Documentation is one of the most essential parts of a good team and yet can also be the most time consuming. You have many opinions, tons of formatting issues, and the endless editing and upkeep of the document. It is a pain when you have better things you could be working on. I am a decent writer, but I do consider myself one of the fastest editors. Why? Because I some tricks up my sleeve. And I'm willing to share them with you!

Intermediate User:
  1. Copy, Past, Undo, Redo
    • We'll start with the classics. Almost all users are familiar with Ctrl+Z for undo, Ctrl+C for copy selected text/area, and Ctrl+V for paste. The ones you may not be as familiar with are Ctrl+X which is cut (so copies and removes), and Ctrl+Y for redo.
  2. Ctrl + Tab and Windows key + tab
    • Switching between PowerPoint, Excel, and Word a lot? These two are key for jumping between windows. Ctrl + Tab is a simple way that displays the program icon. Widows key + tab does the same thing but in a 3-D way showing a preview of each window. Both effective, one is just a bit fancier and the keys are right next to each other.
  3. Windows key + L
    • This is the shortcut to lock your computer. I don't know about your office, but if you walk away and leave your computer unattended, it may get hacked. And by hacked I mean playful IM messages or emails sent by "you" by a inconspicuous user. Always safe than sorry unless you like to be the butt of a joke... or worse.
Advanced User:
  1. Ctrl + arrow
    • While in a word document, don't you reread and find spelling errors, grammar fixes, and other changes that are in the middle of a paragraph? This one lets you jump around the document without using the mouse. Ctrl + arrow left or right jumps to the next word. I love this keyboard shortcut. It allows you to insert a word into a sentence quickly!
  2. Ctrl + Shift + arrow
    • My personal favorite, this extension to the above has completely changed the way I type. I hardly ever use the mouse with these shortcuts - so much so that even with my touch screen it's less efficient. It allows you to jump between words while selecting the words. Fantastic for replacing a word or phrase, cut and pasting a section to another location, and 
  3. Windows key + arrow
    • This one is the keyboard equivalent of the Windows 7 drag to an edge and and snap to size feature. It is great for viewing two windows side by side for multitasking or rekeying. What takes this shortcut to the next level though is that it works when windows are off your screen. So if that top bar is in a place you can't grab with your mouse, you can rescue it to your main screen.
  4. Ctrl + ;
    • This one is a winner for those PMs that struggle in Excel (or Google Sheets), this one will enter in today's date. Want to quickly denote a task as completed today? Ctrl + ; will quickly enter 05/31/2016.

I feel so inspired by this picture! It reminds me of this lavender mini donut from a food truck I bumped into in Belmar, Denver, CO. It was delicious and fluffy!! I explore a lot of different foods when I travel, and so why not explore at home too!

I hate to visit chain restaurants (i.e. Chili's or Panera Bread); not because they aren't good food and great service but I can get it anywhere. And if I'm someplace for a limited time, yoIu've got to learn more about the local flavors. You've got to see what "spicy" means to the town. Here are a few things I always try that are my favorite.
  1. Pizza
    • Duh. I mean, are they a city with pride in Chicago deep dish or New York thin crust type? Personally I like the thin crust fresh balled mozzarella ones, but you can never turn down pizza. Even when traveling with my gluten-free colleagues there are great options out there. Yum!
  2. Wine
    • I've traveled to some designated wine country spots (a favorite being Dry Creek in Sonoma, CA) but wine vines grow almost anywhere. I found dessert wines prevalent in a mid-west town. You can learn a lot just by walking the aisle and seeing what is available from local growers as to whether the climate is better for white or red. Interesting!
  3. Sushi
    • You can tell a difference if you are in an ocean bordered state, haha. This is more about supply chain than anything else. It also shows the diversity of the town whether Indian, Malaysian, Korean, Chinese, Japanese, and more lumped together as a generic Asian Fusion cuisine restaurant or not. Or it could be a "foodie" town with noticeable regional categories when you search on Yelp. Fun!
My boss from Texas always does BBQ whenever he travels to gauge the area. What is your favorite?
The Richest Man in Babylon
George S. Clason

This was a super fast read and in my opinion, is pretty much a masked list of financial saving rules to live by. It wasn't much of a story and not my favorite book. Maybe because I'd consider myself fairly conservative as a spender before this book, but if you're new to being on your own and aren't sure about what retirement planning means at age 22, then maybe you'll enjoy this.
  1. Pay yourself
    • The book's main message is that you can't get rich if you never pay yourself. Too many people go on a spending spree when they have a surplus. What that means is it's gone when it's gone. Instead, you need to pay your future self. You do that by contributing to an IRA, 401k, or other long term goal. Only then, after you've set some aside, should you splurge on that new TV.
  2. Don't overspend
    • It is so easy to spend without looking at the remaining balance these days. Without writing checks or counting cash, the electronic payment world of credit cards, PayPal, and bitcoin is actually quite scary. Layaway is the worst idea ever (IMHO) as you shouldn't take out a loan in any size ($1 or $100,000) that you don't know when you will pay it back. You have to know when you will be back at zero instead of negative! You can't go positive without first passing zero.
  3. Use compound interest
    • Whether it's the risky stock market, points on credit cards, or interest at the bank, you shouldn't be afraid to move around to get the best 0.01% bump. It all adds up! As the book says, "make your money work for you" and have it make money too.
What is an acceptable excuse to take a break from the daily grind of work? It seems like smokers are the ones that have a craving that is strong enough to demand structured breaks every hour or so. I don't think the unhealthy habit should be a precedent! I've found the next thing: Fitbit! The latest update tells you to get up and move with a goal of 250 steps every hour. It forces you to get up and away from your desk, stretch, and relax your eyes and brain.
Breaks at work are really healthy for you (and mandatory by law in cases), whether it is looking at facebook, surfing e-bay, or taking a few steps around the office. A mental and/or physical stretch will help you focus on your work better. Here are a few things that taking a break can do for you.

  1. Focus
    •  Do you multitask? It's likely that what you sat down to do at 8 am isn't done because you got distracted by other items, people, or emails. If you take a break, it means you put down all of the tasks. And when you come back refreshed, you are ready to start tackling only one thing and one thing alone again.
  2. Retain information
    • Slow down! When you take the time to think things over, you can consider possibilities or perspectives that you might not have realized on first glance. You can mull it over in the shower, hand-write it down, or even forget about it to look at it with fresh eyes. It can help you remember things better.
  3. Maintain emotional intelligence
    • Everyone can have their patience tested and risk hitting their limit. To keep a level head, you have to step back and relax. Different people recharge in different ways. Whether you prefer to vent to a friend, scream at a pillow, or meditate, it is important to step back and reflect on yourself to gain back your mental energy.
How many breaks and how often? There are many theories on that, like the 4-Day Work Week and the 50-10 rule.






Continuing from Part 1 and Part 2, my advice for scope management goes beyond defining the scope of the project. It must cover what happens if scope creep happens after the initial planning steps. If you want a project to stay on the track of success that was started, you have to have a plan. You must be able to answer these three questions... before they occur!
  • What happens if something new comes up or something comes up that can't be ignored?
    • Does it immediately affect the project and put everything else on hold until this new problem or idea is resolved? Hopefully not. You want to be able to maintain the original plan until proven otherwise so make sure that everyone knows their task and keeps to it.
  • How will change be handled?
    • Okay, so something new has comes up. Is it important enough to implement and change course or not? We don't know, but the PM might know if it can fit into the plan. :-) Make sure you've defined the person or log that keeps track of these items as they come up.
  • What is the process to determine the time and cost that new scope will pose? 
    • Once it's on the list, due diligence can be done just like the original successful scope evaluation. Then they can be discussed by stakeholders at appropriate meetings to make the right decisions. Without a strong process, the power that people have over project success will continue and you can complete milestones on time and on budget!
Empty Mansions: The Mysterious Life of Huguette Clark and the Spending of a Great American Fortune
By: Bill Dedman and Paul Clark Newell, Jr.
  1. If you care about something, you'll make it happen to every detail
    • Throughout her whole life (until age 104) Huguette love dolls and doll houses. Not as playthings, but as ornate beautiful pieces of art. She commissioned so many detailed projects and would politely reject things if they weren't right like the width of a door. It doesn't matter what it is that you're passionate about, but it shows when you fawn over every bit of it.
  2. Honestly, it's not the wild west anymore
    • It's sad but true, the world just isn't like the goold ole' days of striking gold in a mine, or banking as an entrepreneur. In the book, Huguette's father first got rich by buying eggs and carrying them across country to winter Montana. The land isn't free, information moves fast, and the economy is global. To become a millionaire, it take a similar brain but a different application. It's tough!
  3. Always be polite
    • One of the things that didn't surprise me in the book is in her old age, Huguette threw money at problems to solve them, even a friend's health. But what was a bit surprising to me in the book was everyone said she was so generous. Not just with gifts of large sums, but even when saying no and sending something back that "wasn't good enough", she was always warm and friendly. I'd like to be remembered that way too.
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