Perhaps it is merely semantics, but an underlying problem I find that people have as it relates to the success in their life lies in a proper understanding of what exactly it is that we manage. Think about it. We have time management (In fact I have a seminar on this very topic, some of which is excerpted below), and financial management, and relational management, weight management, career management, and many, many more.
The fact is though, that we don't manage any of those things. What we do manage is ourselves, as they relate to those things. We don't manage time. Time clicks by, second by second, whether we do anything or not. What we do is manage ourselves, and our activities, as the time passes. We make choices as to what we will do and be involved in. The problem as well as the solution lies not with time, but with us.
We don't manage money. A pile of money will sit there forever if left alone. It won't grow or shrink. What we manage is ourselves and the decisions we make in regard to how we will spend the money. Getting the idea?
So as we live our lives and pursue success, one of the keys to grab on to is the idea that the most important thing we can manage isn't a thing at all - it is our self!
How then can we manage ourselves? Here are some thoughts.
Make sure that the above is firmly engrained in your thinking: I only manage myself. I can choose how I will act and react in every situation. Dwight D Eisenhower said that "The history of free men is not written by chance, but by choice, their choice."
Know your priorities. Do you know from top to bottom what your priorities are? Have you decided what the top ten things you want to spend your time on are? How about the same with your money? Only after you know these things can you properly manage yourself into choosing to live your priorities.
Learn to say "no" with a smile on your face. Here is where most of us fail. We do not choose to say "no" to those things that are not a matter of priority (the reason "why" is another newsletter article and probably a few counseling sessions at that!). Someone calls us up and asks us to do something for them (usually because they haven't managed themselves and would like our help picking up the pieces) and we say "Uh, I guess so." Then what? We usually kick ourselves for the rest of the day. "Why did I ever say yes?" Instead, practice this, "Gee, I am really sorry but I am not going to be able to be involved this time. I am sure you will be able to find somebody though." Go ahead and try it right now. Weird, isn't it? That is because we don't say it very often.
Schedule your priorities into you schedule or budget or whatever structure governs that area of your life. For example, do you have a financial budget that you yourself set? Then do you first and foremost spend your money in that way, say at the beginning of the month? If you do, you will eliminate even the opportunity to blow your money on impulse decisions and expenses because your money has already been committed into your priorities.
Remember, one of the greatest gifts God gave us is the ability to choose. And we can choose to manage ourselves appropriately and according to our priorities. As we do, we will find ourselves feeling less and less of the personal pain and frustration that we feel when we are out of control.
Get goin'!
About The Author:
Chris Widener is a popular speaker and writer as well as the President of Made for Success, a company helping individuals and organizations turn their potential into performance, succeed in every area of their lives and achieve their dreams.
To see Chris "live" at the upcoming Jim Rohn Weekend Event as he speaks on the subject of Secrets of Influence go to http://Chris-Widener.InspiresYOU.com/ or call 800-929-0434.
Whatever providence has in store for us tomorrow is not... Read More
We are constantly inundated with routine (often boring!) tasks around... Read More
If you're like most people, you want to get better... Read More
We are all born equal! We all have the same... Read More
Any habit of mind or body that interferes with taking... Read More
Once you have completed your day you can boost your... Read More
Still awaiting the birth of my baby (I am overdue),... Read More
One of the issues most often raised by my clients... Read More
Work brings together people of different characters and behavior, and... Read More
Many of us get so caught up in day-to-day pressures... Read More
Partnering with the University of Pennsylvania Law School and the... Read More
How often have you tried to manage your time in... Read More
One question a lot of people ask me recently is:... Read More
"Time management" is a myth. Time ticks by, whether you... Read More
If you are like most moms I know you think... Read More
Time and money are both very important in business. Yet,... Read More
Recently I've experienced a barrage of time wasters. Everything you... Read More
Too much to do, too little time, constant stress. Most... Read More
Handle small emergencies fast: When a small emergency does pop... Read More
It's 6:00 a.m. I'm awake. I'm pumped! I'm ready to... Read More
Our daily lives are inundated with a crammed to-do list.... Read More
Many of the clients I work with in success coaching... Read More
What keeping time really means is...being on time!You know, there... Read More
Let's look at your time management skills. Most of us... Read More
How do you manage your time? Or is the more... Read More
1. Do tasks less frequentlyClean house every 10 days rather... Read More
As the song goes, this is the time to relax,... Read More
How you spend the first sixty minutes of your day... Read More
Last week I had the privilege of spending some quality... Read More
It's always a challenge finding time to clean my house.... Read More
Everyday life can present us with opportunities to make us... Read More
Time is wealth;Time is health; Time is power; Time is... Read More
41 practical and quick ways to get on top of... Read More
The biggest time management mistake you can ever make is... Read More
Everyday life can present us with opportunities to make us... Read More
How do you eat two elephants? The same way you... Read More
Fitting an education into a busy lifestyleMany people have aspirations... Read More
It's always a challenge finding time to clean my house.... Read More
Whether you're a new business owner or if you have... Read More
Whenever I've worked on 'de-cluttering' my living or working space,... Read More
Despite the best of intentions, most of us don't use... Read More
Most people want to start a home-based business to make... Read More
"At my back I always hear time's winged chariot hurrying... Read More
Once you have completed your day you can boost your... Read More
From Potential to PerformanceOne of the great things about life... Read More
As a professional organizer, consultant and trainer, I have come... Read More
I used to think video game addictions were a joke... Read More
Whatever providence has in store for us tomorrow is not... Read More
If I had a dollar or even better a pound... Read More
"TIME CANNOT BE 'MANAGED.' THE WHOLE CONCEPT OF TIME MANAGEMENT... Read More
Many folks tell me that they just don't have time... Read More
?busy, busy, busy, busy, busy?busy, busy, bus? OK, slap me... Read More
One of the most challenging situations people face when planning... Read More
Microsoft wanted to know how individuals around the world were... Read More
Such an innocuous little phrase, yet when you are hard... Read More
Yesterday, I'd just gotten comfortable at my favorite table in... Read More
I have worked with so many people over the years... Read More
Time, time, time. It seems there is never enough of... Read More
Your time and energy are the two most precious gifts... Read More
"The bad news is time flies. The good news is... Read More
Do you believe that the best way to deal with... Read More
In working with and coaching people across the country, one... Read More
Vilfredo Pareto's Principle, or The "Pareto Principle," is more commonly... Read More
Looking out through my picture window during a recent winter... Read More
Time is money in your online business, just as in... Read More
This is one more article on "Organizing and Enjoying Your... Read More
Time Management |