tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17461650583470060302024-02-08T18:25:09.428+13:00Gazza's Corner PodcastTips on project management and technical stuff. Recorded sessions from Gazza's Corner blog, interviews and other topics.Gary Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08730013754496401222noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746165058347006030.post-76104328601398353592014-11-15T22:38:00.000+13:002014-11-15T22:38:08.465+13:00#049 - Why should we choose to have less choice? <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Everyone likes to have <b>choice</b>. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">No, that's not quite correct. These days people <i>demand </i>choice, especially in the arena of consumer goods and services. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The <i>more </i>choice
the better, it would seem - or at least the manufacturers would have
you think so, as you try to pick out a new cell phone from the hundreds
of similar models available on any given day. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLWt10hlcyMI9NazBSWRAX3oyAGAHQRQqW_d-m6ndBJAYKeMLMXdwpqiA3RnK9gKORiKf4kiMUE8197_XPGxKHUNIMdrnuCCvISEHNgcyrqA2v90qsTqD4YYieoH0_DTDCzKJ3ZxjGB08/s1600/Choice+Fotolia_43362365_XS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLWt10hlcyMI9NazBSWRAX3oyAGAHQRQqW_d-m6ndBJAYKeMLMXdwpqiA3RnK9gKORiKf4kiMUE8197_XPGxKHUNIMdrnuCCvISEHNgcyrqA2v90qsTqD4YYieoH0_DTDCzKJ3ZxjGB08/s1600/Choice+Fotolia_43362365_XS.jpg" height="170" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Fotolia_43362365_XS</span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But the truth is we don't handle choice all that well. Choice means <i>change </i>and <i>uncertainty </i>- and offering too much choice can literally stop you in your tracks - or make you leave the shop dazed and confused, </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">without buying anything</span>. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.gazzasguides.com/podcast/49/WhyShouldWeChooseToHaveLessChoice.mp3">Listen to the podcast</a> or <a href="http://www.gazzascorner.com/2014/11/why-should-we-choose-to-have-less-choice.html">read the full article on Gazza's Corner Blog</a>.</span> </span></span></span></span>Gary Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08730013754496401222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746165058347006030.post-5161369470002890542014-11-14T21:57:00.000+13:002014-11-15T22:01:18.131+13:00#048 - A Practical Case Study in Cost-Benefit Analysis - did you want Popcorn with that?<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Cost-Benefit Analysis</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>A process by
which you weigh expected costs against expected benefits to determine
the best (or most profitable) course of action.<br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.entrepreneur.com/encyclopedia/cost-benefit-analysis">http://www.entrepreneur.com/encyclopedia/cost-benefit-analysis</a></span></i><br /><br />A
few years ago I was at a customer site in Independence, Missouri. It is
a classic American town, sitting on the eastern edge of Kansas City.
One of the advantages of working for a company with a wide-spread
customer base was that I had the opportunity to visit a lot of different
places. <br /><br />When money has been spent to get you there, you had
better make the most of it - so you maximize the hours you spend with
the customer. However, when the working day is done there is an
opportunity for personal benefit and exploration as well. So wherever I
went, I made sure to learn about the local history and try to see a few
attractions.<br /><br />It's all about maximizing the <i>value </i>for the <i>cost </i>- which is the primary basis for <i><b>cost-benefit analysis</b></i>.
In this case, the personal cost was not financial, but in time away
from family - so it was worth my while to see the sights that I could in
the time that I had. Especially when somebody else had already paid to
get me there.<br /><br />With a population of 119,000 Independence is more
like a small city, but they have preserved their identity and character
despite the closeness to their larger next door neighbor, Kansas City
(pop 467,000). It's just what you might expect from a town called <i>Independence</i>.<br /><br />Although
I was only there for a few days, I made the most of my visit and
thoroughly enjoyed having a look around the place while I was there. Few
attractions were open after working hours, but I did manage to fit in a
tour of the <a href="http://www.nps.gov/hstr/index.htm" target="_blank">Harry S. Truman national historic site</a>
before it closed for the day. It was a nice southern-style building -
not huge, not opulent - but it was a good, solid building with nice
architectural features.</span><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj966CUpBHM6j8ZVuuwksdM8f0pnPd093h2m5wCB7NUoeCWmIZ7dwMO7Ocib_-HpyFgC3OyML9uSjtyUOX-MyyzvIhdqKhLm7N7fa5V9Z_TWpbkrTUA6_ynK7j-Fw0vhsWkijo686ftWEY/s1600/HarrySTrumanSite.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj966CUpBHM6j8ZVuuwksdM8f0pnPd093h2m5wCB7NUoeCWmIZ7dwMO7Ocib_-HpyFgC3OyML9uSjtyUOX-MyyzvIhdqKhLm7N7fa5V9Z_TWpbkrTUA6_ynK7j-Fw0vhsWkijo686ftWEY/s1600/HarrySTrumanSite.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Source: Wikipedia (cc) Nationalparks</span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In fact, it was
his family home. We were only allowed to tour the downstairs, as Bess
Truman wrote into her will that in order to protect her family's
privacy, the second floor was to remain closed until the death of her
daughter, Margaret. Though Margaret died in 2008, the second floor has
remained closed in order to better preserve the home.<br /><br />For a
President who took America from its traditional isolationism into the
age of international involvement, it was a sign of his firm connection
with his roots that he and his family lived in this same comfortable
house since his marriage in 1919 until his wife Bess died in 1982.
Having visited a number of other presidential national historic sites,
this was the one that I liked the most. Unlike the imposing columns and
the expansive property of Mount Vernon, this felt like somewhere a <i>real </i>person lived - not someone larger than life.<br /><br />The
next evening, I finished work too late to see any other historic sites,
so I decided to see a movie. At least, that was the plan.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.gazzasguides.com/podcast/48/Cost-BenefitAnalysis.mp3">Listen to the podcast</a> or <a href="http://www.gazzascorner.com/2014/11/a-practical-case-study-in-cost-benefit.html">read the full article on Gazza's Corner Blog</a>.</span> </span></span></span></span>Gary Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08730013754496401222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746165058347006030.post-82630694835456498712014-11-13T21:28:00.000+13:002014-11-15T21:32:08.133+13:00#047 - Why we all need a little Project FIRST AID<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I recently
attended an Outdoor First Aid course at Camp Waingaro, which is an old
scout hall nestled in 19 hectares of New Zealand bush. Quite a long way
from anywhere - or at least it felt like it when I found that I could no
longer get a cellphone signal. It was a beautiful site, surrounded on
three sides by a creek that wound its way down the valley.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I initially
thought it would be something of a refresher course, as I had attended
first aid courses before, but in many respects this was an entirely new
experience.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Granted, the
last in-depth First Aid course I took was over 30 years ago - but as it
turned out I had remembered most of the basic concepts I needed to know
over all of that time. The first day of the course was a lot of theory -
with some practical exercises using CPR dummies, various bandages, how
to deal with choking and so on. Of course, some practices and techniques
have changed over the years - in fact, some first aid practices seem to
change every few years as they learn more and best practices change.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On occasion, I
have had to use my first aid skills in the past - beyond the basics of
blisters, small cuts, splinters and burns. One was a full-out mountain
rescue involving a victim 200 feet (61m) down a steep slope, his
near-vertical evacuation and the treatment for scrapes, lacerations and
embedded gravel. Years after that, I had to deal with a victim who had
become engulfed in flame. It was a long drive to hospital as we worked
to cool and protect his burns. Fortunately, both victims fully
recovered.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As it had been a
long time since my initial training, I was nervous when I first arrived
at the course, but I grew progressively more confident throughout the
day as we covered familiar topics. However, things changed when we got
into the practical outdoor scenarios the next morning. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.projectkidsadventures.com/tuthp" target="_blank"><img alt="www.projectkidsadventures.com/tuthp" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifHsep5YhAcHDhHz8FfwE8YY3mNXgK8gKcycGtHu1K5v6Xx1Vgy5-L5mQMjCt7c5QjYuNGWg0A1QEu06PjkiB0R_RG3T-bKk5W6bpQiylrwUa-uVHEDxIlgUGGji99UXvvlMsYxS_zCr4/s1600/Chapter+11_colour_web.png" height="226" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(c) 2012 Mathew Frauenstein</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">it all hit the fan,</span> I felt like I knew almost nothing.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.gazzasguides.com/podcast/47/WeAllNeedALittleProjectFirstAid.mp3">Listen to the podcast</a> or <a href="http://www.gazzascorner.com/2014/10/why-we-all-need-little-project-first-aid.html">read the full article on Gazza's Corner Blog</a>.</span> </span></span></span>Gary Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08730013754496401222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746165058347006030.post-81914101093384092012014-09-10T07:47:00.002+12:002014-09-10T07:57:16.764+12:00#046 - Index Card Planning - An interview with Bryan Barrow<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Today's interview is with </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://bryanbarrow.com/">Bryan Barrow</a>, a widely recognized Project Management and Risk Management consultant and Speaker. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW4cwc6Z0EBB4lgSvkXX7dk58fQEFqFOoFQEr22xHLkpa7HneNwZ34WxNytiBLQ53AozoFL_J8N2xhVAgZNgizCQ9sJIO86rKJngGxrbuQTUCvPFuC9kGuLhF0rept-5AOp85aGGJz6IY/s1600/Bryan+Barrow.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW4cwc6Z0EBB4lgSvkXX7dk58fQEFqFOoFQEr22xHLkpa7HneNwZ34WxNytiBLQ53AozoFL_J8N2xhVAgZNgizCQ9sJIO86rKJngGxrbuQTUCvPFuC9kGuLhF0rept-5AOp85aGGJz6IY/s1600/Bryan+Barrow.png" /><complete id="goog_2088898857"></complete></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Bryan is the
founder of Nova Consulting Ltd in the UK. Over the past twenty years, he has
worked with Project Management Offices, Project Directors and both
public and private sector organizations, helping them to improve
project planning and rescue troubled projects. He also provides coaching
and mentoring to help develop the skills of the next generation of
project leaders.<br /><br />Bryan is the author of The <a href="https://bryanbarrow.com/the-project-planning-workshop-handbook">Project Planning Workshop Handbook</a>, which introduces the <a href="http://indexcardplanning.com/">Index Card Planning Method</a>. <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He publishes his subscription-only newsletter <b>Project Leadership Tips</b> every month. Subscribe at <a href="http://bryanbarrow.com/">bryanbarrow.com</a></span>.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.gazzasguides.com/podcast/46/Interview-BryanBarrow.mp3">Join us and listen to Bryan Barrow</a></b> as he talks about the changing world of project management.</span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bryan Barrow</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://bryanbarrow.com/">http://bryanbarrow.com</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://twitter.com/bryanbarrow">@Bryanbarrow</a></span>Gary Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08730013754496401222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746165058347006030.post-71234738009154101322014-08-13T22:19:00.001+12:002014-08-13T22:19:14.915+12:00#045 - If only every Project ran like an old Honda Civic <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">When I was in my
late teens, I bought my first car. My friends were all doing the same -
we all had our licenses and we wanted to put them to good use. Of
course, not having a lot of money, we each ended up buying older,
cheaper cars. I bought a 1974 Mazda RX4 from a family member, one friend
bought an old Chevy Nova, another had an old sports car, and one had
bought a 1977 Honda Civic.</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjwEO0jmuslBgFEmmoR5rLQ-iaEU_uO1Ffu6s5vpM6kI2DDQ8znUy5VrOI_jvzUVLHPf092Eo4QxCaZzYOq3eQ5xao29wkK5c-XKK1rf8jH-6BxlW4kWjx4T9Aki11khb0u5u7s8-Uw1Q/s1600/1978+Honda+Civic-scale.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjwEO0jmuslBgFEmmoR5rLQ-iaEU_uO1Ffu6s5vpM6kI2DDQ8znUy5VrOI_jvzUVLHPf092Eo4QxCaZzYOq3eQ5xao29wkK5c-XKK1rf8jH-6BxlW4kWjx4T9Aki11khb0u5u7s8-Uw1Q/s1600/1978+Honda+Civic-scale.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">CC Source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1973-1978_Honda_Civic_5-door_hatchback_01.jpg</span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">All of these cars
were made near the end of an era- close to the last generation of
vehicles you could actually fix yourselves. All of them even had <i>carburetors </i>-
no fancy fuel injection, and definitely no computer control systems. My
car had only an AM radio, which I updated to AM/FM (but no cassette
deck). When these cars were made, most computers filled a small room,
and Personal Computers were not yet available.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Wheels = Freedom </span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Well, we were all
very happy to have our own set of wheels, so we took good care of our
cars - washed them regularly, learned how to do our own repairs, change
the oil and spark plugs, the whole bit. Besides, we couldn't afford to
send them in to the shop for anything but the most significant of
problems; the rest we did ourselves, brake pads, shocks and all.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Although we had
our own cars, we helped each other and worked like a team. We learned
from each other, and each became the "go-to" person for a particular
specialty. Brian went into auto mechanics in a big way, eventually
extending it into a career that included welding and being able to fix
just about anything. He quickly became the expert in everything
automotive, and for anything major we all went to him for help.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />As you would expect, Brian was the one with the <b>best </b>car.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">However, at the
time, we didn't think so. My RX4 was sleek and fast, the Nova was solid
and gutsy, and our other friends' cars were sporty. We all kind of felt
sorry for our mechanic friend Brian who <i>only </i>had a little red Honda Civic.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I mean, a 1977<span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span> Honda Civic wasn't really a <i>serious </i>car.
Sure it was small, and good on fuel - but it wasn't much for show, not
really. Not something you would want to take a girl on a date with,
compared to any of the other cars we had. It wasn't gutsy, it wasn't
fast, it wasn't much more than a tin can on wheels. Four or five people
could pick it up and move it (and occasionally we did).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But over the years, Brian proved us just how wrong we were about his car.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.gazzasguides.com/podcast/45/OldHondaCivic.mp3">Listen to the podcast</a> or <a href="http://www.gazzascorner.com/2014/08/if-only-every-project-ran-like-old.html">read the full article on Gazza's Corner Blog</a>.</span> </span></span>Gary Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08730013754496401222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746165058347006030.post-59485278453575352492014-07-10T20:57:00.000+12:002014-07-10T20:57:17.527+12:00#044 - What's the big deal with Team Sports, anyway?<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">When I was a child, I didn't like sports. </span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Well, that's not
exactly true - I loved swimming and spent almost every day during my
young summers in the water at our local pool, and was part of the swim
team. Wrinkly skin, and a persistent smell of chlorine - it was a
wonderful way to spend a good part of your summer's day. Besides, when
your town had an outdoor pool that was only open for 3-4 months out of
the year, you made the most of it. The rest of the year it was either
too cold, or just plain closed, as the pool was left drained for 6
months of the year while the temperatures plummeted from freezing down
to -40 degrees Celsius in the coldest months.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In the winter,
starting sometime in November, the outdoor ice rinks were getting into
full swing. I spent a few winters trying to perfect long, graceful
glides around the temporary oval of a Speed Skating rink on our
Elementary school field, while my younger brothers were just starting
getting into ice hockey at the PeeWee level.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I think I managed
two or three years of Speed Skating before I stopped going, while my
brothers went on to play hockey with a passion - and still do today,
over thirty years later.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My favourite sport fell back to swimming, which I pursued through to Bronze Medallion, and still enjoy today.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The key thing about swimming is that it is very much a <b>solo </b>sport,
even if you are on a swim team. Separate swim lanes, individual
competitors - even when they held "team" races like a relay, you were
still the only person in your lane at one time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><b>I did not enjoy team sports at all</b></i> - not even Hockey, which is close to sacrilege for anyone born in Canada.</span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(C) Fotolia 59510276</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.gazzasguides.com/podcast/44/WhatsTheBigDealWithTeamSports2.mp3">Listen to the podcast</a> or <a href="http://www.gazzascorner.com/2014/06/why-i-no-longer-dislike-team-sports.html">read the full article on Gazza's Corner Blog</a>.</span> </span></span>Gary Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08730013754496401222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746165058347006030.post-17588995261143923192014-06-13T20:52:00.000+12:002014-06-13T20:52:17.685+12:00#043 - Dis-Orientation: The importance of Project Vision <i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"</span></i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="text Prov-29-18" id="en-KJV-17243"><i>Where there is no vision, the people perish..." Proverbs 29:18</i></span> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">One of the
most important things you will do as a leader or Project Manager is to
communicate a compelling <a href="http://www.gazzascorner.com/2013/08/roadside-checkup-how-clear-is-your.html">vision </a>to your team or organization. It not only sets the
direction for the team and the project, it also begins to pull a group
of individuals into a cohesive unit - and eventually, if all goes well,
into a high-performing team.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Without vision,
all is lost - or has the potential to be, unless you bring things back
on track. This not only applies to your projects, it applies to "real
life" too, as I learned first-hand many years ago... </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHwbQeDYLnDGk717YxP5k3N3H5SqN3RDuYozLTWd2oG2RevW7oMxVVAm-WLyOlExbkbZHNpJA6ffqsHWjXYzlb210P1FBql-RQVH0SGXPN24Ygd0r5yCrhv27N-gTO_eaUQH1ew5UfvCE/s1600/Fotolia_49516437_XS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHwbQeDYLnDGk717YxP5k3N3H5SqN3RDuYozLTWd2oG2RevW7oMxVVAm-WLyOlExbkbZHNpJA6ffqsHWjXYzlb210P1FBql-RQVH0SGXPN24Ygd0r5yCrhv27N-gTO_eaUQH1ew5UfvCE/s1600/Fotolia_49516437_XS.jpg" width="311" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.gazzasguides.com/podcast/43/Disorientation.mp3">Listen to the podc<span id="goog_544090085"></span><span id="goog_544090086"></span>ast</a> or <a href="http://www.gazzascorner.com/2014/05/may-your-projects-never-be-late-again.html">read the full article on Gazza's Corner Blog</a>.</span> </span></span>Gary Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08730013754496401222noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746165058347006030.post-32867810183995727942014-05-27T07:55:00.000+12:002014-05-27T07:55:38.079+12:00#042 - May Your Projects Never Be Late Again: Secrets from a Road Trip<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">How do you make
sure your projects complete on time? When you set a deadline, you are
supposed communicate it to everyone, right? Then, presumably,the entire
team will work towards that date, vendor and client alike, to make it
happen.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">That is usually
what happens on most projects - you may be a little late on some target
dates, a little early on others, but generally all of you are working
towards the same dates, and hopefully the same priorities.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But what about when it doesn't work out, and deadlines are missed repeatedly?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Certainly you can
apply contract penalties to a vendor, but that does not always help to
achieve the desired effect of getting finished on time.</span><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5WFgf8pbwGELAUGqABqHFCiQCdcoNn6XSQEbEli3CjD_41NY9hkNJWHtJrRQUnmCi_cN1QUZjQo4pGQxmMjF8B_Zqenb3B3laqdoDXQfoBmLgcmv0BVpEd1O0e9of1ogI9gWyJ_ovrrw/s1600/Fotolia_44112672_XS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5WFgf8pbwGELAUGqABqHFCiQCdcoNn6XSQEbEli3CjD_41NY9hkNJWHtJrRQUnmCi_cN1QUZjQo4pGQxmMjF8B_Zqenb3B3laqdoDXQfoBmLgcmv0BVpEd1O0e9of1ogI9gWyJ_ovrrw/s1600/Fotolia_44112672_XS.jpg" width="295" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What do you do if
it seems like part of your own team is disregarding your schedule? What
if they seem to have a different sense of timing altogether, no matter
how clearly you communicate the priorities and schedule?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This can be
particularly problematic as you near the end of the project, when there
is still a lot left to get wrapped up. People may be getting tired and
losing focus - but you need to keep them delivering, right to the end. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Tempers may
flare,
relationships can suffer, and you can end up with an even bigger mess on
your hands if you are not careful, with little to show for your project
as you near that all-important deadline. All the while, the
clock is still ticking.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A family friend was plagued with this problem for many years - <i>until he figured out the secret</i>.
He not only found out a way to keep a very important
chronologically-challenged team member/stakeholder happy, but he also
managed to bring things back on schedule, time and time again.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So how did he do it?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.gazzasguides.com/podcast/42/SecretsFromARoadTrip.mp3">Listen to the podc<span id="goog_544090085"></span><span id="goog_544090086"></span>ast</a> or <a href="http://www.gazzascorner.com/2014/05/may-your-projects-never-be-late-again.html">read the full article on Gazza's Corner Blog</a>.</span> </span></span>Gary Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08730013754496401222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746165058347006030.post-26395278934166952132014-04-21T19:02:00.001+12:002014-04-21T19:02:42.802+12:00#041 - All I want is a little change to the Project Scope...<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
The Cost of Change</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
We have all heard about how the
cost of change increases exponentially the further you are along the
path of project delivery. If the unit of effort is, say, (1) at
requirements stage to accommodate a feature change, in design it
increases to (10x), in development
it increases to (100x) and once delivered it may increase again to
(1000x) or more. Or perhaps a different scale applies to your project,
but you get the idea.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_A0HKo213iIDzNYXqA77iZFgmfHs2B3DbM_p1u68nqSwjPL5P1U3rMNvYZi8v2lsQB4CqyH8kQXWEWvUhJEhyphenhyphenmiiOBSxhinacwOmkhKJiAoreaj0c1GqSR-wqjnOinfKpb1MOL6JLOac/s1600/Fotolia_44317697_XS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_A0HKo213iIDzNYXqA77iZFgmfHs2B3DbM_p1u68nqSwjPL5P1U3rMNvYZi8v2lsQB4CqyH8kQXWEWvUhJEhyphenhyphenmiiOBSxhinacwOmkhKJiAoreaj0c1GqSR-wqjnOinfKpb1MOL6JLOac/s1600/Fotolia_44317697_XS.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br />
The same rules apply when you are doing construction, when scope becomes
set in stone - or at least in concrete. Changes are easiest when you
are still talking with the architect and drawing up the first set of
plans on a napkin, but after they have been formally submitted for
review and approved by Council, it gets more complicated and costly. Any
changes to the approved plans require rework by the architect, then a
review by another dozen or so eyes, and when that is done, it needs to
get re-approved by the city planning department. Oh, and to top it all
off, yet another cheque written out to the builder to pay for the change
in scope.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.gazzasguides.com/podcast/41/AllIWantIsChangetoProjectScope.mp3">Listen to the podcast</a> or <a href="http://www.gazzascorner.com/2014/04/all-i-want-is-little-change-to-project.html">read the full article on Gazza's Corner Blog</a>.</span> </span>Gary Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08730013754496401222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746165058347006030.post-72293988081803856262014-03-24T22:19:00.000+13:002014-03-24T22:19:57.615+13:00#040 - Is your Project Team like a Light Switch...or a Candle?<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A few years ago I went on a fly-fishing trip with a group of work colleagues. I was working on a project in New Zealand, and we were going to be staying in an old company-owned holiday "bach" just outside of Taupo. You could book these properties for a weekend and pay a small fee. A basic type of unit - furnished with several beds, kitchen, TV, tables, chairs and couple sofas - nothing too fancy.<br /><br />We unpacked our gear, loaded up the fridge and headed back outside for fly-fishing lessons. My first ever lesson - and apparently you need to learn how to do it while on dry land (without a hook) just to get used to the back-and-forth action before you try it standing hip-deep in a river. Perhaps to make sure you didn't fall over while casting - or hook anyone around you.<br /><br />After about an hour of practicing casting, it was getting dark and our arms were getting tired, so we headed back in to get dinner ready and settle in for the evening. One of the guys was frying up dinner while the rest of us chatted and watched the little black-and-white TV. I was just walking back into the living room with a fresh beer when the lights went out.<br /><br />"Who turned off the lights?" I asked.<br /><br />"There's some coins on top of the fridge," one of the locals called out from the sofa.<br /><br />"What?"<br /><br />"Coins on top of the fridge. Put some in the slot."<br /><br />"What slot?"<br /><br />He sighed and got up. "In the meter."<br /><br />He walked over to the fridge and picked up three coins. He popped them into a box on the wall, one by one. The lights suddenly came back on. "That should do for an hour. We pay for power when we use the bach - it's one reason it is so cheap to stay here."<br /><br />I studied the pile of coins on top of the fridge. It was perhaps my first experience of "user pays" - in this case, quite literally with a pocket full of change.<br /><br />I was experiencing a sudden and strange shift in expectation - electricity is just supposed to be "on", right?<br /><br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAr6nIHGNq8OPQzGQRcjyadAZA_j-OFA3A2GVU7kjuoSXnCIodIagyxguwrkIw0Gpm554qDmVLUVuUNzkGmQmXKJdDePxXsj3scaklBUQUKpenolmcrwwqY0aENRoJ_U_oyA-AkQbFuco/s1600/IMG_2862.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAr6nIHGNq8OPQzGQRcjyadAZA_j-OFA3A2GVU7kjuoSXnCIodIagyxguwrkIw0Gpm554qDmVLUVuUNzkGmQmXKJdDePxXsj3scaklBUQUKpenolmcrwwqY0aENRoJ_U_oyA-AkQbFuco/s400/IMG_2862.JPG" height="298" width="400" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.gazzasguides.com/podcast/40/IsYourProjectTeamLikeALightSwitch.mp3">Listen to the podcast</a> or <a href="http://www.gazzascorner.com/2014/03/is-your-project-team-like-light-switch.html">read the full article on Gazza's Corner Blog</a>.</span><br />
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Gary Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08730013754496401222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746165058347006030.post-35172671126391013642014-03-16T19:17:00.000+13:002014-03-16T19:19:34.352+13:00#039 - May I have your Attention, Please? <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You know the drill - anyone
who has ever flown on a commercial airline has heard this announcement
from the flight attendant, usually followed by a safety briefing video
and a demonstration by the crew. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Most of us briefly look up,
see the flight attendant standing there, snug our seat-belt, glance up
above our heads, and resume reading - or listening to music, whatever.
Most of us ignore the actual briefing if we have flown more than a few
times. Even the comment "<i>you may have flown before, but this aircraft
may be different than what you are used to, so please follow along with
this safety briefing</i>" is unlikely to gain more than a few curious
glances. If the safety message is only a video, there may be even fewer
people paying attention.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We
have become so used to distractions and the constant babble of noise
around us in our daily lives, we learn to tune it out - and that can
sometimes be a good thing. But how do you get - and hold - someone's
attention, particularly if the message you have to share is really
important?</span><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAnJ5fK3UrrKpF0-3CcjXdbQBrM2mjYaoC91ngTdngfHzVHOFzERcHc0f5hLMFBQSWFzuQIA7JaFqkD86B9Kvb5ccw_Q26cxUAjSoDX2PjmqE2LqtyCbcook_-6leFJ427hZA9zXRmJv0/s1600/Fotolia_33201196_XS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAnJ5fK3UrrKpF0-3CcjXdbQBrM2mjYaoC91ngTdngfHzVHOFzERcHc0f5hLMFBQSWFzuQIA7JaFqkD86B9Kvb5ccw_Q26cxUAjSoDX2PjmqE2LqtyCbcook_-6leFJ427hZA9zXRmJv0/s400/Fotolia_33201196_XS.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On aircraft, d</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ifferent
techniques have been used over the years to try to gain - and hold -
your attention when announcements are made, with varying degrees of
success. Humorous flight attendants are popular, but what about the
safety videos?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some of the most effective have been produced by <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/airnewzealand" target="_blank">Air New Zealand</a>,
who developed a series of safety videos that actually get you watching -
and engaged. They also change the videos regularly, so you are also
less likely to be "ho-hum" when you get settled in for your flight.
Passengers now <i>look forward </i>to the safety videos - imagine that! <i><b>Nude flight attendants with paint-on uniforms, anyone?</b></i> You can be sure everybody paid attention to that <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpeiTnTaZ_8" target="_blank">safety video</a>!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /><i>"That's nice for the airlines"</i>, you say. "<i>But</i></span><i>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">how can <b>we </b>get - and keep - someone's attention?"</span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />One tactic is to hook them with the <u><b>unexpected</b></u> - and then <u><b>engage</b></u> them in the message, and keep them <u><b>interested</b></u> until you are finished. </span><br />
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Unexpected </span></h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>****BANG!**** </b> </i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Well,
perhaps it is not a great idea to literally start with a bang
(especially on an airplane), but you need to do something to begin to
hook their attention away from their smartphones at the beginning of
your message or presentation. Something out of the ordinary can work
quite well, if you don't overdo it.</i> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many
years ago,well before the clever Air NZ videos, I was on an aircraft
that most definitely held my undivided - and disconcerted - attention. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.gazzasguides.com/podcast/39/MayIHaveYourAttentionPlease.mp3">Listen to the podcast</a> or <a href="http://www.gazzascorner.com/2013/12/may-i-have-your-attention-please.html">read the full article on Gazza's Corner Blog</a>. </span></span></span></span></span>Gary Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08730013754496401222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746165058347006030.post-29998823447980228522013-12-08T21:48:00.000+13:002013-12-08T22:03:29.367+13:00#038 - Have YOU Exploited your Project Team Today?<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Let me ask you an important question:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><i>Have you <u>Exploited</u> your Project Team Today? </i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Wait a minute, <u>Exploit</u> your Project Team? You are probably thinking - <i>He can't be serious</i>. <i>That's a horrible, evil thing to do, right?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">You
probably also have visions of unfair wages, an evil boss, overworked
and under-appreciated staff, things like that. Unfortunately, that does
happen - but it is not what I am talking about.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">You really <i><b>should </b></i>exploit your team - and a trip to the toy store made me come to view this as a viable management approach. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wisdom from the Toy Store </span></h2>
<span style="font-size: small;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">While
shopping for a birthday present for one of my children, I came across
the following toy that you first assemble, and then play with:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnu8GGVWXAV3h_flOPlRdIFp-MKhCQA39XkvP7OO5MCN_dhVM3J7lz7ZeMahIIS7CH_4-ceOQ9Vrl9ZA_PezdpI4_5AIlw1969071L1DT84qfA3xT5NahPEX3qQ2UN40n7l_0NAWY5RPM/s1600/IMG_2942.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnu8GGVWXAV3h_flOPlRdIFp-MKhCQA39XkvP7OO5MCN_dhVM3J7lz7ZeMahIIS7CH_4-ceOQ9Vrl9ZA_PezdpI4_5AIlw1969071L1DT84qfA3xT5NahPEX3qQ2UN40n7l_0NAWY5RPM/s400/IMG_2942.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">"<b>Exploiter</b>"? My initial reaction was to take offense at the words on the
box. My second reaction was to take a photo. Translated instructions from
a foreign country are often quite humorous, but it is less common to
have the label or name of a product be so obviously "wrong". It was one
of those you-have-to-see-it-to-believe-it moments.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">I paced around the store, agitated, thinking about
what a poor message this was giving to our children - nobody wants to be
exploited, and if you exploit someone, you are obviously a bad
person - right? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.gazzasguides.com/podcast/38/HavYouExploitedProjectTeam.mp3">Listen to the podcast</a> or <a href="http://www.gazzascorner.com/2013/10/have-you-exploited-your-project-team.html">read the full article on Gazza's Corner Blog</a>. </span></span></span></span></span>Gary Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08730013754496401222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746165058347006030.post-65845753589410813132013-10-24T22:27:00.000+13:002013-10-25T15:23:28.991+13:00#037 - Your Fifteen Minutes of ... Productivity?<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Fifteen minutes of Fame</b>
- we all seem to want it, and according to some we are all due our
fifteen minutes in the limelight. Well, maybe, or maybe not. I am sure
that the law of averages has something to say about that, and more
likely some celebrity out there is using up a whole lot of other
people's 15 minutes. I am sure mine has already been used up somewhere,
maybe yours too. Who knows? </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJzm5F9xLpHQ4ul5lNDg1x1r26DoZQd-2lnxA-6lAIt6LHOERQWkxDwoIT7DwmX1He1Kb1pSnpA002PiiebE0nmtbLFU6CMsEuW2JH7lZICjEDwF9-laQl_jVOma-teghR2VCr4u162Qw/s1600/Fotolia_53361756_XS.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJzm5F9xLpHQ4ul5lNDg1x1r26DoZQd-2lnxA-6lAIt6LHOERQWkxDwoIT7DwmX1He1Kb1pSnpA002PiiebE0nmtbLFU6CMsEuW2JH7lZICjEDwF9-laQl_jVOma-teghR2VCr4u162Qw/s320/Fotolia_53361756_XS.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We all day-dream
about what might be. However, instead of making the dreams a reality, we
often squander countless minutes musing about a possible future - while
instead we could have been doing something more productive towards that
(or any other) goal. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Other times, we
are either delaying work on an unpleasant task, trying to put off the
inevitable, or simply waiting until we "have enough time" to get the
task done.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The truth is that it is far more
rewarding (and practical) to apply those extra minutes towards the things
that you need to get done. Even better, apply the time towards the
things you <b>need </b>to get done, and you will find you have more time to do the
things you <b>want </b>to do.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For some, this
seems hard to do, particularly if the task is difficult or unpleasant,
or you are simply procrastinating. We all procrastinate - some more than
others, and I will admit I have had my fair share over the years.
Usually, it just takes some butt-in-seat glue to stay and get focused on
the task, and it gradually starts to take shape - and soon enough you
find the task completed.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.gazzasguides.com/podcast/37/FifteenMinutesProductivity.mp3">Listen to the podcast</a> or <a href="http://www.gazzascorner.com/2013/09/your-fifteen-minutes-of-productivity.html">read the full article on Gazza's Corner Blog</a>. </span></span></span></span>Gary Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08730013754496401222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746165058347006030.post-78937974643025152342013-10-14T22:12:00.002+13:002013-10-24T22:28:46.829+13:00#036 - Roadside Checkup: How Clear is your Project Vision?<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">When I was
fifteen, I spent the summer visiting my relatives in Alberta. Nothing
unusual about that, as we did that most summers. We would usually drive
the nearly 14 hours to Calgary and then spend a few very enjoyable weeks
visiting the grandparents, exploring the farmyard and visiting our many
aunts, uncles, cousins and other relatives in the area. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What was
different about that summer is that our family divided up the visits,
allowing us kids to each spend more time with our relatives, one-on-one.
I spent a few days with my grandparents, and then one of my Aunts came
to pick me up and drive me up to their farm an hour and a half to the
north. My parents were going to pick me up later in the week to take me
to the next relative.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It was a hot, dry
summer, which was not uncommon in the prairies. Her car was brown.
Actually, it might not have been brown, it was just coated in so much
dust you couldn't see the colour underneath. My grandparents waved from
the front steps of the farmhouse as we rumbled away down the gravel
driveway, dust rising high behind the car. It was a little hard to see,
but I didn't think too much of it. Everything was dusty that summer.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As we drove down
the main gravel road and onto the stretch of pavement before we reached
the main highway, my Aunt said she needed to stop and get some gas. We
pulled into a little gas station and the attendant started to pump the
fuel. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Just need to
clean the windshield," she said as she hopped out of the car and grabbed
a squeegee from the bucket beside the gas pump. I remained seated in
the car.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">She dragged the
wet spongy side across the top of the window, and rivulets of mud
tracked down the glass. She re-wet the squeegee several times as she
progressively sponged and cleared the dust and mud off the outside of
the window. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxH7owHKP06C62xpL7cVtgBZodxabweel_AA1kBYDSq961R4lROh7bNqzUeV6kabayCNPXSYWqwn09bkyhCqEe2fB17Gug_JQLBx08MayeKg2sOnnrO8lKEqBmCUpAAb_8DQgBG1Aswrc/s1600/Fotolia_4528488_S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxH7owHKP06C62xpL7cVtgBZodxabweel_AA1kBYDSq961R4lROh7bNqzUeV6kabayCNPXSYWqwn09bkyhCqEe2fB17Gug_JQLBx08MayeKg2sOnnrO8lKEqBmCUpAAb_8DQgBG1Aswrc/s400/Fotolia_4528488_S.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">She looked at the
window, frowned, and then leaned into the car to have a look out of the
windshield. "You might want to get out," she said as she walked back
around the car towards the squeegee bucket. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I unbuckled myself and got out of the car just as she stepped forward and proceeded to drag the wet squeegee across the <i>inside </i>of
the windshield. It, too was covered in dust, and trickles of mud ran
down the glass and dripped onto the dashboard. Slightly flustered, she
quickly cleaned the inside of the window, paid the attendant and then we
got back into the car.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As we drove down
the dust-free highway, windows still down but now able to see ahead of
us more clearly, I asked her why the car was so dusty on the inside. She
replied that the car did not have air conditioning, so naturally
driving with the windows down was a good substitute. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">However, living
on a farm (with no air conditioning), you had to keep the windows down
to cool off, but of course that let the dust in. With the manual window
winders and only one person in the car, it was hard to put the windows
up and down as you regularly went from asphalt to dirt or gravel - so
she mostly left them down.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Thus the coating of dust throughout the car, inside and out.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Driving with
clear visibility in front of you is obviously important - that is why my
Aunt cleaned the window once we were off the dusty road. But ask
yourself this - how many of us truck on ahead with our projects, "just
getting the work done", but with no clear vision of where we are going
or what is up ahead?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It might just be time to pull off the road and check those windows.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.gazzasguides.com/podcast/36/RoadSideCheckup_ProjectVision.mp3"> Listen to the podcast</a> or <a href="http://www.gazzascorner.com/2013/08/roadside-checkup-how-clear-is-your.html">read the full article on Gazza's Corner Blog</a>. </span></span></span>Gary Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08730013754496401222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746165058347006030.post-48156264750401086752013-08-02T06:40:00.000+12:002013-08-02T06:40:08.474+12:00#035 - Protect your project from Zombie Outbreaks <h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="vk_ans vk_bk">zom·bie</span> </span></h3>
<div class="pbk">
<div class="luna-Ent">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="dnindex"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;"><i>\ˈzäm-bē\ noun </i></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="luna-Ent">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span class="dnindex"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">1.</span></span></span></b><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;"> <i><b>Formal.</b></i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;"> a. </span><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword">the</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">body</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">of</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">a</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">dead</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">person</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">given</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">the</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">semblance</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">of</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">life,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">but</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">mute</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">and</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">will-less,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">by</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">a</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">supernatural</span> </span>force<span id="hotword">, <span id="hotword" name="hotword">usually</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">for</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">some</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">evil</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">purpose.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;"> b. the supernatural force itself </span> </span></span><br />
<div class="dndata">
<div class="luna-Nested">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="dnindex"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword"></span></span></span><span id="hotword"> </span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="luna-Ent">
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="dnindex"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword">2. </span></span></span><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;"><i>Informal</i>.</span></span></b> <br />
<div class="dndata">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="dnindex"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;"> a.</span></span></span><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;"> a</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">person</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">whose</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">behavior</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">or</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">responses</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">are</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">wooden,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">listless,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">or</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">seemingly</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">rote;</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">automaton.</span></span></span><br />
<div class="luna-Nested">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword"> b. a person who is or appears lifeless, apathetic, or completely unresponsive to their surroundings. </span> </span></span></div>
<div class="luna-Nested">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="dnindex"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword"> c. </span></span></span><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">an</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">eccentric</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">or</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">peculiar</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">person, markedly strange in appearance or behavior</span></span><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;"> (<i>sometimes confused with Teenagers</i>). </span></span><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="luna-Nested">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;"><b>3. <i>Project Zombie.</i></b> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="luna-Nested">
<div class="luna-Nested">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="dnindex"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;"> a.</span></span></span><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;"> a</span> member of the project team <span id="hotword" name="hotword">whose</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">behavior</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">or</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">responses</span> towards the project <span style="color: #333333;">are</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">wooden,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">listless,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">or</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">seemingly</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">rote;</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">automaton.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword"> b. a member of the project team who appears directionless or wandering but is attracted by noise and activity.</span></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQXAdZRtjoxZ1jFx04E9EgqmftmBn9EHF5yWbF8hNvZG-iXjbfC9Tf2uBXPTFHXbI4NoWA-h1LksX8WZyMy4cRJiKXldCCMEg1UY0NnWXyywq6jD3uT113ttPpjy_cpXFxZTL3TdKJKq0/s1600/Zombie+Outbreak.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQXAdZRtjoxZ1jFx04E9EgqmftmBn9EHF5yWbF8hNvZG-iXjbfC9Tf2uBXPTFHXbI4NoWA-h1LksX8WZyMy4cRJiKXldCCMEg1UY0NnWXyywq6jD3uT113ttPpjy_cpXFxZTL3TdKJKq0/s400/Zombie+Outbreak.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Zombies Today</span></h3>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Zombies are currently very popular in the media; in the past 18 months alone there have been 32 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_zombie_films">zombie films</a> created (many of them B films, but a notable number featured in the mainstream theater circuit, and over <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_zombie_films">160</a>
have been released since the start of 2009). I will admit, I have only
seen a half dozen or so in the last few years but my favorites have to
be <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zombieland">Zombieland</a> (2009) and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaun_of_the_Dead">Sean of the Dead</a> (2004). Soulless re-animated bodies wanting to eat your brains? <b>Sure</b>. Running for your lives to reach a goal or sanctuary, keeping just ahead of the armies of the undead? <b>You bet</b>.
However, both films introduce a quirky sense of humour that keeps them
from being strictly hide-under-the-covers horror movies. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Yearning for some
piece of normality while you reload your shotgun? That overturned
delivery truck just might contain a box of Twinkies. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What about <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warm_Bodies_%28film%29">Warm Bodies</a>
(2013), you ask? Well, certainly it was an enjoyable film and it had
decent humour, but as most of the 'zombies' recovered simply from
looking at a pretty girl, you have to wonder if they were true zombies,
or if they were just temporarily heartbeat-challenged. On the other
hand, the explanation they offered for eating brains was unique and
somewhat enlightening. OK, so maybe we will add it to the list.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">However, the
cinematic undead aside, we have a much more serious problem in real
life. Many of our projects suffer zombie outbreaks. They may not
actually be undead or want to eat your brains, but they are zombies
nonetheless. And even worse, they may be your fault.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.gazzasguides.com/podcast/35/ProjectZombies.mp3"> Listen to the podcast</a> or <a href="http://www.gazzascorner.com/2013/07/protect-your-project-from-zombie.html">read the full article on Gazza's Corner Blog</a>. </span></span>Gary Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08730013754496401222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746165058347006030.post-3270430069712251422013-07-30T22:39:00.000+12:002013-07-30T23:18:56.818+12:00#034 - Too High, Too Fast - Project Asphyxiation <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I have, for much
of my life, lived close to sea level. Most people don't think too much
about altitude, unless they travel a lot, climb mountains, or are
professional athletes. If you live near hills or near mountains, you
might not even think too much about a hike or drive up a couple thousand
feet, or a few hundred metres or even a kilometre in elevation above
where you live. You might not even notice it that much, particularly if
you are driving. If you are hiking, well - any trouble breathing you may
have can usually be blamed on exertion, and that spare tire you may be
carrying.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Certainly, hiking
in the mountains around Vancouver, Canada, or skiing at Whistler when I
was younger, I never had any problems. The base was a couple thousand
feet above sea level, and that was no problem at all. Taking the lift up
another 3000 feet (900m) or so and skiing back down, perhaps I felt it,
but as I was not that confident a skier I had other things on my mind,
like avoiding the row of trees up ahead.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There are times, though, where changes in altitude can have a serious impact on you. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Specifically, the rate of change is a critical factor that can be life-and-death for you - and also for your projects.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.gazzasguides.com/podcast/34/TooHighTooFast.mp3">Listen to the podcast</a> or <a href="http://www.gazzascorner.com/2013/07/too-high-too-fast-project-asphyxiation.html">read the full article on Gazza's Corner Blog</a>. </span><br />
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Gary Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08730013754496401222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746165058347006030.post-18898817576317482492013-03-19T22:57:00.000+13:002013-04-19T15:41:34.656+12:00#033 - Do you have enough Rope? A Lesson in Being Prepared<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Have you ever saved a life?</span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In an emergency,
can you do what it takes to help someone? Could you rescue them from a
life-or-death situation? Perhaps you might think I am being a bit
dramatic, but it's a serious question. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Are you <b>prepared</b>? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In July 1983, the 15th World Scouting Jamboree was held at Kananaskis, Alberta, in the shadow of the Canadian Rockies. </span> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In December 1981,
several members of our Venturer company were selected to attend the
HikeMaster training camp in July 1982. If we passed the tests - physical
and written, we would be part of a dedicated group that would be
leading scouts from around the world on hikes and camps in the Rockies
at the World Jamboree the next year. We were given plenty of warning so
that we had time to prepare - and prepare we did.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">At 15 and 16, we
were becoming reasonably experienced campers, and we all attended a St
John's first aid course. We also had to do a weekend "solo" hiking
pre-camp (no adult leaders), to help prepare us for being self-reliant
and leading groups of scouts - including their adult leaders.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Little did we
know we would be testing our skills, teamwork and those First-Aid
lessons in earnest in only a few short months - in a real life-or-death
situation.</span><br />
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.gazzasguides.com/podcast/33/RISK-Do_you_have_enough_rope.mp3"> Listen to the podcast</a> or <a href="http://www.gazzascorner.com/2013/02/do-you-have-enough-rope-lesson-in-being.html">read the full article on Gazza's Corner Blog</a>. </span>Gary Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08730013754496401222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746165058347006030.post-57761110317294140322013-02-04T22:43:00.003+13:002013-04-19T15:41:12.735+12:00#032 - Sense, Sensibility and Perception: There's no accounting for Taste<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>A colleague of mine has no taste.</b>
None at all - either he lost it in early childhood or he never had it, he can't
exactly remember. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
I am not being mean about his clothing or sense of style - I am being quite
literal. His taste buds do not work at all. When he eats, there is only texture,
no flavor. "Food is simply fuel" as he says it - there is no particular
enjoyment to any particular food, just the satisfaction of no longer being
hungry.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
"How horrible," I thought, "to never be able to taste chocolate, fruit or delicious, exotic foods". </span><br />
<br />
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<img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhixH659e08TU8QwzgddTpmQo8AlgkeqiJHtyDOfXBEeXzNgX90CfyM7KqSot7EYocyMCN02094no2c-u4Uljjj-4Rt0uXEarml4kGicDkzxFuzJH3474-Vc0ixzQHcB-KiHGbZw3eXeU0/s320/Fotolia_48024848_S.jpg" width="273" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And then a few years
ago, as a side effect of some bug going around, I completely
lost my sense of taste as well. Usually your sense of taste is
diminished when you have a cold, as smell is a big part of the
sensation. But it wasn't that - my taste buds actually stopped working completely -
and the smell part of it went too. Nothing but texture was left
- not even spicy food registered, other than some watering eyes.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
Fortunately it only lasted around 4 weeks, but I can tell you I was worried it
might not come back. Life without the taste of good food...and chocolate! Of course, I
could imagine it very well as I was experiencing it first-hand, but I did
not like the prospect of life without tasting. While I suffered the effects,
food was definitely just fuel. No enjoyment at all.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I was thinking a lot about my
colleague during that time - wondering if he missed it, or simply did not know
what he was missing. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Other friends or colleagues are
color-blind, some red/green, some other mixes, and a rare few have strictly
black and white vision. A few others are partially or entirely blind, either
through accidents, disease or blind since birth. Countless others wear glasses, as I
did until laser surgery - when I had reached the point where things were still a
bit blurry at the "best" setting on the optician's fancy machine.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Some other friends and family are
deaf, either mostly or partly - and my kids certainly have selective hearing
when there are jobs to do around the house!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
I have not come across anyone personally who has a diminished sense of touch,
but I understand that there are many people with this condition as well.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
When we are dealing with people, we never know exactly how they each experience
the world - what their perspectives are - and not just with the physical
senses. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">One thing that is
undeniable, though,
is that your perception of the world around you affects how you respond
in any given situation - and it also affects your approach to projects
and challenges.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.gazzasguides.com/podcast/32/Sense_Sensibility_and_Perception.mp3">Listen to the podcast</a>, or read the <a href="http://www.gazzascorner.com/2013/01/sense-sensibility-and-perception-there.html">full article on Gazza's Corner blog</a>. </span></span></span>Gary Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08730013754496401222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746165058347006030.post-18661949905335775532013-02-03T22:21:00.000+13:002013-04-19T15:40:37.043+12:00#031 - New Year, New Project - Don't forget the PARTY!<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Happy New Year </b>- and welcome to your new project! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The start of the
calendar year often marks the start of new projects; the old year is
done, the new year is fresh and full of potential. Everyone is rested
from the break and raring to go...ok, perhaps recovering is the right
word. However, it is still a great time of year to kick off new
projects, with most people full of energy and optimism. Who knows - your
New Year Resolution might even have been about your project. (Ya,
right!)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Many people
finished up the calendar year with a lot of social activities and
parties; the closer you got to the end of the year it seems the less
work was done, or at least it was harder to get work done. I know
exactly how tough it was - I was in the first month of ramping up on a
new project, looking for information, while everyone else was winding
down from the year and starting to disappear on holiday. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Now it is a new
year, people are returning from holiday, refreshed or recovering, in any
case coming back to work to hit the ground running (or at least at a
moderate walking pace).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So what do we need to do to get our new projects off on the right foot, to help make sure they are successful?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Quite simple, really. What we need is...a Project PARTY.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.gazzasguides.com/podcast/31/New_Year_New_Project.mp3">Listen to the podcast</a>, or read the <a href="http://www.gazzascorner.com/2013/01/new-year-new-project-dont-forget-party.html">full article on Gazza's Corner blog</a>. </span></span></span>Gary Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08730013754496401222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746165058347006030.post-73101192990328383932013-01-07T21:35:00.000+13:002013-04-19T15:40:18.828+12:00#030 - Working with Teams: Interview with Chris Cattaway<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Today's interview is with with <a href="http://www.galdac.com/Pages/ChrisCattaway.aspx">Chris Cattaway</a>, an expert in building successful teams.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhasr67-MXyh8deoYbflxvW-WrWEXpDpMy8L21J-6FjrKFsU2Tj1UcAFY-2IGNqr0iL70RF5zBbtgmloVlv-_3t4wKmF3kOq-toLDRsUeLI_ws6QhxmspTO6joSgPxOckA5ElIUT34lWPM/s1600/ChrisC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhasr67-MXyh8deoYbflxvW-WrWEXpDpMy8L21J-6FjrKFsU2Tj1UcAFY-2IGNqr0iL70RF5zBbtgmloVlv-_3t4wKmF3kOq-toLDRsUeLI_ws6QhxmspTO6joSgPxOckA5ElIUT34lWPM/s1600/ChrisC.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Chris's experience ranges from designing and project managing multi-million dollar telecommunications systems to leading disaster response teams in Africa and Asia. He is a PMP®, a Registered Prince 2 Practitioner, and graduated as an Otago (NZ) MBA in 2003. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Recognizing that both hard and soft competencies are necessary for sustainable performance improvement he is also licensed and accredited to facilitate workshops using world-class psychometric typing systems. </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Using the
Clarity4D model, Chris uses four "colour energies" - Red, Green,
Blue and Red as a model for analyzing behavioral preferences and helping teams work
together more effectively.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />Through his business, <a href="http://www.galdac.com/Pages/default.aspx">Global Achievements</a>, Chris works throughout the Asia-Pacific region and internationally, "envisioning and catalysing transformational change" through capacity building for individuals, teams and organisations, and programme management. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />Chris presented at the PMI New Zealand Annual Conference in Wellington in September 2012.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.gazzasguides.com/podcast/30/Interview_Chris_Cattaway.mp3">Join us and listen to Chris Cattaway</a> as he discusses the four behavioural "Colour Energies" and learn why it is important to have a good colour mix on your project teams.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Chris Cattaway</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">http://www.galdac.com/Pages/ChrisCattaway.aspx </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Twitter: @GALDAC</span>Gary Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08730013754496401222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746165058347006030.post-22273502426309261232012-11-15T17:42:00.000+13:002013-04-19T15:39:57.284+12:00#029 - Pick Me! Pick Me! ...What is YOUR Essential Value Proposition?<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">When my father
graduated from university and got his first job as an Electrical
Engineer, his manager told him the following on his first day:<br /><br /><b>"Congratulations on earning your degree. But I want you to know the only thing it shows me is that you know how to learn."</b><br /><br />My
father was stunned. He had worked hard to get his degree over several
long years; surely all of what he had learned counted for something!
Engineering was a hard degree to get and covered a lot of knowledge
areas in depth...what was his manager talking about?<br /><br />For the manager, my father's <b>value proposition</b>
was the potential for a future of great contributions to the company,
based on his educational focus and demonstrated ability to learn complex
things (provided he continued to apply himself and work hard, of
course). To be sure, the company must have seen value or they would not
have hired my father in the first place - but it was still a shock for
him to hear that message on his first day.<br /><br />My father didn't tell
me what he was thinking before he entered the office, but that first
meeting with his manager had a profound effect on him. I even believe it
was a defining moment for him. It forced him to look forward - to what
he could do with and for the company, rather than dwell on his prior
accomplishments.<br /><br /><i>What you have done is not as important as
what you will do next. The past only shows what you were capable of
then; it merely lays the groundwork for what you might become on your
journey.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For many of us,
our value proposition is often quite different than what we think it is.
In fact, our value is always defined more by the other person (the
receiver of your services) than by you (the giver of the service).<br /><br /><i><b>They
want to know what YOU can do for them, and how you can help them solve
their needs and problems. This is your Value to them.</b></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><b> </b></i><br />But there is much, much more to it than that... </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.gazzasguides.com/podcast/29/PickMePickMe.mp3">Listen to the podcast</a>, or read the <a href="http://www.gazzascorner.com/2012/11/pick-me-pick-me-what-is-your-essential.html">full article on Gazza's Corner blog</a>. </span></span></span>Gary Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08730013754496401222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746165058347006030.post-78715195630319426012012-11-03T09:16:00.000+13:002013-04-19T15:39:41.213+12:00#028 - From the Playground to the Olympics: What NOT to do in Team Development<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"I got here first!"</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"No, I did!"</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Me!"</span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"No, me!" </span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I just got back
from a three day school camp with my youngest son. We went to new and
interesting places each day, and everywhere we went, walking or driving,
the adults were constantly serenaded by the same chorus when we arrived
at each destination.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"I got here first!"</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Somehow, it
seemed vitally important to be the first one to arrive wherever we went,
or at least it was if you were under 10 years old.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The playground is
a useful place to hone skills and promote competition, but it is
equally important to learn to work and compete together as a team. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Often, when
children compete in teams, you will have individuals claiming they were
the fastest in the team, and therefore they are the reason the team won -
so really "they" won and the rest of the team's efforts did not
matter. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Unfortunately,
some people never outgrow this. They are in constant competition
with everyone else, even though the others may not even know there is a
race going on. They may not say it out loud, but they likely feel a
small satisfaction in reaching the traffic light first, so they can be
ready to launch off again - first - as soon as it turns green.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Even as adults,
some people within teams will promote their personal contributions to
the detriment of the team - just like back on the playground, they
believe that they (and themselves alone) are the real reason the team
succeeded.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It is true that one person can make a difference.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It is also true that one person can help to bring a team together - or destroy it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Fortunately, most people do outgrow these playground behaviors, and become great team players. There is hope!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR4UmvYAE8qoPQYI5-0FJ_mDHRvpIVvPuKiTZfmBeEMDw8o5VXIcgZkKbIbyJEE10TJKijWEvzvEzqwJXL6JICVpGrDzFuEvzezsYvNuqB6pXDgn9iucaV8AcEA8ThOYpaBD8q1Mh7TEU/s1600/Fotolia_1228781_S.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR4UmvYAE8qoPQYI5-0FJ_mDHRvpIVvPuKiTZfmBeEMDw8o5VXIcgZkKbIbyJEE10TJKijWEvzvEzqwJXL6JICVpGrDzFuEvzezsYvNuqB6pXDgn9iucaV8AcEA8ThOYpaBD8q1Mh7TEU/s400/Fotolia_1228781_S.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <a href="http://www.gazzasguides.com/podcast/28/From%20the%20Playground%20to%20the%20Olympics.mp3">Listen to the podcast</a>, or read the <a href="http://www.gazzascorner.com/2012/10/from-playground-to-olympics-what-not-to.html">full article on Gazza's Corner blog</a>. </span></span></span>Gary Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08730013754496401222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746165058347006030.post-65143272213246252112012-10-12T22:19:00.000+13:002013-04-19T15:39:24.025+12:00#027 - Whole Brain Team Development: An Interview with Lynne Schinella<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Today's interview is with <a href="http://www.lynneschinella.com.au/about-lynne/">Lynne Schinella</a>, an expert on building “whole brain” organizations and teams.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.lynneschinella.com.au/about-lynne/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha-Se-FS3pgSrqIB7wmJ0-wz3DICXBsc5XjeIcnJzMO2qcWYIALpDCotuX39tUtBDmea0r_1RcfR1dGchRKhgPixGwsx0EmsI_PrkyU1ym-Koob96s9Bhn5-JQaT0O3SOmehy7GNv-65A/s1600/Lynne+Schinella.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Lynne Schinella is an authority on masterful communication in the 21st century. She believes that at the heart of all great communication are 3 elements: <b>empathy</b>, <b>understanding </b>and <b>respect for diversity</b>. No stranger to these qualities, she discovered their great power early on in life. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />Before starting Schinella Incentives in 1991 and then <a href="http://www.ripestuff.com/">Ripe Learning</a> in 2001, Lynne worked at Qantas, Continental Airlines, UTA French Airlines, Hyatt and Radisson Hotels and experienced a wide range of cultures and religions rich in eclectic experience. She studied how the Tahitians, French and Chinese carved out an existence through respecting their differences when she lived in Tahiti for 3 years. Over the years, she has learned that the most successful teams are the most diverse, and able to acknowledge their differences and build on trust through their strengths.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />Lynne’s workshops and keynotes have a strong message of understanding and celebrating our differences, whether personality, gender, culture, generation or anything else.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />She is the author of <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bite-Me-ebook/dp/B008EN4V28">Bite Me</a> <i>and other do's and dont's of dealing with our differences</i></b>, but in front of an audience her real gift is in her practical down to earth approach, her willingness to be transparent and a talent for making the complex simple and relevant.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.gazzasguides.com/podcast/27/Interview-Lynne_Schinella.mp3">Join us and listen to Lynne Schinella</a> as she discusses the four behavioural "fruit types" - <i><b>Apple</b></i>, <i><b>Mango</b></i>, <i><b>Lime </b></i>and <i><b>Banana </b></i>- and learn why it is so important that your teams are a "fruit salad".</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Lynne Schinella</b> </span><br />
<a href="http://www.lynneschinella.com.au/about-lynne/"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">http://www.lynneschinella.com.au/about-lynne/</span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Twitter: @lynneschinella</span>Gary Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08730013754496401222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746165058347006030.post-34007774307011551172012-10-03T22:24:00.001+13:002013-04-19T15:39:04.483+12:00#026 - Project Pain Management: The Good, The Bad and the Useful<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Definition of PAIN</b></span><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>a</b>
: a state of physical, emotional, or mental lack of well-being or
physical, emotional, or mental uneasiness that ranges from mild
discomfort or dull distress to acute often unbearable agony, may be
generalized or localized, and is the consequence of being injured or
hurt physically or mentally or of some derangement of or lack of
equilibrium in the physical or mental functions (as through disease),
and that usually produces a reaction of wanting to avoid, escape, or
destroy the causative factor and its effects <was in constant
pain> </span></span></i><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><b>b</b>
: a basic bodily sensation that is induced by a noxious stimulus, is
received by naked nerve endings, is characterized by physical discomfort
(as pricking, throbbing, or aching), and typically leads to evasive
action </i></span><b><br /> </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Source: Miriam-Webster (http://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/pain)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZDE4Xt_S6fFDsiQFPw0pjhYlTtZlp2UQ0b4m5dg1YgtILjaC3wLUzN8MPNrkCl-4h47paxK1aDzsF3jZaWsbhEeTBjknFyT15QQ-uMyYRw-Ywo885OpOoAB4vxex-Y6sMNcluIeZ9HKI/s1600/PainMeds-crop_scale.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZDE4Xt_S6fFDsiQFPw0pjhYlTtZlp2UQ0b4m5dg1YgtILjaC3wLUzN8MPNrkCl-4h47paxK1aDzsF3jZaWsbhEeTBjknFyT15QQ-uMyYRw-Ywo885OpOoAB4vxex-Y6sMNcluIeZ9HKI/s320/PainMeds-crop_scale.jpg" width="236" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b> </b></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Everyone has experienced pain of some kind</b>.
Most project managers have experienced pain on projects as well - and
if you haven't yet, you must be just getting started in your career.
Pain can come in many forms - physical pain, mental distress, concern
and worry over things that you may (or may not) have any control over.
In fact, pain can be good for you, as it is principally designed as a
protection mechanism. Brush your hand against a hot frying pan? Your
body quickly tells you to get yourself away by triggering pain sensors.
Step on a nail or cut yourself? Pain tells you to stop doing what you
are doing and take care of your injury.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But not all pain is the same. Some pain says "<b>Stop that!</b>" and yet some pain you need to ignore, like runners pushing through to get their second wind.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In early 2005, I
damaged my right knee - I tore my meniscus. The pain while walking right
after the injury was quite bad - but of course, I still had to walk.
Before I could start Physio, I had to take a flight back to the head
office. Walking from the farthest gate to the main terminal was a very,
very long and painful process. From there I caught one of those courtesy
trams that go from gate to gate. The entire trip was measured in short
walking distances and rest spots, and Naproxen was on the daily menu for
a while.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I returned from
the trip to my project in the US and started Physio, which helped a lot,
but I still had regular pain through the next year, if I overdid it or
stood too long in one position. Once the inflammation settled down,
walking was Ok - but standing was not, as it put pressure in mainly one
spot. But I managed, and started to get better and much more mobile -
once again measuring walks in miles/km instead of dozens of feet or
minutes standing up. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In 2006 I twisted
my left knee when I fell into a hole, damaging it as well. You think I
would have been smarter and re-injured the bad knee, but no. The pain
from this injury was quite different - and worse. Walking or standing
was painful for any duration or distance. But I got along, by not
walking too much and avoiding standing still for very long. I went to
the doctor - and was put on a waiting list for an MRI in Vancouver. I
waited for 14 months, and finally had the scan. Then I had to wait a few
more months to see the specialist who went over the results. The whole
time my knees (both of them acting up in sympathy for each other)
limited my freedom of movement as a result of the annoying pain.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">At one point I actually bought a folding cane to carry in my bag, and had to use it a few times.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">When I finally
met the specialist, he went over the results with me, discussed "pain
management" as the only near-term option and then sent me to physio. He
also gave a picture of the long-term prospects which I was not terribly
happy about. I left the office feeling quite discouraged.
Osteochondrital impaction? Big words for "can't fix it".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So I started
physio. It made things hurt more, frankly - for a while. Then it hurt a
bit less. But at the same time we were preparing to sell our house prior
to moving - so I found myself up on the stepladder and tall ladder
(generally, just plain upright for long periods), standing and moving as
I repainted the entire inside of the house, including ceilings.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />During the
several weeks of prep and painting in the evenings and weekends my knees
were on fire, but the job had to be done. However, after the third week
I began to notice something interesting.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1) There were actually two types of pain, not just one.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">2) I was hurting a bit less and less every day as I forced myself onto the ladders to paint. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">By the time I
went in for my followup visit with the specialist who had had little
hope for me other than pain management, I was walking nearly pain-free,
and not only that - I was able to stand in place for long periods as
well.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Over two years of suffering, and nobody told me I just had to <u><b>get off my butt and </b><b>move</b></u>! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sometimes, pain is a sign to stop doing what you are doing or you will further damage things (pain #1), such as actual <u>joint pain</u>. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Other times, it
is simply a message that you need to persist, and things will get better
if you push through and keep going (pain #2). This tricky type of pain
was merely <u>muscle fatigue</u> - a sign that my knees were growing a little bit stronger again, and the next day would be a little bit better than today.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In the case of my
knees, the odd bit I learned about joint mechanics is that when you
exercise your muscles and tone them up, they actually <u>pull your joints apart</u>
- reducing wear and pressure on the cartilage between the bones. If you
let things go and rest because it hurts, you lose muscle tone and your
joints experience more direct pressure from the weight of your body.
Weird, but true.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">On your projects, you will also experience two types of pain - <u>good pain</u> and <u>bad pain</u>. The key is learning to identify each type of pain and then respond to them appropriately.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <a href="http://www.gazzasguides.com/podcast/26/Project%20Pain%20Management.mp3">Listen to the podcast</a>, or <a href="http://www.gazzascorner.com/2012/09/project-pain-management-good-bad-and.html">read the full article on Gazza's Corner blog</a>. </span></span>Gary Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08730013754496401222noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1746165058347006030.post-22681352730525716212012-09-14T21:12:00.000+12:002013-04-19T15:38:47.764+12:00#025 - Would you know an Unacceptable Risk if it jumped up and bit you?<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">When I was younger, I was
quite risk-averse. I said "no" to a lot of things that some might
consider a "safe-ish" activity - like Bungee Jumping or riding a
motorcycle. (Dirt bikes were OK though, because I never got going that
fast).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So why did I find myself backing
away from a snake charmer who was walking towards me with a fully
loaded Cobra held out in front of him?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">More to the point, why did I let him put it around my neck in the first place?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Most would say that this definitely falls under the category of <b>unacceptable risk</b>. Some might say it was the adventures of youth. I would simply call it stupid.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_E3B3P0p1sQvm9ZXMtWw6566MiAnDkMYDzfL_JrjIGP8qmvsMcwYBEq_BR785JaN3mHC9CrBFAG6rftD5kc_i8PmSAn1DF3eDgCLDVo_WYpDH5u2_r2CN4D36_eISdbpeqGe8wpitBJs/s1600/Snake1-web300.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_E3B3P0p1sQvm9ZXMtWw6566MiAnDkMYDzfL_JrjIGP8qmvsMcwYBEq_BR785JaN3mHC9CrBFAG6rftD5kc_i8PmSAn1DF3eDgCLDVo_WYpDH5u2_r2CN4D36_eISdbpeqGe8wpitBJs/s400/Snake1-web300.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>February 1993</b> - my first
day in New Delhi, India for a 2-week trade show. On the ride in from the
airport in the middle of the night, I had passed a man riding an
elephant down the street. An amazing country. I was solo for the first
two days before the rest of the team showed up, and I was looking for
something to do after I had checked out the booth at the fairgrounds. We
had organized for cars with drivers, because it takes a whole different
set of skills to drive there.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My
driver had pulled over to the side of the road so that I could
experience some of the local culture and tourist attractions, which
apparently involved getting your photo taken with a poisonous snake
draped over your shoulders. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It must have been the smog affecting my brain, because I agreed to do it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As you might expect, I was a bit
nervous so I asked the charmer if it was safe - if the snake had been
de-venomed. He nodded. So we proceeded, and the driver snapped a couple
pictures of me with the charmer holding the snake across my shoulders.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It was only after he had removed
the snake and I paid him that I realized my mistake. The charmer
decided he wanted more money as I was walking back towards the car. So
he started to follow me. I turned to see the charmer pointing the
"apparently de-venomed" Cobra directly at me like a weapon. Oops.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The
driver stood between me and the charmer and signalled me to hand him
some money. I did, and he passed it to the charmer, who seemed
satisfied, un-cocked his Cobra and walked back to the basket.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I afterward learned that nodding meant "No" and wobbling your head side to side meant "Yes".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I guess I should have read up on the cultural signals before I left on the trip.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Do
you know an unacceptable risk when you see it? Or does it literally
have to (almost) bite you before you know it is "unacceptable"?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <a href="http://www.gazzasguides.com/podcast/25/Would%20you%20know%20an%20Unacceptable%20Risk.mp3">Listen to the podcast</a>, or <a href="http://www.gazzascorner.com/2012/08/would-you-know-unacceptable-risk-if-it.html">read the full article on Gazza's Corner blog</a>. </span></span><br />
<br />Gary Nelsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08730013754496401222noreply@blogger.com0