May 24, 2013

How to recycle habits to get more done

When we first started recycling in our home, it took some time to get the hang of it. Something as simple as making sure the right things make it to recycle bin required discipline and a conscious decision. More ...

April 17, 2013

20-minute goals can save your life

Can 20-minute goals save your life? It did for Joe Simpson. Back in 1985, he and his climbing partner, Simon Yates, were the first to successfully ascend the west face of the Siula Grande peak in the Peruvian Andes. ...

April 1, 2013

Reduce distractibility with these three strategies

Ever walk into a room and wonder what you went there for? Most of us have had that experience, some of us more often than others. You may laugh it off as a senior moment, like when you blank ...

January 22, 2013

A simple way to strengthen willpower

“Sit up straight!” Remember that old advice from Mom? As it turns out, her edict may do more than facilitate good dining etiquette. It may help you achieve your goals. Psychologist and renown willpower research pioneer Roy Baumeister, in ...

October 10, 2012

How do you know if you’ve had a productive day?

I had lunch with a friend recently and he asked a really good question: “How do you know when you’ve had a productive day?” In the past I would have dismissed that question with the obvious answer: “When I’ve knocked ...

October 3, 2012

Reviving your overwhelmed spirit

Have you ever had an overwhelmed spirit? I’m not talking about the times when you feel the pressure of a deadline and you suddenly kick into high-gear. I’m talking about when you feel so daunted by what you need ...

August 6, 2012

Install firewalls to protect your goals

Do you have a firewall to protect your goals? I recently discovered my need for one. Being self-critical by nature, I find I have a persistent thought that whatever I’ve done, I could have done better. Nowhere does that ...

August 1, 2012

Thawing to-do list brain freeze

Do you suffer from to-do list brain freeze? When you’re so overwhelmed by what you have to do that you’re frozen by indecision? You may have no trouble getting in gear when you’re facing a critically important task on ...

July 26, 2012

Beating distraction and the Push Away Impulse

One of the most surprising things I discovered about myself since taking up journaling last year is how prone I am to distraction. I’m aware of my tendency to engage in a lot of simultaneous projects and the intellectual ...

July 20, 2012

Practicing the art of celebration

It’s well known that celebrating accomplishment is one of the keys to improving results. That’s true whether the goal is personal or shared among a team. If you’re like me, though, times of celebration may be rare. Rewarding myself ...

Leary Gates | Venture coach

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Category Archives: Productivity