Zak is my three-year old godson. He is the apple of my eye along with his sisters Carley and Brenna. I was watching him the other day as he was preparing to assume a self-proclaimed role of 'Master of the Universe' while playing a game with some of his friends. I marveled at how prepared he was and how his plan included alternatives if there were any 'problems' in the scheme of things. He was, in fact, more focused on achieving his goal than just about anyone I've ever seen.
Then it hit me?Zak was mentally organized. Maybe some of my teachings had rubbed off on him?but more than likely Zak was just being himself. Here's what an organized three-year old can teach us about improving our time management skills:
His goal was clear and he could see himself in the role he was about to create. He looked at some of the alternatives, decided what he wanted to do, who he wanted to be and began preparing himself. He was convinced that what he wanted was attainable and totally realistic and was clear that he was going to do something about it. Setting and envisioning goals is crucial for all of us.
He knew what was important. I didn't see Zak spend too much time with low pay-off activities. He was clear on what he needed to do first, before anything else, and then made sure it got done. He prioritized.
He had a plan. He moved forward with first things first, but if the plan didn't work he was fully prepared to temporarily shift activity until he got where he needed to be. He actually had a strategic plan and made decisions based on that plan.
He communicated. Yes, you can only imagine the excitement of children's voices, but is it any different than the frequency and types of interruptions and struggles in communication that you experience at work? He managed to keep everyone 'informed' and pointed in the right direction, even when some of the kids disagreed.
He took action. True, three year olds aren't always the most judicious group, but with his crown and scepter, right or wrong, he was moving forward to his goal. Sometimes what we do isn't popular, but it's important to getting the work done.
He delegated. Zak was more than happy to share with his friends what each should be doing and where they needed to be going. Trust me when I tell you that he let them know when they were 'off track'?but he also helped them with their assignments.
He reflected and adjusted. By the end of the game Zak did, in fact, become the 'Master of the Universe'. He was happy and satisfied that his plan had come together and almost immediately began thinking about what he needed to do the same and what he needed to do differently in the next 'universe'. No plan of action is ever complete unless you can reflect and assess on how to make it better in the future.
So if you would like to become master of your universe when it comes to time management, take a cue from this three-year old. You just never know what might happen.
Copyright 2004 Cynthia Kyriazis. All rights reserved.
Cynthia Kyriazis is a Professional Organizer, trainer, consultant, speaker, coach and author with over 20 years management experience in multi-unit corporations. She is President of Organize it, Inc., an organizational consulting firm serving Fortune 500 clients since 1995. Cynthia has worked with over 150 companies and hundreds of professionals to help improve performance in the areas of time, information, space and electronic file management.
Cynthia has appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer, Kansas City Star and the Legal Intelligencer. She currently serves as Secretary on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO), member of the National Speakers Association (NSA), member of International Society for Performance Improvement ? Kansas City chapter (ISPI-KC) and consultant to the American Coaching Association.
no-contract cleaning service Des Plaines ..Time is wealth;Time is health; Time is power; Time is... Read More
I've divided my tips into two sections - 5 ways... Read More
Fitting an education into a busy lifestyleMany people have aspirations... Read More
It's amazing how many sayings there are in our culture... Read More
One question a lot of people ask me recently is:... Read More
One of the issues most often raised by my clients... Read More
Sounds too good to be true?It really isn't!In fact, studies... Read More
As a professional organizer, consultant and trainer, I have come... Read More
As a small business owner, does the following paragraph sound... Read More
1. Do tasks less frequentlyClean house every 10 days rather... Read More
Your productivity depends on good tools and effective environments, and... Read More
Let's look at your time management skills. Most of us... Read More
One of the most common complaints that small business owners... Read More
Where does your time go? We all know we are... Read More
I'm sure we've all had the experience of having a... Read More
Procrastination, the habit of putting tasks off to the last... Read More
How do you know what's the best use of your... Read More
The biggest time management mistake you can ever make is... Read More
Time, time, time. It seems there is never enough of... Read More
We live in a world where more is expected of... Read More
There are so many books on Time Management published every... Read More
Clarity brings accomplishmentOne of the most important things you can... Read More
Want to improve your time management?Edward W. Smith, motivational speaker,... Read More
How do you manage your time? Or is the more... Read More
According to a Miller Heiman 2003 Sales Effectiveness Study, over... Read More
bathroom cleaning service Lake Forest .."There is never enough time, unless you're serving it." -Malcolm... Read More
Procrastination, the habit of putting tasks off to the last... Read More
Work more efficiently and be more productive using these time-management... Read More
The ability to be able to set priorities and deal... Read More
As mothers we play so many different roles and most... Read More
Microsoft wanted to know how individuals around the world were... Read More
I keep a fossil on my desk at all times.... Read More
As I sit here in front of the computer... Read More
Do you have plenty to do, but don't have enough... Read More
What keeping time really means is...being on time!You know, there... Read More
I give presentations on organizational skill building as it relates... Read More
If you have ever missed an appointment, forgotten to pick... Read More
Are you obsessed with getting everything just right? Do you... Read More
Reflect on the rewards of kicking the procrastination habit. They... Read More
One of the most common complaints that small business owners... Read More
As each day passes, and more and more things need... Read More
"The bad news is time flies. The good news is... Read More
One of the most challenging aspect in life is time... Read More
At Home? Keep related items together, for example the coffee... Read More
"Slaves to the clock" was the cover story in the... Read More
Many people want to be coached to manage their time... Read More
A working manager needs more than time management.That old saying,... Read More
How do you manage your time? Or is the more... Read More
All requests are not equal; all customers or clients are... Read More
As a home-based, self-employed woman, mundane tasks can be as... Read More
Time Management |