Do you have a low tolerance for pain? That may sound like an odd question to ask with a beautiful hotel like the Shangri-La Makati in Manila in the background. But it’s actually a perfect setting for this topic!  The environment here is expertly crafted to create an absence of any pain. Which leads into my point … Continue reading "How to turn pain into productivity"

During my stay in Sydney, Australia, I was blown away by the hotel, Ovolo. This place created a jaw-dropping, fun experience tailored around customer service from the minute I walked through the doors. No, I am not turning into a travel agent, hang with me a minute. The Oovla is the perfect visual example of leadership, productivity and what … Continue reading "Why the secret to leadership is in the little things"

Do you know the difference between chaos and focus? The two seem very similar by definition, but it’s critical to understand what sets them apart. This is one of the topics I discussed here at the impressive Gold coast convention center in Gold Coast, Australia, and I’d like to share some of it with you.  Chaos is the haphazard allocation of resources … Continue reading "How to go from chaos to focus"

How many hours per week do you believe you must work to be successful? How would you define the word “successful?” Think about how it would feel to live the life you want to live NOW, not tomorrow, or when you retire. Is that life centered around working long hours, day after day? Then why … Continue reading "How many hours do you need to work to be successful?"

Pencil in that “no” now if you need that extra push! Saying no to requests that don’t contribute to your most valuable activities allows you to say YES to the ones that do contribute to your Most Valuable Activities (MVAs). No CAN mean “yes” in this case! My talented friend, Rod, has a great technique … Continue reading "Why saying no is so important"

How do you know if you’re a micromanager or a productive leader? The answer is as easy to find as a hot dog on a summer day.    Whether you’re in a management role or entry-level, you know that productive leaders are a unique bunch. They inspire their team to take action in their lives, whether they’re at … Continue reading "How micromanagement kills productive leadership"

How do you create a personal vision statement?   A vision statement isn’t just a thought or dream. A truly useful vision statement is about one page long, lays out the basic groundwork of what you want for yourself, and serves as your north star on a regular basis, helping guide your decision-making process. If you … Continue reading "How to Create a Vision Statement"

“I’ll just put my keys right here in this random place. It’s not what I usually do, but I’ll definitely remember where they are.” That right there is a snippet of an internal monologue of someone who’s about to misplace their keys for at least twenty minutes. We’ve all been there, right? In my Time … Continue reading "How a ‘Note to Self’ improves your performance"

What do you think has a higher likelihood of earning a promotion: taking a vacation or powering through work and forgoing vacation? As it turns out, devoting time to having fun is a critical component in your professional success. Employees who take vacations are more likely to receive a raise or get promoted. Actually using … Continue reading "Why Taking Vacation Makes You More Successful"

Does something as small as a 2% uptick in productivity yield any noticeable changes? The truth of time is that everyone is limited to the same twenty-four hours per day. Yet by making small tweaks to increase your productivity by just two percentage points, you can have the gift of extra time. How much? How … Continue reading "The 2% Difference That Creates Extra Time"