Having Time on Your Side

Clarity brings accomplishment

One of the most important things you can do to effectively manage your day, week, month or year is to get clear on what it is you want to achieve. When you lose track of your goals or fail to plan appropriately, you end up spinning in circles and nothing gets accomplished. The clearer you are on your goals, the better results you will get. Make sure your goals are personal to you and not part of someone else's expectations. You will be far more motivated to achieve success when you are working towards something that really matters to you.

Goal setting leads to success

Goals are best visualized, worked on, and completed when articulated with the written word. As a motivational speaker, Zig Ziglar says, "Written goals transform you from a wandering generality into a meaningful specific." By writing your goals, breaking them down into manageable tasks, and constantly keeping focused on the bigger picture, you'll gain clarity and insight that will help you move forward on your action plan. Once you try this, you will be amazed at the results. It really does work--as long as you do the legwork and keep the momentum going!

Goal setting principles Be creative when writing your goals and have fun with the process.

  • Imagine that you have no limitations on what you can do, have or be. As Brian Tracy says, "Only big dreams can keep you excited and working enthusiastically every day towards their accomplishment."
  • Do not allow yourself to think of the reasons why you cannot accomplish something.
  • Keep your focus on why you can do it.
  • Keep the mental roadblocks out of the way then leave room for your goals to start developing.
  • As long as you are perfectly clear on your goals, it will be easier to achieve them.
  • Write your goals in the present tense.
  • Each of your goals will begin with the word 'I'. An example might be; "I create more profit in my business by writing my goals daily". Begin with 'I' then use an action verb. Prioritize your daily goals Prioritizing

    Prioritizing your daily goals is one of the most important things that need to happen so you can accomplish more in less time. This single action step has saved individuals and large companies thousands of dollars and made them more efficient in many ways.

    One example of this is a client I've worked with who started out just seeing all their goals listed on a schedule each day. The complaint was, "I have too many things to do each day and not enough time to get it all done." We started analyzing why this was happening. Then I put a process in place so my client would plan and prioritize each day. The results were astounding. This person was not only able to get more done but this also allowed him more time with his family every day.

    Action steps for prioritizing

  • Write down your goals for the day. After you have them listed, then start organizing in priority order. An 'A' is a goal that is extremely important to you. A 'B' is something you'd like to get done but it's not as urgent as the 'A'. The 'C' goals are something that would be nice to get done but not as important as 'A' or 'B'.

  • After you have separated all your goals, look at the 'A's and start numbering them in priority order. All of the 'A-1s' are your first action items to do that day. These are the urgent, important tasks that need done. The 'A'-2s' are important but less important than the A1s, and so on with the 'B' and 'C' goals.

  • If you have trouble prioritizing, ask your self the question "If I could only accomplish one more goal on this list, which one goal would that be?" This will help you decide the urgent from the important so you can prioritize every goal in descending order according to importance. Take responsibility for the results

  • Accept 100 percent responsibility for getting the results necessary to achieve your goal. If you decide to take a half-day off, don't beat yourself up. Know that you are living in the choice to do that. So accept that responsibility. I'm sure there will still be a lot you accomplished that day.

    Seeing daily results

    Do something everyday that moves you towards your desired goals.

    There's an old saying of 'by the yard, it's hard, but inch by inch, anything's a cinch'. It's the tasks within the project are what gets the job done. When you review your goals, projects and tasks, and put them in priority order, you will be clear and focused on the tasks at hand while strategically moving towards your ideal results.

    At the end of the day, review your list and monitor how you did. You'll see how much more you'll achieve by developing these simple, daily habits.

    Self-Management

    Setting your goals INCREASES:

    • Effectiveness
    • Motivation
    • Direction
    • Accountability
    • Desirable results
    • Personal satisfaction
      Lack of goal setting DECREASES:
    • Urgency
    • Ability to priority
    • Measurable results
    • Productivity
    • Efficiency
    • Organize to get maximum results
    Once goals are prioritized, the next step is to plan and get organized. The better planning you do, the more results you will achieve. By following the steps in this article, you will:
  • Get better results than ever before
  • Discover a sense of pace and direction
  • Achieve results in priority order
  • Create the accountability you need to get more done
  • Have more time for family and friends
  • Do more of what you enjoy doing
  • Expand your sense of control
  • Feel more satisfied with your daily results

    Start the process now! Good luck with getting more done in less time.

    -----------------------------------------------------------------

    Reprinting These Articles You are welcome to use one of these articles. Just be sure and include the "author's box" at the end:

    Cheryl Vallejos
    Prime Leaders Community
    www.PrimeLeaders.com
    Helping good managers become great leaders!

    President and CEO of Endorse Success, LLC and Prime Leaders Community, Cheryl Vallejos has more than 22 years of experience in organizational business management. Her passion is helping small businesses create big profits. Cheryl's business and personal clients include those wanting career advancement, people starting or expanding their businesses, and those needing guidance and support in setting, meeting, and exceeding their business and personal goals.

    A dynamic and impressive leading-edge coach and consultant, Cheryl has combined extensive business management experience with her highly regarded talent as a certified coach to helping entrepreneurs and businesses improve productivity, cut costs by over 25% and find that elusive extra time in the day for family and friends.

    Cheryl recently launched Prime Leaders Community, an excellent business resource that provides networking, leadership coaching and training, tele-seminars and much more. She has successfully started, owned and operated 3 businesses, and is the author of four books: Injecting The Juice Into Leadership.

    In The News:

    • pen paper and inkwell


    cat break through


    Work Smarter Not Harder

    To work smarter all you need is the consciousness of... Read More

    Focus on One Thing at a Time to Get the Job Done

    All too often we can feel overwhelmed by the amount... Read More

    How You Can Double, Triple, or Even Quadruple Your Reading Speed!

    Are you drowning in a sea of unread papers? Do... Read More

    Effective Time Management - Delegating Techniques

    Do you manage your time or does your time manage... Read More

    Ending Procrastination: A New Look at the Old Demon

    Do you believe that the best way to deal with... Read More

    Taking Time Out to Play - Summertime and the Living is Easy

    As the song goes, this is the time to relax,... Read More

    Time Management: How to Stay Motivated and Get More Done

    If you can motivate yourself at will to get any... Read More

    Work, Work, Work: Making Each Moment Count

    Time, time, time. It seems there is never enough of... Read More

    Expand Your Time

    In our time-crazed society, lots of time is what most... Read More

    Quick Tips On Time Management

    Want to improve your time management?Edward W. Smith, motivational speaker,... Read More

    10 Ways to Take Back Your Time

    I've divided my tips into two sections - 5 ways... Read More

    7 Tips for Being Your Best Time Master

    It is not enough if you are busy. The question... Read More

    The Key to High Productivity is Energy Management

    One of the issues most often raised by my clients... Read More

    Making the Best Use of Your Time

    Time - it is the one thing that we are... Read More

    Prioritize with Two Questions

    "Because there will always be something more to do, we... Read More

    Whats Keeping You At The Office (9 Tips To Get Home Quicker)

    "Work smarter, not harder" is a cliché that has darted... Read More

    Time Management Wasters

    I am an ordinary man - A middle class high... Read More

    Managing Worry: Productivity Tips for High Achievers Who Worry

    Are you a worrier? Do you frequently spend time and... Read More

    The Power of Limited Time

    The most powerful resource that we have is time. Everything... Read More

    Top Ten Motivators

    Setting goals is the easy part -- but sticking with... Read More

    Make Procrastination Wait

    Reflect on the rewards of kicking the procrastination habit. They... Read More

    5 Tips To Get More Out Of Your Work Day

    It's easy to waste time on things that seem urgent... Read More

    The Myth of What We Manage

    Perhaps it is merely semantics, but an underlying problem I... Read More

    Time Managements

    There are the golden rules that apply to time. If... Read More

    Vilfredo Paretos Principle: The 80-20 Rule: 80% of Results are Produced from 20% of Efforts

    Vilfredo Pareto's Principle, or The "Pareto Principle," is more commonly... Read More

    Time Management: Set Yourself Up For Success

    Any habit of mind or body that interferes with taking... Read More

    When is the Best Time to Plan Your Day?

    When is the best time to plan your day? Well,... Read More

    Giving Up the Cape

    "I find it interesting that the very cape I tried... Read More

    The 3 Biggest Priority Busters

    As a professional organizer, consultant and trainer, I have come... Read More

    Take Back Your Time

    "You will never find time for anything. You must make... Read More

    Organize Your Time

    Most people want to start a home-based business to make... Read More

    Schedule Time for Interruption

    One of the most challenging situations people face when planning... Read More

    What is ?Life Balance? and How Can You Attain It?

    We all face decisions that involve doing things that affect... Read More