Category: 1-Minute Strategy

One good way to really wake up your reader, no matter how dry the topic of your document, is to very occasionally drop a paragraph consisting of a single sentence between two larger bodies of text. It can provide a dramatic jolt and create a quick, laser-like focus on the topic of that sentence.

Sending an electronic thank-you note is never quite as classy as a paper note or card, but there’s one way to make your gratitude stand out: Create a memorable subject line that’ll pop up impressively in their inbox. Instead of just “Thank you for your gift” or “We appreciate you going the extra mile,” which […]

Let’s face it: It’s not enough to just turn your cellphone off and try to ignore it. As long as it’s within arm’s reach, you know you’re going to check it too often at work. To solve this, create an intentionally inconvenient “holding pen” for it, a place in your cubicle that’s not at all […]

Most people are so busy just making a living that their company’s place in the public eye isn’t very important to them. But once in a while, it’s good to take a few minutes to Google the company you work for. Read up on what others have to say about it and who is noticing […]

So life is getting a little stale and you’re looking for inspiration. When you don’t feel like dragging yourself to meetups or spending money on travel, try this: Go to a bookstore and walk not to the shelves, but to the magazine section. Get an eyeful of the dozens of niche publications created for unusual […]

While it’s great to do some serious dusting once in a while, there’s one area of your office that probably needs a cleaning more than any other: your computer network. It doesn’t take long for it to become a cluttered maze of superfluous and forgotten folders, subfolders and useless files. Set aside a day for […]

If you don’t know too many people at work but would like to, here’s a way to make them come to you: Festoon your desk and cubicle walls with evidence of your hobbies and personal interests. The more specific your displays, the more likely someone will stop by in passing to chat you up about […]

If you have a tendency to push things off until the last minute, don’t be too hard on yourself. Setting a laser-like focus on a particular task when a deadline is far away is a skill many of us just don’t have, and waiting till crunch time is a natural way to be pushed into […]

Living the office life means you’re going to sign a lot of special occasion cards for fellow employees. You don’t have to be a standup comic or drive-by philosopher when the card is passed your way, but be aware that only signing “Best wishes” again and again does make it seem like you care not […]

You might be able to save another walk down the hallway to talk to the folks in IT by realizing how much your Internet browser is affecting the things you see on the screen, and even the tasks you’re attempting. Switching between Firefox, Chrome, Internet Explorer, etc. when you encounter a problem with any online […]