Seeing the big picture is good. When you analyze the job as a whole you can see how all the tasks are related to each other. You can also see the dependencies of tasks on each other; which tasks must be completed before proceeding to the next.

What I’m going to suggest is already known by many successful people. But it’s worth mentioning again.

Any time you want to have a positive outcome for completing a job in a timely manner, you need to have S.M.A.R.T. goals.

Specific – what, why, how
Measurable – concrete criteria for completion
Attainable – believable
Realistic – do-able
Timely – sense of urgency

Using SMART goals can be applied to any job or task. It will help you focus your efforts and be more efficient in the completion of your next job.

I’m going to use an example of moving. This job comes to mind right now because I’ve been helping a lot of people move.

Let’s look at two different moving scenarios from house A to house B.

Random move scenario

• Preparation
  • Reserve moving van
  • Schedule friends to help move
  • Pick up moving van
• Moving
  • Move stuff from house A into van until full or no more stuff
  • Drive to house B
  • Move stuff from van into house B
  • If lunchtime then get food
  • If everything moved into house B you can wrap-up the move
  • Continue moving
• Wrap-up the move
  • Return van
  • Collapse from exhaustion

SMART move scenario

• Plan move
• Break up move into smaller tasks (dismantle, load order, unload order, assemble)
• Create color-coded room maps for house A and house B
• Pack and color code boxes/items for their final destinations
• List tasks that need to be completed at house A
• List tasks that need to be completed at house B
• Add some rest and lunch breaks in the task list
• Review task lists to minimize wasted time and ensure everyone stays busy
• Reserve moving van
• Schedule friends to help move
• Schedule necessary tools for house A and house B (electric screwdrivers, hex wrenches, pliers, moving dollies, moving carts)
• Pick up moving van

• Color code rooms to follow the room maps
• Post room maps at house A and house B
• Post task lists at house A and house B
• Pick up moving van

• Work on one task at a time until complete
• If all tasks are complete go to wrap-up
• Continue moving

Even though the SMART scenario looks like it’s more work to do, it actually goes more smoothly.  Each task was done in the order it needed to be and there wasn’t any confusion about what needed to be done next.  As for parallel processing, that is left for the planner of the moving event.

Here are a few hints for making your move work more smoothly:

• Depending on how many people you have to help, you can have a disassemble/assemble team.
• You can have a team move stuff to the load-staging area.
• You can have a team loading the van.

Slow down and be S.M.A.R.T. is a post from: Words of Wisdom by MrWes thank you for reading my blog.

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1. My thoughts on moving
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Finally, we had a celebration in the stadium, there was music presented by the Air Force Rock Band Mobility, Venture Drum and Bugle Corps, San Francisco Boys Choir and an acrobatics group called Kinetic Arts Center.

The Jamboree was a great opportunity for all scouts in Northern California to get together and celebrate this great organization.

NorCal 100-year Jamboree is a post from: Words of Wisdom by MrWes thank you for reading my blog.

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The scientists keep talking about this thing called a carbon footprint.  In a nutshell, carbon footprint refers to the greenhouse gas emissions associated with using a product or incurred during the production of a product.

Examples of carbon footprints:

• Transportation – use of any mode of transportation that emits gases into the atmosphere.
• Production of consumer goods – which consumes energy in the manufacture and delivery processes(electricity, transportation).
• Farming of livestock – which produces methane, one of the greenhouse gases.

For a detailed description of greenhouse gases, visit the EPA webwsite  http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/

Have you ever considered how much carbon you’re responsible for generating each year?  The other day I was curious about how I contribute to the problem and if there was anything I could do to reduce or offset my own output. So I used these helpful sites.

There are also some carbon calculators for the iPhone.  Just search for “carbon” in the App Store.

Some of these calculators provide suggestions for things you can do to offset your carbon footprint by reducing your carbon emissions.

Examples of carbon footprint offset:

• Drive less – plan your trips
• Car pool
• Use public transportation
• Drive a lower-emission/higher-MPG car
• Replace incandescent bulbs with CFL or LED bulbs.  They may initially cost a little more, but over the long run they reduce your energy use, thus saving money.
• Purchase only Energy Star compliant products

For more ideas visit http://www.energystar.gov

I think the major thing we can do to offset our personal carbon footprint is to reduce or eliminate our use of fossil fuels.  In addition to reducing greenhouse gas emisisons, we need to plant more trees to help offset carbon dioxide production.  Personally, I try to plant new trees each year. 

There are more ways to be involved.  Many organizations have been created for the sole purpose of preserving forests and planting more trees.  To find these organizations do a search on the internet for Carbon Offset.  You might find that your local power company or conservation group has a program that you can join.

Go Green.  Get involved.  Make a difference.

Offset your carbon footprint is a post from: Words of Wisdom by MrWes thank you for reading my blog.

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While outside, we heard several bag-pipe bands play,  always one of my favorite parts of the fair.  We also visited the historical reenactment village.  The weather the night before was quite wet, so everyone was walking around the puddles and muddy areas.  The whole experience makes you stop and think, how did the people of that period handle the weather.

This year we decided to listen to some of the less well known acts to see what was new. We listened to Golden Bough and one act that we really liked was Nine-8ths Irish from Sacramento, California.

There was so much to see and hear that we didn’t get a chance to see it all.  If you are ever looking for something to do around St. Patricks Day weekend, then make the effort to attend the Sonora Celtic Faire.

One band that wasn’t there, and that I really missed, was Tempest.  If you’re like me & you missed their performance, check out the Tempest Tour Dates

Tempest will be in Modesto on Saturday June 5 at the MODESTO HIGHLAND GAMES in Tuolumne River Regional Park, Modesto, California. St. Andrews Society

Sonora Celtic Faire 2010 is a post from: Words of Wisdom by MrWes thank you for reading my blog.

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This isn’t an exhaustive list, but I think it hits the main fairs, faires and festivals that are happening nearby.

Faires & Festivals around the 209 area code in 2010 is a post from: Words of Wisdom by MrWes thank you for reading my blog.

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Best tools for moving

• Movers’ dolly (aka furniture dolly) – for moving really heavy things. As long as they have a good solid surface underneath, this is the workhorse for most movers
• Forearm forklift – http://www.forearmforklift.com/ I learned about this product a few years ago, when I received a new refrigerator.  The delivery guys, walked in with the refrigerator, not using your appliance dolly, but using the Forearm forklift.  If the furniture isn’t too heavy and kind of tall, the forearm forklift might just do the trick for you.
• Appliance dolly – for moving things like refrigerators, washers & dryers

Any time I help someone move, they usually have the appliance dolly.  I bring the forearm forklift and a couple of movers’ dollies to make my life easier.  About the only thing that movers’ dollies and Forearm forklift or appliance dollies don’t work on are big bulky furniture such as couches.  I’m still looking for a solution to that one.  I’m planning to check out the Shoulder Dolly http://www.shoulderdolly.com/ in the future.  It looks like it might be easier to use than the forearm forklift.

Best tools for moving is a post from: Words of Wisdom by MrWes thank you for reading my blog.

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At past events I have been so busy taking pictures of other people that I forgot to get a few pictures of me having fun with everyone else. When you’re at an event, most people don’t normally say to themselves, gee, maybe I should take a picture of myself with the group. Or maybe I should ask someone else to take some pictures for a while. I think from now on, I will make it a point to be in 4 or 5 pictures. Maybe, at least, I need to get digital copies from the other photographers at the event.

How about you? Do you make it into the pictures on your camera? What methods do you use to get in your pictures? How do you remember to get in your own pictures? I look forward to your comments.

Do you include yourself in photographs? is a post from: Words of Wisdom by MrWes thank you for reading my blog.

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Let me know if you are planning to attend too.

Upcoming Techie Events is a post from: Words of Wisdom by MrWes thank you for reading my blog.

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Support our Crew, get Pre-sale tickets.  Don’t forget purchasing 4 or more adult tickets at a time will get you a group discount $30 per person.

Please Contact Ward Shelley (209) 612-2057 to purchase tickets.

I believe in the power of Social Networking, let him know that MrWes sent you.

Fund-Raiser:5th Annual Crab / Tri-tip Feed Feb 13th, 2010 is a post from: Words of Wisdom by MrWes thank you for reading my blog.

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