A project management expert identifies methods for running any project successfully based on lessons learned from the exploits of two storied explorers. What could be more intriguing than a management book built around a gripping story of exploration? The 1911-12 race between British explorer Robert Scott and Norwegian Roald Amundsen to be first to the South Pole provides the rarest of case studies. Two teams carry out the same project. One is spectacularly successful; the other fails miserably. Just about everything about good-and bad-planning, management expert Fergus O'Connell maintains, can be learned from these leaders. The results of poor planning are not always as dire as they were for Scott. But in business, poor planning can have serious consequences, often because the same mistakes are repeated. Starting with an introduction that details their exploits, the book goes on to use Scott and Amundsen as examples of good and not-so-good leadership. It contrasts the difference in how the two men planned and executed their projects and how they led their teams, highlighting things that must be in place for success. What can happen when those things are ignored is also spelled out. Readers will come away from this book entertained and with a in-depth understanding of a new method for assessing the health of any project-and running it successfully. Analyzes a familiar story from a unique point of view, using the endeavors of Roald Amundsen and Robert Scott to illustrate project management concepts Offers a practical guide to running any project successfully Motivates and encourages behavior change by demonstrating how a little planning beats a lot of firefighting Shows that we can learn as much from others' failures as we can from their successes Emphasizes the importance of taking the time to plan, even when operating in crisis mode

Autumn, 1914. Clara, a passionate young London wife and the mother of two small girls, is married to Henry, who she discovers is having an affair. Clara too has fallen in love with someone else - James, a divorced man who works at the Foreign Office. When both men enlist and go off to the front, Clara must wait fearfully to see which, if either of them, will return from the fighting.

Meanwhile, the inept politicians who allowed the war to start are replaced by the inept generals, and so the war drags on with huge loss of life. It looks as though Clara has lost her chance for happiness. Can she find the courage for one last desperate attempt to make her dreams come true?

We are all faced with projects going off the rails, veering far from what we initially set out to do, costing ten times as much and taking far too long to complete - this is just part of everyday working life. Honing our general skills in project management seems like the obvious answer, but Fast Projects promises a quicker and easier solution - cutting the time to get projects done in the first place. Learning to operate within a short schedule not only cuts costs and improves revenue and cash flow, but it also sets you aside as a sharper and slicker operation. How to build, shorten and execute a realistic plan in the shortest time possible is covered in detail along with a specific focus on ensuring you have clearly defined goals and are making accurate project predictions with a successful tracking progress. Using worked examples and tried and tested techniques, Fast Projects is your practical guide to ensuring projects not only succeed, but are delivered early. If you want to get the most out of your team and take control of your workload, resources and time, this book is for you.

Summer, 1914. As the countdown to WWI begins, Clara, a passionate young London wife, discovers that her husband is having an affair. But when Clara also begins a relationship, she has to fight against the conventions of society and her own conscience so that she can really find love.

What You Need to Know About Project Management

Project Management is all about getting things done without spending too much or taking too long. But when you start hearing things like man-days, PSOs and stakeholders, it just makes it difficult to understand.

So what do you "really" need to know about project management?

Find out: Why setting clear goals mattersHow to estimate absolutely everything.How to get things back on track after they've gone wrongHow to track big projectsWhy work/life balance matters when you're running a big project

This clear and simple approach will mean you'll never panic when faced with a big project again.

Read More in the Want You Need to Know Series and Get to Speed on the Essentials... Fast.

Overloaded? I'll bet you are.We all lead busy lives. You fall into bed exhausted at the end of the day, feeling that you've got a lot done. Perhaps you "are" getting lots done.

But is it stuff that really matters? Or is it just "stuff"?

It's time to wise up. You will "never clear that list."

Get used to the idea that some things will never get done. Not delayed. Not rescheduled. Not re-prioritized. But simply dropped.

And from now on, instead of trying to clear that endless to-do list, you're going to do a much smarter thing. You're going to "just do the important stuff."

And the brilliant thing is, you already have the power to do this.

That power is to" do less."

Soon enough, you'll have the space to enjoy the moment, be creative, find new or better ways of doing things, get ideas, and spot opportunities you would have missed when you were running around.

In short - you'll be happier. Much happier.

As soon as you "stop" doing, the power of doing less will begin to flow.

As a nation we know how many days are lost through sickness or strike action every year. Bizarrely, we haven't a clue - and we don't even try to measure - how many days are lost through badly run projects/initiatives/undertakings. Zero Waste is a goal, a process, a way of thinking that profoundly changes our approach to resources and production. This is a practical, how-to-book with examples, templates and checklists. The process described is a simple, straightforward, step-by-step, proven-to-work one which can be easily measured and can lead to substantial results.

WORK LESS, ACHIEVE MORE is a step-by-step guide on how to de-stress, deliver your work on time and get your life back in order. For many people, a successful work/life balance is frustratingly elusive. A typical worker might expect to be filled with dread on a Monday morning, work increasingly long hours, feel constantly stressed, and struggle to maintain a decent quality of life. Work/life balance is typically seen as a time management issue, but that's not it. Working harder in the little time you have won't help. What's needed is a change of attitude, where you can stop tearing your hair out, and go home feeling happy, stress-free and confident of a job well-done. In the process, you will become much more productive, relaxed and an asset to your business. WORK LESS, ACHIEVE MORE shows you how.

If you've ever been told that you 'have to do more with less' or 'work smarter not harder' and wondered what these things are supposed to mean, this book gives you the answer. It shows how a little planning - normally thought of as being the preserve of large undertakings, great construction projects or huge sporting events or military offensives - will indeed enable you to get more done with less effort.