Isn't it amazing that some people can produce huge results in the same 24 hours that we all have? Whether or not we realize it, we victimize ourselves by not appropriately deciding what to do with our time. Instead, we let our time decide what to do with us!
Time is a commodity, and no matter who we are, we experience many demands on this precious commodity. The most critical step ? once a course of action is decided ? is to create a to-do list. Too often, people stop at this point and don't recognize the next, critical step. In his bestseller How to Get Control of Your Time and Your Life, Alan Lakein says it is imperative to finish the list by setting priorities; the list isn't complete until priorities have been established.
One of the important reasons for the prioritized list ? other than sanity of course ? has to do with a neat maxim called the Pareto Principle. Essentially, the Pareto Principal states that roughly 80% of all generated results come from approximately 20% of generative activities. This is valid in both macro and micro environments: most religious leaders say that 80% of their tithes come from 20% of church attendees; many sales managers realize that 80% of their sales come from the top 20% of their salesmen. In business or life in general, 80% of the results achieved are generated by 20% of the activities. Whatever When we examine our to-do lists, we should prioritize our list beginning with the the top 20% activities.
Top time management trainers and writers recommend the ABC system of prioritizing. Thus, A activities are Vital ? activities that must be carried out at all costs. These are the "top 20%" activities. Very often, these are items that are least easy to do because they are not apparently urgent! B items are Important. While these are often more urgent than the A activities, they are, in reality not of vital importance. Finally, C activities are Trivial and may represent 80% of all the things which we find ourselves doing. In an odd inversion or proportion, A activities are more vital, while C activities are more urgent. People that are ineffective with their time end up spending a lot of time on C activities. In the whole scope of activities and accomplishments, the A activities are valuable, rewarding and help one move toward established goals. C activities have the great effect of making one weary. Don't confuse activity with accomplishment! Franklin Time Management Founder, Hyrum Smith, states that "urgencies act on priorities but they are not priorities." To create large results and progress in life, and business, focus on priorities.
We must closely examine our top 20% activities. What activities must we engage in to create the desired results? Now, let's figure out how we can spend 80% of our time on those activities. This powerful discipline has been mastered by people who are producing powerful results in their lives and businesses. We too can learn to master it and master our lives!
Eric Johnson is a regular contributor to the Investor's Value View newsletter. To learn how to send comments to Mr. Johnson or to subscribe to the Investor's Value View newsletter, visit http://www.valueview.net
Reflect on the rewards of kicking the procrastination habit. They... Read More
Many of us spend long hours at our desk. To... Read More
In our time-crazed society, lots of time is what most... Read More
How often have you tried to manage your time in... Read More
Why Read?It's been said that there are three kinds of... Read More
Perhaps it is merely semantics, but an underlying problem I... Read More
Nowhere is the line drawn more clearly between 'Industrial brains'... Read More
Microsoft wanted to know how individuals around the world were... Read More
How many of us are guilty of "Putting the cart... Read More
Time is our greatest and most precious asset. Time is... Read More
Do you manage your time or does your time manage... Read More
It's amazing how many sayings there are in our culture... Read More
Many of you have expressed the challenge of not having... Read More
The most powerful resource that we have is time. Everything... Read More
In this fast and crazy world, we want to multi-task... Read More
"Time is what we need the most and what we... Read More
Despite the best of intentions, most of us don't use... Read More
One of the most common complaints that small business owners... Read More
From Potential to PerformanceOne of the great things about life... Read More
How can you get an extra hour out of each... Read More
How do you eat two elephants? The same way you... Read More
Are you working a "day job" while building your home-based... Read More
Are you a worrier? Do you frequently spend time and... Read More
"Because there will always be something more to do, we... Read More
Sometime ago, my lovely wife woke me up in the... Read More
Do you wish you could work less and play more?... Read More
How many of us are guilty of "Putting the cart... Read More
It is common knowledge that creating and living according to... Read More
What does it mean to practice self care? It's creating... Read More
This is one more article on "Organizing and Enjoying Your... Read More
Time and money are both very important in business. Yet,... Read More
Would you like to know how to get 10 times... Read More
An expert in time management was speaking to a group... Read More
In most organizations, meetings are often the biggest time-wasters. With... Read More
How much time do you spend on Mastering Your Time?... Read More
We don't realize many things we do until we draw... Read More
* spreading yourself too thinTaking on too many things at... Read More
My husband and I recently returned from a trip to... Read More
Balancing Your Work, Family and Social Life... Read More
Years ago when I started in this business, it seemed... Read More
There are the golden rules that apply to time. If... Read More
Time is money in your online business, just as in... Read More
"It's just been one of those days?I can't seem to... Read More
Isn't it amazing that some people can produce huge results... Read More
What are the most important things you should accomplish today?... Read More
We are all born equal! We all have the same... Read More
Many of us get so caught up in day-to-day pressures... Read More
What would be your reaction if someone said to you... Read More
* If you were paying you to prioritise emails over... Read More
One of the most common complaints that small business owners... Read More
Time Management |