things to learn this school year (guy kawasaki)

just read an interesting post by Guy Kawasaki's - "a list of what I wished I learned in school before I graduated". I didn't agree with all the tips there, but here are a few i thought were worth keeping:

1. How to run a meeting. ... the primary purpose of a business meeting is to make a decision. It is not to share experiences or feel warm and fuzzy. With that in mind, here are five key points to learn about running a meeting: (1) Start on time even if everyone isn’t there because they will be next time; (2) Invite the fewest people possible to the meeting; (3) Set an agenda for exactly what’s going to happen at the meeting; (4) End on time so that everyone focuses on the pertinent issues; (5) Send an email to all participants that confirms decisions reviews action items.
   
   
2. How to have a conversation. ... Generally, if you listen more than you talk, you will (ironically) be considered not only a good conversationalist but also smart.
   
   
3. How to write a five-sentence email. ... the optimal length of an email message is five sentences. All you should do is explain who you are, what you want, why you should get it, and when you need it by.

4. How to get along with co-workers. ... Share the credit with others because a rising tide floats all boats.

   What about freeloaders? (Those scum of the earth that don’t do anything for the group.) In school you can let them know how you truly feel. You can’t in the real world because bozos have a way of rising to the top of many organizations, and bozos seek revenge. The best solution is to bite your tongue, tolerate them, and try to never have them on the team again, but there’s little upside in criticizing them.

here we go...

so i've finally gone ahead and opened this...

for a while i've been meaning to create a safe place for me to keep thoughts and insights i think are worth keeping. learnings, being big or small, that i would hate to forget, and i think might come in handy at some future moment.

i'm writing these down for myself, but heck, who knows, could be nice if others find these thoughts useful too.