Drinking from the Firehose

Managing Your Information Overload

By: Ken Braly

Narrated by: Ken Braly

Length: 57 mins

Publisher's summary

Evolution didn't prepare us for this: prehistoric humans did not need the ability to read the Wall Street Journal. As speakers, we are in the information business; we are deluged with information coming at us from all directions, and the sense of overwhelm can rob us of productivity and make us feel eternally behind. How do we keep track of all the business and non-business tasks we are working on? This session will offer some practical strategies and tactics for managing the volume of information we are faced with every day, so that we regain control.

You will learn:

• How improving info management skills will boost your business
• How to tell if you're an infomaniac
• The aspect of information overload that most speakers never think about
• The worst place to store information
• How to stay on top of a dozen projects at once
• High-tech and low-tech tools you can use

PLEASE NOTE: This is a live recording of an interview-format teleseminar focused on information that would be valuable for speakers, trainers, consultants, coaches, and other information entrepreneurs. It was recorded via telephone.

(P)2004 SpeakerNet News

Overpriced phone conversation

This is a teleseminar done over the phone with the host on the receiver interviewing a speaker who seems to have a higher quality microphone. I find this a weak format with the host being more distracting than anything else. It would be better if they'd let Ken Braly present his approach uninterupted as a continuous 1-hour presentation. For the price, I prefer buying an audio book; the information is not densed enough to warrant the $17.50 price tag. I did put 2 stars because I did learn 2 more tips but if you want to manage information and get organize, you'd be better off listening to "Getting Things Done" by David Allen. If The SpeakerNet News series would be priced $3 like the Stanford seminars, I would say it's an interesting listening. At that price, I will not repeat the experience.

Wrong Target Audience?

I found this audiobook less than useful. Is is a recorded teleseminar in "interview" format that seems to be directed at other seminar speakers. The interviewee (Mr. Braley) refers more than once to the people on the line as if they were people just looking for some tips on how to present the topic. This is said in sort of an apologetic way, as if to excuse the disorganized and vague material. I stuck through the entire recording, because it was the only thing I had to listen to during a workout. I deleted the file as soon as I returned home. If you really want help with organizing information and working more effectively, this is not the way to get it.