Get more done in less time
September 1, 2014
By Jerry Bellune
It’s not about time. It’s what we do with it.
As kids, time seemed elastic and elusive.
It seemed to stretch forever if we were:
• Sitting through a class we didn’t particularly like.
• Doing homework in a subject we didn’t enjoy.
But time snapped tight when we were:
• Playing with our pets and friends.
• Doing something exciting with our families.
Growing up, time did not lose that elasticity.
It just never seemed long enough for all we had to do.
Over the years, I’ve learned to make better use of it.
When I’m productive, I seem to get more done.
That gives me a feeling of accomplishment.
It also allows more time for what I really want to do.
It’s taught me also that time = money.
The more productive I am, the happier I am.
Here are three quick lessons I’ll share with you.
1. There’s not enough time for everything.
We have to set priorities in our daily lives.
Mark Twain called this “swallowing the big frog.”
By that, he meant tackling important stuff first.
We may not enjoy it. The frog may not like it either.
But we don’t feel guilty about putting it off.
2. Make sure we know which are the big frogs.
These are the high payoff projects.
They’re the ones that “feed the bulldog.”
Make a list of all you need to do tomorrow.
Prioritize those projects and tasks by number.
No. 1 is the most important and must be done today.
No. 9 is the least important and might wait a day.
3. Don’t let little frogs eat up your time.
Our email in-boxes are a blight on our time.
We can get lost in this maze for hours.
The same with social media.
Set aside time for them. Stop when time runs out.
I check my email three times a day. That’s it.
Recommended reading
Want to write and publish your own book?
What would it do for you if you did?
Would you become the expert authority in your field?
Would it attract new clients like nothing else?
Would it help you retain your ideal customers?
“Why Write a Book” tells you how to do it
For a copy, email me at [email protected]
Next: What’s holding you back?
© 2014 The Bellune Company, Inc.
Neither MidlandsBiz.com nor The Bellune Company, Inc. makes any warranty as to the results that may be achieved from using this information. Requests for permission to reprint or circulate may be obtained by emailing [email protected]
