Cube 61 – How to Get Things Done

 You have a dream. You might or might now know what it is, but there is something that you deep down want to do.

This cube deals with starting out on a path to achieve your dream, or getting things done (GTD). No matter if it is skysurfing, building a company, making a podcast or other art.

It takes the short Ted Talk by Matt Cutts (you can view below) and part of the book Linchpin by Seth Godin. Seth presents a plan, Matt does too, but you might see then after the same general steps, or you might not. That’s for you to decide.

 

[audio:http://www.startingcube.com/cube61how-to-gtd.mp3]
[mp3 – 06:45] One-Click Subscriptions: Zune : iTunes : RSS

 

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnfBXjWm7hc&rel=0&showsearch=1&w=600]

 

Starting Questions:

  1. Does Matt Cutts follow the steps that Seth Godin spelled out? Do you?
  2. How do you find a balance between starting & finishing (the two sides people have the most issue with)?

Cube50 – How to Change

This is a very special episode, one that explains part of the reasons why StartingCube exists.

 

There are two clips inside this cube, first from the episode of EconTalk titled Don Boudreaux on Public Choice, where Russ Roberts poses the question to Don Boudreaux how he could be changing the world since Don does not vote in elections.

Second clip is from Seth Godin’s book Tribes. Seth tells a story of a process a couple uses to have dramatic change where they are.

 

[audio:http://www.startingcube.com/cube0050how-to-change.mp3]
[mp3 – 8:16] One-Click Subscriptions: Zune : iTunes : RSS

 

Starting Questions:

  1. Who do you promote?
  2. Have you found people with common goals to work with?
  3. How are you influencing others?
  4. Why?

 

If you would like help picking your next episode to listen to, try the random cube page. It’ll show you a the artwork of a few cubes at random & you can pick which to listen to next.

Cube45 – Power of a More Human Group

 

This cube features the book Linchpin by Seth Godin.

Linchpin is generally defined as:

  1. A pin passed through the end of an axle to keep a wheel in position
  2. A person or thing vital to an enterprise or organization

What does it take for a group of people to succeed at a task or causing change in the world? There is a choice of direction, two paths that have worked at causing major change. Now in this Cube Seth looks at an option that has been less popular in the last 100 years.

[audio:http://www.startingcube.com/cube0045More-Human-Group.mp3]
[mp3 – 6:40] One-Click Subscriptions: Zune : iTunes : RSS

 

Starting Questions:

  1. How is your group different from the competition?
  2. What happens when the wind shifts on your organization?

Cube0022 – Coloring Sheep

Ever had someone attempt to manage you through fear? Have you done this to others?

In his book titled Tribes, Seth Godin dubs this Sheepwalking. A good portion of this cube can be found on his site; here is a highlight:

Step one is to give the problem a name. Done. Step two is for anyone who sees themself in this mirror to realize that you can always stop. You can always claim the career you deserve merely by refusing to walk down the same path as everyone else just because everyone else is already doing it.

The biggest step, though, comes from anyone who teaches or hires. And that’s to embrace non-sheep behavior, to reward it and cherish it. As we’ve seen just about everywhere there’s been growth lately, that’s where the good stuff happens.

 

[audio:http://www.startingcube.com/cube0022coloring-sheep.mp3]
[mp3 – 5:31] One-Click Subscriptions: Zune : iTunes : RSS

Starting Questions:

  1. Do you try to encourage people to sheepwalk or to be creative?
  2. Do you trust your team, especially those who report to you? How can you improve the level of trust?
  3. … … what questions came to your mind as you listened?