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The last time you set out on a journey to a destination where you had never been before, one of the tools you probably took with you was a map. Sometimes meandering through back roads and enjoying the scenery is a delight, however, when getting to the destination in a timely fashion is ... Views: 1142
I challenge you to a moment of honesty. How many productive work hours do you have on an average day? Productive work hours are ones spent moving your business forward.
If you are typical, you are very BUSY all day. But much of that busy-ness is unfocused, personal, or simply wasting time. An ... Views: 1197
Why is it that we so often find that there just isn’t enough time for what is most important?
Is there really not enough time or are we simply not choosing to create space for those ‘important’ things?
For years, I have been trying to find the time to begin a regular meditation and yoga ... Views: 1004
Can you feel it in the air? The buzz begins November 1 as the Halloween pumpkins come down and the Christmas decorations go up. The whole country shifts into high gear as everyone starts asking whether you’ve gotten your shopping done. (For the record, mine is half done.)
Here are some ... Views: 947
Is it faxing, calling to schedule closing appointments, filing contracts with your office? NO, you and I both know the answer is a resounding NO. There are many schools of thoughts on delegating. Some people that I’ve chatted with over the years worry that it takes too long to train someone, ... Views: 531
My $35,000 turkey started out as a bargain. My daughter was shopping and she called to tell me the store had turkeys for 40 cents a pound. Wow! What a savings. Last year I paid 89 cents a pound so this sale would save me big bucks. Now, we only have a fridge with a freezer on top and I thought ... Views: 1060
As a child I loved dolls. I had endless tea parties with them sitting with me around the kitchen table. I dressed and re-dressed them in the clothes my mother made for them. She was an expert seamstress and I had wonderful outfits for each doll. I never remember my mother staying up until 2:00 ... Views: 1079
Let’s face it; holidays can be a pain in the neck. I know there are those out there who love everything about the holidays, the hustle and bustle, the frantic preparations, sleepless nights, meal preparation, shopping and tucking gifts away only to forget where they are hidden. But some of us ... Views: 1440
You use your credit or debit card for faster transaction and so does your customer. Naturally, your customer expects that you process his payment speedily after he dines in your restaurant. The answer for faster processing lies in your point of sale equipment. If you are using POS terminals, you ... Views: 795
As our economy continues to do the best it can to get back on it’s feet, heading to the grocery store can be a fright in itself. Especially at the checkout when all is said and done and you discover your grand total. Being careful to purchase exactly what you are in need of when your trip is ... Views: 1004
If you have been following the articles of the past several weeks, you have probably been making some big changes in decluttering your life and preparing for the New Year. So let’s take a moment to breathe… relax… and look at some small shifts that can make big differences.
Just like any ... Views: 1352
How you use your time is very crucial. You could waste time unneccessarily or have tons of down time by working quickly. You should look at these tips if you need some tips with time management. However, the truth is, that there are no cookie-cutter rules for managing your time. It is ... Views: 1158
It only takes a moment, but it makes all the difference. Before you begin your next project, stop to ask your deepest self how you define the scope of this new task.
The difference is one of inspiration and guidance. We all have this deepest self, and most of us are lucky to have had ... Views: 1081
It's been a challenging year. How are you heading into 2010? Are You Ready For Your Life Now?
Many of us are overwhelmed by our stuff, schedules & having to deal with change.
I help clients set decision making criteria in 3 areas:
What to let in?
Where will it go (space & schedule)?
How do ... Views: 1186
You don't have to let yourself be terrorized by other people's expectations of you. Sue Thoele
One must live the way one thinks or end up thinking the way one has lived. Paul Bourget
The more time you spend doing what is important to you the quicker the unimportant things drift away. ... Views: 1202
The evening hours are a perfect time to set yourself up for success when the following day rolls around. Being organized and ready to roll when the alarm clock sounds allows you to begin your morning with an air of calmness, togetherness and avoids morning discombobulation and potential stress ... Views: 830
STAYING AHEAD OF THE PAPERWORK OVERLOAD
By
Bill Cottringer
“Keeping up with the information overload is like trying to sip water from a fire hose.”
~ Anonymous.
So you think you are overloaded with paperwork at your job? My very first professional job was a counselor at a ... Views: 3052
You know how you can have a stack of papers piling up on the corner of your desk?
You see it there every day.
You dread dealing with it.
Maybe even try to ignore it, yet when you are on the phone, it distracts you.
You can’t help but take a peak.
Maybe even pick up a piece of it, thinking ... Views: 1537
You know that big project (or presentation or proposal) that’s due in two weeks?
The one you haven’t started yet?
I know. I know. You’ve been meaning to do it. But it’s going to take HOURS and there are so many other things to do. You just haven’t had any big chunks of time to devote to ... Views: 1241
As an entrepreneur or any other type of business professional, you are probably often asked to take on volunteer leadership positions, such as a Board member, a committee chair, etc. These roles can be incredibly satisfying from a personal and professional standpoint. However, it is often ... Views: 2293
Time management is a major issue for many people. And it's not getting any better. Experts estimate that during the last 25 years, our leisure time has declined by 37% while our workweek has increased by a full day. The American's Use of Time Project at the University of Maryland revealed that ... Views: 1352
Over the past 30 plus years, I have had the privilege of working with a great many people from all walks of life. Despite the wide range of demographics I could categorize them all by saying every one of them would have benefited from establishing their own PLLL. Life is a journey, not unlike ... Views: 897
I stole this from the carpenters; "measure twice, cut once". Thanks guys. The longer I work on a project; there is always something that comes to the top to make my understanding and grasp of the subject better and better. This section is one of those improvements.
Before And After
If ... Views: 4280
When Donald Trump walks into his office, do you think he is a driver or a passenger? You do not even have to know what the terms means to know the answer; he's a driver. He is a successful person, do you think he got there being passive and sitting back, like a passenger, or do you think he ... Views: 1294
You can’t blame people for using you as a doormat. What does this possibly have to do with increasing your productivity, accomplishing more and moving closer to reaching your goals?
People generally start off with good intentions. They want to use their time wisely, they want to get as much ... Views: 1083
What?
What are the 5 to 10 absolutely necessary activities that you have to do to ensure your success and happiness? Those are going to be your Power Time Management Irrefutables. You have to be serious and you have to be brutally honest with your self. Fudging this list is sabotaging all of ... Views: 1826
It was a Saturday morning in May when I realized that I was not as smart as I thought I was. This happened about 35 years ago but it is as fresh in my mind as if it was yesterday. I was operating one of my franchise organizations and this franchise was in the Lawn Care industry. In this ... Views: 1102
First, so there are no surprises, there is no secret formula to breaking up large tasks, you just do it. The fact we are here is the biggest step you will make in this area. Large overpowering tasks are just a collection of many smaller jobs all joined together. Start thinking like this and ... Views: 4785
ip #1
Feeling like you can’t get it all done? Schedule Focus Time every day. This is the time you are not to be disturbed. Turn off the phone, shut down email and determine your biggest need for action at this time. Then set your timer and get it done!
Tip #2
Tired of losing phone ... Views: 1186
There’s no doubt about it, you live a busy life with many different genres that require your attention, your time and your energy each and every day that you awake. There is no doubt in my mind that it requires constant effort to not only take care of all our responsibilities on the outside, ... Views: 777
My email in-box is jam packed, I have several calls from sales people that I haven't returned yet, my desk is a mess, and I'm finding it very hard to concentrate. What in the world is going on here!
Well, for starters, my friend Chris is undergoing her second brain surgery today (a 7 hour ... Views: 2229
One Saturday morning at 8:30 a.m. I was looking out my kitchen window watching a fireman dressed who was dressed in his blue uniform carrying what looked like a heavy back pack on his back walking up the steep street in front of our home. I wondered where he was going and why he would be in ... Views: 1804
Hi there everyone!!
Goals should be written down and have the following SMART attributes:
Specific. We need to have hard numbers on our goals. However, this is not to be confused with being “precise.” It’s OK to have ranges of numbers. In fact, it’s better for the subconscious mind if we ... Views: 2063
Hey there everyone!!
The “T” in the SMART goal formula represents time-sensitivity. That is, our goals should have a specific date associated to them.
However, there are two kinds of dates that can be associated with a goal. The first may be obvious. This is a hard date. A hard date is a ... Views: 3497
Every day we take risks. If we cross the street we risk being run over. If we go down the stairs, we risk missing a step and tumbling down. Taking risks is such a common occurrence, that we tend to ignore it. Indeed, life would be unbearable if we constantly worried whether we should or should ... Views: 1015
As soon as the project manager has received his brief or project instructions, he must produce a document which distils what is generally a vast amount of information into a concise, informative and well-organized form that can be distributed to all members of the project team and indeed all the ... Views: 745
Many Managers will organise their priorities in terms of dealing with crisis as they come along. Those that shout the loudest will get the most attention. This takes control out of the hands of the manager, often making him focus solely on employees when the business would benefit from more ... Views: 1412
Want to boost productivity and morale? Save time and improve relationships?
Stop sending emails.
How did we ever survive without it? A real time saver. For some things. For others – a real time zapper.
Just imagine….or maybe you don’t even have to imagine…it happens to many people every ... Views: 1155
My friend and former colleague (UD 1996), Brooke Packard Blanchard, sent me this story. We don’t know the author. If you do, please let me know. I would love to give him or her the proper credit. The story may make you sad at first. But put the wise words to work and it will serve to boost ... Views: 2449
This is a true story – heard every day – from all walks of life. The names have been changed to protect the innocent and guilty.
Jane could be a co- worker, student, direct report, family member – actually anyone in your life.
In this version – she is a customer service rep trying to keep ... Views: 1308
To manage a project, a company or authority has to set up a project organization, which can supply the resources for the project and service it during its life cycle.
There are three main types of project organizations:
1. Functional;
2. Matrix;
3. Project or task force.
Functional ... Views: 867
Before embarking on a project, it is clearly necessary to show that there will be a benefit either in terms of money or service or both. The document which sets out the main advantages and parameters of the project is called the Business Case and is (or should be) produced by either the client ... Views: 620
Why are you procrastinating? Why are you making excuses? Why are you never completing anything? Why are you putting off until tomorrow what can be done today? Do any of these phrases sound familiar?
We all procrastinate at one time or another. We all are guilty of letting our family and ... Views: 988
Christmas decorations have begun to appear in stores and malls all over the country. People are already starting to think about (and stress over) gift-giving, and it’s only October.
Do we need to panic? Can selecting a gift for someone be easy? While it may always be difficult to find a ... Views: 1118
You have probably heard the saying “There just aren’t enough hours in the day.” This is especially true if your job involves traveling to a client’s site or if you work at or travel between remote locations (e.g., branch offices). Transit time can take a big chunk out of your day. In such ... Views: 1184
If you have a problem on recording your schedule, it is a must for you to read this article to lessen your recording task.
You can now track time accurately using the time-sheets and time tracking software. What we refer to as time tracking you may know by another name such as time ... Views: 796
Time is the great equalizer. It doesn’t matter how rich you are or how poor you are. Not even how famous, infamous or average you are. Time does not stop for anyone and you can’t get more of it. You can’t slow it down or speed it up. With each breath that you take or heartbeat in your chest, ... Views: 1094
Ever leave a meeting and wonder why you met?
Ever have a meeting and after much discussion, decide on a plan but then – nothing ever happens?
Here are three questions can lead the leader to conducting more efficient, more effective and maybe even fewer meetings.
Questions to ask and ... Views: 1570
Meetings meetings everywhere!
Great way to communicate. Great tool for propelling the way to goal. A great investment of time or a huge ZAP of it – and energy too.
It’s a good idea to do a quick meeting review every now and then. Just to be sure that your team isn’t over-using this ... Views: 1164
Does this sound like you? You rush from one meeting to another, deal with demanding customers, handle employees' concerns, put out the latest "fire" at the office or at home, return phone calls and wade through a knee-deep pile of emails. With a day like that, it can be so easy to get caught up ... Views: 1398