Eat That Frog!
Today I spent the first hour of my day listening to an audio CD from The Internet Entrepreneur Club between Derek Gehl and Brain Tracy on time management. Brain says time management is a core skill of life and can be learnt.
He has written a book which has sold over 500,000 copies called “Eat That Frog- 21 ways to stop procrastinating and get more done”
Brian starts the ball rolling by saying “You have all the time there is”, and the choices about what you do with that time will determine where you are headed.
His other sobering thought was “you will never get caught up with the tasks or jobs you have to do”. So true. there is always something else which seems to get added to the “to do” list.
The ability to set priorities is the key to utilising time in the best way possible.
If you are a procrastinator, or suffer from being overwhelmed with too much to do, I want to summarise here what Brian says works – which (by the way) has been determined what all good business leaders do)
1. Take a clean sheet of paper
2. Write on it everything you have to do.
3. Go over the tasks and determine which 6 tasks are most important.
4. Put those tasks on another sheet.
5. Do the tasks in order of priority (tick them off)
6. Transfer to a new sheet those tasks you didn’t complete to the next day.
If you constantly get side tracked Brian suggests using “back To Work” as your mantra. Ultimately if you keep saying it (aloud or in your head), the subconscious will act on it. I am constantly getting sidetracked, so guess what? I now have a sticky note on my monitor saying “Back To Work” as a reminder.
How do you prioritise your tasks?
He suggests using his ABCDE method – which he said has contributed more to his success than anything else. Though I like his other way of looking at priorities. What tasks have the most serious consequences if I don’t do them? Which tasks have fewer consequences? This works for me to determine priority.
Here is Brian Tracy’s ABCDE Method:
A = Must be done – there are serious consequences if you don’t do them.
B = Should do: Tasks like calling a friend, doing your expenses, etc
C = Would be nice to do: Your life will not be negatively effected if you don’t do these.
D = Delegate: if its not imperative you do these tasks, get someone else to do them.
E = Eliminate: there is no value in doing these things, they are of low value. Eliminate them.
The thing about setting yourself tasks and completing them is the sense of achievement you feel when the task is finished. Your body secretes endorphins because you are happy you have finished the task.
He goes on to say you need to reward yourself when you finish a task. It could be something as simple as having a coffee break. Take completed = reward. Your mind soon equates completing tasks = reward = feel good.
Everyone strives to increase their self esteem, and no better way than to reward yourself!
If you have just competed a really big task you really feel wonderful. Its a bit like drug addicts who continue to use drugs because it makes them feel good. Its an addiction to what it is that is making them feel good. This is however a negative addition. What you want is positive addictions.
Never give into the temptation to complete small tasks first. Start on big things that need to be done.
Brian Tracy continues on by using the 8o 20 rule, (80% of sales come from 20 % of customers), and uses the 8020 rule with time management. The 20% of what you do will determine the value of your day.
He also goes on to say we should all know our hourly rate, so you can focus on everything you have to do in a day that pays the most.
What is that one thing in your day that pays you the most? What is the second thing? The third thing? These are the areas you should be focusing on.
He gives a great story about how each generation has the opportunity to go up the socio-economic ladder by where they invest their time.
He gives examples of the lower, lower class being focused on one day at a time, the lower class focused on a week at a time (pay check to pay check), right through to the upper class who use their time to build their futures by putting into place things that will benefit the long term, and the upper, upper class (like the Rockefeller’s and Fords) who are reaping the benefit of sacrificing then to have now and passing the legacy on (inherited wealth).
Do you get enough sleep?
We all know that with lack of sleep we are less productive and clear headed. Why do we all do it?Because we have so much to do sleep is wasted time. Really? Tests show that when you are rested you are more alert and productive, less inclined to make mistakes, and enjoy what you are doing more.
If you want to be-more productive, make less mistakes, and enjoy what you do more – Get More Sleep! Eight hours should be sufficient to re-charge the batteries and keep them from burning out.
The Law Of Forced Efficiency
“There is never enough time to do everything, however there is always time to do the most important”.
or
“Work expands to meet the time allocated”.
It goes without saying if you have a week to prepare for a test you will not use your time as efficiently as if you only have 2 days to prepare.
If you really want o ramp up your success, Brian suggests tackling your tasks with the thought of someone holding a gun to your head. That would certainly make you move.
If you Go Into The Woods You Can Expect Mosquitoes”
I loved this saying, and bottom line it means you will always have problems to deal with. The greatest people of our time are those who were really good at solutions. If the solution just seems too overwhelming, break the tasks down into small chunks.
Follow Brian’s tips and before long you will be getting more done, have more free time, and really utilising your time towards growing your business.
If you want to check out Brian Tracy’s website click here