TIME MANAGEMENT

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)

·         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.

·         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.

 

·         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.

 

·        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.