We want to be productive, but what does it really mean to be productive today? Let's delve into our understanding of it. 

Productivity needs discipline and hard work, but it does not always work this way. Productivity doesn't mean getting more things done. It means getting more results, effective results, delivered. The result only matters if they are part of what we care about and value the most. 

Being Productive does mean staying organized but not to the point of being buried in the work of organizing. The seemingly productivity-boosting actions can become a burden that delivers no value at all. 

Ultimately, life is about being happy and feeling good about ourselves, what we do, and what we have contributed to the world. And the people around us. Therefore, productivity must be tied to the fundamental core values and beliefs. We just discussed that productivity needs to make us feel happy, fulfilled, helpful, and valuable.

We like to summarize some of the most helpful productivity tips:

• The five minutes rule if you can finish a task in five minutes, then go ahead and do it right away,
• The brain dump and batching rule If you have a list of things to do, write them down Instead of memorizing them in your brain. Group them into batches and get them done,
• Plan things to do as projects so you can start and do things on a rolling basis. Don't do a long-lasting time that never ends. It will drain your energy.
• Block calendar so that  you can focus on limited prioritized tasks.

Productivity makes us feel good, and when we feel good, we can have better productivity, and productivity has to make us feel good to be worthwhile.

Social interaction is an essential part of our lives, influencing our personal relationships, careers, family dynamics, interests, happiness, and ability to learn and experience the world more broadly. However, due to our limited time and energy, managing numerous social contacts can be challenging. To address this, we've developed a Minimalist Contacts application designed to help you manage your contacts effectively. 

Here are several features you might find useful: 

• Contact Management: The application can import all your existing Contact application, then add tags to contacts and can categorize your contacts into categories based on Dunbar circle including close friends, friends, acquaintances, and social circles. This differentiation allows you to manage your relationships more effectively and track how often you interact with each type.
• Daily Connection Suggestions: It automatically suggests ten contacts each day, helping you stay connected with your network.
• ‘Batch email:: send batch emails by selecting multiple contacts and use email templates to create personalized content. 
  
• Event Creation: You can create events that trigger multiple interactions, encouraging communication within your network.
• Calendar View: You can see how many people you should connect with each day and keep track of contact details, all from within the app.
• Helping Others: We introduce the concept of reciprocity in relationships—it's about give-and-take. The more you give, the more you receive. The app allows you to record interactions, whether you're offering help or simply connecting with others.

We invite you to give this application a try and welcome your feedback!

The unique ability to think before acting differentiates humans from other species. However, there are many occasions when we need more time to think things through or the issue is too complex or misleading, which may easily lead to biases or wrong decisions. In such moments, we would rely on some thinking frameworks built on top of the collective wisdom of our predecessors. We define these frameworks as thinking systems built on top of mental models.

The framework can save us time, allowing us to quickly analyze and assess situations and make informed decisions with deeper insights. These frameworks let us remain in control when under high pressure by enabling us to think clearly and communicate our thoughts clearly and logically for maximum effectiveness, especially when under high pressure. The frameworks can also prevent errors and biases. As the old saying goes, "When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail." Our limited viewpoints and biases can obstruct our judgment. Using a framework, we can think beyond our usual boundaries, broaden our outlook, and be more thoughtful, mainly when dealing with intricate circumstances and demanding difficult decisions.

During my MBA studies, I discovered that a significant part of education involves learning various thinking frameworks such as the 3C3P model for market analysis, Porter's Five and SWOT for competition assessment, and the value chain analysis for supplier evaluations. Here, we have compiled a collection of useful thinking frameworks or mental models including: 

1. Seeing the Bigger Picture
2. Influencing Others without Formal Authority
3. Improving Efficiency
4. Crafting Project Closing Communications
5. Leading Successful Meetings
6. Implementing Changes
7. Assessing Change Management Initiatives
8. Embracing Technology Innovations

One more thing before we step away: We know that knowing mathematical and physical formulas isn't enough to truly master a subject. "Having a hammer doesn't make you a carpenter." To master framework thinking, we must continuously practice their applications in real-life scenarios and use them flexibly to reap their benefits.

HSA, which stands for Health Savings Account, is a financial tool designed to assist with saving money for medical expenses that are not covered by health insurance plans. HSAs are exclusively available to individuals with a high-deductible health plan (HDHP), a health insurance plan with a higher deductible compared to traditional plans. Contributions to your HSA are tax-deductible, meaning they lower your taxable income. The money in your HSA grows tax-free, and qualified withdrawals for medical expenses are also tax-free.

There are limits to how much an individual can contribute to their HSA each year, and there are rules about how the funds are spent. For 2023, the contribution limit is $3,650 for single coverage and $7,300 for family coverage.If you're 55 or older, you can make an additional catch-up contribution of $1,000.

Funds in HSA can continue to grow tax-free. An HSA can be a valuable tool for individuals and families looking to save on medical expenses and reduce their tax burden.

The time frame for reporting HSA expenses depends on the specific HSA plan, but generally, there is no deadline for reporting expenses. You may be subject to taxes and penalties if you withdraw funds for nonqualified expenses. After age 65, the 20% penalty no longer applies. To report an HSA fee, you will generally need to provide documentation, such as a receipt or invoice, showing the date of the fee, the amount paid, and the nature of the payment.The IRS defines qualified expenses. You should read Publication 502 for the complete list.

From the date of the HSA account holder's death, the HSA continues to serve as a tax-free account for medical expenses if the beneficiary is a spouse. However, non-spousal beneficiaries must pay taxes on the entire balance in the distributed HSA. They must include the HSA balance in their taxable income for the year the account owner died.

If you have an HSA and will soon be eligible for Medicare, you need to stop contributing to your HSA at least six months before you enroll in Medicare if there is a delay in enrolling in Medicare. That's because when you enroll in Medicare Part A, you'll get coverage retroactively for up to six months, no further than the original month you were eligible for (at age 65). You could be fined if you don't stop your HSA contributions at least six months before enrolling in Medicare.

However, you can continue withdrawing money from your HSA while enrolled in Medicare to help pay for medical expenses such as deductibles, premiums, copays, and coinsurance. If you use the account for qualified medical expenses, its funds will continue to be tax-free.

Suppose you delay Medicare enrollment because you are still working and want to continue contributing to your HSA. In that case, you must also wait to receive your Social Security retirement benefits. This is because most individuals who receive Social Security benefits are automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A when they become eligible for Medicare. You must accept Part A while receiving Social Security benefits. You should delay Social Security benefits and decline Part A if you wish to continue contributing to your HSA.

Finally, the best strategy for using an HSA is as follows:

1. Maximize annual contributions to your HSA account.
2. Keep track of medical receipts and delay reporting expenses to a later date. The objective is to allow the funds in the HSA to grow tax-free. By reporting expenses later, you can take advantage of investment growth and leverage inflation. 
3. Continue contributing to your HSA for as long as possible and postpone withdrawing from Medicare and Social Security if you continue working after the age of 65.
4. Prioritize HSAs (limited to your qualifying medical expenses once you turn 65 and are no longer subject to the 20% penalty for withdrawals not spent on medical expenses) over your retirement accounts because your kids and Other non-spousal heirs will inherit a tax-advantaged retirement account instead of an HSA.

By following these strategies, you can make the most effective use of your HSA and optimize your financial planning for healthcare expenses and retirement.

The two-year journey building a PMO office has proven to be successful. The PMO services are appreciated and bring in substantial impacts on the business. Let me to summarize the approach to help you if you encounter a similar opportunity within your organization.

1. Understanding the organization  Before building a PMO, it's crucial to have a comprehensive understanding of the organization, including its politics and the personalities of your team. Taking the time to observe and gather insights over a quarter or two  allows a thorough understanding to be developed. 

2. Building trust: Establishing trust is of utmost importance for the success of the PMO. Start by implementing helpful and less disruptive changes that demonstrate the value of the PMO. It's also essential to maintain transparency, particularly in business engagements, so that the team perceives the PMO as a valuable resource rather than a threat.

3. Celebrating small wins: Acknowledging and celebrating small wins is vital for boosting morale and showcasing the positive impact of the PMO. Recognize achievements such as process improvements, successful project deliveries, and improved stakeholder relationships to reinforce the value of the PMO and motivate the team.

3. Defining project management standards: Clearly defining project management standards is crucial to uphold professionalism and ensure consistency across projects. This includes establishing project lifecycles, methodologies, templates, and best practices that align with industry standards and the organization's needs.

4. Creating change management plans: Change is inevitable when implementing a new PMO. Develop and execute change management plans to effectively manage the transition. This involves addressing resistance, communicating the benefits of the PMO, and providing the necessary support and training to ensu re a smooth adoption of new processes and tools.

5. Waiting for the best opportunity: Patience is key in waiting for the right opportunity to make a significant difference. Identify strategic projects or areas where the PMO can add substantial value and focus your efforts and resources accordingly.

6. Recruiting an elite team: Assembling a high-performing team is critical for the PMO's success. Consider hiring individuals who excel in their respective areas, particularly in tactical project management functions. This  ensures that the team possesses the necessary expertise and effectiveness to drive results.

7. Creating a collaborative team culture: Foster a collaborative team culture within the PMO. Encourage open communication, knowledge sharing, and teamwork among team members. Cultivate an environment that values diver se perspectives and promotes the generation of ideas. This collaborative culture enhances innovation, problem-solving, and overall team performance.

By following these approaches and adapting them to your organization's specific context, you can increase the likelihood of building a successful PMO office. Remember that building a PMO is an ongoing journey that requires continuous evaluation, adaptation, and improvement to meet the evolving needs of the organization.

Let's stop here for now. We will elaborate on each point in detail in Club's PMO discussions. ​