The Fundamental Flaw with Time Management
The fundamental flaw with 99% of the time management strategies or systems out there is that they are virtually impossible to implement (chunky, illogical, herculean in their implementation, etc.), hard to follow for any stretch of time, and downright ineffective since their creator believes in the one-size-fits-all strategy.
Time management techniques are oftentimes over-hyped and over-complicated. A good strategy ought to be distilled down into a few paragraphs of careful explanation followed by an example or two. A bright entrepreneur, or even a dim one, should be able to fill in the gaps, essentially customizing a basic technique for their particular need in business – owner/employer, manager or staff. Before I get to that, allow me to dispel, or cast off a few Time Management Demons…(Hang in there.)
Realistically, time management boils down to being able to MANAGE your life. We’re all allotted only a certain number of hours here on earth. When they’re up, they’re up. Want some possible places where you are probably blowin’ it? Check out the following:
1.) Watching TV when you should be creating your own TV show on www.ustream.tv (Something I’ve decided with the help of James Erickson (twitter @sayhijames) to get my wife to do for her real estate listings.);
2.) Driving or flying when you could be using a computer to achieve the same result – especially for meetings that don’t benefit from “being there;”
3.) Jawin’ with co-workers or employees about nothing in particular;
4.) Not having a definite major purpose ala Napolean Hill.
5.) Not having your day “mapped out” the night before so you can smartly use ITLAR (see previous post).
6.) Allowing others to dictate your day – you end up playing DEFENSE vs. OFFENSE. Defense sucks in business. You can’t win in business with a good defensive strategy because you can’t make any field goals, touchdowns or baskets. A good defense is one best mounted ONLY when you’re attacked. If your offense is strong, defense in business should be short-lived and minimal since your offense will lighten the load for your defensive strategy. [I hope that makes sense.]
7.) One More: You don’t ask yourself often enough: “What’s the good business reason for doing this particular task?” (I picked that up from the on-site event managers at the Red Lion Inn here in Salem where we are having our Mid-Valley Dental Meeting on Dec 3/4.)
Looking hard at numbers 1-7 above and making changes will do loads to improve your productivity, hence giving you more time to manage – that’s why this is about LIFE management as much as it is TIME management. I’ll give you a specific blueprint I use, very soon…and, I’ll be posting more on Time Management all week this week, so check back and DO give me your feedback.