Create a Time Budget to Balance Your Life and Work
This time budget exercise will help you more proactively make the most of the most valuable resource we all have--both in life and work. As a startup CEO, I play many roles in my business - from marketing to sales, from product manager to human resources manager. And...
Project Management Strategy: Project Worth Doing is Worth Doing FAST
If the world won't be a better place once your project is completed, then your project isn't worth doing. If the world will be improved when your project is done, then by all means, get it done as quickly as possible so the world can reap the benefits! Here's how to...
The Cardsmith Survey
We have a quick survey (it should only take ~2 minutes) that we would love to have you fill out. We're using the information to guide the final steps of our development and move toward release. http://www.cardsmith.co/survey
Why We Use Pencils
I love using pencils. There's something about the feel of the graphite on a blank page. The pencil is a constantly changing writing device—both the width of the graphite path that follows, and the length of the pencil as it's used. Most of the time it isn't because of...
Details Matter
A look at some of the small detail and design decisions that have gone into making an intuitive, beautiful user interface (UI) in Cardsmith. And a sneak peek at the UI update coming as part of our preview release in a few weeks. As our team was brainstorming the...
“And then I remembered my blog…”
How a non-visual thinker is using a visual tool to inspire her writing. I have a confession to make. Well, I have TWO confessions to make. I’m not a visual thinker (gasp!) When I heard about Monica’s vision for Cardsmith, I could easily see how it could be useful for...
Why We Made It: The Origin of Cardsmith’s Online Sticky Notes
"My name is Monica Borrell and I love sticky notes." No, this isn’t a confession of an addiction (while our team may think so sometimes), it’s a proud statement of fact by our founder and CEO. This love of sticky notes actually inspired Monica to create Cardsmith. How...
One Idea Per Sticky Note
We’ve already opined on the magic of the sticky note in a previous post. Now, it’s time to talk about using sticky notes effectively while brainstorming, and it all boils down to one simple rule: one idea per sticky note. I love, really love sticky notes. Before...
Project Managers, Start Your Next Project with a Cocktail Party!
We’ve already talked about general ideas for how to get started in a previous post, but what about specific tools for getting started? Well, we asked some project managers to provide some tips and tricks. “What tools do you use when first starting a project?” This is...
To Plan a Successful Project, Start from the End
The definition of a project includes that it is a temporary endeavor. We do, after all, want to finish it at some point. Projects have a beginning and an end. And, like a trip, it pays to know where you are going before you start. If you're going to plan a...
How to Start a Project When You Don’t Know Where to Start
Perhaps you have a brilliant idea for a startup, but have never started a company before. Or, maybe you have just been assigned to lead a project at work in an area with which you have little experience. How do you even start a project when you don't know where to...
The Magic of the Sticky Note
Since the dawn of time (or, at least, since the dawn of temporary glue), people have been using the venerable sticky note to help get things done. From the product manager brainstorming ideas to the group facilitator ranking preferences to the spouse leaving a...