BBC News just posted an article from a complex database analysis revealing the 10 most irritating cliches. Unfortunately, I am so guilty of using many of these - particularly in business situations!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newst … n-irritating-phrases.html

Here’s the top 10 from the Oxford study:
1 - At the end of the day
2 - Fairly unique
3 - I personally
4 - At this moment in time
5 - With all due respect
6 - Absolutely
7 - It’s a nightmare
8 - Shouldn’t of
9 - 24/7
10 - It’s not rocket science

So, BBC Magazine did an online survey that revealed some more:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7733264.stm

1. Basically
2. To be fair
3. To be honest
4. Going forward
5. The fact of the matter is
6. Let’s face it
7. Touch base
8. 110%
9. In the pipeline
10. Reason being
11. I’m not being funny but
12. You know
13. By the end of play today
14. Singing from the same hymn sheet
15. Can’t get my head around it
16. Raft of proposals
17. To roll out
18. Don’t just talk the talk, you got to walk the talk
19. Lesson to be learned

and

20. Actually

How many of these are you guilty of?

Dan

Photo by martinteschner on Flickr

Ran across this article in the New Yorker. It discusses self-control, delayed gratification — and how this ability it is linked to success.

Can you pass the marshmallow test?

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/20 … ct_lehrer?currentPage=all

Dan

Hey - I don’t which category to put this in the 3:9 Galaxy, but hey - grilling is like a universal language, right?!?

I love me a good Rib Eye or NY Strip - but the price usually keeps me from buying.

I found this article on the Washington Post today that points out 9 overlooked and affordable cuts of beef suitable for grilling.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/ … eaks/?sid=ST2009051902591

Here they are:
-Hangar
-Flat Iron
-Flank
-Flap Meat
-Tri Tip
-Skirt
*Chuck-Eye
*Chuck-Shoulder
*Top Sirloin

The last three are particularly great choices to look out for! Enjoy!

Happy Memorial Day! Pray for our Troops.

Dan

You’ve heard Dave Ramsey talk about “snowballing” debt. Well, what if there isn’t enough snow to make a snowball?!?

Try snowflaking!

From the author - I’ve Paid for This Twice Already

I have a set amount I pay to debt without fail every month that is above my minimum payment due (about $800). On top of that, I also try to collect up little bits of money wherever I can and I apply those as well to my top priority debt as immediately as possible. I take surveys online, I sell possessions on craigslist and ebay, I have yard sales, and any money I get from these endeavors goes directly to my debt. I also keep a very strict accounting of all the money that comes in every month and what I spend and everything left over at the end of the month not earmarked for future expenses also goes directly to debt. These are my snowflakes. I have averaged over $200 extra going to pay down my credit card debt every month due to these snowflaking efforts.

http://www.paidtwice.com/2007/10/12/snowflaking-a-primer/

Dan

MIT Professor Simon Johnson, et al just launched a new website called Baseline Scenario. I think they do a great job of breaking down the current financial crises and highlighting the REAL problems in the economy. Based on this site and what I’ve been reading in the WSJ - we could be in for a long winter. I was thinking perhaps we’d start climbing out of this mess by Q2-Q3 2010 but now not so sure.

Take a read. You’ll feel enlightened!

http://baselinescenario.com/2009/02/08/baseline-scenario-2909/

Dan

I have to admit that I am something of a technophile (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technophilia) in that I love to read and study about the future applications of technology in everyday life.  I think that is what appeals to me about SciFi as well…the convergence of reality with possibility.  I read a great article today that talked about the potential for the recently enacted Stimulas Bill to advance the influence of technology in our aging infrastructure.  It was truly facinating.  Here is the link to the article: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB12344 … 31779255.html?mod=djemTMB

It is amazing to consider at the unique applications of our modern technology.  As instruments get smaller and smaller (even to the point of nano-sized components) and wireless connectivity gets more pervasive it seems that there are limitless ways to implement technology.  Certainly one of the drawbacks to such pervasive use of sensors and communication devices is the sheer volume of information.  I recently read somewhere that there is more “new” data/information generated in the past year than in all of human history before that…wow - that is exponential growth for sure.  The biggest challenge is how to make use of the data.

I would love to hear your thoughts on the convergence of traditional mediums/industries with modern day technologies…

It may be only February, but it’s never too early (or too late) to create a little momentum in your life by removing the clutter.

As a confession, I’m a packrat - but slowly, ever so slowly - I’m simplifying. I spent last year removing a ton of junk, but from the looks of it - it has multiplied a little…go figure. I’m beginning to think “stuff” just spontaneously duplicates - like in Star Trek “Trouble with Tribbles.”

My real problems are with guitars, books, and because I work out of my house…paper. I’ve recommended David Allen’s “Getting Things Done” (GTD) as a way to be organized in the real world - and it has done wonders for my productivity. Sometimes, when you’ve got a big mess, brute force is the answer.

Here’s an article on how to declutter a room in one go. Basically…quarantine two areas and start sorting….

http://zenhabits.net/2009/02/how-to-d … an-entire-room-in-one-go/

Dan

Hey, I have to be upfront - generally speaking, I’m not a real Oprah or Suzy Orman fan, but I saw this link to a free PDF copy of her book and decided to check it out.

I’ll have to say that there some good advice here to consider given the times…especially if given free! If you are wondering what do do about your finances in 2009, I suggest you grab it, since it’ll only be free until January 15.

What I liked best was her explanation of FICO and why it is now relevant again…

Enjoy!

http://www.oprah.com/article/oprahshow/20081119_tows_bookdownload

It’s the day after Christmas - and now that the euphoria is over you might be a little bit worried about the VISA/DISCOVER/AMEX bill that will arrive in a week or two.

Is the secret to happiness as simple as simplification? I don’t know, but there are sure a bunch of good tips in this eBook. Leo Babauta is cleverly giving away the eBook to advertise his new book - but there are 27 pages of goodness to be had for the cost of a download.

The one the tempts me the most? Giving up cable (or in my case satellite). That would be 80×12=$960 a year.

The other one? Diet Cokes. I go through at least a 12-pack a week. At $3 (on sale) x 52 = $156. Though, I think it would be easier to get rid of cable that Diet Coke!

Other tips that I wholeheartedly agree with:
1) Go debt free - we use our debit Visa and an AmEx that we pay each month. The only other real debt we have is our house…and I’d sure like to have that paid off too.
2) Create an emergency fund - I like Leo’s goal of aiming for $1000 to start with - but you really should have 6 months of bills in reserve. Another reason to eliminate debt and simplify - it makes that number much smaller.
3) Create a spending plan - I need to do a better job here, but we’ve done more of this in the last year and it has made a major difference in the final scorecard.

Check it out here:

http://thepowerofless.com/2008/12/fre … fying-in-a-tough-economy/

Dan

Ran across this excellent list by John Kaufman. I’ve read probably 40% of these books and tend to agree with his selections. I tend to read 3-5 business books a year. Typically I identify at least 3-4 key concepts from each that shape the way I think.

I recommend doing the 10-days to Faster Reading as the first selection. I was already a fast reader when I read this (surprise to me - I thought I was slow), but actually improved my reading speed by 25% on average and my scanning speed by 100%. I’ve learned that for most business books, you can scan 50% of it and slow down and read 50%.

If you get through these 77 books - I will hereby annoint you with the the letters P.M.B.A. behind your name (though your mileage may vary)! Pick a couple, you might learn something!

http://personalmba.com/best-business-books/