One of the most important and discussed topics on any entrepreneurial forum is about time management ... there just doesn't seem to be enough hours in a day! So what do you do? Slowing down time would be good, but not many of us have access to to a time machine ... so? So Karl Warren (also without a time machine) shares his time management strategies ...
Note; this originally appeared in an internet marketing forum "Warrior Forum", and is focused towards 'making money'. Having said these strategies are really life tools, and I can only see them benefiting anyone in achieving whatever goal it is they want to achieve!
Vic Carrara
www.empowersu.com
Thoughts on Time Management ...
by Karl Warren
I've been thinking recently, as I shift the focus of my core business..
The thought struck me that, even though I'm very organized, determined and focused on how much work I need to get done in a day... I still find my mind wandering (albeit not as much as it did 6 months ago.)
I no longer flit from system to system, however I still spend some time pursuing activities that will not put money in my pocket.
So, I thought long and hard about how I can maximize my time and effort and decided to put in place a system that I used about 1 1/2 years ago:
1) Keep a daily plan and to do list and prioritize it according to:
- a) what MUST I do today that will make me money today?
- b) what MUST I do today that will not make me money?
- c) what can I do today that will make me money in future?
- d) what future tasks can I do today?
Each day, I start the list fresh - it will take about five minutes to plan out the day - dividing the day into 20 minute chunks, for each task I work out how many chunks of my day it should take.
I can then spread out my tasks with (a) type tasks first... (b) type tasks next and finally (c) type tasks... I then write (d) type tasks at the bottom of the page.
Once each task is complete, it is then ticked off of the list and I move on to the next one. Once all a, b, and c tasks are complete... I begin working on d type tasks.
If I've not completed type a, or b tasks by the end of the day, I must continue working until they are complete... type c and d tasks are moved to the next day if necessary.
By breaking your time down into modules, it becomes a lot easier to manage it...
This is not theory, it works - it is a system I used when working as a real-estate agent, back then, until I started using the system it felt like there weren't enough hours in the day. With the system, I found myself with more time, more work done, more MONEY and I was actually enjoying myself more.
You must be fairly strict with your time, distractions eat up the time you should be spending on essential tasks...
Things such as phone calls and emails are very unlikely to give you immediate cash, they can be left until the end of the day. You'll be surprised how quickly you can get through emails at the end of the day compared to the start of the day... at the beginning of the day you spend more time reading them and being sidetracked. If you're someone who is glued to your inbox or your 'send/receive' button is wearing out through excessive use, i'll let you check it twice a day... but not first thing - you should do it at about half way through your day, then once at the end. Your business will not collapse if you don't respond to an email within 5 minutes.
You will find that with practice, you will actually begin to perform your tasks a lot quicker - because you will be more focused...
Now tell me, who wouldn't want to do more of the things that will make them money today?
Isn't that why we're all here?
Much love,
Karl.
You can discover and share in more of Karl's motivation strategies here: Motivation, Inspiration & Achievement!
Plus I'd recommend getting your hands on Karl's report: "Achieve Your Wildest Dreams" (hey, it's only a measly $9!)
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