The Simplicity Survival Handbook: 32 Ways to Do Less and Accomplish More

by Bill Jensen and William D Jensen

Book Overview

In a world of more-better-faster, the challenges and stresses have never been greater: too much to do, not enough time. And in an economy where worker talent (know-how, energy, attention, commitment, and creativity) is at a premium, everyone is trying to maximize personal productivity. In The Simplicity Survival Handbook, Bill Jensen offers the antidote you're seeking: a practical guide to doing less in a world of more, and making it count...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0738209120
• ISBN13: 9780738209128
• Release Date: November 2003
• Publisher: Basic Books
• Length: 311 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 7.4" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

WOW! Buckle your Seat Belts.

What I like about this biz book: 1) Its fun and challenging "If your boss doesn't get it, and has a high likelihood of never getting it... time to say "goodbye". Pretty simple right? 2) Attitude of "You don't have to be a victim of corporate crap"... reminds me of a refrain I have heard from my husband when he talks about his day job "They can't even run their own life, I will be damned it they run mine" 3) Respect yourself more. Your time is valuable. Push back. 4) The complexity starts from within. From within my own company, within myself. The How To Section(s) Email Scan incoming subject and author, if not relevant hit "delete" Scan email for 1) action to take 2) deadline date. In sending messages use the 3"x5" space constaint. If it is simplier it is more likely to be done. Make it easy. Remember the key: what do you want them to know, feel and do! Presentations: Turn the one point you want people to know into a question. Provoke conversations. Give everyone handouts. Use of Stories is a good thing. 1 hour presentation = 20 slides MAX! Meetings Big Idea!! When you agree to chair a meeting approachit as if you have just been handed a portion of someones life. Because you have. Run a meeting like one that you wish you had been invited for. Helpful hints 1) get only the important people 2) get the right people 3) define what success looks like 4) Mentally see the successful meeting 5) Put the objective of the meeting up front 6) Be passionate about the people and reason of the meeting.

Fix my job......please!

With a title like this, Jensen's book should be flying off the shelf. I know it caught my eye when I first saw it. We all want to "do" less and "accomplish" more and there are some excellent ideas in this book to help you do just that.Nothing in this book is easy, though. Someone as inclined to follow the rules like myself will find it difficult, if not impossible, to implement the more demanding recommendations. This is a shame, as these people are those who would probably benefit the most.Even if you don't think of yourself as a rabble-rouser, you should still read this book and take heart that there are some possible methods of extracting yourself from business situations that leave you feeling busy, but not very productive. There are ways of escaping the bureaucracy and yet keep your job.The cutest, yet still effective, idea in the book is the "Less-O-Meter" associated with each chapter. These graphical gauges give you an "at a glance" reading on how much Courage you will need to put this tip in place, how difficult it can be and the possible yield to your productivity and happiness.You may be ready to take on your whole company and engage in full-scale "pushback", but implementing even one idea from this book could do a world of good for you, your job and your career, while helping your company, as well.

Do less now! Simplicity Survival Handbook is a must-read.

Bill Jensen's newest book is both an easy-to-read guide to leadership in tough times, and an immensely practical tool for focusing on what matters at work and in your life. For anyone who's followed Bill's teachings since his best-seller, Simplicity, this is the how-to book you've been craving! If you're not familiar with Bill's work, you're in for a treat.Years ago, I attended one of Bill's workshops as his ideas were just forming. It had a huge impact on my life! What Bill's really about is helping you see the choices you have in life, and then making different ones. Everything he writes about, and is wildly passionate about, comes down to three core ideas: 1) Respect. Doing less of what doesn't matter and more of what does is about increasing the respect you have for yourself and for others. 2) Control. Bill has researched the biggest things that waste our time, energy, and talent, and most of them are within our control. We can choose to react differently, be differently, communicate differently. Bill's how-to's are all about taking back more control in ways that not only keep you employed, they enhance your effectiveness and productivity. 3) Time. If you practice even one-tenth of what Bill teaches, you will gain back a most irreplaceable asset -- time. Time to spend with your kids, or yourself, or others. While Bill writes about workplace issues, really he's giving you the tools to change your life.Bill Jensen has a place among some of today's top business thinkers -- Jim Collins, Clayton Christensen, Noel Tichy, John Kotter, Peter Drucker, Warren Bennis, and more -- not because he thinks big thoughts, but because he thinks about everyday issues, like Studs Terkel does. He studies organizational structures, practices, tools, and processes, all from the perspective of the people who use them. That bottom-up view grounds his big thinking in day-to-day challenges and realities.Get Simplicity to change your thinking, and get Simplicity Survival Handbook as the follow-up, how-to manual. Give copies of both to your teammates and your boss. They'll thank you for saving them so much time, and getting back control over their lives too.

Finally! A step-by-step guide for the real world

I work hard. I am a really good employee, and teammate, and manager, and mother, wife, and, and...And I just can't keep up with it all. No matter how hard I try, more just keeps coming at me. I was ready to crash and burn, then I came across this book. Thank you Survival Handbook, thank you!Bill Jensen has found the best practices for shutting off the noise and stupid things that come at me every day and organized them into easy to use chapters. Among my favorites: How to Delete 75% of Your emails...How to Say No to Anyone in Any Situation...How to Deal with Teammates Who Pile It On...How to Deal with the Stupidity of Performance Appraisals.His instructions are clear and easy to follow. I love his LessOMeters! Get this book if you're interested in doing less of the stupid things at work and more of what really matters.