The First 15 Minutes

14 Things Productive People Do In the First 15 Minutes of the Work Day by Yong Kang Chan at Life Hack:

The first 15 minutes of your workday sets the tone for the rest of your workday.
If you are already too busy at the start of your workday, imagine what the rest of your day might be like when challenges arise and other people start seeking you for help.
Here are 14 things productive people do in the first 15 minutes of their workday to help them stay productive for the rest of their day.

1. They stroll into the office at least 15 minutes before official working hours

Productive people know the importance of reporting to work early. Instead of rushing to work anxiously and hoping to be on time, they leave their house early and stroll into the office calmly. They set a relaxing tone right from the start of their workday and give themselves an extra 15 minutes to be ready for work.

2. They set up their workspace like professionals

Similar to a surgeon performing an operation and a chef working in the kitchen, productive people make sure their tools are in proper position before they begin their work. Every minute counts in the operating theater and kitchen, so too in your workspace! Productive people keep their workspace organized so that they don’t have to spend unnecessary time looking for what they need.

3. They review what they have done previously

It’s good to review what you have done previously, especially if you’ve just returned from the weekend or holidays. Productive people warms themselves up for work by reminding themselves where they left off previously. Instead of jumping straight into a task, they review past achievement to give themselves some direction on what to do next and a sense of accomplishment.

4. They review their to-do list and deadlines

Productive people have a to-do list. They review their to-do list at the start of their workday so that they can strategize and plan ahead. They remind themselves of important deadlines and meetings so that they can prioritize and schedule their work accordingly.

5. They identify no more than 3 important tasks for the day

Productive people know they will be overwhelmed if they plan too much for themselves. To stay focused at work and prevent themselves from multitasking they identify no more than 3 important tasks for the day. Leo Babauta, founder of the productivity blog Zen Habits, also sets himself 3 most important tasks (MITs) each morning to move himself forward.

Seeking New Opportunities

I am currently seeking new career opportunities. Here's my resume.

BARRY G. SIMMONS, CPA

Cell: (601) 668-7172

E-Mail: bgsimmons56@gmail.com

Skills Summary

Financial executive & leader with demonstrated history of success in the fields of:

• Financial Accounting,
• Enterprise Management
• Program Development
• Mergers & Acquisitions
• Purchasing
• Supply Chain Control
• Software Installation
• Human Resources
• Payroll
• Financial Analysis
• Income & Sales Taxes
• Investment Management

Work Experience

Controller & HR Director | Pure Water Solutions, Ridgeland, MS | 2/06- 3/15

Grew the firm from $3.5 million to $8.5 million in sales & from 4 to 8 locations, while processing efficient merger of 3 acquired businesses

• Managed Financial Reporting, Taxes, Vendor Supply Chain & Accounts Payable
• Oversaw Human Relations, Payroll & Employee Benefits in period of rapid growth
• Installed & Implemented new accounting system
• Reported directly to CEO

Pure Water Solutions was acquired by Mar Cor Purification on January 2015. During transition period I worked on the merger & consolidation of Pure Water Solutions into Mar Cor & closing out the independent business operations of Pure Water Solutions. Seeking new professional opportunities in spring 2015 upon completion of these projects.

Director, College Savings Plans | Miss. Treasury Dept, Jackson, MS |12/96-8/05

Launched two Section 529 college savings plans from beginning to highly popular & successful operations

• Oversaw operation of the programs, analysis of results & tracking of investments
• Planned & implemented effective marketing & public relations plans
• Effectively represented Programs before the public, media, state & national organizations.
• Reported directly to State Treasurer & College Savings Plans Board of Directors.

Budget Analyst & Forecaster | Miss. Treasury Dept, Jackson, MS | 12/93-12/96

Earned promotion to management by highly effective achievement of assigned goals

• Developed forecasts of interest rates, interest earnings & economic trends.
• Prepared cash-flow forecasts & projections on financial liquidity
• Coordinated financial analysis projects, special research projects & legislative proposals.
• Prepared statements of State's debt & projected debt service costs for legislative budgets
• Did professional writing projects for the Treasurer.

Education & Certifications

Mississippi College - B.S. In Business Administration with “High Honors & Special Distinction”

Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Mississippi License Number 4300

Bed Time Productivity

10 Things Productive People Do Before Going To Bed by Luigi Potneza at Life Hack

The most productive people all have certain habits in their daily routines that contribute to their success. They understand that their success starts and ends with their mental and physical health, which is almost entirely dependent upon their habits before bed time.
So, here’re 10 things successful and super productive people do that leads them being in the top 20 percent of money earners in our society

They review their day

Steve Jobs was a strong proponent of living life to the fullest every day. He wonderfully explained this concept when he said: “Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn’t matter to me. Going to bed at night saying we’ve done something wonderful, that’s what matters to me.”

All successful and wealthy people, before going to sleep, they think about if what are doing has meaning. At the end of each day, they think about how have positively contributed to the world and review if the goals achieved are in line with their overall vision. Thus, they make plans to track their progress and take notes to put the best in every single things they do.

So today, before going to sleep, review your day because it will force you to clarify what you want and motivate you to take action on your goals.

They write down their thoughts

Emmy-winning talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres used to write down her thoughts, feelings and emotions when she was younger: “Writing is truly cathartic, because it just lets it all out and brings the best out of you”.

Super productive and successful people write down their thoughts, sensations, feelings and emotions. They try to analyze when and why things went right and wrong. They write to improve their communication and thinking skills to be a better leader. So, by writing things down you can help yourself to sharpen your thinking, clear your mind, destroy negative self-talk and pay attention to your most dominant emotions through the day. Journaling may tell you something that you haven’t really paid much attention to about yourself or about your life.

People like Theodore Roosevelt, Thomas Jefferson, Charles Darwin, Benjamin Franklin, Andrew Carnegie, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Winston Churchill kept a diary, so why not giving a shot?

They stick their noses into books

This is the proof that readers are great leaders. Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates is an avid reader. Each night before bed, he spends an hour reading a book, ranging on a variety of topics.

Many successful people in the world are voracious readers. They read at least for 10-20 minutes before going to bed every day and they learn from what others talk about. They expand their know-how to be better prepared to lead and motivate their team and build multimillionaire businesses.

Another big benefit from sticking your nose into a good book on a nightly basis is because reading improve the long term health of your brain.

They set priorities for the next morning

With so many things happening on a daily basis it can be really easy to lose focus on what you are trying to accomplish. That’s why, before bed time, productive people review their schedule and plan for the following day.

They make a list of everything they have to do and before they start working they set priorities on the list. This allow them to go into the next workday feeling better prepared, more confident, and less stressed. Include this life-changing tip in your daily routine by writing down your top 3 to 5 most important tasks you need to do the next day. If for any reason you don’t do this, it should be the first thing you do every morning. And remember, every minute spent in planning saves 10 minutes in execution.

Power Reading

I found this helpful-  3 Strategies To Read What's Relevant by Kirby Ingles:

Have you ever felt frustrated when reading a book, because you intend to finish it and cross it off your to-do-list, but the author is dragging out the material?

Do you ever feel like the author is trespassing on your time, because you feel bound to complete their book, but it’s daunting.

How many books have you stopped reading because you lost the desire or motivation to press on?

ere are three strategies, pre-reading, scanning, and skimming, that can solve your problem.

Pre-Reading Can Be Your Secret Weapon

Pre-reading resembles reviewing an itinerary or an agenda. Pre-reading gives you better results because you are preparing your mind for the material. When you pre-read you can easily see where the author is going from beginning to end.

Begin by reading the title and subtitle. Sometimes, but not every time, it’s a great idea to review the publication date and author’s bio. If expertise and time matter, this can be pertinent information. This may be a make or break deal, if you are researching something. This can save you valuable time and credibility.

Then, review the table of contents the author has provided you and outline there. Sometimes they include subheadings to chapters, which provides additional insight.

Next, begin by flipping through the pages reading the headings and subheadings of each chapter. Think about these headings and subheadings as cues or reminders of what’s surfacing. I call these power statements and they keep you zeroed in on the theme or main idea.

Pre-reading is the first strategy you should go to. Although you completed all these steps and you’re beginning a fresh chapter, you should also entertain the headings and subheadings of the previous chapter and the next chapter. It has likely been a few days or weeks since you pre-read the book and this gives your brain a little bit of a jolt. Again, you are gearing up for a better understanding of the material.

After I’ve read a book, I post-read. Finally, turning back through and reviewing all the chapter titles, headings and subheadings, is a good way to commit the material to memory.

There is creative reading as well as creative writing. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Scanning Can Save You Time

Scanning is the most widely used technique that I use. I use this strategy when seeking new information by rummaging through content, looking out for cues or phrases. You will use this when you have a good handle on a topic and you’re checking for additional information or new insights. Maybe you are not interested in the author’s ideas, but a specific point for research.

During my graduate level pursuit in counseling, I have read up on Freud a lot, but I already know a good share about Freud. When Freud emerges in the material I scan over it. Only slowing down to read new, relevant information I haven’t read before.
You should ask yourself the question, “How does this enhance the conversation?” as you are scanning information in the book you are reading.

In the last three textbooks I’ve bought, Freud is mentioned in each one and is usually reintroduced like I haven’t heard of him before. I don’t blame the author, because they are clueless of the level of knowledge the reader has. This is where scanning is key. Bypass the irrelevant information you already have a good handle on and only read the chapters or paragraphs that heighten your preexisting knowledge.

I’ve read a lot of self-help and personal-growth books. Many of them feed off the same ideas and concepts, therefore I don’t read the entire book. By rereading you’re not acquiring any new or relevant information, but rather you should be attempting to increase knowledge. How do you figure that out? By reading the first and last chapters. Once you’ve done this, you can strategically scan the book by using the information you gained from pre-reading to attack certain areas of the book. If you didn’t find anything enlightening about the book after reading the first and last chapters, then it’s probably not a great idea to delve deeply into it.

The reading of all good books is like a conversation with the finest minds of past centuries. – Rene Descartes

Skimming Can Help You Standout

Skimming is a valuable tool and can be performed when you have limited time to consume information. The purpose of skimming is to understand the content conceptually. You really do not require a deep understanding of the material, but you just need the nitty-gritty upfront. You are skipping over stories, charts, explanations and majority of the conversation the author is trying to have with you, because all you have enough time for is the overarching concept.

You can skim when you’re standing in line at the pharmacy, riding on the subway, or just before a meeting. You may already be skimming newspapers and magazines each day, watching for current events and small pieces of data to use in your daily conversations. You might skim to refresh before a test or call up the ideas in your mind that you studied for several weeks.

When you skim you should only read the introductory and closing sentences of each paragraph. While doing this you can also read keywords, anything highlighted, and information in italics or bold, because authors usually do this to convey an importance to understanding the concept.

In conclusion, these strategies are productive, time-management strategies used for a specific purpose as shown above. I still hope you continue reading books front to back, but know that using these strategies along the way will help you read more books. The practices in this post have helped me read 18 books already in 2015, which is one more than all the books I read last year.

100 Useful Websites

Interesting list at Life Hack - The 100 Most Useful Websites on the Internet.

Unwanted Solutions

Important Decisions