In the January 2005 Journal I provided some tips on ReFocusing
your work efforts. (2005
Refocus) It is now mid year and I want to refresh our
memories and drive some stakes in the ground. This will
serve and a reminder to get some stuff done and get moving.
By way of review here is what I proposed in January...
1. Read the book - most people don't read
the help files or any tech books. Stay ahead by reading.
2. Take Notes - Make Notes - jot down
ideas, complaints, suggestions and then follow up.
3. Review the Standard - check to see what
needs to be updated.
4. Get Trained - take time to get up to
speed for yourself.
5. Share the wealth - Whatever you learn -
pass it on.
6. Play More - Try out new tech tools.
Now for the mid year review and a few more
tips.
Have you been reading whenever you can?
I am now quite amazed by the level of information
available on Autodesk and other CAD packages via web sites and
blogs. You can easily get your daily dose of tech tips and
pointers.
Action Item:
Check out the blogs. Here is a list of
sites
to check out
Do you make more notes than you used to?
Believe me - this will set you apart. Remembering what
someone complained about or wished they could do will make you a
star when you deliver.
Action Item:
Get a binder and start taking notes. Review them and make
something happen.
Have you taken an honest look at your
standard lately (since AutoCAD 2006 came out)? If you
have upgraded the software - you need to upgrade the standard.
Action Item:
Get out the standard for review. Gather a team
of reviewers and get them started. Ask someone to take a
look at it that just hired into the firm. They will see
things that your existing users may miss. They are not
part of the "good ol' boy" network yet since they don't know the
unspoken standards that fill in the gaps of your documentation.
Have you gotten any training lately? If
you fall behind - the whole company falls behind.
Action Item:
Schedule some training for yourself and your team. Go to
AUGI CAD Camp. Get
out to your local ATC to get some focused training. At
least get your reseller to provide and upgrade class or demo for
you. Anything!
Have you been sharing? Mother
always told you it was good to share. Keep all those
around you up to date also.
Action Item:
Schedule a lunch time demo of one facet of the software that you
have had the most questions about. Write up a one page
newsletter explaining some new feature.
Do you take time to play? Do you
fiddle with software? Do you toy with technology?
Action Item: Take an afternoon to
download a tool and check it out. Save a buck or two on
lunch and pack a sandwich so you have a lunch hour to try out
the DWF tools. Come in early or stay late (and avoid
traffic) to get some free time to test new utilities or
hardware.
And a few new ones:
When was the last time you cleaned off
your desk?
There comes a time when we all need to
clear the decks for action. By cleaning your desk, you get
a new perspective and often find items that are outdated that
you can discard. You find old notes that remind you to
take a look at some new tools. You get a refreshing start
at the second half of the year.
Action Item: Clean off your desk.
Be brutal about throwing things away. If you have not used
it since the beginning of the year - get rid of it. If you
have not done anything about that note you left yourself then
file it away and move on the more important matters.
When was the last time you attended a
User Group meeting?
Don't underestimate the tips you will get
from talking with others. You can share your tips also.
Talking with other users lets you verify what you are thinking
and doing. How else are we to check our ideas and
concepts.
Action Item: Find a User Group in your area and get involved.
Check www.augi.com to find
them.
So take some time to review your current
state of mind to see if you need to renew your efforts to get
started, keep moving or regroup.
I have a very large note posted in my
office that has been there for years. I cut it out of a
magazine a long time ago. I can see it whenever I look up
from my monitor. It is simple and to the point...
DON'T JUST SIT THERE. DO
SOMETHING.