Aspects of Offshore Outsourcing to Ukraine
by Ihor Pidruchny
(the article was written by Softheme's top management and reflects ten years experience in IT outsourcing)
Though Eastern Europe occupies only near 5% of world offshoring industry, it shows the highest growth. While the average growth within nearest 3 years will count 25%, Eastern Europe is expected to show nearly 35%.
This, combined with high level of IT services based on strong educational system and scientific heritage of the country, attracts many US, European and other clients to the Ukrainian offshore market. This article aims to depict few aspects of offshoring to Ukraine. We will show you how you can make the whole process of launching the development center or establishing relations with outsourcing services provider with less risks and money & time expenses.
Advantages of Offshoring to Ukraine
Offshoring to Ukraine has several strong advantages.
First of all, Ukraine's culture is very close to Western values, and it was forming during centuries when Ukraine was the trading and therefore cultural cross road between West and East. Secondly, people who work in IT industry fluently speak English, and some of them also know German, French and Italian, which helps maintaining clear communications with clients from many countries abroad.
As it was noticed before, Ukraine is a country with strong education system and scientific infrastructure, and it lies in the depth of Ukrainian culture: Ukrainian mental schemes presumes digging into the nature of things, establishing unvivid connections and correlations, following intensive way of development instead of extensive. This is especially important in IT, and most of offshoring clients remark the ability of Ukrainian engineers to mine new knowledge and find unobvious solutions to diverse problems. This means that work offshored to Ukraine can have higher intellectual level, which makes offshoring more intensive and therefore profitable.
Major Ukrainian cities have well developed infrastructure, which enables quick entrance onto the market without capital investments.
Disatvantages of Ukrainian Offshoring
Nevertheless, the coin has its back side. Reading about unfavourable areas, you'll also find our recommendations how to reduce risks and even step into more favourable conditions where others prefer not to operate.
Well developed infrastructure is limited only by major cities. Others don't have direct airline communication and modern hotels which can make your staying less comfortable. If you decide to explore any regional cities of Ukraine, you'll have to traavel by bus or train, and either rent an apartment for yourself or live in old hotels which are not marked with any stars. Despite this, we possess the examples of offshore development centers located in smaller (not main) cities and towns of Ukraine which help to reduce costs of ODC operating. Such cities are Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk and others. Every of such cities have one or few technical universities where quite strong IT specialists graduate.
Prices could be a disadvantage, too. Hourly rates vary from $15 to $30 and in many cases purchasing offshoring services in Ukraine makes no sence. On the other side, the rates are quite respective to the level of services, and the company wins when redirects more complicated projects and more intellectually complicated tasks to Ukrainian developers.
Bureacratic barriers is another disadvantage, if you decide to launch your own offshore development center. There will be issues concerning taxation, salaries and other things, which are usual to Ukraine but unusual for foreigners. In this case you will have to hire a good specialist on bookkeeping and corporate finance to guide you through relations with governmental organizations with minimum concerns.
Establishing Offshore Development Center
Launching ODC is a good choice for middle and big IT companies with annual turnover of $50 mln and more. Some aspects to which you should pay attention are:
* Property prices. Property market is highly speculative in Ukraine. As of April 2007, prices for purchasing office properties is $2,300 per square meter, for rent - $30+ per square meter per month.
* Situation on HR market. Workforce market demonstrates high intensivity. Much time is needed to find appropriate specialists and you'll have little time for decision making about every candidate due to high demand for IT sector specialists. Therefore you'll have to provide candidates with attractive promise including both material and non-material compensation and stimulation.
Finding an Offshore Outsourcing Service Provider
Finding a outsourcing company in Ukraine is a good solution when you want to minimize your investments and risks with high quality of services. Companies which give feedback about working with Ukrainian developers emphasize that at equally high level of final products communication style, management approaches and processes transparency play an important role in the total cost of each project. Offshore outsourcing suppliers pay more and more attention to how business processes are held in the providing company. Side by side with high technical quality, not all companies follow the paradigm of client-oriented management which can yield to additional risks. We recommend to pay attention to such issues:
* Is there a particluar person responsible for the communication processes in the company (account manager) and the final result?
* How staff is treated in the company? Due to great demand for IT specialists inadequate HR policy could cause to workforce flow.
* Transparency and accessibility of both top management and every team of the project. Transparency of team structure.
Comparing Ukraine to Other Global Offshoring Areas
Eastern Europe in all and particularly Ukraine has found its niche in the global offshore outsourcing market. It became to win in quality and "intellectuality" of provided services compared to the services. Due to culture which is closest to Western values, rising quality of management and constatly high level of software development Ukrainian hourly rates, which vary between $15 and $30, rise the total profitability of offshoring to Ukraine. Definitely, Ukraine cannot compete in price segment of India and South-East Asia, where rates are $8+, but it becomes strong in the mid-price segment of software development market with high level management, staff involvement and return on investment into human development mix.
Learn more about successful IT outsourcing:
http://www.softheme.com/component/option,com_frontpage/Itemid,1/src,5/
About The Author
I Love Italian Wine and Food - The Trentino-Alto Adige Region
I Love Italian Wine and Food - The Trentino-Alto Adige Region
by Levi Reiss
If you are looking for fine Italian wine and food, consider the Trentino-Alto Adige region of northern Italy. You may find a bargain, and I hope that you�ll have fun on this fact-filled wine education tour.
Trentino-Alto Adige is located in the center of Italy�s northern border. It touches both Switzerland and Austria. Among its tourist attractions are the Dolomite mountains, called �the most beautiful work of architecture even seen� by the famous architect Le Corbusier, glacier lakes, and Alpine forests. In fact the region is composed of two parts, Trentino in the south and Alto Adige in the north. Alto Adige belonged to the Austro-Hungarian Empire for centuries, where it was known as S�dtirol. Like many other parts of Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige was often invaded. Unlike most other parts of Italy, this area is officially bilingual; a sizable portion of its population about 925 thousand is German speaking.
Trentino-Alto Adige has plentiful forests, and the hillsides are covered with fruit trees. This is Italy�s major apple-producing region. Only about 15% of the land can be cultivated. Agricultural products include corn, wheat, oats, barley, and rye. In addition to beef and dairy cattle, mining and manufacturing are prevalent.
Trento is the administrative center of Trentino and Bolzano is the administrative center of Alto Adige. Both are tourist towns. Trentino was the site of the Council of Trent lasting almost twenty years in the middle of the 16th Century with a major impact on the Catholic Church. Both these cities, and many others in the region, have numerous churches and secular sites of interest to tourists.
Trentino-Alto Adige devotes about thirty thousand acres to grapevines, it ranks 16th among the 20 Italian regions. Its total annual wine production is about 25 million gallons, giving it a 14th place. About 55% of the wine production is red or ros�, leaving 45% for white. The region produces 8 DOC wines. DOC stands for Denominazione di Origine Controllata, which may be translated as Denomination of Controlled Origin, presumably a high-quality wine. A whopping 79.1% of Trentino-Alto Adige wine carries the DOC designation, by far the highest percentage in Italy. Trentino-Alto Adige is home to almost four dozen major and secondary grape varieties, about half white and half red.
Widely grown international white grape varieties include Gew�rtztraminer, Pinot Bianco, often called Pinot Blanc outside of Italy, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, often called Pinot Gris outside of Italy, Sylvaner, and M�ller-Thurgau. In fact, some say Gew�rtztraminer originated in the Alto-Adige town of Termeno, known as Tramin in German. Italian white varieties include Nosiola, and Moscato Giallo, Trentino-Alto Adige�s version of the international Moscato (Muscat) grape.
Widely grown international red grape varieties include Pinot Nero, called Pinot Noir outside of Italy, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The best known strictly Italian red varieties are Schiava, Lagrein, Teroldego, and Marzemino.
Before reviewing the Trentino-Alto Adige wine and cheese that we were lucky enough to purchase at a local wine store and a local Italian food store, here are a few suggestions of what to eat with indigenous wines when touring this beautiful region.
Start with Ravioli della Val Pusteria, Rye Pasta with Spinach and Caraway Seeds. Then try Gulasch de Manzo, Beef, Potato, Onion, and Paprika Stew.
For dessert indulge yourself with Krapfen Tirolesi, Fried Pastry with Marmalade and Powdered Sugar. Did you notice that these specialties seem as Austrian as Italian?
OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY While we have communicated with well over a thousand Italian wine producers and merchants to help prepare these articles, our policy is clear. All wines that we taste and review are purchased at the full retail price.
Wine Reviewed
Concilio Pinot Nero Reserva 2002 12.5% alcohol about $15
I�ll start by quoting the marketing materials: �Pretty aromas of strawberry, pepper and earth lead to flavors that are soft and velvety. Good varietal characteristics demonstrated here in ths light-to-medium bodied, long finishing wine. Match to a grilled salmon or tuna.
And now for my thoughts. This wine has a cherry and tobacco nose and is mildly acidic. It tastes of tobacco. The wine is round, mouth-filling and somewhat robust. It is a bit older than most of the wines in this series, and frankly, it shows. Like many Pinot Noirs, it tasted of earth.
Once in a while I follow the producer�s suggestions. I felt this Pinot Noir was an excellent accompaniment to a grilled Atlantic salmon with steamed asparagus. The fish brought out the wine�s fruit flavors, and the wine did a great job of cutting the fish�s fattiness. I still remember the first time that I drank a Pinot Noir (Oregon, I believe) with salmon at the suggestion of a excellent fish restaurant. It�s a great combination when both the fish and the wine are high quality. I ended this meal with almond milk chocolate, washed down with a bit of wine. This latter combination is not classical, but the result was more than satisfactory.
My next tasting included beef stew and potatoes, zucchini and onions in a tomato sauce, and a commercially prepared moderately spicy �Turkish� salad based on red pepper, tomato, and onion. The wine was round, mouth-filling, a bit complex. The dominant taste was tobacco. But I was disappointed, the wine was short.
Asiago is a cheese whose characteristics differ widely depending on where it is made, and its aging. I happen to love a local Asiago that my neighborhood supermarket carries once in a while. It is relatively sharp. I am told that Wisconsin Asiago cheese typically has butterscotch undertones. The imported Asiago tasted with this wine was nutty and pleasantly acidic, but frankly not as good as the local version. The cheese brought out the earthy characteristics of the Pinot Noir. Interestingly enough, the wine immediately changed its flavor and became more acidic in the presence of a commercially prepared roasted butternut squash dip.
In a close call, my initial reaction was not to purchase this wine again. Then I changed my mind, I would purchase it again, but be quite careful in pairing the wine. There is a simple solution, serve it with a grilled, preferably Atlantic, salmon.
About The Author
5 Natural Stress Relief Techniques for Children
5 Natural Stress Relief Techniques for Children
by Michael Atma
Is your child stressed out? Some people think only adults experience stress, but it affects our children too. Here's how to help your child manage their emotions.
We often view our kids as happy-go-lucky beings without a care. But children can also experience stress. Not only do they get anxious about things in their own young world--school, friends, peer pressure--but they also can be deeply affected by outside factors such as war, natural disasters and other unsettling world events.
In fact, the list of contributors to childhood stress can be quite long. Many stressors are the result of family problems, like divorce, a death or a parent's job loss but there are also less obvious triggers such as moving to a new city or the birth of a new sibling.
As a parent, you can become attuned to what's a normal amount of anxiety for your child and what is not. If you notice anything out of the ordinary, use the following tools to help your child handle it better.
Tuning into Anxiety Attack symptoms
1. Tune in to their moods.
Pay attention to your child's behavior. Take the time to talk to your child to get to the root of the problem. Ask questions like "How are you feeling?" "What's happening at school?" or "How are things with your friends?"
When you show concern for their problems and issues, it's reassuring to them and they'll be more responsive to that attention.
2. Watch the same shows they do.
If you have younger children, you certainly don't want them watching the doom and gloom of daily news shows. Children's minds are like sponges in they absorb almost everything they see or hear.
They are especially sensitive to negative energy, pain or suffering. Shows like the news can be traumatizing and anxiety-producing for younger children.
It's important to discuss with them what they've seen. You can't tell them that it's never going to happen to them but you can say,"We're going to do everything we can to protect you". It's also a good idea to let them know whom to call and what to do in case of an emergency.
3. Focus on the positive.
There is obviously no way a child can be shielded from a major trauma such as a death in the family, a house fire or a natural disaster. Instead, help children count their blessings. Comfort and reassure them by saying, "We're strong and we're going to make it." "And as difficult as it may be, try to maintain everyday routines.
For many young victims of floods or fire, for example, going back to school, even in another city, can help bring some normalcy back to their disrupted lives. What can also help is to make sure children have positive outlets like physical activity, going to the movies or spending time with friends.
4. Lead by example.
Children often learn to deal with stress by mimicking how you respond in challenging times. Even if you don't tell your child that you're about to be laid off from your job or that you're worried that your marriage is on the verge of breaking up, they can still pick up on your stress.
They may not understand the underlying causes but they can hear the strained tone and elevated volume of your voice,which gives them the message that something's going on that may affect them too.
That's why it's so important to show them good coping skills. If you light a cigarette, have a drink, or use foul language when you're under pressure, your little one may internalize that as a coping method.
Instead, model healthy behavior during difficult times, such as writing in a journal, de-stressing in a hot bath, sharing how you feel
without blaming, or taking a walk.
5. Instill confidence.
When children are young, there are times when you will have to come to their defense and help them handle tough situations. But as they get older, you also have to let them champion themselves, which builds their confidence in their ability to resolve problems on their own.
One of your missions as a parent is to know when to step in and when to stand back. Your response will depend on the child's temperament, maturity and the situation.
For example, your third grader may be able to confront a taunting classmate on their own, but a serious case of bullying may warrant your intervention.
Still, always make sure your child knows you've got their back. Tell them, "Try it on your own first,but if you need help,let me know and I'll be there."
To Your Great Life and Health...
About The Author
Michael Atma had helped thousands of people to enjoy the benefits of natural stress relief that meditation brings. Michael has developed "The Ultimate Relaxation Program" which includes his highly acclaimed stress relief CD � The Ultimate Relaxation!
FREE details:=> http://www.theultimaterelaxation.com
Stuck For Gift Ideas To Fill Your Mans Stocking This Christmas?
Stuck For Gift Ideas To Fill Your Mans Stocking This Christmas?
by Sarah hague
Stuck for gift ideas to fill your mans stocking this Christmas? www.find-me-a-gift.co.uk has the answer to your Christmas gift and gadget needs!
With over 1000 gift ideas for men, women & children Find-me-a-gift.com
� Secure ordering
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� Same day dispatch for all orders placed before 3pm
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Below is a few of our favourite stocking fillers for men this Christmas.
Racing grannies - Possibly the best wind-up toy ever invented, the Racing Grannies are to geriatric speedway what Ferrari is to Formula One. As anyone who has been on the receiving end of a Zimmer-frame will know, grannies are formidable movers with legendary stamina, and these delightful wind-ups are testament to their endurance. With expressions of steely determination and complete with go-faster cardigans, these two are just a few winds away from the race of their lives. It's time to have your own Grand National! http://www.find-me-a-gift.co.uk/racing-grannies.html
Arse Face Soap - Arse Face Soap is a hilarious bar of soap that's sure to add some fun to your bathroom. Arse Face Soap is a generous size with a fresh scent; clearly stating which side of the soap should be hygienically used for certain areas of your body!
This is a very funny gift for guys who do not have cleanliness at the top of their priority list and, let's face it; there are a lot of them out there.http://www.find-me-a-gift.co.uk/gifts-for-men/personal-gift/arse-face-soap.html
Jim�ll fix it badge - If you grew up in the '70 or '80 chances are that you grew up watching Jimmy Savile on the BBC's Jim'll Fix It show. Every week thousand of hopeful kids and grown ups alike would put pen to paper and compose their begging letters: "Dear Jim, will you fix it for me to spend a night in an igloo / be a pantomime horse / drive a crane... (You get the idea)" The show often received over 3,000 letters a day! Jim would "fix it" for several lucky children's wishes to come true each week, this usually involved such treats as watching a troupe of Cub Scouts eating their entire packed lunch on a roller coater (and then being sick!) or similar, and finally the lucky participants would be presented with a "Jim fixed it for me" medal, the famous Jim'll Fix It Badge! Well now after all these years we can finally put things right... in association with Sir Jimmy Savile himself... Jim'll Fix It Soap On A Rope (or a ribbon to more accurate), just like the real thing only crafted from finest soap!http://www.find-me-a-gift.co.uk/jim-ll-fix-it-soap-on-a-rope.html
USB cup warmer - In case you didn't know, the USB Cup Warmer is the hottest thing to hit the office since the water cooler. Pun intended, folks. "But what is it?" I hear the simpler of you ask. It's easy. It's a metal plate that plugs into your computer. You put your tea or coffee on it. Your hot drink stays hot. No need for plugs or batteries. Genius. You're not crazy. You like hot drinks and you like to drink them at the intended temperature. Why do your co-workers, friends and family insist on bothering you when you're trying to drink them? I don't know, but I do know that the USB Cup Warmer will mean you never suffer the misfortune of cold hot drinks ever again. The perfect present for yourself or anyone at all! http://www.find-me-a-gift.co.uk/gifts-for-men/work-gift/usb-cup-warmer.html
Ball scratcher - The Executive Ball Scratcher is every gentleman's executive dream. Ball Scratcher's do the one job that the executive gentleman has to do himself: Scratch their balls!http://www.find-me-a-gift.co.uk/gifts-for-men/personal-gift/executives-ball-scratcher.html
Booby stress relievers - The Boob Stress Chest is the brand-new improvement on the classic booby stress reliever. Tired hands? Aching wrists? Stressed out? These boobs will gently soothe your body and mind back to chilled out bliss!http://www.find-me-a-gift.co.uk/gifts-for-men/personal-gift/boob-stress-relievers.html
Pretty Polly � swearing parrot - Good old Not So Pretty Polly. Our boy's living proof that if you shouldn't always say the first thing that pops into your head. You've got to be so careful what you say these days, but luckily for us Polly the Insulting Parrot isn't, and lets them rip with one insensitive and rude wisecrack after another. http://www.find-me-a-gift.co.uk/gifts-for-men/men/not-so-pretty-polly-swearing-parrot.html
Orgasmatron - Orgasmatron Head Massager is truly amazing. It doesn't look much, some say it looks a little weird but it really does give you surprising sensations. Within seconds it can give you goose bumps, hairs on the back of your neck stand up, your spine tingles and you can feel trance states of ecstasy. The feeling the Orgasmatron head massager gives you is pure excitement. Consider it "exercise for the hairs on the back of your neck. "The Orgasmatron's smooth tips glide across the surface of your scalp, sending sparkling sensations thru your entire body.http://www.find-me-a-gift.co.uk/gifts-for-men/personal-gift/orgasmatron-head-massager.html
Potty Putter - Introducing Potty Putter! The toilet time golf game that lets you practice your putting while going to the bathroom. If you're a golfer who can't get enough practice time, then Potty Putter is for you! Now you can sink putts where no one else has sunk them before - in the bathroom!http://www.find-me-a-gift.co.uk/gifts-for-men/men/potty-putter.html
Finger drums - Now you can be the ultimate office enemy.....just keep practicing your drum rolls in important meetings...or when someone is trying to pour their heart out to you!! Fingers are used instead of sticks with this superb tiny electronic drum kit. Each replica drum is touch sensitive and plays a digital drum sound when touched. It even includes a cymbal, and a bass drum with pedal.http://www.find-me-a-gift.co.uk/finger-drums.html
To see our full range of fabulous Christmas gift ideas please click below
http://www.find-me-a-gift.co.uk/
If you need any other information please email me sarah@findmeagift.co.uk
About The Author
Find me a gift ltd is the owner of this article
If you need any further information please contact sarah@findmeagift.com
http://www.find-me-me-a-gift.co.uk
The Duty of Disclosure
The Duty of Disclosure
by Luke Ashworth
The duty is on the insured to disclosure any material fact to the insurer. Basically the insured should know their own details. The life insurance insurer who may know nothing about the insured to begin with can not be expected to ask all the relevant questions. So whilst the insurer should ask sensible questions it is under UK law still incumbent of the insured to advise a material fact.
A material fact is basically any fact which may make an insurer charge more or less premium or a fact which may make the insurer decline or accept the risk or only take the risk subject to additional conditions.
As an insured you can not hide a material fact simply because the insurer did not ask the right question.
So initially the onus is on you to provide all relevant information. However the law is also there to protect you as well. There have been several agreements between the major life insurance insurers and governing bodies and trade associations whereby insurers are required to point out your obligations to advise material facts. Insurers are expected to ask questions about those matters which have commonly proved to be material.
Generally courts would not expect you to disclose a fact which on the face of it would not be considered material on its own. There was a case where a person was having occasional headaches but thought they were just that and did not attribute anything else to the matter. Now an experienced doctor may consider the headaches as perhaps the possible on set of symptoms of a more serious nature and therefore request further investigation. But in that particular case the court held that the insured had no reason to believe the worse. He had no reason to believe that these headaches might be a material fact instead he thought that they were just an occasional headache. The court held that a reasonable man would not be expected to know that the occasional headache might be material. So the insured knew of the fact but would not have been expected to know that it was material.
The courts however considered that an insured whose doctor had sent him to the hospital for a kidney problem should have advised his insurer even if the insured was not aware how serious the situation might have been at the time. The question of materiality was not based on the insured�s ability to judge if the fact was material but on that of the life insurance insurer who had access to professional advice. In this case the insured knew of the fact and we assume also considered that it might be material, but decided to use his judgment on whether or not it was material. Another court case determined that the information is based on the insured�s knowledge and does not require him to make extensive investigation before answering the question.
The duty of disclosure continues until the contract of insurance is concluded. So information that you learn about whilst the proposal form is still being considered should be advised.
So as a general rule advise all details which could be material. It is not your job to decide what might or might not be material. If you learn of something late in the day before the contract is concluded then still advise it. If you do not then the risk is that the policy may not be valid and if a claim was presented it may not get paid.
The author is Keith Clark who acts as a compliance consultant for Free to Work Consultancy. Keith is a Fellow of the Charted Insurance Institute.
This article was written on the 15th February 2007. This article does not represent �financial advice� as each persons individual requirements will be unique to their needs. If there is something in the article which you which to rely on then please check those details with any person from whom you purchase a term life policy at the time of purchase. The views in this article represent those of the author and not those of Netbasic Limited.
About The Author
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Summertime and the Thieving is Easy!
Summertime and the Thieving is Easy!
by Martin Underwood
There is no doubt that the long lazy days of summer perk us all up and put a smile on our faces. No doubt either that the burglar is also perked up by summer because it is the season that many homeowners make things so easy for him.
The summer warmth means that it is time to open up the windows and let the breeze blow through the house. After all you are at home so what risk is there in opening up a window or two? Unfortunately many a homeowner has suddenly made the decision to take advantage of the weather to go out back and attend to a spell of gardening, forgetting that the windows at the front of the house are open.
Along comes Mr. Opportunist burglar. It does not take him long to size up the situation and see his opportunity. He may not even need to climb in through the window, he sees a couple of your items that are close, reaches in and takes them. The thief is not particularly looking for a rich haul, just something he can sell on to a fence to get him his fix for the day.
If he does climb into your home and rummage through your stuff, you will be unlikely to hear him; you are preoccupied with tending to your gladioli and hollyhocks.
Worse than leaving windows open and working in the back yard is making a trip to the store and leaving open windows. You are not safe by leaving upstairs windows open. Some burglars are very agile and it is no problem for them to climb on top of your garage or find some way to get in the window.
Burglars have also been known to climb in the open window of one room while the family sat in front of the TV in another room, no doubt with the sound turned up a little too loud.
Consider fitting window alarm screens. That way you can enjoy air blowing through your home and a good degree of protection. (You should not leave your home with the windows open even with alarm screens.)
Summer is vacation time, the great get-away. And that means more opportunity for the burglar. Before you leave for the big trip arrange with a neighbor that you trust to keep your lawns cut and your garden tidy. Ask you neighbor to pick up your mail and any flyers left in your porch, perhaps even park his or her car in your drive for part of the day. The idea is to make your home appear occupied.
Timer switches are not expensive and can be set to make a good job of switching on and off lights, TV sets and radios. Exterior lights should also be controlled by a timer. Activate your alarm system before you head off and have your home phone divert to your cell phone.
The longer summer days, in some neighborhoods, mean an increase of gangs and groups of teenagers hanging around street corners. Most of these mean no harm but sometimes can get a little rowdy. For others the longer days mean increased vandalism and petty crime. Not much you can do on your own, but by being an active member of your neighborhood watch you help prevent things getting out of hand.
Enjoy the summer, it is over much too soon, just take simple precautions to prevent the burglar from enjoying summer too much.
About The Author
Organizing Your Schedule for Learning How to Accomplish 20 Times as Much
Organizing Your Schedule for Learning How to Accomplish 20 Times as Much
by Donald Mitchell
Many people feel a little lost when they first think about learning how to accomplish 20 times as much with the same time, effort, and resources. Some assume it will take years to master this new discipline. That's not the case: Most people will be able to create their first 2,000 percent solution (accomplishing 20 times as much) with less than 80 hours of individual effort.
In this article, I outline how to focus your attention to accomplish the most as you learn to be more effective.
You will gain the most if you write essays that summarize your learning about accomplishing 20 times as much. The following is an outline of what most people have found to be helpful to them. The suggested schedule assumes that you can devote at least 30 hours a month to this learning. That's an hour a day for most months. If you cannot spend that much time, stretch out this schedule accordingly.
Month 1: Take notes on your personal and organizational stalls (bad habits that delay your progress), potential stallbusters (ways to eliminate bad habits) and possible areas for accomplishing 20 times as much. This reading and thinking will help you begin to eliminate bad habits that are holding you back from accomplishing more. with those bad habits starting to dissolve, it will be easier for you to develop new and more effective habits.
Month 2: Consider in detail how to go through the 8 steps required to make 20 times improvements. These steps are:
1. Understand the importance of measuring performance.
2. Decide what to measure.
3. Identify the future best practice and measure it.
4. Implement beyond the future best practice.
5. Identify the ideal best practice.
6. Pursue the ideal best practice.
7. Select the right people and provide the right motivation.
8. Repeat the first seven steps.
This process will help you pick the right focus for your first 2,000 percent solution and speed your progress in developing that solution and putting it into place.
Month 3: Write four essays.
a. Describe your personal and organizational stalls (1,000-2,000 words)
b. Propose two or more stallbusters for each stall (2,000-3,000 words)
c. Describe a 2,000 percent solution you want to create (1,000 words)
d. Apply the 8-step process to create that solution (3,000-6,000 words)
Month 4: Share your essays with others to obtain comments.
Month 5: Rewrite your essays based on the comments.
Month 6: Begin implementing your solution. Find people who want to learn how to create 2,000 percent solutions.
Months 7-11: Mentor those people who want to learn how to create 2,000 percent solutions through the process you used.
Month 12: Begin repeating the activities of Months 1-5. This is important because you'll create vastly greater effectiveness by repeating the learning process you used for your first 2,000 percent solution.
Month 18: Begin applying your revised 2,000 percent solution.
Month 19: Begin developing a 2,000 percent solution in a second area.
Month 24: Begin implementing your 2,000 percent solution in a second area.
Month 25: Start developing a 2,000 percent solution in a third area.
Set your own schedule from there to keep working on new 2,000 percent solutions while also repeating your investigation of areas where you already created 2,000 percent solutions.
If you find that you enjoy mentoring others and would like to do more of it, add one new student a month for 24 months. Ask those students to do the same for other students.
If everyone taught 24 people on this schedule, almost everyone would learn how to use this process within three years.
Have fun!
Copyright 2007 by Donald W. Mitchell, All Rights Reserved
About The Author