Author: Gerald J. Leonard

Innovation

PofE 041: 42 Apps for iPhone That Will Increase Your Productivity – Part 2 of 4

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“Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.” -Steve Jobs

Part 2 – My favorite apps, numbers 11 – 20:

11. Dictionary: Do you ever find yourself stuck, trying to figure out the right word or wondering if you’re spelling the word correctly? The Dictionary.com app allows you to carry an entire dictionary in your pocket. One of my favorite features is the word of the day. Dictionary.com includes new features like the hot word, suddenly popular, Translator and Thesaurus Rex. The app also has add-on that can be purchased such as Medical Dictionary and Science Dictionary. This is a must have app if you blog or write a lot.
 
Innovation

PofE 040: 42 Apps for iPhone That Will Increase Your Productivity – Part 1 of 4

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"Innovation is the creation of the new, or the rearranging of the old in a new way." -Mike Vance

Most of my career I've used Microsoft products (Project, Project Server, SQL and SharePoint). I love technology. I use the Apple iPhone for my smart phone device. What I love about the apps for the iPhone is the impact they can have on your effectiveness and efficiency. I’ve had a number of friends asked about the applications I use to increase my productivity. I then show them the app and how I use it to reduce errands and automate a personal task. After receiving a number of these requests I decided to create a series of posts that explains which apps are my favorite and have had the greatest impact on my throughput.

This week I'm starting a four part series that covers mobile apps that have increased my efficiency and reduce my time and cost. I hope that you will gain insight into how you can increase your productivity using one or more of these applications listed below.

  1. Amazon: I use the Amazon mobile app as I travel throughout my day going to meetings, client visits and running errands to help me capture books I discover that I’m interested in reading and add them to my wish list. I like to check out what others are reading and what books they have on their bookshelf. I'm able to type in the name of the book and add it to my wish list or order the book from Amazon right then and there. This app allows me to capture a number of books and enter them once without having to log in from my laptop. 
Books

PSGS 010: Book Review: The Advanced Project Portfolio Management and the PMO – Gerald Kendall and Stephen Rollins

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Advanced PMO

Premise:

  • The premise of "Advanced Project Portfolio Management and the PMO" is that project management is required for executives to execute their organizational strategy successfully. Without the right methodology, project life cycle timing and strategic value projects are disconnected from the strategic direction of the senior executive team. In this book, Gerald Kendall and Stephen Rollins provide their guidance and insight to implement a PMO that will deliver strategic value to your organization.
Books

PofE 039: Book Review – The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership – John Maxwell

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The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership

Premise:

  • The premise of "The 21 Laws of Leadership" is that leadership can be learned and it's based on principles and laws of nature. Once you understand the 21 laws and practice them you will improve and increase your leadership capability. It's only when you enhance your leadership ability can you truly increase your personal and professional effectiveness.

What I learned:

  • Each of The 21 Laws of Leadership principles transcend time. Leadership is leadership no matter which period of history it is practiced.
Books

PSGS 009: Book Review: Project Portfolio Management – Enterprise Portfolio Management Council

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Premise:

  • "Project Portfolio Management," authored by the Enterprise Portfolio Management Council, focuses on the key thinking and portfolio management processes developed by a number of senior portfolio management practitioners and experts with the goal of creating a community of senior portfolio management leaders. The authors come from a wide spectrum of industries and organizations in order to support and build up the portfolio management body of knowledge.
Books

PofE 038: Book Review – Thinking for a Change – John Maxwell

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 Thinking for a Change

Premise:

  • The premise of “Thinking for a Change,” is that to make changes to your life begins with a change in the way you think. The idea is that every habit, every action and every emotion is triggered by a thought. Your thoughts determine everything about your life. The way you think determines who you are and who you are determines what you do. Your thoughts determine your habits and your habits determine your future. People who are in the top of their industry think differently than those who are not. What I like about this book is how it guides you to change the way you think and it provides a step by step process to do it.
Books

PofE 037: Book Review – First Things First – Stephen Covey

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First Things First

Premise:

• “First Things First” is a book written in 1994 by Stephen Covey and the Merrill brothers that changed my life and focused me on a daily habit of scheduling first things first. The premise of the book is to keep the main thing the main thing.

• Ken Blanchard in his endorsement of the book states, "Together with the Merrills, Stephen Covey has written a thought-provoking book that makes us look at ourselves in life more importantly, 'First Thing First' gently guides us to the basic principles."

• Steve Young, quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers, stated, "The greatest successes I've had in my life can be attribute to the life-changing principles Covey teaches in 'First Things First.'"

• Melanie Mackenzie, co-author of “Managing Your Goals,” stated, "Time management gives us the tools but 'First Things First' delivers us to a place where we can each make the right choices; fueled by powerful visions of a life lived as a legacy – a life of enduring meaning."

Books

PofE 036: Book Review – Understanding Michael Porter – Joan Magretta

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Understanding Michael Porter

Premise:

  • The premise of the book, "Understanding Michael Porter" is that clear strategic thinking is essential for managers at all levels of an organization. This essential guide provides the foundation for understanding the basic principles of competition and strategy and establishes a framework in which Michael Porter's writings are easier to digest than his original texts. A direct quote from the book states that, "Strategy is not fast food." The essence of strategy is not only choosing what to do, but also choosing what not to do.

What I learned:

  • The key to competitive strategy rests on an organization's ability to create unique value and to be uniquely focused on creating value that customers understand within the structure of their industry and your company’s relative position.
  • Good strategy helps explain how an organization in the face of competition will accomplish superior performance and greater profits.
Books

PofE 035: Book Review – Strategy for You – Rich Horwath

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Strategy for You

Premise:

  • The premise of “Strategy for You” is that strategy is a bridge for going from where you are today to where you want  to go tomorrow in your personal and professional life. Strategy is a bridge that spans over the challenges and obstacles you will face from going from
    point A to point B.

What I learned:

  • Strategy is a plan for using your personal resources, managing your time, identifying which talents you want to invest in and how you want to use your finances to accomplish your goals. This is the goal of developing a personal strategy.
Books

PofE 034: Book Review – Mind Mapping – Michael Gelb

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Mind Mapping

Premise:

Mind mapping is a brain storming technique based on word association with keywords such as family, democracy, revolution and others that trigger other words, thoughts and ideas. This is basically how the mind works as we think of ideas and brainstorm concepts. Mind mapping is a process for unlocking our individual genius and enhancing the way we naturally think.

 

What I learned:

  • You can think faster and more creatively using mind mapping. It allows you to capture ideas the way your mind naturally thinks.