WHACK A KITTY

Morris the cat! Watch out for Friday Ark #245!


[Editor's comment: Is this an example of good viral marketing?]

I am not sure what Morris the cat is thinking of getting whacked in the head... He was adopted from an area ("Kosmosgatan" / "Cosmos Street") controlled by the "Cosmic Cat" from Doctor Snuggles TV series...


Image source: "Cosmic Cat" - DoctorSnuggles.com.


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Morris in the bag.

MY BIRTHDAY ON MEMORIAL DAY

I want to thank all of you who have sent me birthday greetings on May 25! :) [Editor's note: I will create a Talk Fusion video email message and send to you later on today.]


Yummy birthday cake!


How did you commemorate the Memorial Day?


Brothers in Arms

I will try to visit John Stark's childhood home in Manchester, New Hampshire, next time I visit my old school, Southern New Hampshire University. I haven't been at any alumni reunion yet.

[Editor's note: I better watch out, so I don't bump into this motor home vehicle or some "free staters"...]

Related: My post, LIVE FREE OR DIE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.

START OF WEEKLY WORKFLOW REVIEW

It is time to kick-off a new routine and start a weekly workflow review. I will do it during the weekend, prepare and start it on Saturday and complete it on Sunday with a post. My guess is that it will feel very natural to do this routine, say a year from now, but at the beginning it will be pretty tough and I know that it will create some "overload" and "syntax error" messages during the first period. I have a long way to go before I have everything in place. I hope you will enjoy my journey and I look forward to your feedback on a regular basis. Here is a general plan, a quick draft:

• Starting week 21.
• Fully implemented in five weeks, or around the time of Independence Day, i.e., beginning of July.
• Review of the weekly review end of the 2009. What has worked and what should be changed, added, etc.
• Annual review of the workflow structure and method as a part of my annual blog report in beginning of May 2010.

I am interested to hear from you who have struggled with implementing a "time management" system, "getting things done" method, productive game plan, different types of "lifehacks", etc. I am also very interested in getting tips on productivity tools, helpful gadgets, e.g., different versions of a "hipster PDA", etc.

I see myself working according to a my own personalized way of getting things done and ultimately achieving my core values and therefore striving for my happiness. [Editor's comment: I have to "chew" Timothy Ferriss' idea on why you should figure out how the avoidance of boredom will lead to positive things.] One of the main points with implementing a new integrated work-life guide is to come in contact and meet new rational individuals, so I could have positive exchange with them regarding ideas and "stuff", according to the trader principle.

I will start out to apply the ideas which David Allen has laid out in his books Getting Things Done and Making It All Work. I got very inspired to really try out these ideas this time around, after participating in David Stiernholm's course in personal productivity. Later on I think my way of doing things will evolve into a personalized system that has been inspired by:

• Mark Forster's Autofocus system.
• "Thinking on Paper" by Jean Moroney of Thinking Directions. Here I think I could use my Pulse Smartpen to its full potential.
• Stefan Sebö's "Quality of Life Wheel" in his book, Resultat ("Result" in Swedish).

[Editor's note to self: Check out Todoodlist by Nick Cernis of Put Things Off.]

Things to do and next actions:

• In-basket

1. Clean out the old stuff.
2. File the stuff or throw it away.
3. Start to put new things in it. Plenty of stuff to take care of on the desk.

• Inbox

1. Archive 16,380 email messages and counting... [Editor's comment: Please cross your fingers... Last time I did it, Google kicked me out of my own Gmail account!]
2. Install the latest version of GTDinbox [Editor's note: 2.0.11.6?].

• Overall

• Read Kelly Forrister's post, Building a GTD House, again. [Editor's note: Draw my own "house" including Next Actions list, Calendar, Waiting For list, Project list, Someday/Maybe (Tickler file) list and Reference material file...]
• Check out different mind mapping tools, e.g., MindJet, MindMeister and GoalEnforcer.
• Install MeeTimer Firefox browser extension.
• Start using Gtdagenda. Go through reviews of the GTD application, e.g., Review of GTD Agenda by Gareth J M Saunders.

Here is my version of a mental inventory session a.k.a "mind sweep" (homework) from one of the lectures with David Stiernholm.

M. Lindeskog Mind Sweep 20090513 4:45p
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STRUCTURALIZED

This post will contain a mix of my thoughts on my "workflow" & future blogging, how to get things done and "make a great living doing what I love"... [Editor's note: I have paraphrased a part of a book title by Jonathan Fields.]


Books: Making It All Work, Career Renegade, The 4-Hour Work Week.


Workflow

I recently attended a three-part course in personal productivity by David Stiernholm.


Image source: Stiernholm Consulting.

I have ordered one tickler file system and a set of 100 "control of the situation" / to-do list cards.


My old reference file system box.

I will start to post some tidbits from my weekly reviews, mind-sweep and brainstorming sessions during the weekends.


Calendar with storage folder.

Reading material: The 4 Hour Workday by Scott Young. [Via Did I Get Things Done.]

I will install MeeTimer on my Firefox browser.


Blogging

My comment on my post, ANNUAL BLOG REPORT VII.

Anita,

Thanks for your comment and kind words! :)

Here is my comment on Darren Rowse's post, Be Consistent and Useful - Thoughts on How Often to Publish on Your Blog.

Darren,

I have been blogging for seven years now. Here is an excerpt from my post, Annual Blog Report VII, of May 7:

“I have now been blogging for seven years. My long-range goal is to become a “problogger” so I could develop my blogging from an amateur hobby level into a real part-time job. The first step toward this goal is to read the ProBlogger book that I got from Cindy King and then discuss with her what I learned from the book and how you could continue this journey. [Editor's note: I became a pro-blogger already during my first year of blogging! ;)]”

I have been struggling to write posts on a regular basis and I have promised myself to try to write at least a couple of posts every week. I must admit that sometimes I have had to break this “rule” and take a break for some time, but at minimum I have been writing a new post every week or so. I will try to get up to speed again and find a new way of having posts in pipeline so it will be easier to publish on timely basis. My next post that will be published this weekend will cover this issue. I will focus my future blogging on three areas: rational ideas on how to use your time by productive tools and methods so you could “get things done”, writing about “good things” in life through my “lifestream” (Twitter, FriendFeed, Facebook, etc.) and reviews of services and online products, and discussions on how conduct personal branding and interact with relationship marketing, thought leadership and social media.

I have outlined a schedule on how to cover Monday - Sunday with daily posts, but I will never feel a duty or that I must post something every day.

Monday: Open thread post.
Tuesday: Tuesday Tech.
Wednesday: Midweek wrap blogrolling.
Thursday: Venting with Thor’s hammer.
Friday: T.G.I.F. good life post.
Saturday: Carnival blogging.
Sunday: Future podcasts. Workflow review.

Reading material: Contrarian Blogging: Is Small the New Big? by Jonathan Fields.

I will check out the blog post planner and calendar at Productive Flourishing and see if these tools could be useful for my future blogging.


Getting Things Done

I have to become more organized. I am in the process of "setting up the right buckets."


Inbox full with stuff...

I can relate very much to Michael Deutch's post, Focusing on My Horizons with MindManager & GTD:

In January, I wrote about how I used David Allen’s Getting Things Done (GTD) process to gain control of my life. The benefits were and still are tangible: an empty inbox, everything in a trusted system, a clean desk and clear mind. Today, I’ll share my tumultuous journey on how I gained greater perspective and improved both my work and personal life.

For over a year, I avoided the second half of the GTD process, which involved completing a map David calls the “Horizons of Focus.” These horizons are the different perspectives of your work and personal life. Sounds easy, doesn’t it? (March 19, 2009, The MindJet Blog.)

I admit that I have a long way to go before I have implemented the GTD methodology into every area of my work-life. You will be able to follow my struggle and development on a regular basis in the future. I look forward to your comments, feedback, suggestions, tips and tools, etc.


Email inbox: >16,000 email messages...

Reading material: Getting Things Done with MindJet by Andrew Mason.

I will start using GTDInbox and Gtdagenda and write about these tools.


Work-life

Read Oh, Those Flashes of Money-Making Inspiration by Mark Anderson and then try to figure out this "rebus"...

Image source: Cartoons by Andertoons.


Morris the cat is moving along...


Chile pepper in a bag and Dorset Naga. I will continue to add spice to my life...



Pluck the Day!

ASCENSION DAY

Have you seen some strange "unidentified flying object" today? Here is an excerpt from Mary Ellen Synon's post, How 'you have Thursday off' translates into 23 languages:

A lot of eurocrats had already started a week's holiday when the fire alarm went off -- according to today's European Voice, 'the building was less crowded than usual, with many staff having taken the week off because the Commission is closed tomorrow, Ascension Day, and Friday.'

So, got that? Many European countries mark Ascension Day with a Thursday holiday. The Commission expands it to a two-day holiday, making a long weekend. Which staff just naturally expand into a week's holiday.

Though I don't really mind that much. As long as most of the Commissioners -- only Barroso and nine of the 26 commissioners were in the building on Monday -- and a big chunk of the eurocrats are drinking in Italian nightclubs or tanning on French beaches instead of making laws in Brussels, our national liberties are that much safer for a few days. (May 20, 2009, The Daily Mail.)

Related: My post, CHRISTI HIMMELFAHRT AND JERRY FALWELL.

AYN RAND CENTER TV

The Ayn Rand Center has set up a new multimedia website called ARC-TV.com. Here is one example: Capitalism Without Guilt: The Moral Case For Freedom (part 1 of 11).



Talking about video clips, I have updated the featured video section with (The Ayn Rand Forum, UK) Andrew Medworth's four-part interview with Yaron Brook.

INTRODUCTION TO SEO

If you are interested in an introduction to Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and online marketing, go to Verizon's webinar page (short URL). For more information, read Anita Campbell's post, Webinar: Getting Found in Search Engines, for Beginners.

LIBERTAS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION?

Four years ago I debated with myself if I should vote in the European Parliament election. That time I ended up voting for the new Euro-skeptic party called the "June List." This time I am thinking of voting for the new "anti-Lisbon Treaty" party called Libertas.

Do you want to be scared, read the post, Your last chance to stop it, and then watch the video clip.



I am thinking of following Mark Majzner's advice and spend some time contemplating and then drink a glass of wine...

My own advice on what to drink is something sweet, light, easy to swallow, has more fruit than character and most of all has a good looking bottle - just like many of the candidates! (May 18, 2009, Wine Freedom - Vinfrihet / The Local.)

Related: My post, EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND ITS CRITICS.

ECONOMY FOCUS ON OPEN FORUM

I have a new piece published on Open Forum. Please click the "yes" button if you find the post (Stay Focused On The Economy, Politicians) useful. You are welcome to write a comment too!

LISTEN TO NEW PODCASTS

Please send me tips on interesting podcasts. I am listening to several podcast shows during my weekend walks that last for about 5 to 6 hours in total time. Here are my favorite podcast shows at the moment that I am listening to on a regular basis:

• Dr. Leonard Peikoff's Questions & Answers.
• Anita Campbell's Small Business Trends Radio.
• Sumaya Kazi's Socially Speaking.
• Renegade Profiles Vault by Jonathan Fields.
• Small Business Marketing Podcast by John Jantsch.
• My fellow podcasters at SOLID VOX™ podcast network established by Prodos.

Recommended reading: Staci Wood's post, Your Social Media Fix: 50 Social Media Podcasts.

IS XOCALATL A BITTERSWEET BEVERAGE?

I have started to indulge a craving for a fine Belgian type of healthy dark chocolate products called Xocai. The first part of the brand name is coming from the word "xocalatl" and the second part is related to the acai (açaí) fruit.


Xoçai™ products: X Power Squares & Nuggets.

The Aztecs called it "xocalatl," meaning warm or bitter liquid. They then started putting stuff in it. Not having perfected the s’more, and with sugar still an ocean away, they mixed water, chilies and cornmeal into their cacao drinks. No word whether they got into almonds, caramel, peanut butter, M&M's or Snicker’s bars (“Chocolate” btw, comes "xocalatl," which is from a combination of the choco ("foam") and atl ("water").) (History of chocolate, Olvera-Street.com.)

The chocolate products by MXI Corp. are produced with cacao that is not fermented or roasted. The cacao (kakao in Swedish) is sun-dried and the products are cold-pressed in order to retain the good cocoa stuff (cacao substance).



I am interested in reading Julia Pech's forthcoming book, The Chocolate Therapist: A User’s Guide to the Extraordinary Health Benefits of Chocolate.

I will mix up my own recipe of sipping chocolate beverage with a dash of chile pepper in the near future. I will call it something like "Marty's hot & spicy choco drink X"... It will be inspired by a scene from the movie, Chocolat, there you see Vianne Rocher prepare a chocolate drink with cayenne pepper for her customer, Armande Voizin.




I will end this post with a twist and use a quote from Michael Wilson's article, A Chocolate, With Amway Undertones, Networks Its Way Into New York.

Sharon Bush, the ex-wife of Neil Bush, George W. Bush’s brother, was a fixture in the tabloid headlines last year when her former fiancé, Gerald Tsai, sued her to get an 11-carat engagement ring returned. She spent most of the tasting sitting apart in the corner and said she preferred not to be interviewed.

But, she said afterward, “You can say that I think it’s very tasty.” (The New York Times, May 9, 2009.)

[Editor's comment: Beat around the Bush?!] Fore more information on cacao, cocoa and chocolate, check out these links.

ANNUAL BLOG REPORT VII

I have now been blogging for seven years. My long-range goal is to become a "problogger" so I could develop my blogging from an amateur hobby level into a real part-time job. The first step toward this goal is to read the ProBlogger book that I got from Cindy King and then discuss with her what I learned from the book and how you could continue this journey. [Editor's note: I became a pro-blogger already during my first year of blogging! ;)]

I the meantime I will continue to work for hard "currencies" like olives. I will take some "time-out" around my birthday on May 25, reflecting on my future online ventures and other activities. Here are some examples:

• Strive to become a thought leader by attending Larry Genkin's Thought Leadership Marketing Mastery eCourse.

• Write e-pamphlets / e-books on topics like the trader principle and hot & spicy stuff.

• Assist and work together with "Charlie Bloom" on the start-up of NetZpider Network.

• Continue with the podcast interviews on a regular basis. Please come with suggestions on guests and topics you are interested in.

• Write pieces for other blogs, e.g., Open Forum by American Express. I am very glad that I have the opportunity to contribute with material to Anita Campbell's Small Business Trends.

• Lead courses on social media this autumn.

and now a word from John Adams...

with some stats:

• Authority #32 and ranked 174,586 on Technorati.
• Traffic rank of 346,185 on Alexa.

Thanks for reading this annual blog report and for your support during these years! I want to end this post with a special treat.


Healthy Chocolate by Xocai.


EGO editor.

Please kick back, bring your favorite beverage and have some healthy chocolate and then enjoy the trailer for Chocolat by Lasse Hallstrom.

SHARE A PENCAST

Here is a simple example on how to share notes taken by the Pulse Smartpen.

20090404 Martin Lindeskog
brought to you by Livescribe

Check out klee's instructive piece of file called Pencast of a Pencast.

Pencast of a Pencast
brought to you by Livescribe

For more information, read the blog post, More Ways to Share Pencasts, at Livescribe.

Related: My post, DO NOT MISS A WORD WITH LIVESCRIBE.

DO NOT BLAME IT ON TECHNOLOGY

Read "Skyll inte på tekniken" ("Don't Blame It On Technology") by Joakim de Leeuw.

Related: My post, WARCRAFT.

MP3 MUSIC CLIPS

I have added MP3 music clips by Amazon. You will find the new section in the right column. I have started out with featuring Django Reinhardt.



Enjoy the music!

PROBLOGGER BOOK IN THE MAIL

Thanks to Cindy King, I have received a copy of Darren Rowse's and Chris Garett's book, ProBlogger: Secrets for Blogging You Way to a Six-Figure Income.




This book will be useful when I plan for my course on social media in the autumn.

[Editor's note: What are you reading at the moment?]

LYCEUM GOOGLE PROFILE

I have created a Google profile page. [Hat tip to: Travis Campbell of Marketing Professor.] From my profile page:

Something I still can't find on Google
Aristotle's school, Lyceum.

My superpower
Eating hot & spicy food. I am a chile head!

In the news:

• Site of Aristotle’s School to Become Outdoor Museum - Digital Journal.
• Aristotle school to become open-air museum - MSNBC / AP.

REDUCE OVERHEAD WEBINAR

Today I will attend a Verizon Small Business webinar (Get Ahead and Keep Costs Down: 10 Business Tips to Reduce Overhead) at 2 PM ET (20:00 Central European Time). I will write tweets during the event by using the hashtag #SMBSAVE. Read Anita Campbell's post, 10 Strategies for Reducing Business Overhead Expenses - Webinar, for more information.

LISTEN TO SCOTT HOLLERAN

Listen to my interview with Scott Holleran on Solid Vox (MP3 file.) Jonathan Hoenig and John Cox are next in line... Please stay tuned!

IMMIGRATION RALLY ON MAY DAY

Morris the cat doesn't want to participate in the traditional May Day protest march in Gothenburg, Sweden.



Talking about Sweden, be afraid of the Stockholm syndrome...

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	M - Th 11p / 10c
The Stockholm Syndrome Pt. 2
thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Economic Crisis First 100 Days

I am glad to see that they have immigration rallies in America. [Via American Immigration LLC.]



Related: My post, MELTING POT.