• Is everyone excited, or just you? Excitement is contagious and so if it's just the management team or the younger crowd that's excited, let them talk about it! Share it around so that you can't hear the Debbie Downer or Derrick Doubter anymore. You need to get as many people as possible on-board and enthused early on for the best results later on.
• Excitement has momentum and the peak of it is typically at the beginning. Before all of the decisions and change, it is just the familiar coming . It's like Santa Claus and little kids; better be good for goodness sake! You can't let that wonderment die before Christmas arrives. You need to keep reminding them of all the surprises that will make their lives easier with the new software.
• And lately, it makes your job more fun! It will keep you motivated and working hard if your client is excited about coming to the status calls to hear how things are going. If you can keep the "What's new?" attitude going, you will face smiles at every meeting. And let me tell you, that pays off. We all want to love our jobs, right?

1. Stop what you're doing
• You're obviously not doing something wrong. If the project is not on track then that's a pretty good indicator that your future plans (that follow the same thought process) are also going to get derailed. Don't try to doggy-paddle and fix along the way; pause everything before continuing!
2. Look around you
• When a door closes, a window opens, right? The obvious and easy path is no longer available but you do have options. Take a look, ask around, and reassess the situation. You'll be able to determine the best next step - you're a star Project Manager, right?
3. Make a list
• Take inventory and redefine your critical path. Just like a itinerary on vacation, there is a set time on the shortest route to get from point A to point B on a map. Okay, you want to take a scenic detour but know that if you're rained out one day and have to make up time, that optional route is nixed. Projects are the same way; know the fastest way to completion, even if you aren't taking it right now.

1. Always look for the new
• Keeping up with the trends is tough enough, but being on the front end of the hottest and latest gadgets is where you want to be to capitalize on opportunities. The presidential election, latest cell phone design, or as Ziryab in the book, music and perfume. You've got to stay ahead of the curve if you want to make it into the history books.
2. Timing can be everything
• Even if you are ahead of the curve, sometimes you still have a fight ahead of you. If you aren't the latest gossip, than your stories might get lost. From the book, the examples include Peshtigo fire competing with the Chicago fire publicity. Or recently in 2015, Kim Kardashian versus NASA's Pluto pictures. Which do you remember? For good reason!
3. Document yourself
• People aren't going to write about you unless you have already done a lot of the legwork. Write down (or video) your experiences, whether as a journal for yourself, a public press release, or social media post, you have to take the initiative. In the book, Gustave Whitehead cared more about personal achievements than publicity around his flying machine and thus the Wright brothers are in our history books and museums. Become a blogger or more today!

Here are some defining characteristics about detail-oriented people that do NOT mean you are a micro-manager.

1. You review things on your own time
• Okay, so you care about every detail, almost looking for mistakes. It's a lot of work, sifting through all of the little things to make sure it's all right. If you take the time to do so, and not just gravitate towards "omg there's an issue; fix it fix it right now" then you're probably okay. Micromanagers may act like a bird that pays most attention to the shiny things in front of them. Show them you respect their time and look at everyone on your own first.
2. You ask questions
• Instead of simply changing something, it is better to learn the reasoning that someone did it the other way in the first place. You ask questions like "why" and "how come", or even "does that mean". Even "what about this alternative" is a good sign that you are trying to find the root of the problem and are being a sleuth, not a micromanager.
3. You accept the corrections of others
• When you're pointing out the mistakes of others, is it with the intention of making sure it's right? You probably are equally accepting when mistakes are pointed out to you then and you're happy to make the correction whether yours or theirs to make it right. Micromanagers tend to defend their decisions too quickly instead of trusting others.

I can't take the "On this bullet you need to change this word to this one instead." micromanaging conversations. Seriously, who can learn to do something better next time if all the feedback you get is at the "capitalization of a letter" level? Don't you want to just tell micromanagers to just go do it themselves if they think their way is better?

Micromanagers are tough to work for and it takes tact to "manage up". There are definitely rude signals you can try to send them but they never seem to work. And I'll admit, in my past I have tried showing disinterest by leaning back in my chair, avoiding eye contact or interrupting. When someone is focused on the details, they can't get their head above the weeds to notice let alone change their methodology. Micromanagers just keep on going, line by line, slide by slide, not giving any notice to the obvious signals of "stop micromanaging me! It's not working!".

So what else can you do? Try to feed your micromanager's need for control by handing them micromanaging opportunities so that they stay away from the other things. Here are few ideas I've tried that may work for you too.

1. Tell them
• I'm serious, tell them they have a problem. Usually they already know about it. Really. They know they have room for improvement but like any unconscious bad habit, it is hard to fix it. Work with them on creating a secret signal to notify them when something is going wrong. Ask them what they think was done well instead of what needs to be fixed. Or, (my favorite) tell them they can only ask questions instead of statements.
2. Give them control in other ways
• It is obvious that having both hands on the problem is what it takes for micromanagers to feel they are making a difference. Before they come to you asking for trouble, I mean, asking to help, you can offer first. Give them something to pick apart that isn't your pride and joy or main project. Or give them a task that only they can do like asking his/her boss for something that benefits your both.
3. Act it out
• Try to put yourself in their shoes and imagine what it would be like to manage you. If you pretend to be the boss, would you also micromanage? Maybe you can learn a quirk of your own that is triggering your boss's micromanaging. If your boss just acts like the angry receiver of news instead of warning you about them, you learn faster.

1. Lost to Time: Unforgettable Stories that History Forgot
• I'm in the middle of this one now and it's a fun read with short stories throughout time. Look for my review coming soon!
2. Seveneves
• You always need to mix it up! Here's a sci fi book to balance out the heavier reads. I do this in my writing too; to helps me stay creative.
3. Triggers: Creating Behavior That Lasts--Becoming the Person You Want to Be
• I loved Marshall Goldsmith's other books so this was a must read for me. I hope to enjoy the stories, lessons, and his flawless writing style.
4. Wait: The Art and Science of Delay
• I picked this book in particular for its subject matter on emotional intelligence, I'm always looking for ways to learn patience and improve my business skills.
5. Empty Mansions
• Not usually one of my genres, but the national history at my work inspires me to read more in this subject. It's about the American Dream in 1900's with the copper fortunes.
6. I Am Malala
• I started reading this last year but haven't finished it yet. I greatly support women's rights across the globe and since Malala's 2014 Nobel Peace Prize and 2015 movie release, I can't say enough good things about her cause for girls' education in Pakistan and human rights beyond.
7. The Power of Now
• Recommended by a friend upon my love for the Power of Habit, this book fits into the business category. A hope to find inspiration in it.
8. Leviathan Wakes (The Expanse Series)
• The SyFy channel released this as a show in December last year and as a favorite among sci fi fans, I thought I'd give it a try.