My new book Time Management Magic will be available on January 15 from Amazon, B&N, etc. How many regrets do you want to have?
The new year is right around the corner which is an excellent time to start getting organized. Everyone is going to have to do more with less next year with this economy we are in and the continued pressure on our time.
This is the time that you want to have a reputation for being organized and reliable as companies decide who to keep and who to layoff. The recent plunge in oil prices is going to affect many good performers at some organizations that are highly connected to oil prices. Good people will be laid off…Great ones will not!
If you don’t have a day planner, you need to go right out and get one. I have been using the Senior-Size Day-Timer® for over 25 years now . . . and yes, I have a Samsung Galaxy 5 as well. They are my two best friends and extremely reliable. Even those Apple iphones will work to help keep you organized.
Even if you have a great phone, I think you still need to carry a day planner with you to write things down. Actually, if you want to learn how to use a planner and electronic device read my new book. No don’t read it, study it. Most people were way more organized when they just used a paper planner and a check list on a clipboard.
One thing that you will learn, and which can literally save your life, is to schedule your priorities right into your day planner or phone.
If your health, for instance, is a priority in your life, then you will have a daily appointment to go work out at a set time; and you will keep that appointment just as you would any other one.
If your children are a priority in your life, then you will have appointments on certain days of the week that relate to their lives, from visiting their teachers, to going over their homework, to planning and scheduling an outing together on the weekend.
If your finances are important, there will be appointments on your calendar to see a financial planner or visit the credit union for advice.
My top 3 priorities are 1) My health 2) My family, 3) My finances. My health comes first so I will be around to take care of my family. I spend a lot of time on these three and then deal with other things if time allows.
If you are not clear about what your priorities are you will not spend the right amount of time and effort on them.
You will be amazed at how you begin to accomplish things that are your priorities once you put them in your calendar.
In my time management seminar I always ask the question: “What should you do today that will not pay off for five to forty years from now?” There are many answers to that question, and I am sure that you can think of many if you just take a few minutes to think about it. Come to the class, and I will give you a long list of things that if you start them today, then you will have far fewer regrets later in your life.
How many regrets do you want to have in your life anyway? YOU are the person who has the greatest ability to manage your life and the priorities in your life.
As one quote in my book says,” If you don’t spend time to plan the life you want, you will spend a lot of time living the life you don’t want.”
It is never too late to get better.
Have a great holiday and a happy and organized New Year….Lee
PS: For anyone wanting discount bulk orders of my book contact me at: Lee@LeeCockerell.com. A bulk order is 12 copies or more.
Lee, I will be looking forward towards this book. I have been digesting “39 Rules” as my focus for the team and I is customer service. I realize that even though I am not in the hospitality business, the team and I must be hospitable. Makes perfect sense.
Michale