Jason Womack

Any ideas for running productive meetings?

A friend and fellow blogger, Christopher Scott shares some ideas about running effective meetings. Reading through his post, I am convinced that most people could gain an extra 1-3 hours a week by implementing consistent strategies of "effective meeting management."

Out of curiosity, if you're reading this would you mind leaving your "one" great tip for running/attending meetings below in the comments area?

I'd love to get YOUR reaction to this...

Schedule time before the seminar for "after the seminar"

I suggest participants carve out time now on their calendars for implementation following any workshop or seminar. Do this by blocking 1-2 hours on your calendar within a day of attending a seminar. I like to suggest this to our clients, creating the time they need to get going. 

I just love "little Ojai!"

I live in Ojai, CA. Actually, we're almost locals having moved here just about 12 years ago. Today, outside the farmer's market, this is what we saw...

People making do with "what they have"

In a triathlon yesterday here in CA, I got to meet some of the guys from the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund.

They were there competing, alongside the rest of us. Here's a picture I took of one of the guys heading out after swimming and biking...

A story about meeting Bobby Sager in Boston

I enjoyed an amazing dinner last night with one of Boston's well-known, and well-loved, entrepreneurs: Bobby Sager. I wrote about it at the www.OjaiPost.com site...

What is he hoping for?

I guess I am too old...or too young...or too Californian...or too...

I am sitting in a park right now, listening to a pot-bellied, 40-something "camp counselor" leading a group of 6-7 year-olds through typical summer activities (duck, duck, goose and potato-sack relay races).

As I approached the bench where I would sit and enjoy the Boston, Mass. morning, I was amazed to see and hear the following:

[Scene: The counselor walks in front of the circle of children, tapping each one on their head.]

Leader: "B-R-A-T-T-Y... What's that spell?" Chorus of children: "Bratty!"

Of all the things youngsters could program in their minds (or, in this case an adult could program in a child's mind!) ... What are some other options?

For anyone reading this, and especially if you've ever spent time with children, what are some concepts you'd propose we share?

What will it look like when you are there?

This is a question a mentor of mine asked when I was talking about an event I was planning to attend later this year. (Just one month away, in fact.) As I was explaining the training, the practice schedule, and the gear I had pulled together in preparing for the Santa Barbara Long Course Triathlon, my coach asked me to describe it as if it was already finished.

The challenge is this:

I have finished this race 3 times. Each time (yes, even the first race) I did better than I thought I would! In fact, the third time I reviewed and updated my anticipated times over and over again, including during the week of the race!

Asking a quick favor, if you have a moment!

A friend of mine, Lisa Peake, sent me an e-mail today saying:

Wow, Jason! Do you realize your article is #2 on Google when I type "productivity coach"?!

If you have a moment, would you do a "Google search" with productivity coach as the search item

A latest article we wrote is there at the second link down (or, whichever one says "Productivity Coach's Corner"). Thanks a million!

MindManager (brainstorming capture/mind mapping tool)

I am a big fan and have used the "concept" of brainstorming and mind mapping since my early introduction to mind mapping some 20 years ago. About 6 years ago, I heard about MindJet. Partly because I was interested, and partly because their offices used to be about 8 miles from where I grew up, I starting using their software more, and more, and more.

Over the years I have used MindManager to create articles, prepare for meetings, even plan my triathlon racing seasons! If brainstorming is a powerful process, MindJet mixes in a piece of software that makes it doable, and almost fun!, to get things out of your head, for later - objective - review and processing.

On Tuesday, 24 July, I will be a guest on a special webinar sponsored by MindJet. Supposedly, they will post the show as an audio/video download from their site in the days after our "mini-class." My area of focus for just a few minutes will be:

How can people maximize this tool, save time, get more done, and expand their skill-set as a creative/developmental thinker?