January Blog

A little late on posting the April report, but I have not...

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:37:44 -0500

A little late on posting the April report, but I have not stopped tracking data at all. A few takeaways from the April that was:

The monthly goal was exercise. I succeeded by getting out there and exercising (which was good considering the terrible April we had in South Dakota) but I didn’t put it toward a plan. It is critical to lay out a clear plan that I can stick to.
Watching sports was down but movies was up. I actually equate about 90 mins of TV to a movie, so it really includes everything. I think my total TV time (sports and movies) probably stayed the same.
Blogging and reading have dipped from the winter months. Tough to raise all these numbers, but it helps to be more aware across the board.
This month (May) I’m doing exercise over again but with a more specific plan - training for a half marathon. The race isn’t until September, but going to work to set a solid habit foundation this month.

To compare, here is the March report.

March is in the books, actually we’re a few days into...

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 16:35:05 -0500

March is in the books, actually we’re a few days into April but here is last month’s report. My thoughts:

Struggled greatly on my monthly focus which was supposed to be coding. Only plan I put in a place was a Skillshare Course that cost $25 and I never used. Need to layout a more comprehensive plan.
It was a busy month with conferences and a fair amount of travel. Can be tough to stick to habits when away from your routine.
Like my improvements in home cooked meals and exercising, but these numbers are still quite low. I can do better.
As expected, March Madness meant games madness on my counter.
The writing on this blog is basically non-existent, but more on that later. I’ve really been doubling down on my Point Letter and thinking of January Blog more as a personal challenge. So no hurt feelings if you aren’t reading this.

Got some good things in place for focusing on exercise in April.

Feel free to compare to February’s report here.

Another month down in 2013 and another monthly report here on...

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 11:07:25 -0600

Another month down in 2013 and another monthly report here on January Blog. My thoughts from February:

The main focus was really successful. I read four full books and felt like a sponge all month.
Improvements across the board on the eight metrics I track with my Lift App. Including great success rates of 96% (taking multivitamin), 89% (8 for the Day), and 75% (reading).
I got two blackout days where I accomplished everything on my list.
With the added focus on reading and launching the separate Point Letter my blogging dipped significantly. I need to do more this month, but also my ideas for the reporting of January Blog are evolving a bit.
Less NCAA bowl games means less sports which is ok, but March Madness could really change that this month.
Need to do more home cooking and getting to the gym. Probably typical numbers from January to February, but I’ll get back on track.

The number reflect the increase/decrease from January’s report. Enjoy.

Why I need a daily email to help me focus

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 13:31:04 -0600

Yesterday I announced a new writing project I’m starting on Monday, February 18, it’s called Point Letter.

The idea is a daily email with a tip to help you focus and get to the point. Just as a daily bible verse or morning run help you find your focal point, this is a simple email with a tip or thought on how to focus.

Working on productivity and reading the past two monts with January Blog, I’ve realized the true core of this project is focus. It’s not about how many books I read or blog posts I write, but finding the time and organization to focus on the monthly topic.

Is this the end of January Blog?

Absolutely not. The Point Letter is not only different in topic and timeliness, but also in structure and format. I’m not writing as much in February as I did in January, partly because of being busy but mainly because I want to write high quality, high value posts when I do write. Hopefully like something I wrote this week about audiobooks.

I plan to tackle at least 12 topics here on January Blog, so buckle in.

What’s so special about Point Letter?

Let me count the ways:

Daily - I love the challenge of daily. It’s a commitment just like that bible verse or three mile run
Intimate - Some may argue email is the furthest thing from intimate, but I think your email inbox is a very personal place. If someone is willing to sign up for Point Letter they want to hear what I have to say, so I’m going to make sure it’s good.
Brief - The email inbox is also filled with lots of noise. I want to keep the Point Letter short and to the point (see what I did there?) but also actionable, so you can read it and act that day.
Conversational - Readers have just as many great tips and ideas on the topic of focus, and some may want to continue the conversation. The format of the Point Letter will allow for an email reply and a personal one on one coversation. In fact, I’m hoping it will lead to many more extended posts here on January Blog.
Mobile - the Point Letter is optimized for mobile devices and ready for you to be on the go. So much of email is read on our phones today, so this is a perfect method for receiving a daily focus point.

Like everything I do, I plan to make Point Letter an experiment of its own and I’ll keep everyone updated here on how that goes. My short run goal is to build an audience of 300 subscribers on Point Letter in 30 days. That’s 10 new readers a day.

If you want to be one of the first to focus and get to the point, sign up for the Point Letter here.

It’s time to focus.

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What’s your best tip for focusing? I’d love to hear you ideas for future emails.

Share your answers below in the comments or tweet me @johntmeyer.

Why audiobooks help you read faster

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 22:29:42 -0600

I’ve been heads down reading every day since the calendar flipped to February. I should clarify, not just heads down but also ears up thanks to audiobooks. In fact, I’ve decided that audiobooks help you read faster.

The Audiobook Advantage

The most effective tactic that has helped my focus on reading this month is listening to audiobooks. I listened to Daniel H. Pink’s To Sell is Human in just five days. Other than a 90 minute car ride, the entire listening happened walking to work and during other “free time” activities.

Now I’m already half way through Pitch Anything by Oren Klaff (sense a focus right now?). If you count my half done Power of Habit which I’m reading the “traditional way” and I’d say the month has been a success thus far.

Audiobooks are nimble, flexible, and easy and have really helped me keep pace with my goal this month. Here is what I like most about audiobooks:

Versatile - If you commit to having an audiobook on your phone (in my case iPhone) at all times you’d be shocked how many opportunities to read arise. I’ve really enjoyed it on the 10 minute walk to work, 25 minute run, and 45 minute trip to the grocery store. You start to add those up and you’re knocking out some books.
Portable - Not that books are heavy or take up too much space, but they do add up. Think about the last time you moved, that damn box of books always ends up being the heaviest one. An iPhone in the pocket is light, and already in your pocket anyway.
Personal - One unique aspect I like about the audiobook is they are often narrated by the author. I find this provides a unique insight into the message the author was trying to convey. Their emphasis and vocal tones simulate a fireside chat, and you’re literally hearing the words from the author’s mouth.
Consistent - It’s probably not fair, but I’ve never found 5-10 minutes being worthy of pulling out a book and sitting down to read. For some reason I’ve seemed to think you need a least a solid 20 minutes to read. But with audiobooks, the little gaps in my day are plugged with learning and the more consistent you are with reading the more committed you are to finishing your book and moving to the next one.
Durable - Books are pretty solid, but an mp3 on your iPhone, iPad, external hard drive and saved in your iTunes library means you’ll have your audiobooks forever.
Environmental - This isn’t a point about saving paper, but with audiobooks I find that I can get into the environment why I read. Listening while walking to work and going on runs has been my biggest source of listening time. Audiobooks allow me to multitask without taking away from my focus on the content of the book.

What I don’t like about audiobooks

Notation - I’ve always liked to have a pen in hand while reading traditional books to take notes in the sidebar or underline favorite quotes. This doesn’t work in audiobook form.
Cost - For some reason audiobooks are expensive and I can’t figure out why. Logic says these should be easier to produce and scale than paperback. For instance, if you go to Amazon, Charles Duhigg’s Power of Habit which I referenced earlier is $12.99 on Kindle, $15.86 on hardcover and $26.40 in audiobook form. Price variants for other books aren’t as drastic, but I know I’ve spent $29 on the two books I’ve listened to thus far. Thankfully, I recently found that there may be some solutions to the high audiobook costs.

Although I haven’t had as much to say about my focus on reading here on the January Blog this month, I am happy to say that I’ve read (or listened) to a book every day so far in the month of February. If you’re looking for a way to increase your consumption of books consider an audiobook.

Have you listened to an audiobook before? What do you like and/or dislike about audiobooks?

Share your answers below in the comments or tweet me @johntmeyer.

Image via Open Culture.

The one thing we all want to do more of - Month 2: Reading

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 05:01:50 -0600

If you’re like me, sometime about three months after I graduated from college it must have been August or September, I realized something that I had forgotten for about eight years: READING IS FUN.

Now this isn’t a criticism of my high school or college education, but once you are told what to read and you’re fighting just to keep up with those reading assignments you start to doubt that reading can be fun. There is just NO TIME for reading, right?

That fall after I graduated and could now read whatever I wanted to, I was so excited for that feeling of adventure, curiosity, and wave of knowledge that reading provides. However, something was wrong, I could never commit to reading. Outside of the occasional book (last month I read one book - don’t look now but it was an ABCs book) I’ve just never been able to make it a priority in my life. And I’ve always wanted to.

That is why this month at JanuaryBlog I’m going to focus on reading.

Last month’s focus on productivity went rather well and I’m excited to apply those lessons to reading here in February.

Reading Goals for February:

Discover new opportunities (time and place) for reading
Commit to daily reading time
Learn how to speed read
Find resources for reading accountability (online groups or book club)
Make a list of books to read in February and the rest of 2013
Read four books - one per week

Like last month I’ll share my findings and lessons learned along the way. I invite you to join me in this experiment and share any tips or tricks that you know.

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What is your best tip to read more? When and where do you like to read most?

Share your answers below in the comments or tweet me @johntmeyer.

I know we’re six days into February, but I wanted to take...

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 14:40:46 -0600

I know we’re six days into February, but I wanted to take some time to digest how January went and examine my true productivity. So I decided to look at this data the way I know best… with an infographic.

The above image depicts the tasks/challenges that I measured throughout the first month of 2013. I used two apps to help me do this:

Lift - fantastic app to track goals and develop habits
Bean - a simple and friendly way to count things that matter

I’m already rockin’ it in February, but have been slow on the blog posts. So tomorrow I will finally reveal the February focused experiment.

11 things I learned from focusing on productivity all month

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 10:06:18 -0600

January is in the books, here is what I learned:

Productivity is the foundation for improving and/or acquiring new skills.
Focusing is highly valuable - There are many things I didn’t get too (which you’ll see in my monthly report tomorrow) but focusing on productivity was key to recognize what went well and what didn’t.
Creating habits is difficult - Just when you think you settled into one a busy week, feeling under the weather or a big event can throw everything off. Creating permanent habits is the challenge.
Travel CAN BE productive - That being said, you can still get things done and keep habits while traveling. Proved it this month.
Different tactics can achieve the same goal - Look at Tuesday’s posts from Mike, Leo, and Craig, they all have different approaches but are extremely productive.
Distractions can cripple you - First you must learn what your distractions are (we all have different ones), than learn how to avoid them.
Habits can be hacked - Still reading the Power of Habit book, but I learned if we understand habits we can hack them.
Experiment with forced limits - Limits are typically considered bad, but play with them and see how time limits, physical space limits, or tool limits can actually increase productivity.
Know your motivators - For me I do this through keywords, but refer back to those to know that everything you’re working on is what you want to be working on.
Morning routines are crucial - So crucial I’m still figuring out how to tackle mine. I’ve been playing with mine for about two months now, but eventually will post about it, for now check out my friend Andy’s new book.
Goals can determine success - Ok, so maybe I already knew that, but unlike in the past after I make goals I want to work hard to check back and see how I did. Here were the goals for productivity at the beginning of the month.

All in all it was a great month, in fact, probably my most productive ever. But there are many things I didn’t get to and I’m going to continue to tweak and edit my habits and routines.

Tomorrow I’ll present the January Monthly Report and also announce the new skill I’ll be working on in February.

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What’s one thing YOU learned about productivity this month? If you’re tackling a different skill, what did you learn? Are you going to join me in tackling a new skill next month?

Share your answers below in the comments or tweet me @johntmeyer.

Tips from the most productive people around: Craig Jarrow

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 05:15:35 -0600

This post is part 3 of 3 in a Q and A series with some of the most productive people around. This installment is with Craig Jarrow, Author of Time Management Ninja.

How do you define productivity?

Productivity is getting done what’s most important to you, no matter what life throws at you.

Tell me one thing you do better than anyone else?

I have always had a reputation for being able to find a creative solution to a problem no matter what the circumstances or supplies available. (Kind of like Faceman from the A-Team series.)

What does a productive day look like to you?

Start at 4AM.
4-6 Write/create/plan.
6-7 Get family ready for day.
7-8 Workout at gym.
At work by 8:30.

By the the time others roll into the office around 9, I have already accomplished more than most will do all day. It feels great to have such a head start.

What is your productivity tool/app that you can’t live without and why?

My top productivity tool is my iPhone. It fills the need for so many tools and gadgets that I have lost count. It forever changed our world. It is truly amazing that I can work, communicate, and conduct business globally via a device that fits in my pocket.

What fundamental tips would you recommend to people wanting to become more productive?

I would provide 3 tips:

Know Your Load - Make a list of all of your obligations. Until you know exactly how much you are carrying, you cannot judge your capacity.
Define Your System - Define which tools are in your productivity system. Stick with those tools, and resist the urge to use Post-Its and other loose scraps of paper.
Action is Better than Intention - Develop a habit of action. Make decisions when prudent and don’t waste your time and life in indecision.

Tips from the most productive people around: Leo Widrich

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 05:05:37 -0600

This post is part 2 of 3 in a Q and A series with some of the most productive people around. This installment is with Leo Widrich, Co-Founder of Buffer.

How do you define productivity?

To me, productivity means the ability to bridge the gap between your ambitions and your abilities today. Your ambitions meaning who you want to become, which is the next top writer, football player or entrepreneur. The person who is most productive, is the person who can bridge that gap faster than anyone else.

Tell me one thing you do better than anyone else?

Whoa, that is a tough question. I don’t know if there is anything I can do better than anyone else. What I think I do a great job with is to stick with what I have set out to do each day. If it is to write 4 blog posts today, then that’s what I will achieve. I’m pretty good at brute forcing anything that I’ve set out to do through - that can also have a few downsides. :)

What does a productive day look like to you?

To me, it means that I manage to do everything from my privilege list. That’s when I feel productive. Especially if my to do items are all at the edge of the 20:80 principle. Doing 20% of the work to get 80% of the results. If I manage to do that, then I feel very good.

What is your productivity tool/app that you can’t live without and why?

Definitely my Moleskine. Everything goes in there and it keeps me sane from any “to do list” overflow (image of Leo’s Moleskine above).

What fundamental tips would you recommend to people wanting to become more productive?

The key thing I would advise people (and that’s because I advise myself to do this every day) is to figure out your purpose. Figure, what it really is you want to do first. Spend some time on that, then, once you have a slight hint of direction, go for it. Being productive and bridging your gap of ambition and ability is a lot easier, if you are picking something you’ve firstly identified as being truly passionate about. I know this might sound very trivial, but I do this myself every few days. I look in the mirror and try to figure out whether the things I’m working on every day really are the things that drive me and motivate me. It’s a simple exercise that goes a long way.

Tips from the most productive people around: Mike Vardy

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 05:01:39 -0600

This post is part 1 of 3 in a Q and A series with some of the most productive people around. This installment is with Mike Vardy, author of Productivityist.com. Image is from Mike’s most recent book, The Front Nine.

How do you define productivity?

Productivity is not so much about doing things more efficiently and effectively, but about doing the things that will propel you closer to what you want more efficiently and effectively. I think we get too caught up in checking off boxes as a benchmark of our personal productivity, where it is more advantageous to spend time checking off the right boxes instead.

Tell me one thing you do better than anyone else?

Wow. That’s a tough one. I guess I could say I’m able to manage my life better now than anyone else – including past versions of myself. I’d also say that I’ll get even better at it as I spend more time being mindful about what I do rather than just doing things. Depending on how you read into that, it might seem like a bit of a cop out answer…so I’ll give you another one. I think I discuss productivity and task management in not just an informative way, but an entertaining way – more so than anyone else. I started out by poking fun at the glut of productivity sites that were out there with Eventualism.com, and that led me to where I am today. The humour has always been there, and now I can apply it in a way that is more accessible than ever before – and to a larger audience than ever before.

What does a productive day look like to you? 

A productive day is made up of more than just the to-do items on your list. For me, it’s about doing the right things on the right day. Some days I’m at home with my kids, and I consider those to be “light-lifting days” when it comes to work. On days where I have the house to myself, I’m going to get a lot of writing done – it’s a “heavy-lifting day.” Awareness has a whole lot to do with productivity, and knowing what I can do in a day based on what I’m facing makes each day a little bit different. Ultimately, a productive day for me is getting the best stuff done on that day for that day. That’s going to be different for everyone, but by connecting with what’s important to you now can result in a lot more productive days over the long term.

What is your productivity tool/app that you can’t live without and why?

Pen and paper. While I use OmniFocus as my main task management app, without having pen and paper at the ready, I’d be lost. I have a system I use with pen and paper – one that helps me connect with my day – making it more indispensable than any other tool I’ve got in my arsenal.

What fundamental tips would you recommend to people wanting to become more productive?

Connecting with yourself is the best tip I can offer. How you’re best able to connect is a personal preference – some people can do so with apps while other need paper. But by connecting with what you really want you’ll be able to do the right things rather than try to everything (which is impossible). Some of the ways you can do this is to focus on task, not on time. Also, you can make real progress on this by not checking email first thing in the morning, otherwise you’re letting others dictate your day rather than you setting a course for yourself. Taking the time to look inward can have a great impact on what you outwardly deliver.

Linkspiration #4: Less is more

Fri, 25 Jan 2013 13:57:52 -0600

These are links that inspired me this week:

5 Free Apps to Keep Your More Productive - This month is all about productivity on January Blog and I love this list of apps. I’m using Lift and Pocket, but the other three are new to me.
Do Less: A Short Guide - Leo is one of my all-time favorite bloggers and he nails it with this guide on doing less.
Reminder: Design is still about the words - As a guy who spends his whole day working on visuals, a good reminder here from the lead designer at 37Signals.
Must Attend 2013 Conferences for Entrepreneurs - I’ve always enjoyed conferences and excited to see Big Kansas City, the new conf from Silicon Prairie News, on this list.
On behalf of yes - I’m always preaching NO as an entrepreneur (which is a post for another day) but I like Seth’s outlook on how yes can be good.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Photo via Design Boom.

What has inspired you this week? What’s the best thing you’ve read?

Share your answers below in the comments or tweet me @johntmeyer.

How your brands affect your productivity

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 05:01:42 -0600

Today we hear about how brands have come to life. Brands have personalities, characteristics, maybe even feelings? We’re told we can now develop relationships with the brands we use and purchase from.

So if brands are like our friends then we probably have some we like more than others. Maybe we have our “best brands” and the type of brands you only like on Facebook because you went to high school together. Now at this point you’re probably wondering what this has to do with productivity? Fair question.

Well… part of my journey to extreme productivity requires to remove clutter and eliminate wasted energy. I’m here to tell you the brands you don’t love cause more trouble than they do good. If you don’t love your domain registrar, your email client, or even your office chair, get rid of it. (Domain registar link is proof that brands can cause pain and loss of productivity)

How brands you don’t love reduce productivity

If you don’t love it you don’t use it.
If you don’t use it you set it aside and buy more.
If you buy more stuff and don’t use, it causes stress, clutter, and is expensive.
Stress, clutter, and lack of finances means loss of productivity.

How brands you love increase productivity

If you love it you use it over and over and develop a system.
If you use it over and over and develop a system you don’t have to buy more.
If you don’t buy more and reuse what you love you’ll be relaxed, free of clutter, and save money.
Developing systems, being relaxed and free of clutter, and saving money means increase in productivity.

Choose the brands you’re proud to use and make you more effective and more productive. Because if you don’t love your brands, there are others that are waiting to love you.

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What is the brand you love most? There are so many great answers, I want to hear yours.

Share your thoughts below in the comments or tweet me @johntmeyer.

Photo via Apple

5 questions you must ask to eliminate distractions

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 05:01:00 -0600

When we think about increasing productivity we typically think about a downloading a great app, adopting a disciplined habit, or mastering a perfect technique. The focus is always on adding or creating something new. But what about eliminating?

As I write this post I am on the couch, TV is off, and I’m typing on my iPad (with a keyboard accessory). I like writing on the iPad as the device only allows you to do one task at a time. There are no windows or hot corners, just focusing on the task at hand.

The most productive people I know can describe to you their optimal environment for productivity. Some writers even start with a pen and paper before going to a word processor - removing the unnecessary distractions. I can’t prescribe the perfect environment for you, but before you consider adding, think about eliminating. I recommend asking yourself these questions:

What must I accomplish to consider this task complete? Consider ordering these tasks so you can create a step by step process.
Where is the most optimum place to accomplish this task? Think about where you were last time you did this task and how that went. Is there a better place to work?
What tools do I need to accomplish this task? Only pick the required tools, no more, and turn everything else off.
How long should this task take? Don’t time yourself, but it’s a good idea to set a pace and know about how long things should take.
What can I reuse or save for next time? If it is a task you’ve done before or will do again in the future create a template, handbook, guide, or saved folder with directions or assets you can reuse.

Stick to these questions and when they become a habit you’ll find yourself answering them before your task even begins. Good luck.

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Share your thoughts below in the comments or tweet me @johntmeyer.

Image via BVAinc.

Linkspiration #3: If you can't do it, learn it

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 10:50:43 -0600

Here are the links that inspired me this week.

10 Tips on Writing from David Ogilvy - The original Don Draper explains how importnat it is to be a good writer. This alone affirms why you should journal or blog.
Humble Beginnings - Starting a company is a roller coaster ride, this week I was reminded of that multiple times. Take a look back at the “early days” of great tech companies like Facebook and Twitter, you’ll feel there is hope.
Your Goals in 2013 [INFOGRAPHIC] - Lift is one of my favorie apps, I’ll talk about it next week. Here is a great infographic illustrating the most common goals for 2013.
Four tips on learning how to program - Programming, a goal that is always on my list. Some inspiration from this guy who knew nothing and just starting pushing that boulder.
What Jason Fried taught me about selling software - Another post with insight from Jason Fried. I love the way he and his company (37Signals) approaches problems and solutions. Even if you’re not selling software, just selling something, these lessons apply.

David Ogilvy photo via Brain Pickings.

What has inspired you this week? What’s the best thing you’ve read?

Share your answers below in the comments or tweet me @johntmeyer.

The Cue. Routine. Reward. Cycle

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 04:01:05 -0600

Research out of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has learned how habits are created. Habitual action is developed through a process of cue, routine, and reward. As Charles Duhigg states in The Power of Habit,

First, there is a cue, a trigger that tells your brain to go into automatic mode and which habit to use. Then there is the routine, which can be physical or mental or emotional. Finally, there is a reward, which helps your brain figure out if this particular loop is worth remembering for the future.

If you think about this model you can easily see how it truly is a loop that becomes nearly automatic.

Recognizing this is the first step to making your habit loop productive. Many of these cue, routine, reward loops are very beneficial, and productive. But many others like eating the extra cookie or watching TV can be unproductive.

As I spend this entire month thinking about productivity, I can’t just push forward hoping my new tasks and plans will become habits. I must also look back to see what habits I currently have that I want to change. Just like Sun Tzu the great ancient military general said,

Know your enemy and know yourself and you can fight a hundred battles without disaster.

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Can you see the cue, routine, and reward loop in your daily life? Before forcing new habits, think about how a change in any one of these steps can turn a bad habit into a good one.

Share your answers below in the comments or tweet me @johntmeyer.

Photo from The Power of Habit via a book review on Lemuria Books.

Limits Lead to Opportunities

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 05:01:40 -0600

On Monday night I sold my couch on Craigslist. My living room now looks like this photo above. Don’t worry for me, I’m not couch-less, for long. Paige is moving in next month and we just don’t need two couches in one small apartment. What does this have to do with productivity? I learned a lesson over the past 36 hours:

Limits lead to opportunities.

Think about it, instead of sitting on the couch (most likely in front of the TV) you could go to the gym, cook dinner in the kitchen, read a book in bed, or maybe just go to bed earlier so you can kickstart tomorrow. Many of these things may be on your New Year’s resolutions list, and I did every one of them in the 36 hours since I’ve not had my couch.

Now a couch will soon come back, but the lesson has been learned.

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Think about how forced limits can create opportunities for you. You don’t have to get rid of your couch, but push yourself and your productivity will thank you.

Share limits you may have placed on yourself that you’ve benefited from below.

Master the Conference Follow Up

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 09:19:33 -0600

I’ve been to a lot of conferences in the past three plus years from the massive South By Southwests to the niche Big Omahas. No matter what conference it seems the currency of conferences is business cards. I would argue the success of a conference should be measured in conversations: conversations over lunch, conversations in between speakers, or even conversations with a beer at 2 am.

That being said, the currency remains to be business cards, and after leaving Las Vegas last week for a conversation, today I’m going to take a productivity look at the conference follow up. Her are my four tips:

1. Timeliness - Do I email my new connections within 24 hours of returning from the conference? Do I wait for a week? When is the right time? I’ve experimented a lot, but my answer is the first Monday after the conference.

Major props to those who follow up within 24 hours, but I can’t do it that fast. And I admit, to those who do follow up that fast the email gets ignored for a few days. I feel like you need to recover from a conference, catch up on “regular email,” and catch up on life. By the first Monday after the conference, I get the weekend to catch up and a fresh mind to tackle email and follow up on all those great conversations

PRO TIP - Start these emails on the flight home. You’ll get a head start and everyone you met will be fresh in your mind.

2. Personalize - Whether you need to write notes on the business cards, or you can make mental notes, I highly recommend attempting to personalize every email you send. It can be a simple, “Hey, it was great talking to you over lunch at the trade show floor,” “Thanks for chatting before the keynote speaker,” or “I see you’re from Minnesota? I was born there.” It may sound cheesy, but it goes a long way and you’ll stand out from all the other “cold call” emails.

PRO TIP - Reference a specific point in a conversation you may have had at the conference or try to make a personal connection that makes you different than every other business card.

3. Prioritize - I generally believe that the 80/20 rule applies to most things in life. Our team collectively garnered 92 business cards from NMX last week. We organized them into a Google Docs (Name, Email, Business, Industry, State, Twitter Handle, Personal Note). Of the 92 cards, we put 31 into a “leads tab” in Google Doc. Whether they may want to work with Lemon.ly, share our graphics, or could partner in a new project they’ve been identified as someone who we should stay in touch with. That ratio isn’t quite 80/20, but it helps you focus on the high value.

PRO TIP - Every card is important and will get an email, but you have to focus your efforts on where you will see a return. Not only do we focus on the 31 leads, but we talk about the specific service/interest that we share with that person. Don’t try to be everything to everyone.

4. Wow - This one may be the hardest, but it is the most fun. I highly recommend trying to create a WOW experience to people you met or exchanged cards with at a conference. Whether it be a limited time offer to your product/service with the coupon code NMX (or name of the conference you met at) or something creative for them to remember you by. At Lemon.ly we make infographics, so we are working on an infographic made up of data from all the business cards we collected (colors, geography, social media data, etc.) which we can send to our new connections.

PRO TIP - You don’t need to go overboard here, but something unique will make you standout forever. Think about your strengths and play to those which will be both personal and successful.

I’ve never allocated a ton of time or money to conferences because they are costly (in both time and money). That being said, if you’re going to go… make it count.

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Do you attend conferences/trade shows for your industry? If so, what tips and tricks do you use to follow up to new connections?

Share your answers below in the comments or tweet me @johntmeyer.

A shot of Team Lemon.ly taking our shot at the slots. We’ll stick to infographics!

Last week I introduced the Sunday Thank You segment. This...

Sun, 13 Jan 2013 16:40:00 -0600

Last week I introduced the Sunday Thank You segment.

This week’s thank you goes to my niece, Ella. We celebrated her 1st birthday this week and she brings so much joy to her parents and her entire family. Being an uncle is awesome!

Linkspiration #2: Neat and new

Fri, 11 Jan 2013 15:11:41 -0600

The links that inspired me this week.

Why Mindshare Matters More Than Time Share - You can’t give everyone your time, but you can give everyone your ideas (ie. blog posts, videos, podcasts, talks, etc). In the end the best story wins, wise word from Dan Martell.
Average American does 3.2 hours a day of social media - Chalk this up in the, “wow, who knew?” category. However you feel about this, a business can’t ignore the average eyeball for 3.2 hours a day.
A font made of charts - Very nerdy, very awesome, and perfect for what we do at Lemon.ly.
10 Reasons Why You Need a Mastermind Group - Been thinking about this concept for awhile lately, and it fits in line with my keyword of alignment.
Best Gadgets of CES 2013 - The best gadgets from the biggest gadget conference in the world. I was in Las Vegas at the same time, different place.

That’s all I got this week. Trying to get back into my routine after traveling for work. The challenge about productivity is to be able to do it at home and away.

Photo of Samsung’s new WiFI fridge via Huffington Post

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What has inspired you this week? What’s the best thing you’ve read?

Share your answers below in the comments or tweet me @johntmeyer.