The new attitude to work

Some years ago, i had a realisation which till today i still subscribe to it and still believe it is the right attitude towards work.. especially if you are working for other people. Here it goes:

"Work as if you are going to stay forever, but plan as if you are going to leave tomorrow."

So, do you think it has some truth? Somehow it makes me feel more fulfilled, kept me busy & moving forward, and not rest on my laurels.

While some may think it's a bit of a conflicting mindset, it is precisely this. If you have read my post on holding two conflicting ideas or thoughts, you will know what i mean. But seriously, i looked at it as a balanced mindset instead. A positive one and one having the right attitude.

What do you say?

10/20/30 in business idea presentation

Read from somewhere the following pointers when doing a presentation to potential investors.

It's called the 10/20/30 rule of powerpoint.

a) 10 slides at most for your presentation.
b) present no more than 20 minutes.
c) font size no smaller than 30 pts.

The idea is to keep clear & concise with your business idea. The ten topics that a venture capitalist cares about are:

1. Problem
2. Your solution
3. Business model
4. Underlying magic/technology
5. Marketing and sales
6. Competition
7. Team
8. Projections and milestones
9. Status and timeline
10. Summary and call to action

Do you agree with his point?

The website link.

His video is very interesting too! Guy Kawasaki "The Art of the Start" @ TiECon 2006

Plan or not to plan

The most important thing about planning is not the plan.

As Eisenhower observed: "In preparing for battle i have always found that plans are useless but planning is indispensable".

Planning forces you to think deeply and futuristically in a more systematic manner.

Extracted from FAQs Marketing by Philip Kotler book page 97.

So, in my own words, i think that since it's not the plan that matters most, it's the process of planning which forces you to think deeply and critically that matters most. ;-)

60-day settling-in plan

while clearing my desk (i'm leaving for a new job..) i chance upon an old article (from Communication Briefings) that gives ideas on how to make quick progress during the first 60 days of a new job!

Something for me to think about:

• First 14 days: Cultivate four allies. These days, fitting into an org's culture is almost as important as hard work. Set up lunches with a team mate, a key employee in another dept, a supportive higher-up and an in-the-know political insider who monitors the grapevine. Ask lots of questions to learn abt the culture.
• First 30 days: Meet with your boss to compare notes. Ask "How am i doing?" Then report what u're working on in order of importance & ask for feedback.
• First 45 days: Update your job description from the one you received on Day One. Write a more accurate summary of your duties using what u've learned in the first month & a half. Ask your boss to approve your new version. That helps you stay focused on what matters most.
• First 60 days: Produce concrete results. Pick a short-term project harnesses your strengths and complete it. Example: The boss seeks your help in designing and leading focus groups. You agree to plan and run a series of successful group meetings while still tackling all your regular duties.