist I created the evening before in case of evacuation or disaster.  Fortunately I did not have to deal with those issues, but being without electricity for two weeks would have been a real [...]

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Our power just came back on Day 11, following Hurricane Ike.  More are still without electricity.  It makes you appreciate the small things.  This definitely provides reinforcement for the designation of September as National Preparedness Month.   As the storm was approaching in the gulf, I wrote up a checklist of what I would need to take [...]

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Hurricane Ike has come and gone, but Houston will be feeling the effects for a long time to come.  This is Day 7 with no power in our half of the city.  I’m very grateful that this is our only damage and I understand that priorities are set by the electric companies.  I can wait.  Yet [...]

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Many companies periodically conduct an inventory which allows them to maintain an accurate count of materials, detail a valuation of assets, and a provide a catalog for replacement needs in the event of natural disaster. Although inventories take time up front, they are great time management tools in the long term. Just compare the difference [...]

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“Where did this week go?” That common phrase can be interpreted in two different ways: It was a great week. I had so much fun/got so much done that it flew by. I don’t feel that I accomplished anything I had planned, and it is already the end of the week. It is not hard [...]

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“Your lack of planning should not be my emergency.” Have you ever wanted to say that to someone? Could you be guilty of frequently interrupting others with a “Now!” issue? There is no question that crises do arise from time to time, issues that require everyone to change focus. However they tend to occur much [...]

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There is an old adage that says if you eat a frog first thing in the morning, the rest of your day looks pretty easy. If you have two frogs to eat, pick the biggest, ugliest one first. Your personal “frog” is the project or activity that: Yields the most benefit for you in reaching [...]

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