articles and checklists
Today's most important professional competency is the ability to rapidly learn, adapt, and apply new ideas.
The following articles and checklists are the culmination of harvesting the wisdom of mentors, colleagues, and experience. I hope that you find the concepts and techniques transformational to your productivity and achievement.
Please acknowledge my conditions of use (my weasel stamp): I make no warrantee of these documents for fitness to purpose nor any other warranty expressed or implied. As a condition of use, users accept full responsibility for the use of these documents and any or all benefit or liability thereof.
Here's to
your success!
Business Management
Negotiations Planning Checklist Improve your negotiation strategies and tactics with this powerful preparation checklist.
Create a Lasting Competitive Advantage -- Adopting new technology, using the latest equipment and materials, and staying abreast of industry trends won't get you ahead of the curve--they only maintain the status quo. To create a lasting advantage, learn how to create a better strategy.
Project Management
Project Concept Screening Checklist For top management and others who are responsible for selecting and prioritizing projects. In an age of explosive growth and constant change, business leaders must accurately identify business imperatives and fully fund those projects and initiatives that will drive their success into the future. This checklist will help you separate the "nice-to-haves" from the "got-to-haves", and apply your precious resources for maximal strategic return.
Project Charter Get your project leadership off to a fast and effective start with this easy to use check sheet that will help you identify the project's goals and objectives, and communicate the project leadership's roles, responsibilities, and limits of authority.
Project Initiation Document A one-page screening, charter, and initiation document for smaller projects. Carry one in your portfolio for those surprise "opportunities to excel" that your boss or client throws your way.
Statement of Work Avoid frequently made mistakes, improve your understanding of the project, and set yourself up for effective project communications. This simple document is not all-inclusive, rather it serves as a starting point and helps you identify essential elements of your project that must be communicated to all, from your core team to the most remote, but none-the-less essential, stakeholder.
Information Technology Statement of Work Designed for the special needs of information technology projects, this short checklist will help you ask the right questions and keep your project team focused on success from the very beginning.
Preplanning Checklist The best way to finish fast is to start a little slower. Asking the right questions before you begin planning will help you choose the most appropriate strategy, identify false assumptions, and prevent missing easily ignored essentials.
Construction Project Planning Checklist A great starting point for your own pre-bid analysis check sheet.
Scope Change Request Controlling scope-creep is easy with this one-page document. Use it to gather background information, access the potential impact on time, resources, and budget. Set yourself up to effectively negotiate all changes from the baseline plan and stay in control of the success of your project.
PERT Analysis Excel Spreadsheet As described in Ron's books and seminars, this spreadsheet can be used to calculate a project's optimistic and pessimistic critical path durations at various levels of probability. It corrects the flawed optimistic and pessimistic duration calculations provided in Microsoft Project versions 98, 2000, 2002, 2003, and 2007.
Project Management Glossary Learn how to speak and think like a seasoned project management professional with this comprehensive glossary. Compliant with all major governing bodies and international standards.
Change Management
Dealing with Industry Change How to recognize when it is time to initiate change in your business. This audio recording of Ron being interviewed for NCS radio "WCON" discusses with construction industry expert Ted Garrison the hidden but deadly effects of explosive growth, increasing complexities, and unstoppable globalization that threatens most of today's businesses. MP3 audio or Pod cast.
Sales and Marketing
Hiring the Sales Superstar Don't be taken in by looks or style. When you're building your sales team, it's easy to get "sold" by the wrong sales applicants. Learn how to separate the consistent performers from the pack and build the long-term sales consistency your business really needs.
Four Secrets of Marketing Communications in a Crowded World Use these proven techniques to makeover your customer communications, sell-sheets, emails, and website. You'll stop even the busiest multi-tasker dead in their tracks, grab their attention, titillate their curiosity, win their interest, and ease their transition to the next step.
Time Management and Productivity
Panic is my friend Learn how to create your optimal zone of achievement, get more done, and get home sooner with a little more energy left over for the things that are really important. This novel approach to managing your personal schedule has revolutionized the way thousands of the world's most productive people achieve more without resorting to "harder", "longer", or "faster". Your boss, your family, your body will approve!
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Permission to use any of these articles in your newsletter or publication is freely granted when you include Ron's contact information and a link to his website.
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