LESSON #12
TIME
MANAGEMENT
Time is the MOST valuable asset for
mankind. Whether rich or poor, great or small we all share 24 hours around the
clock. The only difference between the rich and poor is time management. Rich
people count their time in terms of money and in short periods e.g. seconds,
minutes and hours (e.g. the contract says one is to is to be paid $10 per hour), while the poor
count their time in terms of convenience and in long periods e.g. days, weeks
and months (e.g. I shall make the purchase next month if I get the money).
How should/can you utilize your time very effectively and productively? Have a scheduled daily plan. You can do this by having a diary where you write down all the things you want to accomplish in a day or a week. Reward yourself when you accomplish all the tasks in your time frame. If you fail to do so, improve your time management the following week until it becomes a habit. (Don’t reward yourself when you fail to accomplish the given tasks, that is will be lying to yourself)
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Become a highly disciplined time manager. There are roughly 168 hours
in a week. This surely allows plenty of time for achievement of the many goals
we desire to accomplish. Be ruthless with your time. Set aside a few minutes
each morning to plan your day. Plan around your priorities and focus on not
only those tasks which are immediate but not important (i.e., many telephone
calls) but especially on those which are important but not urgent, for these
allow for the greatest personal and professional development. Important but not
immediate activities are those which produce long-term, sustainable benefits
and include exercise, strategic planning, the development of relationships and
professional education. Never let the things which matter most be placed in the
backseat as compared to those that matter least. By Robin S. Sharma.
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Remember that effective time management makes you more rather than
less flexible. It allows you to do the things that you really want to do rather
than the things you really have to do.
By Robin S. Sharma.
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The key to successful time management is doing what you planned to do
when you planned to do it. Keep your mind fully on the task at hand. Only then
will you achieve all your goals and have time for the things that matter most.
Although it is imperative to be flexible (a bow too tightly strung will soon
break), following your planned schedule requires no more than simple
discipline. By Robin S. Sharma.
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Develop the essential habit of punctuality for it is most important
for high success. Punctuality reflects discipline and a proper regard for
others. Without it, even the most sophisticated person appears slightly
offensive. Do not be early and certainly never be late. Budget your time and,
should you arrive early, take a walk or simply relax for a few moments to
ensure that you arrive on time as requested. You will be appreciated and
welcomed always if you cultivate this important quality that appears so rarely
these days. By Robin S. Sharma.
·
Learn to organize your time. It is incorrect to say that by becoming a
meticulous time manager and living by a carefully defined schedule you become
rigid and non-spontaneous. Rather, proper organization allows one to accomplish
those goals which are truly important as well as enjoy leisure time. Good time
management offers more time for fun and relaxation - not less. These important
periods are scheduled into the week just like other commitments which may
appear more pressing. Neither is sacrificed. Also, discipline yourself and stop
wasting time on all those immediate and pressing but unimportant tasks (i.e.,
the ringing phones) and concentrate on the activities that are truly meaningful
to your life's mission. Such activities include time for self-renewal and
reflection, time forging relationships built on trust and mutual respect, time
for physical fitness, time to read and think deeply and time serving others in
your community. By Robin S. Sharma.
·
The telephone is there for your convenience, not for the convenience
of others who are attempting to contact you. If you are busy with a task, do
not answer the phone or have someone answer the call so that you may return it
at a more suitable time. Do not let such interruptions waste your time. Most
phone calls are not important and last far too long anyway. Over the course of
the average American's lifetime, she will spend two years unsuccessfully
returning phone calls. There are so many important and fun things to do in
life. The challenge is to respect precious time so that we can achieve a
fuller, more satisfying life. By Robin
S. Sharma.
