Archive for the ‘Productivity’ Category

Big Projects and First Steps


August 27, 2013 by Jared Goralnick

Starting LineI’m unhappy when I’m not doing something challenging.  I get restless, and checking things off my task list just isn’t enough.

So I can’t help myself–I’ll take on something big, even if it’s “out of scope” from regular work.  But time and again, the value I get from that effort is so much greater than 100 little projects.

Continue reading…

Aim for progress, not perfection.


January 14, 2013 by Jared Goralnick

Progress, not perfection on the darboard by Wili_hybrid on FlickrIn the past week, two of the smartest people I know have taken issue with features or projects I’m working on.

They were engineers, and their arguments were logical and comprehensive, but fundamentally misguided.

Continue reading…

Best advice in 2012: “Let go of the results”


January 7, 2013 by Jared Goralnick

Dog stepping forward through the sand by sziliotti on FlickrThe most useful advice for me in 2012 came from Wayne Willis*: “Let go of the results.”  In other words, put your best foot forward, but accept that you can’t control the outcome.

In 2012, I did give my best.  What was challenging, even more than the fight forward, was staying sane enough to let go and to keep moving forward.

Continue reading…

How to Use BlackBerry’s Best Email Features on an iPhone or Android


July 6, 2012 by Jared Goralnick

BlackBery on an iPhone, a message to Tim CookRIM gets a bad rap.  It set out to create the best email experience for mobile, and it did that.  Unfortunately for them, smartphones now do a lot more than email.

Still, it’s worth pausing to look into what BlackBerry brought to mobile email, and to point out how iPhone and Android users can replicate some of RIM’s best features. Continue reading…

Timezones: the secret sauce to 8 productive weeks in Buenos Aires


December 14, 2011 by Jared Goralnick

freeing up the quarterback, football exampleScheduling conflicts and jetlag are what usually come to mind when people speak of timezones.  But they can play a crucial role in productivity, too.

Like an offensive line that makes room for the star player to act, the right timezone frees you to make the play.

Continue reading…

My Mixergy Interview: 11 Tips to “Get Out From Under The Minutia Of Business”


November 23, 2011 by Jared Goralnick

Andrew WarnerIt’s all about the preparation. Andrew Warner (pictured right) knows this—that’s why his entrepreneur interviews on Mixergy are so popular.

I was lucky enough to be interviewed last week by Andrew, where we dug into some practical lessons-learned and shared stories and tips.  The video is embedded below.  So grab some holiday tofurkey and get ready to be productive…

Continue reading…

Struggling with struggling: from homework to real work to impact


September 26, 2011 by Jared Goralnick

Harry Goralnick, someone who always is willing to learn and growIn 5 days I turn 30.  Cue the tiny violins.  The truth is, I’m not struggling.  But perhaps that’s the problem.

Remember when we had homework and tests?  It was tedious and difficult to get A’s.  But even without a report card, the best results require the same struggle.

Continue reading…

How to solve the two biggest problems with distributed teams.


September 15, 2011 by Jared Goralnick

Working in MadridI’ve spent nearly ten years working with distributed teams.  Working from San Francisco, DC, Buenos Aires, and Barcelona has offered me perspective, freedom, and a unique sort of productivity.

But there are two common problems that will sabotage any distributed team’s progress.  We fight them every day at AwayFind, and here’s what we’ve learned.

Continue reading…

Kicking ass, with no regrets.


September 12, 2011 by Jared Goralnick

Weighing the options (Chris Akelian photo)I kick ass…but not at most things.  I have no regrets…except for a few.

It’s no secret our greatest asset is time and our greatest predictor of success how we spend it, yet most of us have grown into our roles and task lists without giving it much thought.

Continue reading…

Be remarkable, not productive.


March 18, 2011 by Jared Goralnick

Hamster wheelDon’t confuse your task list with a way to get ahead.  Doing one thing that’s truly noteworthy will get you further than staying on the treadmill.

Go above and beyond and forget your to do’s.

Continue reading…