The Secret...

I'm not usually a fan of the books/infomercials/presentations/etc about how to be successful - most of them are just hooey. However, after taking my CPM class, some things have become a bit clearer for me to explain to others. Last night Kerstin and I watched a film that I had seen in class called 'the secret'

I find that the cinematography of the film to be well-done (i.e., it fit to the story well) even if the message was a bit 'too much' for me. The main theme that they discuss in the film is called "The Law of Attraction" - if you want something enough, your thoughts will manifest themselves into that object, i.e., fulfilling your dreams. In other words, the universe will provide. Personally, this manifestation part is hard to swallow. My view is that opportunities/contacts/connections are flying by us all the time - one fellow CPM student described it like the starfield zipping past the Enterprise in the opening sequence of the original Star Trek series - each star was an opporunity/connection. By visualizing the object of your dreams, I don't think you manifest anything - rather, I think you become aware of the opportunities/contacts/connections that can help you achieve your goal. You can then pick out the next step that will help you towards achieving your goals. Same result, different way of expressing that, for me, doesn't seem so cultish.

"You become/attract what you think about most"
"Whatever you're thinking and feeling today is creating your future"

Project Phases and Elements (One Possible View)

Phase 0 – Initialization
o Project Trigger
o Brief Context
o Main Targets
o Alternative Sketch
o Kick-off
Phase 1- Analysis & Pilot Study
o Problem description
o Alternatives
o Decision
o Sign-off
Phase 2 – Business Requirements
o Current Situation
o Target State & Deltas
o Business Prototype
o Profitability Assessment
o Sign-off
Phase 3 – IT Requirements
o IT design
o Systems & Application
o Test Concept
o Sign-off
Phase 4 – Implementation & Test
o Infrastructure
o Application
o Maintenance Concept
o Test
o Sign-off
Phase 5 – Introduction & Maintenance
o Introduction Plan
o Documentation & Training
o Go Live
o Live Test
o Sign-off
Phase 5+ - Closure
o Profitability reassessment
o Project exploration
o Maintenance and service check
Over-arching activities
o Project Management – project organization, planning, staffing, communication, controlling & risk management
o Change Management – requirements management, configuration & version management, distribution management
o Software Architecture Management – application management
o Quality Management – total quality & test management

Socrates’ Three Rules for communication

Reference: Socrates?

Before reporting something you’ve heard (especially about a person), it should pass all three of these tests:

TRUTH - Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to repeat is true?

GOODNESS - Is what you are about to say something good?

USEFULNESS - Is what you want to tell me going to be useful to me?

The :01 Minute Manager Meets The Monkey

Get the book now at Amazon.co.uk

What is a Monkey? A monkey is a piece of work or task that needs to be done.

Goal: You should keep monkeys at the lowest level where they can be taken care of.

Four Rules of Monkey Management:

1. Describe the Monkey – what are the next steps for the piece of work. These need to be identified & specified
2. Assign the Monkey – The monkey should owned and handled at the lowest possible level.
3. Insure the Monkey – Decide whether the owner of monkey has to recommend the next step/answer, get approval, then act OR the monkey owner can act and advise you.
4. Check on the Monkey – set an appointment to review the monkey

Write a great email in 8 easy steps

Category: Communication
Reference: Marc Cenedella, 2 Apr 2007, Technology Ladder newsletter

1. Your subject line should say why you are sending the email – this allows the reader to provide a theme and stay organized
2. Cut to the chase. Quickly. – this ensures that the reader gets to the message without having to scroll down.
3. Use bold sparingly, to accentuate words that you’d like emphasized.
4. Number or alpha-bullet point – use a) b) c) or 1) 2) 3) to break up the email, clarify your main points and make responding to you easier.
5. Attach with caution! – always send .doc or .txt if you don’t know if the recipient can read PDF
6. Include a clear “call to action” – this is your request to the read to do something. What do you want the reader to do and in what timeframe.
7. Delete every word that is not absolutely essential (to achieving your meaning).
8. Check out what George Orwell, author of "1984" and "Animal Farm", has to say on the topic.

Planning a Meeting - Meetings, Bloody Meetings

Source: Meetings, Bloody Meetings from http://www.johncleesetraining.com/. Excellent & humorous video on running meetings.

1. Plan the Meeting
1. Determine Agenda
1. Direction
2. Area
3. End goal expected
2. Attendees
3. Objectives of Meeting/Reason for Meeting
2. Inform
1. Tell attendees:
1. What is to be discussed
2. Why is it to be discussed
3. Expected result of discussion
2. Anticipate what will be needed for meeting
3. Ensure needed materials will be ready for meeting
3. Prepare
1. Get the order of agenda correct (logical succession)
2. Allocate time for each item
1. Based on importance, not urgency
4. Structure & Control
1. For each agenda item:
1. Give evidence
2. Interpret evidence
3. Decide on action
2. Don't jump back and forth between phases
5. Summarize & Record
1. For each item discussed:
1. Summarize what was discussed
2. Summarize action to be taken
3. Determine responsibility of action decided