Meetings will make or break your project. Don’t hesitate to shake up or decommission teams that aren’t working out. Here are seven ideals to shoot for. 1. The only people in the room are stakeholders and gatekeepers. They care about the outcome. 2. Everyone knows why they’re in the room. They also know what’s being […]
Category Archives: Sevens
Seven keys to compelling presentations.
We all present, whether in meetings, explanations, or conversations. Each time we present, we’re wielding influence. Here are seven ways to strengthen your influence. 1. Know your stuff. The meaning, reasons, details, background, challenges, exceptions, and weaknesses. You don’t have to share it all, but you should know it. Uncertainty voids authority, and you can’t […]
Seven things I’ve learned about biking to work
When we moved to the city I tried commuting by car, bus, and train. They’re all OK. Driving is quick, you can read on the bus, and the train laughs at traffic. But the best option, if you’re not fussy about ironed shirts, is biking. After two years of it, here’s what I’ve learned. 1. Your ride […]
Seven Things I’ve Learned About Starting to Exercise
(1) It doesn’t fit my lifestyle. I like to eat and I’m too busy. (2) It’s worse than boring. It’s uncomfortable. There’s nothing to think about except how awful you feel. (3) It’s necessary. Eating cake and French fries makes you feel lousy. So does wearing tight pants. Plus, if climbing stairs is exhausting, there’s […]
Seven things I learned from The Giver, by Lois Lowry
1. Choice creates risk. With choice come wrong choices, and wrong choices bring harm. Given the harm, it’s tempting to eliminate choice. But choice brings joy and maturity. Better to equip the chooser to choose than to remove the choice. 2. Pain is something we avoid. Superficial avoidance is easy — simply find something to take your […]
