Knowledge management techniques – Simpler then you think

This week’s module talked about how our brain contributes to our bad habits. There’s actually science behind this concept, which in all honesty, I don’t particularly care about. What I do care about is how to take action to change work habits that are sometimes counterproductive to achieving the results I want.

I work well under the pressure of a deadline. Take away the deadline, and I can waste time better than anyone I know. So I tend to manage my projects, and my work day, by setting deadlines for myself. That’s easy to do when I have a client to answer to. But working in the IM space, I don’t have clients to keep me on track. In effect, I am my own client. And I try to set realistic deadlines for myself, stick to a fairly business like schedule, and take stock of my results on a regular basis.

At the moment, I’m wondering if there are any penalties for checking where my newest site ranks on Google no less than five times a day. Did I mention how often I check my AdSense and ClickBank accounts?

While I set deadlines, there are certainly still distractions! Building a new business by definition should be stressful. I don’t find that to be the case. I like the process of building. Creating something out of nothing holds tremendous appeal for me. I think I’ve finally realized the wisdom in pursuing one method of internet marketing at a time. Mastering that. And then moving on. That doesn’t mean that I don’t intend to have multiple streams of revenue going at the same time. I will have that. But, outside the comfort of my authority site, I need to focus on one method of making money at a time. See that method through from beginning to end. Maybe build more than one site. Then move on to another tactic. Rinse and repeat.

I think I’m ahead of the curve on the TW Rule [taught in this lesson], since I’ve found my focus. But, there are other learnings here. There are always things that we can do better. I don’t like to think that I have “bad” habits. I have some habits that are actually quite helpful in moving projects forward. I have other habits that just don’t serve me as well as I would like. It’s those habits that I will focus on as I implement the TW rule.

K Mapping

The end of the Foundations module is finally bringing me closer to my goal in enrolling in the OM MBA program. Actionable information directly related to IM that I can implement immediately and get benefit from. One of the things I’ve talked about already is how information overload can make me question the direction I’m taking. So much information, and really no good way of organizing. Until now.

Dee has recommended a technique he calls k[edited!] mapping (think mind mapping with more organization). I had to laugh at the reference to all of the information I’ve downloaded over time related to IM that just sits on my hard drive. Or, in some cases, as a print out on my desk or in a file somewhere. Good nuggets of actionable information that I have at my fingertips, if only I could find it. The idea of ‘K’ mapping is going to solve this problem for me. It’s really scathingly brilliant! Combined with the concept of 3’s, this method will allow me to categorize what I know, and what I learn moving forward, in a way that I can actually access and use the information. I’m not going to give this one away. In my mind, this piece of knowledge is worth the price of enrollment in the Online Marketing MBA program.

Suffice it to say that I am looking forward to moving on from Foundations. Maybe because my academic and business background have covered much of this ground before. A reminder of what we know is always a good thing. Self reflection, which is required in the Foundations module, is always worthwhile.

But, I’m ready to move on to more tangible “how to” information. Let the games begin!