Cut to the Chase: And 99 Other Rules to Liberate Yourself and Gain Back the Gift of Time Book

Preface     xiii
Start Now!
Cut to the Chase     1
Just start     3
Get in early and go home on time     5
I got it     7
The first twenty minutes     9
You're killing me     11
Get over it     13
It's not always about you     15
What's keeping you up at night?     17
Don't hide your passion     19
Think Clearly
Start with the end in mind     21
Focus on one thing at a time     23
Organize yourself first     25
Assumptions kill     27
Think in bullets     29
Trust your gut     31
Predict how long things will take     33
Tailor your message to your audience     35
What's been going better lately-and why?     38
Speed Up
Explode out of the blocks     41
Every second counts     43
Know how things really get done     45
Build momentum     47
Make sure your handoffs are clean     50
Bag consensus     52
Break through silos     54
Appeal to their enlightened self-interest     56
Measure twice, cut once     58
Close the loop     60
Call an audible     62
Beat change to the punch     64
To speed up, slow down     66
Be Direct
Teach people how to use your time     69
Treat others' time as you would your own     71
Know what's being asked of you     73
If you want something, ask for it     75
Tell them if the baby is ugly     77
Cut to the chase without drawing blood     79
Make sure everyone has the map     81
Tell them what's on the test     83
Know your work style-and theirs     85
Clear the air     87
Cut the bull     89
Create a "no loitering" zone     91
You can't please everyone     93
Meet Smarter
People hate meetings for a reason     95
Every conversation should have a purpose     97
120 seconds and out     99
Know when you're not needed     101
Master the ten-minute meeting     103
Count noses     105
Stay on course     107
Don't grandstand     109
Have a meeting before the meeting     111
Debrief     113
Stay in touch      115
Master the graceful exit     118
Recognize when it's all been said     120
Move Forward
Look at the big picture     121
Know your weaknesses, but play to your strengths     123
Think three moves ahead     125
Know when your career is stuck     127
Make opportunity happen     129
Delegate     131
Life is a negotiation     133
Know when to wait     135
Know when not to wait     137
If you need a drummer, hire a drummer     139
Don't be afraid to hire people you're going to lose     141
Cut Back
Decide what not to do     143
Addition by subtraction     145
Rip it in half     147
The highlighter is mightier than the sword     149
A picture is worth a thousand words     151
Tell a story     153
On it. Pending. Done     155
...To get to the other side     157
Weed out your reading pile     159
TMI (too much information)     161
Good enough is good enough     163
Watch Out
Your time is your life     165
Don't let your BlackBerry become a CrackBerry      167
Avoid toxic people     169
Don't let distractions derail you     171
Don't hang in the door and chat     173
Cut down on the fire drills     175
Know when you're stuck     177
When you hear something once, pay attention. When you hear it twice, act     179
If you sense trouble, do something     181
Procrastination takes years off your life     183
Don't confuse activity with accomplishment     185
Don't make the same mistake twice     187
Sweat the small stuff     189
Find Balance
Don't let a difficult coworker dominate your life     191
Manage your personal life as well as your professional life     193
Renew yourself every day     195
Take back the weekend     197
Turn the page     199
Know when to put the book down     201
A bottle of wine, a cut flower     203
Move past the page and into action     205
Calendar     207