The 60 Second Self-Starter by Jeff P Davidson

by Jeff Davidson

Does your desk look the scene of an explosion? Is your computer crowded with pointless files? Are the tools you need always buried under piles of junk? If so, Jeff Davidson has the solutions for you. With sixty simple, immediate techniques, he shows you how to get your workplace organized, streamline your workday, and boost your productivity and job satisfaction. With this handy manual by your side, you can banish chaos from your cubicle forever.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Personal Development, Business

Paperback

First published June 1, 2008

About the author

http://www.jeffdavidson.com/bio.html

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick read - I made use of a mobile version to read it on my Blackberry. Each chapter was brief and easily digestible. The tone of the book got on my nerves a couple of times it was written in an informal, colloquial, American style. A little bit too happy clappy for a Brit.
What I took away for myself personally (because the content will appeal to others in different ways) was using positive language to overcome the negative gremlin voices.

[Steve Saunders · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been reading a bunch of Davidson's books over the past few months, because i just discovered one of his blogs - http://www.breathingspaceblog.com and found a lot of the tips on there to be very practical/helpful/relevenat to everyday life, so it inspired me to pick up some of his books (by pick up i mean order of Amazon of course). I'm known to be a procrastinator and someone who waits til the last second to get goign with my day or with whatever project im working on,etc, so i didn't really want to read this book at first because i had a feeling it would make me feel guilty about my procrastinating ways. but as it turns out, this book really offered a TON of advice on how to just manage my time better in general, and really motivated me to overcome my poor time management/project management and focus on getting more accomplished each day. I've been knockign things offf my to-do list like crazy the last few weeks since i finished this book. it's encouraging but not just that, it offers tips and techniques that you can start using right away and that will actually make a difference in how you function and how much you get done each day. Realy, even if you think you're already a good manager of your time or a "self-starter", this book is worth reading thru!! 5 stars, highly recommend.

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a collection of books on my shelf that say stuff like get over it, do it now, force yourself, just begin, and so on. These kind of platitudes work in the short run, but for me, they soon wear off. I think the reason why the 60-Second Self Starter is effective for me is that is actually lays out one strategy after another, in the form of story, an anecdote, or friendly advice so you can follow along and buy into the suggestions being offered. There are enough tips, 16 all, so you can always focus on one or another that is bound to work for you on any given day. Early in the book the author suggested you don’t necessarily have to proceed through in chronological order. You can skip around from tip to tip as you feel like it, and you’ll still gain some good ideas on how to get started when you feel yourself procrastinating. This is proving to be true to me, and so I can offer this book a solid recommendation.

[Randee Baty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was expecting something different from this book but I like what I got a lot better than what I was expecting!

The title 60 Second Self-Starter made me think this was going to be quick tips to get moving. It is tips to get moving but each one is well developed and thoughtful. It is a deeper book than I was expecting. It takes the reasons for procrastination and explores them a bit more than the usual time management book. I found myself reading bits of it out loud to my husband as I went through it. There are also has very good quotes from various inspirational people throughout the book.

While, as Solomon says, there is nothing new under the sun, a
book that can take material that you really already know and make it interesting and inspiring is worth reading. This one is and I'll be keeping it on my desk to refer back to for quite a while.

I received this book through the Goodreads FirstReads program.

[Charlie Mane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so tired of continually having all of my plans on hold, that I went out and bought a variety of books on overcoming procrastination. In one form or another, all of them had good ideas that undoubtably would work for some readers, but one in particular worked best for me, and that was the 60-Second Self Starter. The reason I think is because it was the slimmest of all the books, while at the same time having the hardest hitting advice. The advice was delivered in the form of very short chapters, 16 all, that focus on one particular strategy each. About a third of the strategies are contained in the other books that I bought. About 2/3 of the strategies represented either new ground for me, or a new wrinkle on an old scene. What really made an impact on me was the author’s very friendly style. All of the advice offered was done with a touch of empathy and wit. I got the sense that the author really cared about the reader’s journey and was really interested in helping the reader to have a positive result when it came to the topic of tackling procrastination and becoming what he calls a self-starter. Following my experience, save yourself a lot of time and effort by not buying 5 or 6 books on the topic, and just focusing on the one that works for you. I think the 60-Second Self Starter will fill the bill and you will be happy that you got a hold of it.

[Grey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I cheated and skimmed it online via Books24x7 (great application!). Pretty banal. Although it claims to provide 60 specific techniques, and suggests that you keep it near your desk to thumb through when you need help, most of it is pretty non-specific suggestions. The only thing useful I may have gotten out of it is a link to My Life Organized software that lets you build a mind-map of your to-do list and subtasks. Off to check out the free download...

[Katlyn Womack · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book in a giveaway here on Goodreads.

I really liked it. It has tons of great advice. It has six different parts all focusing on different ways to get yourself up and doing what you need to. It is really a good go-to book for procrastinators. I recommend it to anyone who is one.

[Aruneshwar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hepful

[Matthew Gasman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This skinny book delivers a fat punch, if you are interested in getting things done, not beating around the bush, and finishing faster than you thought you might. I liked it for a lot of reasons, but mainly because it speaks directly to me, and offers actionable ideas, that I can take and run with.

[Pat Hornchaiya · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quite practical way to be a starter. However, only some methods can apply to each individual person.

[Molly Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Procrastination. Many of us have an intimate relationship with this dangerous, dirty habit and allow it to run rampant in our lives. Fortunately though, Davidson has provided us with constructive help. This small, short book addresses the all-too-common phenomenon of procrastination by presenting the reader with sixty techniques to develop self-starter skills. I found many of his suggestions to be very helpful and a few even inspired me to develop my own tailored techniques to fight procrastination. While being quite comprehensive, Davidson also uses humor to keep it light and fun, making this an incredibly easy and enjoyable read. Throughout the text, he inserts uplifting and perceptive quotations by a variety of well-known public figures. The majority of these are encouraging and useful, however, I often felt the quotes were misplaced and interrupted the flow or momentum of the text. In addition, some of the explanations and stories tend to ramble and several of the sixty techniques are repeated but disguised as a separate tip with a different heading. In the end, I enjoyed having the opportunity to read Davidson’s book. The glossary, further reading list, and most of the skills will continue to be valuable resources for me as I plan to keep this handy reference text for both my professional and personal work.

[John Doe]

Don’t be faked out by books on the topic of procrastination that come in fancier packages. The old adage about not judging a book by its cover is true here. Content is king, and the content here will help you on a variety of fronts when you feel like you’re in a straight jacket but you know you need to get started on tasks before you. Rather than feeling overwhelmed, the 60-Second Self Starter allows you to feel empowered. Rather than feeling immobilized, the book helps you to take action. So, I recommend you give it a try.

[Hala · Rating 2 out of 5]

الكاتب في هذا الكتاب يطرح ٦٠ فكرة أو لنقل نصائح ، لزيادة الإنتاجية والتحفيز الذاتي والتغلب على التسويف .
ما استفدت منه في هذا الكتاب بعض الإقتراحات أو التوصيات لبعض البرامج مثل برنامج ( إدارة المهام ) وتستطيع تحميله من موقع ماي لايف أورجانايزد، يساعدك هذا البرنامج على القيام بالمهام الواجبة والخطوات الضرورية التي قد تساعدك على القيام بهذه المهام . وغيرها من البرامج .

[Aidan Mangan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I felt myself wanting to put some of these ideas into play, as opposed to resisting them, which is what I often do when I pick up a self-help book. Anyway, don’t take my word for it, pick up the book yourself, and see if it works for you. My guess is that you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

[Laurie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had some good points. A lot of it I had read elsewhere but it served as a refresher.