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It’s no coincidence that some of the most popular bloggers these days are those with strategies for setting priorities, getting organized and managing busy schedules. Voicemails, inboxes and mailboxes overflow with requests for your time and attention, with offers and opportunities that you don’t want to miss. Sifting through the clutter of demands and information gets harder with each new connection.
Here are some questions that can be game changers in the way you organize your business or other areas of your life:
What’s the most important game you want to win? This may seem like an obvious question, but it’s a key one. Without a clear game plan in mind it’s far less likely that you’ll reach an important goal or a major accomplishment. Choose and be clear on one key goal at a time. Once you have that working well, you can choose another.
Who determines the rules of your game? If you do not choose your own strategies of doing business, then you’re basically playing by someone else’s rules. Decide how your goal is going to be reached, and take charge to make that happen. Set limitations on how and when you receive input, send output, and allow interruptions: the essence of time management. Create the clear path you need to get to your chosen destination.
Who is on your winning team? Expertise and support are essential to your results, and the draft picks are up to you. Pick wisely, keeping your foremost goal in mind. Dissenting opinions and diverse skill sets deepen your winning potential, but all teammates should have in clear focus the winning goal you’ve chosen.
What is the batting order? This key decision is made and remade daily by setting up a vital task list. Some tasks are crucial to reach your foremost goal while others just keep coming up again and again begging for your attention. Be certain the first in line are the most essential to your goal, not necessarily the easiest or most obvious.
How do you score to win? Most goals are reached one small and practical step at a time. Keep your focus on the goal in mind and create the habits that will get you there. Getting on base and progressing from one to the next will get you to accomplish what really matters most.
There are many differing approaches to time management, establishing priorities, and setting goals. Here are five great resources to assist you to develop your own game plan:
- Lisa Kanarek writes about home office organization and priority setting. Check out her suggestions at http://www.score.org/om_2.html
- The Best Management Articles editorial team collects great time management articles and posts a collection at http://time-management.bestmanagementarticles.com/
- Maria Gracia provides a website called Get Organized Now, offering free tips, tools, ideas, organizational checklists, ebooks, and even ways to make a living at organizing. Check out: www.getorganizednow.com
- Leo Babauta, author of the practical guidebook The Power of Less, writes a blog called Zen Habits and has over 2 million readers a month. Check out his strategies for placing limits and focusing on the essential: www.zenhabits.net
- Time management expert Michael Erwin is another great resource. His business time management tools for getting things done in less time with less effort can be found at www.time-management-central.net
