Get ready for a rip-roaring episode of the Ever-So-Lean Podcast! 🎙️

Join us as we embark on an eye-opening journey with the one and only Noel Warnell. With over two decades of software expertise and a passion for devouring books and Agile expertise, Noel is about to drop some serious wisdom that will leave you craving more.

In this episode, you'll discover:

📚 Revolutionise Your Reading Habits: Noel reveals his secrets for making the most out of your reading time. Learn how to cut through the noise, identify the most valuable sections, and establish a daily reading habit that fits your busy life.

🚀 The Power of Lean Portfolio Management (LPM): Dive deep into the world of LPM, a game-changer for large organisations. Discover how breaking projects into smaller, testable segments can skyrocket your efficiency and agility, all while reducing risk.

🌟 Continuous Improvement Unveiled: Noel identifies how without knowing it we are all embracing a Lean mindset in our daily life.

Prepare to be inspired, informed, and utterly entertained as Noel guides you through the world of Agility, Transformation and getting on top of your backlog of books! This episode is your golden ticket to becoming a more agile, innovative, and book-loving version of yourself! 🔥 Don't miss out – your journey to a brighter, leaner future begins here. 🚀📖

Key Takeaways:

1. **Adapt Your Reading Habits:** Reading cover to cover is something we learnt at a round age, but may not be necessary as an adult. Identify the sections that are relevant to you and establish a regular reading habit, even if it's just 5 minutes a day.
2. **Don't Force Yourself:** Don't hesitate to put down a book if it doesn't resonate with you. Just as you would walk away from a movie or conversation, it's okay to ditch a book that isn't connecting with you. You won’t hurt its feelings. 
3. **Books on a Budget:** You don't need to be wealthy to read. You can access books from libraries, charity shops, through neighbourly generosity, even from some cafes and old telephone boxes.
4. **Rethink Note-Taking:** Consider alternative methods like sketch noting and mind mapping to retain information effectively, rather than relying solely on traditional note-taking of it doesn’t work for you. It is scientifically proven that we retain more information when it’s visual. Be creative. 
5. **Continuous Improvement:** Embrace a lean and continuously improving mindset in your daily life. It's a natural part of human evolution. You’d be shocked to realise how many of your daily activities are performed in a lean way without you even realising it. Think about it. 
6. **Internal Culture Transformation:** If you want lasting change and a desired culture in your organization, it must come from within rather than relying solely on external experts or consultants. The best way to utilise a consultant is to use their knowledge and experience to develop your own organisation. Let them support you. 
7. **Lean Portfolio Management (LPM):** LPM is a valuable approach for budgeting and resourcing projects. It encourages breaking projects into smaller segments, enabling testing and flexibility, and reducing risk. It Considers shorter-term (3-6 months) planning with reduced investments to increase agility and reduce risk in project management.
8. **Engage Stakeholders:** Involve senior stakeholders and create a framework for LPM. Keep it simple and ensure the right people are on board. It’s a complete change of mindset and approach from tradition. 

These takeaways emphasize the importance of adaptability, efficiency, and a holistic approach to personal and organizational development.

Useful links that Noel referenced:

https://www.noelwarnell.uk/post/8-super-simple-ways-to-read-a-metric-crap-ton-of-books-in-2023

https://www.noelwarnell.uk/product-page/agile-bullshit-cards

https://www.thegreatbritishbookshop.co.uk/products/the-quarterly-agile-planning-journal?_pos=1&_sid=fd6f96a0e&_ss=r

https://www.linkedin.com/in/noelwarnell

To find out more about the certifications available with Catalyst Consulting Ltd, visit www.catalystconsulting.co.uk

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