Credit: Anonymous, Lomza/Gdansk, Podlaskie, PolandWhen I joined my present company, I was a part of a team. My team included two HRs, few web-designers, few developers and testers along with a team leader and a project manager, like any team in a typical IT company.  Most of the things were handled in an unplanned manner and the To-Do list was just a messed up list. No deadlines, no targets and sometimes no tasks clearly defined. Staff just looked tired and occupied by fatigue due to lack of interest. Our boss often commented: "Don't do donkey work", but the staff didn't follow and continued with their donkey work.

I started finding ways to try to improve the way we collaborate and the way other things were handled in our office. I wanted to simplify things and make work interesting for me and others too. While coming and leaving office, ideas filled my mind and I started thinking of a concept, I named: Innovation at Work.

But how and what to innovate?

Credit: Sanja Gjenero, Croatia

Most people prefer to read books (hard copy), whereas some prefer to read daily online feeds. It doesn't matter which medium you prefer, but what matters is the schedule that you are following.

In the last few years, I experimented on myself and tried to improve my reading habits. I try to digest what I read and seek every opportunity to apply the tips. I keep modifying my reading schedule to make it more significant for my life. Below is the schedule that I follow:

Credit: Sanja Gjenero, CroatiaIn one of the company, where I worked few years back, corporate culture had a different meaning. The terms like Motivation, Collaboration, Innovation, Governance etc. all had theoretical meanings and were often published in the company journals. In reality, these terms even had no distant connection with the company's culture and values. The company is a mid-sized company and develops software products for a particular segment. The company is driven by kith and kins of the senior management.

When I joined the company,

A puppet is an inanimate object or representational figure animated or manipulated by a puppeteer.

If you are living a Puppet-Life, you are dancing on the choices of Puppeteer i.e, to whom you have given authority. When you are living a Puppet-Life, you are a slave. You have lost meaning and identity of your life.

First I was dying to finish high school and start college.

And then I was dying to finish college and start working.

And then I was dying to marry and have children.

And then I was dying for my children to grow old enough so I could return to work.

And then I was dying to retire.

And now, I am dying -- and suddenly realize I forgot to live.

-- Anonymous

courtesy: The Positive Thinker's 10 Commandments - by Alice Potter.