Advice for hard times: Take sips from a full cup
A few thousand years ago, the Bible story goes, Pharaoh woke up from a dream he couldn’t understand: He was standing by a river and saw seven robust cows emerge, followed by seven emaciated cows. "I have not seen such ugly ones throughout the entire land of Egypt," he would later say to Joseph, who he was hoping would interpret the dream for him.
Advice For The Job Search: Spend Less Time Looking (Amy Eddings Interview on WNYC, NPR)
by Peter on July 2, 2010
in Interview, National Public Radio (NPR), Radio, WNYC
Why I Returned My iPad
by Peter on June 16, 2010
in Harvard Business
A little more than a week after buying the iPad, I returned it to Apple. The problem wasn't the iPad exactly, though it has some flaws. The problem was me.
Read more..A Ritual to Help You Keep Your Focus and Your Temper
by Peter on June 2, 2010
in Harvard Business
John McCaffrey* is a great guy. The CEO of a professional services firm, he's been successful by any measure. He's financially secure. He's happily married with several children. He's active in his religious community. He's smart, well read, reasonable, and likable. He's the kind of guy you'd enjoy talking with at a dinner party.
Read more..How (and Why) to Stop Multitasking
by Peter on May 20, 2010
in Harvard Business
During a conference call with the executive committee of a nonprofit board on which I sit, I decided to send an email to a client.
Read more..The Worth-Your-Time Test
by Peter on April 1, 2010
in Harvard Business
Nate Eisman* recently started working for a large consulting firm after many years as an independent consultant. He called me a few days ago for some advice.
Read more..Optimize Transition Time (And Stop Being Late)
by Peter on January 26, 2010
in Harvard Business
At 6 pm, my wife Eleanor was looking tense. "We are so late!" she said.
After a great day of skiing in the Catskills, we were driving back to New York City, for a dinner party that was called for 7 pm.
Read more..To Get More Done, Slow Down
by Peter on August 18, 2009
in Business Week, Harvard Business
On a Friday afternoon almost twenty years ago, soon after I had started working at a New York consulting firm, I was working on an important presentation with Andy Geller, who ran the office. We'd promised to deliver it Monday morning, and we were running behind.
Read more..An 18-Minute Plan for Managing Your Day
by Peter on July 20, 2009
in Business Week, Harvard Business
Yesterday started with the best of intentions. I walked into my office in the morning with a vague sense of what I wanted to accomplish. Then I sat down, turned on my computer, and checked my email. Two hours later, after fighting several fires, solving other people's problems, and dealing with whatever happened to be thrown at me through my computer and phone, I could hardly remember what I had set out to accomplish when I first turned on my computer. I'd been ambushed. And I know better.
Read more..Two Lists You Should Look at Every Morning
by Peter on May 27, 2009
in Harvard Business
I was late for my meeting with the CEO of a technology company and I was emailing him from my iPhone as I walked onto the elevator in his company's office building. I stayed focused on the screen as I rode to the sixth floor. I was still typing with my thumbs when the elevator doors opened and I walked out without looking up. Then I heard a voice behind me, "Wrong floor." I looked back at the man who was holding the door open for me to get back in; it was the CEO, a big smile on his face. He had been in the elevator with me the whole time. "Busted," he said.
Read more..