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Time Management for Systems Administrators
Time is a precious commodity, especially if you're a system
administrator. No other job pulls people in so many
directions at once. Users interrupt you constantly with
requests, preventing you from getting anything done. Your
managers want you to get long-term projects done but flood
you with requests for quick-fixes that
prevent you from ever
getting to those long-term projects. But the pressure is on
you to produce and it only increases with time. What do you
do?
The answer is time management. And not just any time
management theory--you want Time Management for System
Administrators, to be exact. With keen insights into the
challenges you face as a sys admin, bestselling author
Thomas Limoncelli has put together a collection of tips and
techniques that will help you cultivate the time management
skills you need to flourish as a system administrator.
Time Management for System Administrators understands that
an Sys Admin often has competing goals: the concurrent
responsibilities of working on large projects and taking
care of a user's needs. That's why it focuses on strategies
that help you work through daily tasks, yet still allow you
to handle critical situations that inevitably arise.
Among other skills, you'll learn how to:
Manage interruptions
Eliminate timewasters
Keep an effective calendar
Develop routines for things that occur regularly
Use your brain only for what you're currently working on
Prioritize based on customer expectations
Document and automate processes for faster execution
What's more, the book doesn't confine itself to just the
work environment, either. It also offers tips on how to
apply these time management tools to your social life. It's
the first step to a more productive, happier you.
CONTENTS:
Foreword
Preface
1. Time Management Principles
What's So Difficult About Time Management?
The Principles of Time Management for SAs
It Won't Be Easy
Summary
2. Focus Versus Interruptions
The Focused Brain
An Environment to Encourage Focus
Interruptions
Directing Interruptions Away from You
You Can Say "Go Away" Without Being a Jerk
Summary
3. Routines
Sample Routines
How to Develop Your Own Routines
Deleting Old Routines
Summary
4. The Cycle System
Don't Trust Your Brain
Why Other Systems Fail
Systems That Succeed
The Cycle
Summary
5. The Cycle System: To Do Lists and Schedules
A Sample Day
Other Tips
Setting Up a PAA for Use with The Cycle
Setting Up a PDA for Use with The Cycle
Summary
6. The Cycle System: Calendar Management
How to Use Your Calendar
One Calendar for Business and Social Life
Repeating Tasks
Know Your Personal Rhythms
Know Your Company's Rhythms
Summary
7. The Cycle System: Life Goals
The Secret Trick
Setting Goals
Planning Your Next Steps
Schedule the Steps
Revisit Your Goals Regularly
Summary
8. Prioritization
Prioritizing Your To Do Lists
Project Priorities
Requests from Your Boss
Summary
9. Stress Management
Overload and Conflicting Directions
Vacation Time
Yoga, Meditation, and Massage
Summary
10. Email Management
Managing Your Email
Jump Starting the Process
Summary
11. Eliminating Time Wasters
What Is a Time Waster?
Avoiding the Tempting Time Wasters
Common Time Wasters
Wasteful Meetings
Strategic Versus Tactical
Summary
12. Documentation
Document What Matters to You
Wiki Technology
Summary
13. Automation
What to Automate?
How to Automate
Simple Things Done Often
Hard Things Done Once
Letting Others Do Privileged Operations
Summary
Epilogue
Index
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