DISCLAIMER - Please check with your doctor before beginning any exercise program.
Quick Introduction
Our health is important, I think we can all agree on that. If we want to improve our health and fitness we really need a plan. Part of our plan needs to include exercise. The exercise that delivers the best fitness and weight loss results while using the least amount of your time is jogging/running. Many people begin a jogging/running routine, but quit due to fatigue, soreness, or injury. Why do they get injured or lose interest? They do too much without getting their body in shape first. The plan I use starts with only walking at first. Also, in the plan I use no workout is longer than 30 minutes.
How I Got Started
Back in March I found a document online entitled "From Couch to 5-K in 9 weeks". Since I am 51 years old and wasn't in very good shape I modified the document for my needs and included a link to it here. I added a few weeks to help me get in shape (15 weeks instead of nine), and modified some of the distances and times (started slower). I'm currently using the plan and am in week 11. So far so good. I have lost weight and I feel good.
In closing, If I can follow this plan anybody can. Especially when doing jogging in the Florida heat! The trick is to go slow, listen to your body, and keep following the plan.
If you are interested in the plan I use you can get a copy of the document here
If you want a MS Word version of the document e-mail me at sfseay(at)yahoo.com
DISCLAIMER - Please check with your doctor before beginning any exercise program.
Monday, June 01, 2009
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Free Project Management Planning Tips
Most projects that fail, were failures before they started
Your project stakeholders are your best allies or your worst enemies – you decide
If your project plan hasn’t changed – be afraid
Ask for help, advice, assistance...from everyone! – early and often
Focus first on delivering the benefits then focus on costs
Don’t own the project, own the process
Document all valid assumptions
Don't allow jerks to work on your project....ever
Make friends not war
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Weekend Break - Kayaking on the Braden River
Some bird photos I took earlier today
Click photos to enlarge
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
E-mail Rules for Project Managers
High volumes of e-mail can be overwhelming. In the course of managing a long project a project manager can receive thousands of e-mails. To manage this level of e-mails we need some rules.
If you have time, there is a great video on this subject by Merlin Mann entitled "Inbox Zero". I have created a link to Merlin's video at the end of this posting.
___________________________________________
E-mail rules for Project Managers
1) Ensure your inbox messages are viewable in one screen. This means you should not have to scroll your Inbox window to see all your messages. To clean up your current inbox you may need a few hours (or a few days if you have thousands of e-mails in your inbox), but the effort is worth it in the long run.
2) Scrub your e-mail inbox using some of the same rules that exist for cleaning up the paper on your desk. These rules are simple: Act on It, File It, or Throw it Away.
a.) Act on it - Act on the individual e-mail now or if there is not time then schedule the time on your calendar to review it later. Also, you can create a “Pending” folder for e-mails you can’t act on because you are waiting on more information. Schedule time regularly to review your "Pending" e-mail folder. Lastly, delegate the message and ensure you set a date to follow-up
b.) File It - Decide if you need to keep it. If so, ensure you have setup a logical e-mail folder structure so you can find your e-mails quickly in the future
c.) Throw It Away – If the e-mail is not needed then hit “Delete”. The "delete" key can be very liberating
3.) Decide on a schedule to check your e-mail and stick to it (twice a day, every three hours, etc.). Be willing to adjust the schedule as you find what works for you. Don’t be one of those dorks that checks their e-mail device every time it vibrates. You probably aren't that important and neither is the e-mail you might be receiving
4.) For all important communications call the person(s), don’t send an e-mail.
5.) Don’t reply to the same e-mail more than twice. Pick up the phone or go talk to person face-to-face
6.) Setup time on your calendar each week to manage your e-mail
Finally, check out Merlin Mann's great video about managing your e-mail entitled "Inbox Zero" by clicking here
If you have time, there is a great video on this subject by Merlin Mann entitled "Inbox Zero". I have created a link to Merlin's video at the end of this posting.
___________________________________________
E-mail rules for Project Managers
1) Ensure your inbox messages are viewable in one screen. This means you should not have to scroll your Inbox window to see all your messages. To clean up your current inbox you may need a few hours (or a few days if you have thousands of e-mails in your inbox), but the effort is worth it in the long run.
2) Scrub your e-mail inbox using some of the same rules that exist for cleaning up the paper on your desk. These rules are simple: Act on It, File It, or Throw it Away.
a.) Act on it - Act on the individual e-mail now or if there is not time then schedule the time on your calendar to review it later. Also, you can create a “Pending” folder for e-mails you can’t act on because you are waiting on more information. Schedule time regularly to review your "Pending" e-mail folder. Lastly, delegate the message and ensure you set a date to follow-up
b.) File It - Decide if you need to keep it. If so, ensure you have setup a logical e-mail folder structure so you can find your e-mails quickly in the future
c.) Throw It Away – If the e-mail is not needed then hit “Delete”. The "delete" key can be very liberating
3.) Decide on a schedule to check your e-mail and stick to it (twice a day, every three hours, etc.). Be willing to adjust the schedule as you find what works for you. Don’t be one of those dorks that checks their e-mail device every time it vibrates. You probably aren't that important and neither is the e-mail you might be receiving
4.) For all important communications call the person(s), don’t send an e-mail.
5.) Don’t reply to the same e-mail more than twice. Pick up the phone or go talk to person face-to-face
6.) Setup time on your calendar each week to manage your e-mail
Finally, check out Merlin Mann's great video about managing your e-mail entitled "Inbox Zero" by clicking here
End of Project Survey Template - Repaired Link
Click here for a direct link to the document that was discussed in last week's post. Some people had problems viewing the document because of permissions.
Steve
Steve
Friday, May 15, 2009
End of Project Surveys are Important
Measuring customer satisfaction at the end of the project is critical. I recently started using a new Post Implementation Project Survey document. I send the document to all key stakeholders just after the project's completion.
Is the document useful to you? Is it too long? Is there questions you would ask that aren't listed?
Click here to review the document, and please take the time to leave me some feedback.
Is the document useful to you? Is it too long? Is there questions you would ask that aren't listed?
Click here to review the document, and please take the time to leave me some feedback.