My Time Management Strategy

I have been asked several times about my time management strategy. If i had a face for video like Austin, i would do a Youtube broadcast. Since i have more of a face for a written blog, here she blows.

1. Goals: Know exactly what you want to accomplish. Not a big nebulous goal, but a specific attainable goal and a timeframe to complete it.
a. Setting realistic goals means knowing exactly what you want to complete in a week, month or year.
b. Things that stay on your to-do list and do not get done are not really important (even though they may sound or look important, or you know they should be on there) or they would get done. Remove them from the list or break them down into small enough sections to complete.
2. System: Create a trustworthy system to record things that need to be done.
a. You cannot keep things in your head. First of all, you will forget them. Secondly they take up space in your mind and you are less likely to complete them. They are a great source of stress and frustration.
b. Have a method to record things as you think of them then stop thinking of them. They should go onto a critical list as you schedule their completion.
c. Your system should include a time of review of your lists and a segregation of items into categories such as; immediate, follow-up, delegate, or trash. Reviewing the lists each week will keep it useful and clean.
3. Plan: Do not plan the day at the beginning of the day. Plan each day the day before then write the plan and put it where you will be first the next day.
a. Execute the plan. If you change the plan every minute, then you need to fire the planner or fire the guy that executes. Since both are you, then plan your next day, next thing, next place and execute them. Trust the plan you made.
b. Prepare for meetings, situations etc. Preparation is something that so few people do well. All meetings that you organize should have an itinerary.
4. Structured hours: Recurring tasks should have set and specific times for completion.
a. The more structure you add to your day and week the more you can expect to get done. If you start a day without a plan you can expect to accomplish little or nothing.
b. Make use of spare moments. Have your reading, planner or scratch pad ready for down time while you are waiting on something. You can make a lifetime out of spare moments.
5. Do the next thing. This is great, but simple advice. Work while you work and be constantly doing the next thing to reach your goals.
a. Work while you work. This is a Ken Tracy slogan that really makes sense when you consider all the work distractions you have during the day.
b. Do the next thing toward attaining your goal. Figure out what the “next thing” is and do that. Ask yourself. What is the “next thing” I need to do to reach my goals. This fights distractions.