remove the one thing that causes you the most pain

Right now, you likely have the best job you've ever had. Compared to any previous job, your current job has more positives. That doesn't mean it's perfect or even that you like it. You could hate your current job and it is still the best job you've had. You considered it in comparison to all previous jobs. This gave you the perspective to make a better choice during your last job search. Despite turns in the economy and other setbacks, I've liked each job more than the last. This is largely based on a simple but effective technique. Every time I considered a new job, I thought about what I most disliked on my current job and eliminated any options that contained those attributes. Naturally, over time the ratio of positive to negative has shifted favorably.

Today I have one big item that causes an outsized amount of discomfort. Despite company policies, my boss is hyper-focused on overtime hours over an imaginary threshold. Colleagues on other teams tell me they never talk about overtime with their boss. My experience is that every time I get put on a last-minute or large project the overtime naturally follows. This in turn leads to difficult conversations around my hours and, worse, my capabilities as a professional. In a simple 80/20 analysis it's clear that a direct solution is available to me. Manage the overtime hours that cause the pain. I know I have a variety of options.

The solution is easier to see with the problem identified. The same goes for your situation. You can immediately improve your situation by identifying which single issue causes you the bulk of your pain. Once you identify that, it will be easier to identify solutions to your specific challenge. At that point it becomes a matter of testing and execution. Test the easiest solutions first and find the solution that yields the result you want. A double Pareto approach is to eliminate your biggest source of pain with the smallest input that gives the biggest gain. Applying this approach will immediately shift your mindset to give you an immediate improvement in job satisfaction. That works much faster than finding the perfect job.

cement your learning by summarizing it

I needed to learn a responsibility at work. By sticking to the instructions and persisting through several software errors, I learned the proper steps of the process. During this process I took notes on how I understood each step. Writing down the steps as I understood them helped solidify the process in my mind and gave me greater comfort that I both understand and have learned it. The additional touch point of writing and summarizing can be enough to memorize a new process after the first exposure.

tell, tell, tell

Today I’m going to give you a technique for organizing your communication – 3T (Triple Tell) method.

Tell them what you're going to say. Tell them. Tell them what you just told them.

This is a universal communication technique and applying it to any presentation will provide critical structure. The message will be easier to follow and more memorable. This is an incredibly effective and easy tool to improve any speech or presentation.

I just gave you a universal template for communication, the 3T method. Communicate well.

use the right tools for the job

The right tools make the job easier. To edit my video presentation I needed to select and delete sections of the recording. While it required more time than expected, the video editing tool was simple and intuitive. This allowed me to quickly create an edited, polished, professional video presentation with no training.

try the fastest solution first

Sometimes the fastest approach to a question gives you the necessary amount of information and prevents needless discussions or technical research. Bing, Google, or other search tools well represent this approach. Try applying this at home, on vacation, or fulfilling a work request and see how much time you can win back for yourself.

Document your work, identify assumptions

Document your work, particularly when making assumptions to get to a solution. Writing down your decision-making process is a powerful tool. You can leverage it for future decision-making, learning about yourself, or expanding your understanding of the issues.

take notes, engage brain

When sitting through a meeting or presentation, write down the key takeaway(s). Looking for this will engage your brain, helping you process and retain more of what you’re hearing. This works for students and professionals alike.

Let practice be your guide

When some type of performance is required from you, practice performing. If it’s a speech, try giving the speech. If it’s a number of push-ups, see how many you can do now. If it’s solving a math problem, try an example problem. You will quickly become keenly aware of your deficiencies. This will tell you where to focus your efforts in acquiring the requisite proficiency.