Optimization

Submitted by wendii on Fri, 12/18/2009 - 11:49.
in

Optimization is the breaking down of a process to its component parts and making each part more efficient. For example, making your morning coffee. If you have the cups at one end of the kitchen, the coffee in the pantry, and the kettle at the other end of the kitchen, making coffee takes longer than it needs to. If instead, you can fill the kettle and set it to boil, and the coffee, cups and spoon are located around the kettle, making coffee in your sleep is easier.

Everything we do, all day, can be optimized. Whether it’s getting dressed, driving to work, reviewing sales numbers, writing a report, or practicing a presentation, there’s a better way to do it. Start with simple things: a sensible filing system that relies mostly on the search capabilities of your computer not 17 hierarchical levels of folders, templates, and booking time for the planning of activities.

Once the basics are there, read up on how to optimize the activities you find hardest. I watched this Tim Ferris video today: http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2009/12/13/how-to-create-a-global-p... , and whilst he doesn’t mention optimizing per se, his ‘don’t take advice at face value but try it and test it’ is an important message to being more efficient.

And, if you have found ways of optimizing your work and life, share with us in the comments. We all need some help.

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tlhausmann's picture
Submitted by tlhausmann on Mon, 12/21/2009 - 11:19.

Desk Organization

I have the contents of my office desk and my desk at home organized the same way.

It seems a small thing, it's just a desk. Yet when I am home I never have to guess where to reach for pens, files, stationary, blank paper for the printer. et cetera.

There is an exception: I have only one boxed set of Horstman's Laws...I keep those at home. :-)

 

wendii's picture
Submitted by wendii on Wed, 12/23/2009 - 11:51.

Thanks!

Tom, thank you for your contribution - and you are so right! I have my laptop and desktop configured the same way for the same reason - after a while you don't need to consciously think about where things are, your brain just knows. If it's in the same place on your desk or your desktop, you can use those 3 extra brain cells for something else.

Wendii

firefly27's picture
Submitted by firefly27 on Sun, 01/03/2010 - 20:04.

Optimizing

Wendii,

And I thought I was the only one who strives each morning to make my coffee more efficiently! Kind of scary!

Jeff

RS282013's picture
Submitted by RS282013 on Fri, 10/28/2011 - 02:19.

Sales & Systems Optimization

Hi Wendii,

I wonder if you or your staff could recommend any books to find additional tools on the subject of sales or systems optimization.  This is the field I've been recently plunged into.  As is often the case with new challenges, the waters are deep and my experience is not.  Any recommendations would be welcome.

I would also like to thank you and your staff, particularly Mark and Mike, it's funny that I've listened to so much of your cast's that I feel I know them.  I would like to direct special thanks to them both, for launching my career to what it is today.  Their insights across all areas have rewarded me greatly.

Ryan