Comments on: When Productivity Goes Wrong http://www.cogniview.com/convert-pdf-to-excel/post/when-productivity-goes-wrong/ Excel(lent) Stuff Thu, 09 Feb 2012 04:59:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Shane Watson http://www.cogniview.com/convert-pdf-to-excel/post/when-productivity-goes-wrong/comment-page-1/#comment-207968 Shane Watson Wed, 20 Jan 2010 16:24:31 +0000 http://www.cogniview.com/convert-pdf-to-excel/?p=350#comment-207968 @Charlie I completely agree. When results are placed before relationships, work becomes oppressive for everyone involved. I constatly have to remind myself to take a break from my work to spend time with my kids. It's not easy, but my kids need me more than my college or job does. @Chris I've dealt with the neverending first level support. The first level support of one company I dealt with refused to allow me to speak with a manager, even saying "no" in rude tones. It took a letter from a lawyer to get anything done in that situation. @Charlie I completely agree. When results are placed before relationships, work becomes oppressive for everyone involved. I constatly have to remind myself to take a break from my work to spend time with my kids. It’s not easy, but my kids need me more than my college or job does.

@Chris I’ve dealt with the neverending first level support. The first level support of one company I dealt with refused to allow me to speak with a manager, even saying “no” in rude tones. It took a letter from a lawyer to get anything done in that situation.

]]> By: Chris Garrett http://www.cogniview.com/convert-pdf-to-excel/post/when-productivity-goes-wrong/comment-page-1/#comment-198151 Chris Garrett Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:01:28 +0000 http://www.cogniview.com/convert-pdf-to-excel/?p=350#comment-198151 @Charlie - Excellent points, family time can be super productive but so many people think hanging out with family is wasted time. Productvity has to be looked at in a long term and quality of life context as well as short term task focus :) @Bruce - I would rather not name an individual as being "wrong" as it is the behaviour I wanted to highlight rather than the person. The guys I mention who are super productive I will give a full review of when I have had chance to go through their product to the end :) (I am such a tease, heh) @Charlie – Excellent points, family time can be super productive but so many people think hanging out with family is wasted time. Productvity has to be looked at in a long term and quality of life context as well as short term task focus :)

@Bruce – I would rather not name an individual as being “wrong” as it is the behaviour I wanted to highlight rather than the person. The guys I mention who are super productive I will give a full review of when I have had chance to go through their product to the end :) (I am such a tease, heh)

]]> By: Bruce Keener http://www.cogniview.com/convert-pdf-to-excel/post/when-productivity-goes-wrong/comment-page-1/#comment-196462 Bruce Keener Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:54:53 +0000 http://www.cogniview.com/convert-pdf-to-excel/?p=350#comment-196462 Who were the gurus you took the courses from? Any links or books of theirs you could reference? Really curious who the gent was who let you down. I can understand why you might not want to mention, but you know all of us are wondering who it is, and some are assuming they know who it is (possibly wrongly) ... not specifying who it is could hurt other reputable people who might be assumed to be "the guy who didn't deliver." Who were the gurus you took the courses from? Any links or books of theirs you could reference?

Really curious who the gent was who let you down. I can understand why you might not want to mention, but you know all of us are wondering who it is, and some are assuming they know who it is (possibly wrongly) … not specifying who it is could hurt other reputable people who might be assumed to be “the guy who didn’t deliver.”

]]> By: Charlie http://www.cogniview.com/convert-pdf-to-excel/post/when-productivity-goes-wrong/comment-page-1/#comment-196155 Charlie Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:07:52 +0000 http://www.cogniview.com/convert-pdf-to-excel/?p=350#comment-196155 I think what's largely at play is that people somehow have separated "productivity" and most things involving people. Some people complain that they have to choose between being productive and spending time with their family. But spending time with their family <em>is</em> being productive - it's a different type of activity, true, but that doesn't make it unproductive. Likewise, entrepreneurs sometimes feel that they could either be productive or connect and network with potential customers/clients or colleagues. But, again, those are productive tasks that need to be balanced with other activities. If a particular habit, hack, or tweak cuts you off from the people who are supporting you, it's not helping you be more productive - it's just eliminating one valuable activity so you can do another. I think what’s largely at play is that people somehow have separated “productivity” and most things involving people.

Some people complain that they have to choose between being productive and spending time with their family. But spending time with their family is being productive – it’s a different type of activity, true, but that doesn’t make it unproductive.

Likewise, entrepreneurs sometimes feel that they could either be productive or connect and network with potential customers/clients or colleagues. But, again, those are productive tasks that need to be balanced with other activities.

If a particular habit, hack, or tweak cuts you off from the people who are supporting you, it’s not helping you be more productive – it’s just eliminating one valuable activity so you can do another.

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