Do you recognize the time that you're motoring along 'doing your job' and you lose track of time because you're enjoying it so much? You're using your skills, knowledge and experience to make things happen. You clearly see the path that you're on and the destination you're moving toward with a project, thought, communication or other activity. You forget to eat until someone invites you to join them for lunch. You use your dnd (do not disturb) button on your phone and enjoy gaining momentum as you get in the zone of the thing that your mind is doing.

What part of your job causes this focus and pleasure?

How can you do more of that?

This an especially pressing question if you don't enjoy the whole 'package' of going to work. Focus on those things that are easy to get wrapped up doing and do one of two things, or do both. Design an evolution of your job to include more of the things you passionately enjoy. Propose it to your manager. NOTE: when presenting it to your manager focus on what the benefit are for him, the team, and the company. Sure, this is your dream job, or moving toward your dream job, but that should be a small justification for your proposal to her.

Second, look around your company and other companies for positions that 'require' more of what your favorite functions are. If you like leadership positions such as project management or meeting facilitation, look for positions that have a lot of that activity.

If it's individual contribution that makes you smile more when you're at work. Define that and how you can find more of it - in your job, altered responsibilities, or new responsibilities.

There is no reason to stay in a job you don't enjoy entirely for a length of time. It might be required that you endure this imbalance of good parts and bad parts. It's up to you to develop what you're doing and what you'll do in the future to be more of the good parts. Imagine waking up and anticipating going to work because of the things you'll accomplish and activities you'll engage in. That'll be productive for everyone. Go for it!

Why do you do what you do? Why wouldn't you do it a more streamlined a.k.a. productive way? One of the fun moments when I'm working with a client one-on-one is when I ask, "Why do you do it that way?" and they answer, "Because I never thought of that option!"

Since I'm an outsider I am constantly viewing things through my lenses. Given that my point of view is trained in efficiency, some lean principles, simplicity, and effectiveness…. I'm always looking for ways to eliminate waste, create systems, and improve processes.

For example, Rich had all the files related to establishing his business right in his desk. The company has been up and running for 4+ years. Those documents are no longer accessed regularly so I asked him, "Rich, why do you keep these close you when you rarely use them anymore?" Rich said, "Well, they've always been there since I started the company and I just didn't think about moving them into farther reaches since we're in full swing." The files related to the incorporation of the business and ongoing legal documents are now in a credenza on the other side of his office. The result: Rich's desk now has room for files related to the things that he does daily and weekly.

So the question is: Why wouldn't you invite an outsider with fresh perspective to ask, "How about modifying how you do things?"

Millions of dollars of time are invested in meetings. Bad meetings mean lots of wasted money. Bad meetings mean diminished morale. Is this problem worse than email domination? I'm not sure but it's up there on the list of things that ruin people's work day.

It's seldom that I review my consulting work with you. Today is one of those rare days. That's because this is a vivid situation that I'd like to share with you and explore over a number of articles here. I'm passionate about stopping waste and especially passionate about stopping waste of such a limited and precious resource as time.

Let's start with the characteristics of bad meetings. There are lots of them. Here are my top 5:

• No agenda
• An agenda that isn't followed
• Starting late and running late
• One person dominating the meeting
• Making everyone hear material again while a latecomer is briefed
• Lack of follow-through (I know, this is #6 but I couldn't pick any to leave off)

What's on your list?

Here's the calculation. This organization has between 6,000 and 7,000 employees. If we can save each one from a badly-run one-hour meeting once a week the savings for the company is in the range of $2,750,000 per year. If we can save them from two one-hour meetings, well, this is an urgently needed improvement.

Going beyond the value of the time saved will be increased productivity. While people are out of meetings they'll actually be getting their work done. And, not having to prepare for wasteful meeting frees up even more time and lightens the workload burden.

And best of all, these employees will be happier. Happy employees mean productive employees. Morale will get a boost when employees feel heard, feel like they're contributing, and determine their time is applied satisfactorily (rather than wasted in some meetings).

It's curious that well run, well prepared meetings seem to be the exception rather than the rule. How is it in the company where you work? Comment below so we can start talking about this meeting culture.

The sound of water is soothing to almost anyone. This weekend seek the water and enjoy the calming and rejuvenating effects. Here are ways to hear the gurgling of moving water, to enjoy cool water running over your feet, and to enjoy the weightlessness of full immersion. Enjoy one or two and schedule a more involved outing for the near future…

• Go to a stream or brook nearby. Wear water shoes, crocs or sandals and walk right up the middle – or the side where the water reaches to the middle of your calf if it's deep. If you get inspired to sit and let the water surround you… go for it!
• Go fishing!
• Sleep on a friend's boat. Someone you know may have a boat docked at a marina within an hour or two drive. If there is a little breeze or movement the sound of the water lapping on the side of the boat is what we're after.
• Buy a small water feature for inside your home. Fountains can be found at home stores like Bed Bath & Beyond or hardware stores like Home Depot & Lowe's.
• Install a medium or large water feature in your garden. This will be strenuous at first and give years of the most appealing background sounds. It will probably attract peeper frogs and other 'wildlife'. Be sure it's moving water or the mosquitoes will breed in the still water.
• Take a bath! Most tubs are rarely used – enjoy yours with some bubbles and lavender scent.
• Sit on a porch during a rain shower.
• Borrow or rent some inner tubes and float on a river, creek, lake, pond or in the waves.

What's your favorite way to enjoy the sound of water? Leave a comment to let us know!

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R & R (rest & rejuvenation) are the intentions behind the Friday at 5:00 entries. Often these are inexpensive and low key because you recharging your batteries can be more easily achieved without running around and doing, doing, doing. Your productivity is rooted in your energy being high. Your energy being high is rooted in recreation!

Chances are that you put a great number of your creations in just a few folders. If you're on a Windows machine, have I got a shortcut for you! You can put those popular folders right in the 'Look in:' box. (I will be referring to the image below throughout this post. Double click on it to see an enlarged and readable version.) The 'Look In:' box is pointed to by the Red Arrow in the illustration.

Setting things up this way will speed your saving and retrieving whatever it is you put in folders – mind maps, documents, pictures, etc.

Here's how to do it in 2007:

1. From a program type file open (alt-f o)
2. Highlight the folder you want to put in the Look In Box by clicking on it
3. Move the mouse on top of one of the current locations. In the picture that could be over My Documents.
4. Right click.
5. Select the top choice 'add highlighted folder'
6. You're done

In 2003 follow these steps:

1. From a program type File Open (alt-f o)
2. Highlight the folder you want to put in the Look In Box by clicking on it
3. Click on the tools drop down (labeled in pink in the illustration)
4. Click on 'add to my places'
5. You're done

After you add a few folders you can right click on them and move them up so the order makes the most sense to you – either alphabetic or perhaps from most frequently used to least.

Does this streamline things for you?

Do you have 2, 4, or 7 boxes of pasta in the pantry?
Do you shop at Sam's Warehouse, Costco or BJs and buy things in bulk?
What's in the freezer? Pounds of meat? Bags of shrimp? Containers of leftovers? Packages of frozen veggies?

How long could you prepare meals using the stuff in your cupboards, freezer and pantry? If it's more than a week take the challenge – eat out of your pantry until you're just about empty.

Here are the guidelines:

1. You start a menu with something that you have on hand. Let's say it's a can of chick peas, potatoes, rice, onions, frozen green beans, chutney, bananas that are starting to turn brown and frozen chicken breast.
2. You decide to make a dish or menu using those items. Let's say chicken curry with the items above.
3. Put the extra ingredients you need to make the dish on your shopping list. Let's say you need diced tomatoes to finish the ingredient list.
4. You purchase that item when you grocery shop for perishables like milk and fresh fruit.
5. You make the curry and use all those things out of your stores. And, let's say you savor every bite!

Go to the top and start at 1. Again with another pantry item.

Repeat until the cupboards, freezer, and other extras are almost gone.

For fun mark your calendar with the date you start this project. Mark it again when you're doing a replenish the staples shop which you don't do until you think, "I feel like Old Mother Hubbard with Bare Shelves."

The benefits of doing this:

• You'll use ingredients before they go bad or expire saving guilt & money
• You'll be creative and resourceful – be proud of yourself
• You'll be eating well! – enough said
• You might lose weight – depends on what type of recipes you choose, doesn't it!?

I've been doing this for 8 weeks so far. I think I have 4 weeks more to finish using most of these extras.

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R & R (rest & rejuvenation) are the intentions behind the Friday at 5:00 entries. Often these are inexpensive and low key because you recharging your batteries can be more easily achieved without running around and doing, doing, doing. Your productivity is rooted in your energy being high. Your energy being high is rooted in recreation!

At the Productivity Café we're always sending the message about being streamlined, right-sized, eliminating waste, and having a great life. Sometime that message is overt. Sometime it is sublime. Today I watched a video that brings the impact of not being these things into the spot light. I think it's a must-see. So, go here when you have 20 minutes: www.storyofstuff.com. Warning: this is a big dose of reality - - it can be overwhelming.

Here are a few things I learned while watching:

• A full 99% of things manufactured or created are 'in the dump' 6 months after the process began.
• The 4 major activities we engage in are: work, sleep, watch tv, shop.
• We get over 3,000 messages a day saying 'You're broken, we have the thing to fix you, buy it!'
• Those who are part of production are often paying the cost of getting the product to you by sacrificing health care, wages, and more. That's why a radio costs only $5.99.

Comment below with what impacts you!