By George McKenzie
Imagine that you had lunch with an important client or It's now about 1:45 and you're due back at the office for an important 2:00 o'clock meeting. You can't afford to be late. If you hit the traffic lights just right, you'll walk into the conference room right on time.
But you don't hit the first couple of lights just right, and you're starting to sweat.
Then at 1:55, half a mile from the office, you see the Now you're really sweating about being late.
Ever had that feeling? Not fun, huh?
That's the feeling most people in the news business live with. Not just once in a while either.
Every day.
Unless you've been through it, you can't imagine the gut-wrenching and hand-wringing that goes on as a deadline approaches and you're battling to get your column written, your radio report ready, or your TV live shot on the air.
There are constant challenges --
Journalistic: Is my information accurate? Have I confirmed it? Is there anything important I'm leaving out? Will my competition have something I don't?
Human: there are other people screwing up their jobs all around you, but you still have to get yours done as if everything and everyone performed flawlessly.
Technical: Computers crash, cameras and tape recorders Throw all these challenges together, and simply doing your job everyday can get fairly uncomfortable.
For an interesting insight into what I mean here, go to
http://www.get-free-publicity.com/ford.html
It's the story of a near-disaster I experienced shortly I'm not asking for sympathy here. If you're in the I'm describing it to you, however, so you know the normal mental state, the mindset of the people you'll be dealing with when you're trying to get free publicity for yourself or your business.
And the mindset is 'get to the point, tell me what I need to know, and don't waste my time with anything unnecessary.'
When I was doing a weeknight sportscast at KMOL TV in San Antonio, I used to hang a sign on my office door every night at 'crunch time,' which was 60 minutes or so before I went on the air.
The sign read:
'If it's important, say it fast. As you send your press releases to people in the media, keep that in mind. Nothing will hurt your chances of getting publicity from them as much as wasting their time with non- essential stuff.
Help them 'beat the clock,' and they'll be more likely to help you 'beat the drum' by giving you thousands of dollars worth of coverage -- and free publicity.
During his 31 year broadcasting career, George's
prospect. You thought you had plenty of time, but the
client/prospect got chatty, the restaurant was jammed and service was slow.
blocking arms coming down just as you're pulling up to a the train crossing. A freight train lumbers into view.
don't work, tires go flat. Technological advances in
newsgathering have been breathtaking since I got into the business in. But one thing hasn't changed: Murphy's Law.
after I had done an interview with former President Gerald Ford.
business, you know that's how it is and you accept it. It's part of the job description. It 'comes with the territory.'
If it's not, say it later.'
TV Reports have appeared on ABC, NBC, CBS, ESPN
George offers a free 7-day mini course to
anyone who subscribes to his free weekly ezine,
Register at http://www.publicitygoldmine.com/ea
By Anonymous
May 28, 2004 -- Parallaxis releases Cuckoo Clock 4.7, virtual Cuckoo Clock for your computer.
New in version 4.7:
- Quick Setup Wizard is added for your convenience, allowing you to set up basic features of the program;
- new exciting themes created for the new version, now Cuckoo Clock includes 4 themes;
- new medium and lite editions were created for those who need simplified program version;
Changes in version 4.7:
- graphics performance is increased by about 100%, now it consumes minimum CPU resources;
- some annoying bugs which caused incorrect themes display were fixed;
Parallaxis Software has released Cuckoo Clock version 4.6, featuring all the benefits of a real Cuckoo Clock, on a computer desktop, without having to wind it up or set it. This program features all your timekeeping needs in one neat package: see the time right on your computer desktop; hear chimes on the hour, half-hour and quarter; set alarms for appointments and deadlines; have your system clock set automatically using free atomic clock. Customize alarm/clock sounds and messages. Download new free themes, skins and collections as they become available.
Perch this Cuckoo Clock on your desktop and you'll never look at time the same way again. How many times have you seen a beautiful - and expensive - Cuckoo Clock on a friend's wall collecting dust? Could it have been waking a family member at night? Not this bird...you can easily teach this Cuckoo when - and how late - to sleep... you won't hear another peep out of it. Friends will even ask where you have the Cuckoo hidden! The rich sound has fooled many a clock collector. Variety is the spice of life and as much as we wish it were so, not everyone wants to hear a bird squawk all the time, so breathtaking graphics - and sounds - including Classical Clock, Futuristic Clock, Office Clock and yes...even Big Ben are included.
And now the question you're dying to have answered: Yes, it does tick if you want it to. Fact is you can turn just about every aspect of Cuckoo Clock off or on...it's your Cuckoo - make it sing your way. The real test of value in a piece of software is how often it's used. This refreshing change to the normal mundane PC clock is a change you'll use for hours and hours every day. You're already staring at the most expensive part of Cuckoo Clock...your PC. Why not add a touch of elegance and utility to that screen now with Cuckoo Clock.
Cuckoo Clock 4.7 costs $29 (US) and can be purchased online at:
http://www.pxcopany.com/cuckoo.shtml.
Site licenses, quantity discounts are available.
For more information, contact:
Neil Younusov,
Email: neil@pxcompany.com
Internet: http://www.pxcompany.com
This article courtesy of http://bunk-bed-with-adesksofa.krapoo.info/.
You may freely reprint this article on your website or in
your newsletter provided this courtesy notice and the author
name and URL remain intact.
By Jeffrey Mayer
"Slaves to the clock" was the cover story in the March issue of CEO magazine.
"You can never out work a problem, you have to out think it." said A.G. Lafley, Proctor & Gamble's CEO."
Too much to do. Too little time. It's a universal problem. From the CEO to the newest hire.
We're bombarded with information. E-mail, faxes, voice mail, overnight deliveries and old-fashioned snail mail. Unexpected phone calls, impromptu meetings, and emergencies that force us to drop everything.
So many projects, tasks, problems, opportunities, and people are fighting for our time and attention that it's almost impossible to separate the important from the urgent from the unnecessary.
With so much clutter it's easy to lose track of long- and short-term goals. And... the proposal that's got to be finished by 3:00 p.m. this afternoon.
It's easy to spend eight, ten, or twelve hours each day doing things that don't have any real payoff.
And we wonder why we feel like we're stuck in quicksand. The more we struggle the deeper we sink.
"P&G's Lafley says, "I'm here by 7:00 a.m. so that gives me a stretch of uninterrupted thought before the workday officially swings into action and the phones start ringing." "
Time is the one thing that limits us. The common lamentation is 'If only I had more time.' That's the wrong premise.
The problem is we're using our valuable and precious time, in unproductive and non-rewarding ways.
Busy... yes. Productive... NO!!!
Think differently. Don't manage your time.
Do come in early so you can get some work done before everybody else arrives? Before the phone starts ringing? Before your meetings start?
Before the day - and your schedule - falls apart because of the many fires you must put out?
Fires! Fires! Fires!
Someone didn't do what they were supposed to do, when they were supposed to do it. Now it lands on your desk.
You're forced to drop everything and put out the fire. Your whole day goes up in smoke and you don't realize that somebody's guilty of arson.
To be successful in today's highly-competitive world you must be focused. You must have long and short-term goals.
When you know where you want to go, it's easy to determine whether or not the work, tasks, and projects you're working on will take you there.
Here are three strategies you can use to leverage your time:
1. Block out time for yourself. Close the door. Turn off the phone. And give yourself an hour of uninterrupted time each day.
2. Work on your most important work, tasks and projects. Only do the things that have value. Eliminate everything else.
3. Use your Prime Time. There's a time of day when you do your best work. When you've the most energy and enthusiasm. Tackle your most important work at the time of day you're at your best.
Set your goals. Leverage your time. And you'll become more successful than you ever dreamed.
(c) 2004, Jeffrey J. Mayer, SucceedingInBusiness.com
About the Author
Reprinted with permission from Jeffrey Mayer's SucceedingInBusiness.com Newsletter. Jeff helps individuals, business owners, corporate executives and sales professionals set their priorities, get focused, and achieve their goals; so they can grow their business, get ahead in life, and live their dreams. To subscribe to Jeff's free newsletter, visit http://www.SucceedingInBusiness.com
Jeff@SucceedingInBusiness.com