Projects Pivot
With decades of experience managing all types of projects, we're ready to share our invaluable tips, tricks, and tidbits. Don't just tick boxes—master the art of managing people and projects. Sign up now!
Door Crashers
Hi Reader, I was riding the train this past weekend, happily watching the scenery roll by, when the next stop brought some excitement. A bunch of people in colourfully themed costumes suddenly swarmed the doors I was sitting next to, led by a frazzled organizer determined to pack the entire group into one car. Meanwhile, the conductor, clearly desperate to keep the train on schedule, urged the group to spread out across different cars. But the organizer refused, insisting everyone had to stay...
Solo Productivity
Hi Reader, How productive were you this past week? I was super productive. Want to know my secret? It wasn’t a new app, a fancy planning tool, or working longer hours. It was something much simpler: I spent time alone. Time for yourself I used to be a go-go-go kind of person, filling every waking moment with activities and always surrounded by people. Now, I give myself space between social commitments, and this time alone has become just as valuable as the gatherings themselves. It allows me...
Recharge Time
Hi Reader, "There are a thousand thousand thousand ways to learn how to meet this world." Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer, Poet It’s been a busy past year, and I’ve had my share of stressful situations to work through. I’m sure many of you can relate, especially with how quickly our world keeps changing. That’s why my annual trip to a beautiful campground felt like such a gift. Nestled in a quiet cove on Georgian Bay in Ontario, Canada, it always gives me exactly what I need to recharge. This year,...
The Bandwagon Effect
Hi Reader, Continuing from last week’s article about problem solving without pants, I’d like to briefly talk about another situation that popped up while on my latest volunteering adventure. Since my event was a weekend-long music festival, I needed a volunteer wristband. I showed up early to a big field, about ten minutes before the check-in tent was supposed to open, only to find a bit of chaos. The tent was being repaired at the last minute, so tables were scattered outside and all the...
Problem Solving Without Pants
Hi Reader, After having a great experience volunteering at a beer garden a month or so ago, I was recently invited to help out at a much larger event which was a music festival to sell drink tickets. The volunteer process was well organized and everything was ready when we arrived, and our main job was simply to check IDs and sell drink tokens. Our tables were right next to the stages, so we enjoyed live music and danced while we worked. It was easy work - once confirming someone is of legal...
Naps and Boredom as Distractions
Hi Reader, Are you ready to break free from distractions? What if the solution is as simple as taking a nap, or even letting yourself procrastinate for a little while? Last week, we explored how long it takes to regain focus after an interruption, and why, surprisingly, some distractions can even help us work more efficiently. With your own personal touch and a little experimentation, we can all find ways to minimize distractions and boost our productivity. This week, we’re diving into the...
Ditching Distractions
Hi Reader, Ready to finally put an end to distractions? I know I am. But in times like these, staying focused is harder than ever. Distractions seem to be everywhere. Even a quick glance at a news app can pull us away for hours. In a previous article, we talked about how something like a furry little squirrel can be the ultimate distraction, managing to disrupt our entire day as we prepared a sailboat for the season. For the next couple articles, I’d like to take a look at distractions from a...
The Four Hour Window
Hi Reader, We’ve all been there: waiting for a home service appointment with a vague promise that they’ll arrive “sometime between noon and 4 pm.” For me, they always arrive either far too early, or after I’ve given up on them coming and changed into my comfy clothes for the evening. Today, I’m taking a moment to vent about those mysterious “windows” and the chaos they create in our work lives, in particular with those that lead companies. In a past post, I wrote about leaders and planners...
Making Something Out Of Nothing
Hi Reader, How often does a senior leader hand you vague instructions? Typically, when this happens for me, it goes something like this: There has been an ongoing technical issue causing friction between the IT and Finance departments for the past eight months. We need you to develop and implement a new process that solves this problem. There will be a team of up to 15 stakeholders across both departments. The goal is to have the new process fully designed, approved, and ready to launch...
A Beer Garden Project
Hi Reader, Last weekend, I volunteered at a local neighbourhood festival. I'm no stranger to volunteering, however this time I did something I have never done before - I was in charge of setting up the festival’s beer garden!! 🍻 Of course, I had no idea what I was doing. Luckily I was given a team of trusty high school students to help me figure it out. How to set up a beer garden 101 We started by hauling ridiculously heavy fencing across the soccer field and then attempted to assemble it,...
With decades of experience managing all types of projects, we're ready to share our invaluable tips, tricks, and tidbits. Don't just tick boxes—master the art of managing people and projects. Sign up now!