Skip to main content

Control your time

You are busier than ever before.  Your job demands more, your family has multiple schedules to juggle, and you can't remember the last time you read a book just for the pleasure of reading.  Sound familiar?  I'm sure you've heard it before, but you need to create a schedule for yourself.  When you don't, you're pulled here and there responding to the activities around you, instead of controlling the activities that put demands on your schedule.  There are many tools to use for managing your schedule from Stephen Covey, Outlook, a simple calendar grid with your activities blocked out, and many others.  There are 2 important keys in any schedule:  schedule enough time for the activities you choose to do (this means being realistic about how much time tasks require, delegating some tasks and saying no to other tasks), and stick with it.  Which works the best for me?  All of them.  I have used many different schedulers over the years and find that they all work.  The only tough part is to stay disciplined in using them.  Are you controlling your time?  Or is your time controlling you?  I will guarantee that even if you don't quite follow your schedule 100%, you'll be more productive and have more free time than if you don't have any schedule at all.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Franchise opportunity

As I read several blogs and forums relating to direct sales, I'm fascinated by those who complain, complain, complain.  They want something, they get it, but they want it different.  They sign on to a company, but don't like how the company dictates this or that. Direct sellers - imagine you owned a franchise... let's say "Subway" (Subway is a registered trademark & only being used as an example).  You have your location with the pretty sign, all of your food is purchased through your company, you have a fairly standard menu and you get to choose to participte in national advertising and pricing.  And, you have to sell a significant number of sandwiches to retain your franchise. As a customer, I know that I can walk into any Subway and get a BMT that tastes almost identical to any BMT I purchase at any other location.  I know what I'm getting. So what if Subway franchise owners put the name on the door but didn't follow franchise rules? As a custom...
1 comment
Read more

Volunteers

I've heard many in leadership lamenting about the lack of volunteers.  If you lead a church or other non-profit, or are in direct sales, you lead an army of volunteers.  Sometimes, your volunteers will not hit you over the head with their willingness to serve.  Sometimes, they will.  Are you ready to mentor them in their volunteer position so that they will be successful?  Do you follow through with them while enthusiasm is high?  I think we all believe we do. About two years ago, I volunteered with a non-profit in the Quad Cities area.  It took several weeks just to be able to get through to the correct person to volunteer my services with.  I was invited to attend an open meeting, where I spoke of the service that I was willing to provide.  Although there was much agreement that my service would be a great addition to the service they were providing, and several follow up calls on my part, I never was given the opportunity to volunteer. A...
Post a Comment
Read more

Excuse or reason?

This past weekend, I listened to Sue Rusch, who is a Strategic Consultant, Speaker, & Business Coach (and also very tall).  Of all the wonderful information she gave (and there was a lot), the one quote that really struck home for me was, "We can look at family as an excuse , or a reason ."  Ouch!  It's so easy to avoid the work that I know I need to do, by saying "my family time is more important".  But what am I calling "family time"?  Sitting in a dance studio during lessons?  Watching tv while the rest of my family watches another tv?  Sitting on a field watching soccer practice?  Dinner together (but barely half the family is there)?  Choose what is important.  And be there.  Remember the reasons that you chose leadership.  And if your leadership is important, schedule your activities.  And be there .  No excuses. Thanks to everyone who is regularly (or even occasionally) reading this blog. I've been cover...
1 comment
Read more