2010 June | Constructively Productive

Archive for June, 2010

Jun 30, 2010 by Kat Eden

It’s Time to Face the State of Your Finances

Do you make money? Maybe even a decent amount? I’ll bet you’re just brilliant at managing it, aren’t you? You put 20% away before you even access your pay-check, you pay cash only for all day-to-day purchases with credit just as a back-up, and you always have plenty to spare for spontaneous treats and occasional emergencies. Or – not. Here’s a quick...

Jun 28, 2010 by Ali Luke

Why It’s So Easy to Spend Too Much Online

Ever noticed how easy it is to spend money online? I know I stop and think if I’m buying something in a store – is this book really worth $20 to me? – but if I’m buying an ebook or shopping on Amazon, I’m much more likely to spend the money without a second thought. With so many outlet stores and auction sites online, and with services like PayPal and...

Jun 25, 2010 by Ali Luke

Money is Never Your Goal

If you’ve ever made New Year’s resolutions or set ambitious goals for yourself, there’s a good chance that money was involved. Maybe you want to reach a certain salary. Maybe you’re focusing on your net worth. Perhaps you’re trying to get out of debt, establish an emergency fund, or boost your savings. There’s no denying that money can be a powerful...

Jun 23, 2010 by Thursday Bram

We Can’t Talk About Productivity Without Talking About Personal Finance

The overlap between personal finance and productivity can be a little surprising, but it’s certainly there. Look at any productivity blog and you’ll see at least a few posts about how to save money. Look at any personal finance blog and you’ll see some posts on how to save time. It’s because, in the end, time and money are virtually the...

Jun 18, 2010 by Thursday Bram

The Year You Were Born May Make GTD Impossible

Generational differences can make a big difference in how we view productivity and how we can organize ourselves. The interview below with Jessie X — who just happens to have studied generational differences, as well as how different generations handle different types of technology — explores those generational differences. You can listen to the audio or...

Jun 16, 2010 by Ali Luke

Regain Your Balance – an Interview with Ali

We’ve got something a bit different for you today … an interview with Ali about her newly-launched ebook, Regain Your Balance. When we thought of great interviewers in the improving-your-life type niche, the first name which came to mind was Sid Savara, who writes awesome posts about personal development. He was kind enough to agree to lead the interview… Sid:...

Jun 14, 2010 by Ali Luke

When to Cut Your Losses: Sunk Costs and Productivity

Have you ever got half way through a book, known it wasn’t for you, but carried on anyway because you didn’t want to waste the time you’d already invested? Have you ever started a project which you saw through to the bitter end, because even though you knew it wasn’t working, you’d already poured hours into it? It’s very easy to end up wasting time...

Jun 11, 2010 by Thursday Bram

Your Sentence and What It Means for Your Productivity

There’s a quote that I’ve been thinking about recently. In 1962, Clare Boothe Luce was concerned that John F. Kennedy was trying to do too much: manage the Cuban Missile Crisis, start the Space Race, decide how to handle the conflict that became the Vietnam War… Luce told Kennedy, “A great man is one sentence.” Abraham Lincoln’s...

Jun 6, 2010 by Ali Luke

When the World is Against You … Give In

Life doesn’t always go smoothly. You might have tons of energy for tackling your work and having a great productive month, but the world has suddenly conspired against you. Perhaps: You get ill, or injury yourself. Your child or spouse or sibling is ill and needs you. You’re moving house. Travel plans are derailed by an ash cloud. Financial problems...

Jun 2, 2010 by Dan Goodwin

Procrastination, You’re The One, Will You Be My Wife?

I love procrastination, and I want her in my life for a very long time. So much so that I’ve asked her for her hand in marriage. So while I anxiously await her reply and think about honeymoon destinations (fingers crossed she likes Paris), let me explain why. As creative people, we’re at our most prolific and creative when we focus on just one thing....