I admit to being a fanatic who looks to thinking as a solution to all problems. I look for a psychological cause for everything that happens to me. And I look for a thinking process to help me deal with everything that happens to me. If I cut my finger, yes, I put on...
Jean F Moroney
Having a Point
There are some skills that people self-identify they need. And there are others that they don't. Many people who have a problem getting to the point don't realize it. But when you talk with them, you see their problem reflected in your own frustration. They say...
The Evening Review
To keep on track with a workload, you need to review your progress daily. I generally recommend taking 15 minutes in the morning to see what you got done, and what you need to do. However, there is a good case to be made to spend a little more time to review in the...
Freewriting
Every tactic is useful only in a context. That includes my favorite general-purpose workhorse, "thinking on paper." Sometimes it is more efficient to think in your head. Sometimes it is more efficient to discuss an issue with someone else. And sometimes it is more...
Reminder Cards
I advocate a lot of simple tools. Here's one for remembering good advice: Make a pack of reminder cards. By reminder cards, I literally mean 3"x5" index cards with handwriting on them. So, for example, over the years, I developed a pack of about 30 blue index cards...
The One Thing Missing from the Advice You’ve Gotten from Me
If you've been reading my blog, or my website, you've read about a lot of processes and procedures you can use to help get your mental wheels turning when you're feeling overloaded, or conflicted, or doubtful, or otherwise not sure what to do. They're great ideas....
Using Analogies for Creative Problem Solving
When you are stuck on a problem and need some new ideas, you can get creative ideas by making analogies to some other field. An analogy is an abstract parallel between two quite different things. For example, you might analogize driving to project management. In both...
Getting Out of the “I Don’t Know” Trap
There are two kinds of "I don't know." One kind is accompanied by a sense of bafflement and annoyance. If you put the feeling into words, it would say, "why would you expect me to know that?" That's how you feel when someone asks, "who's the president of Kyrgzstan?"...
Playing Two Thinking Roles Can Ignite Your Thinking
Here's a surprisingly effective technique that can pry information loose from your brain and ignite your thinking when you're stalled: The "Q&A Technique." [1] Here's the technique: Write down a question you are puzzling over. ("How" and "Why" questions are...
The Unfounded Assumption that Can Stop Logical Thinking in Its Tracks
Join me in the campaign to eliminate prejudice against messy thinking tactics. Floating in the back of many people's minds is the idea that "logical" means "neat." People sometimes hesitate to make a list unless they can write down the items in their proper order....
Yes, It’s the Electronic Age, But Don’t Forget Paper-Age Lessons
Here's some old-fashioned advice that may be just what you need to get out of a present-day thinking block: Spread out your notes all over your desk. That's right, your desk, not your computer screen. Yes, programs exist to move around words in many wonderful easy...
The One-Minute Rule for “Thinking on Paper”
If you've followed my work, you know I'm an advocate of "Thinking on Paper." You can watch this 3-minute video explaining "thinking on paper, or read a short write-up on it here. People often ask when they should use "thinking on paper" to speed up their thinking....
Understanding Paralysis
Paralyzed. Stuck. Blocked. These describe a distressing mental state — made worse by mystery. When you are paralyzed, it seems like you know what you need to do — you need to write, plan, etc. But you feel like you can't take a single step forward. Knowing why you're...
Three Tips for Using Small Time Blocks for an Open-Ended Thinking Task
When you have a big question to think about, don't wait until you have 2 or 3 hours free to tackle it. There just aren't enough big blocks of time available to make that a practical strategy. Instead, learn how to Velcro together smaller blocks of time--say 25...
Four Reasons Why Reviewing Written Goals Helps You Achieve Them
Here's a piece of advice you may know: Write down your top goals and re-read them every day. Simply implementing this daily review can make a significant difference in whether you achieve the goals. If this sounds like some kind of magical thinking, it's not....
The Secret to Doing Better Next Time
Did something go badly? A "discussion" with a spouse or coworker that ended in acrimony? A proposal that flopped? When something goes badly, you may be tempted to forget about it and just try to do better next time. But the secret to doing better lies in thinking...
A Good Time to Take Stock
The new year is a time of rebirth. To begin on an inspiring note, I suggest you spend a little time taking stock of your achievements from the year that is ending. Make a record of your accomplishments — everything you did or said or bought or made happen that you're...
To Resolve or Not to Resolve
Do not make any New Year's Resolutions this year. At least, not unless you're mentally ready for the commitment. How can you tell? Here are three tests: Test 1: Is your goal concrete and specific? A goal to do "more" with friends is vague. It would be better to plan...
The “AND List”
The "AND" list is a basic tactic for addressing resistance and temptation in the moment. You can use it when you aren't instantly motivated to do what you "should" be doing. This tactic helps you acknowledge your own mixed motivation so that you can act consciously...
Keep It Interesting
Boredom kills concentration, productivity, and pleasure. It's hard to motivate yourself to pay attention when you're bored out of your mind. If you find yourself bored in a meeting or on a project, you need a remedy. Here are three things you can do. One idea is to...
Browse By Category
Do you need help getting your employer to reimburse you for the cost of your tuition?
Just let me know — I can help with the paperwork.
I can provide you a formal invoice to receive reimbursement from your employer.
Or, if your company prefers to pay the cost directly, I can accept a purchase order and invoice the company.
In addition, there is a 10% discount when three people register together.