Break down big challenges by learning the art of mini-tasking - bizjournals:

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In these days of overflowing inboxes, 24/7 connectivitg and multi-tasking, authors Linda Kaplan Thalee and Robin Kovalpromote mini-tasking as the productivity Mini-tasking pays attention to the detaild lost when stretched to the limit. Creating an action list with mini-taskx effectively breaks down the “big” into the day-to-day achievable. The step-by-ste p approach to planning forces us to eat theworkday “apple” one bite at a time.
It also allowe us to savor eachbite “relish the satisfaction from smaller accomplishments that lead to the big At the end of each workday, Kapla Thaler and Koval, workplace colleaguesw at The Kaplan Thaler Group (it created the iconicf AFLAC duck), make a list of five positivre things that happened, and what they did to make those thingse happen. Seeing what they did to fill the half-full glass allows them to continue building on the positivezs as they begin thefollowing day. It also sendz them home to their familie witha smile. Some of theird key points: When you do nothing, you do somethinyg — you made inaction a choice. Inertia has a consequence.
When you let thing happen, you become reactive. When you make things happen, you exercise control over “What’s next.” Every poin t of contact is an opportunity. Get over strange r danger. Schmooze or lose. Master small talk becausr it’s the icebreaker that opens doors to meatier Ask open-ended questions that get people talking abouf themselves and what they do. Koval “People want to talk. They want to sharee smiles.” Connection starts when people look each othef inthe eye, hear the tone in their voices and observe their body language. They recommenx going on an e-mail diet. When the topicc is important, replace it with face-to-face communication.
“Goo the extra inch” walking down the hall to talk sendas a clear message that you valu and need theother person’s attention and The authors also believe in seein what others have missed. Fill a need by tacklinf assignments that provide the opportunity to do whatotherzs don’t, can’t or won’t do. Theier small book also providesa master-class lesson in writte communication: “Take out anythinbg that doesn’t move the story