= Getting Results the Agile Way
**Author: J. D. Meier**

Jan 24 2017

[[Image(htdocs:images/books/getting-results-the-agile-way.jpg, alt="Getting Results the Agile Way", align=center)]]

== Review
Coming soon: ETA is Feb 01.

== Notes
=== Foundation
* 10 Values.
* 10 Principles.
* 12 Practices.
* No big upfront design.
* Pave a path; find a way forward.

==== 10 Values
1. Action over analysis-paralysis.
1. Approach over results: results as gauge.
1. Energy over (as in above) time.
1. Focus over quantity: focus is the force multiplier.
1. Good enough over perfection.
1. Growth mindset over fixed mindset.
1. Outcomes over activities: focus on results.
1. Maximize strengths: spend less time shoring up weaknesses.
1. System over ad-hoc: for basics.
1. Value-up over backlog burndown: "What's the next best thing to do?"

==== 10 Principles
1. 80/20: 80% action, 20% analysis.
1. Change your approach: tune as you go.
1. Continuous learning
1. Deliver incremental value.
1. Less is more: reduce work that's in-flight.
1. Factor out action from reference: reduce signal to noise ratio.
1. Set boundaries: both for time and energy.
1. Fix time, flex scope: time is a 1st class citizen.
1. Rhythm of results: habit becomes ritual => produces feeling of accomplishment.
1. Version your results: fight perfectionism.

==== 12 Practices
1. Rule of **3**: focus on vital things; a buffet you can go back to, don't overfill your plate.
1. Monday vision, daily outcome, Friday reflection.
1. Scannable outcomes: what's on your radar?
1. Daily outcomes: **3** action items for the day.
1. Weekly outcomes.
1. Strong week: do the toughest things that drain you early in the week to create a glide path.
1. Timebox your day: optimize & prioritize.
1. Triage incoming action items: Do / Queue / Schedule / Delegate.
1. Monthly improvement sprints: pick **1** thing to improve each month.
1. Growth mindset: get knocked down, get up again.
1. Action lists: Daily / Weekly / Queue / Scripts.
1. Reference collections: for non-actionable information.
----

=== Hot Spots
1. Things that are important i.e. big picture items and long term goals.
1. Clusters of important things going on in your life.
1. At a macro-level think in terms of work, personal & life.

{{{#!th colspan=3 align=center
**__Hot Spots__**
}}}
|-
{{{#!td align=center
**Life Frame**
}}}
{{{#!td align=center
**Work**
}}}
{{{#!td align=center
**Personal**
}}}
|-
{{{#!td
* Mind
* Body
* Emotions
* Career
* Financial
* Relationships
* Fun
}}}
{{{#!td
* Activities
* Active Projects
* Backlog
}}}
{{{#!td
* Activities
* Active Projects
* Backlog
}}}
|-

4. Set boundaries: max / min time & energy; use Hot Spots to set these boundaries. e.g. max 50 hrs for work and min 3 hrs for body (workout).
1. Worst mistake is to continually throw more time at problems.
1. Increase value, improve efficiency & effectiveness => reduce time spent.

==== Activities
* Recurring activities like administration, mentoring, status meetings for work; household chores, grocery shopping for personal.
* Make a list for each big activity => enables you to see stuff at a glance.
* **3** most important results at the top.

==== Active Projects
**1** list per project => this is your queue.

==== Backlog
**1** list per major backlog item.

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=== Monday Vision, Daily Outcomes, Friday Reflection
* Deliver value over backlog burndown.
* Rule of **3**.
* Frame results for the week.
* Test for success: (re)define outcomes based on what success looks like.
* Scenario driven results: e.g. laying on a hammock & enjoying the rose garden, rather than tasks like mowing the lawn. Gives work meaning & improves quality of life.
* Incremental progress.
* Have a buffer: at a buffer, you would take smaller portions, make multiple trips. Buffers help see opportunities. No buffer => only threats are visible.
* Use timeboxes: spend energy effectively.

==== Monday Vision
Identify **3** outcomes for the week:
* Use Hot Spots as input.
* Focus on where you want to be at the end of the week.
* Focus on outcomes, not activities / tasks.

==== Daily Outcomes
Identify **3** outcomes for the day:
* You can always add more later.
* Don't get caught up in backlog.
* Choose most valuable things.
* Track against the week's **3** outcomes.
* **Must**, **Should**, **Could** are the **3** buckets for the daily list:
   * **Must** => got to get these done.
   * **Should** => nice to haves.
   * **Could** => pipe dreams.

==== Friday Reflection
* Focus on the pitch, not the scoreboard.
* Evaluate what got done, or what didn't and why.
* Be balanced: what needs improvement **and** what went well.
* Get clarity on personal success patterns and what needs to change.