Posts Tagged ‘planning’

What are Your Big Rocks?

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

Do you ever get to the end of the day and wonder where all the time went? Are you stressed because the most important items on your to-do list did not get finished? This week several clients told me they just did not have enough time to complete their projects so we talked about “Big Rocks.”

Stephen R. Covey’s book First Things First
tells the story of how you can make the most of your day by prioritizing your activities. Covey says you can categorize activities into four groups.

  • Urgent & Important
  • Urgent & Unimportant
  • Not urgent & Important
  • Not urgent & Unimportant

This video summarizes his ideas.

Effective time management can reduce stress and improve productivity. Here are four ideas to get the most from your day.

  1. Plan your day. Know what you want to accomplish and set your goals in writing.
  2. Focus on the urgent and important items first. Do not let yourself get distracted.
  3. Just say no! Turn down events and activities that do not add value to your life.
  4. Plan for fun. Set aside time in your schedule to recharge your batteries. Reserve time to go for a walk, take in a movie, dinner with friends or curl up with a good book.

If you do not plan your day, someone else will plan it for you. Achieve your goals by creating a daily plan then work your plan.

What time management techniques do you use?

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Where Will You Be?

Monday, December 21st, 2009

Where will you be at the end of 2010? Are you ready to be more successful?

If you have no goals or action plans to get there, you will end the year in the same place you are at today. It takes planning, focus, execution and monitoring to accomplish your goals. The difference between a dream and a goal is action. Here are four steps you can use to transform your goals to your reality.

1. Clearly state your goal in writing. Be as specific as possible by including details. Use measurable terms so you can definitively say you have reached your milestone. What will it look like when you have achieved your goal? What will be different? How will you feel?

2. Define the steps you will take to reach your goal. List the big steps first and then fill in with smaller, intermediate tasks. The amount of detailed steps will vary by the size of your goal. Know what you need to complete this month, week and day to stay on track and accomplish your goal.

3. Execute your plan. A great pair of running shoes can help you run faster and lose weight but only if you put them on your feet and get moving. Work your plan by prioritizing your activities to ensure your goals for the day are completed as scheduled.

4. Monitor your progress. Life happens and sometimes things do not go as planned. Are you on track to meet your goals? Are you closer to success? Make any adjustments which are necessary to get back on track.

Follow these steps to get started on your path to success. There is no time like the present to get started. What are you waiting for?

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