5 Ways to Win with Deadlines

iStock_000010305625XSmall - Deadline

Do you get things done? Let me ask a slightly different question, “Do you get things done on time?” These days it seems that not many people do. The norm is to be late whether it is finishing a project or showing up to a meeting. Our society has conditioned us to ignore deadlines. How [...]

Continue Reading →

Is your time management system too big?

iStock_000008203287XSmall- Bloat

This is Part 3 in a 3 part series. See also Part 1 and Part 2. In the previous posts, we discussed two potential impacts from a poorly designed or implemented time management system: Leak and Creep. Leak was the loss of information from your system, usually due to inadequate tools to capture it. Creep [...]

Continue Reading →

Does your time management system keep growing?

Plant Sequence Cutaway

This post is part 2 in a 3 part series (See part 1 here.) In the last post, we discussed 3 potential impacts from a poorly designed or implemented time management system.  (Leak, Creep, and Bloat). Today, I want to talk about “Creep.” Does your time management system keep getting bigger? I mean this literally, [...]

Continue Reading →

Does your time management system have leaks?

iStock_000010338888XSmall

This post is part 1 of 3 in a series. A poor or incomplete time management system can wreck havoc on your personal organization and efficiency.  In fact, a poor time management system can actually make you less productive.  Let’s explore 3 impacts of a poorly implemented solution. They are: Leak, Creep, and Bloat. Each [...]

Continue Reading →

The Power of 1

iStock_000001042516XSmall

One of the main reasons that people fail at time management is… because their system fails. Too often people try to implement systems that are too complex.  This leads to loss of information, overlooked obligations, and general frustration.  (See “Why complex time management systems fail…“)  It is ironic, that the #1 time management book today preaches [...]

Continue Reading →

Things you don't have time to do?

iStock_000003395666XSmall - important

The other day, a co-worker got on a rant about how, “He didn’t have time to do a lot of things…” I considered flippantly responding, “You have the same amount of time in the day as everyone else…” But, I resisted.  As he went down the laundry list of things he “didn’t have time to [...]

Continue Reading →

No Meeting Friday!

iStock_000008537788XSmall - No meeting friday

There was a huge positive response to last week’s tweets about no meetings on Fridays.  So, I thought it was appropriate for us to officially designate Fridays as “No Meeting Fridays.” Many people have been saying that they are booked for so many meetings that they cannot get their work done.  Have you ever finished [...]

Continue Reading →

Why Do We Let People Steal Our Time?

iStock_000007305840XSmall - Steal time

Thought of the day: Why do we let people steal our time? We get pretty upset when people steal our money… so why do we turn a blind eye when people steal our time? In fact, it is a pretty common occurrence for co-workers, bosses, even friends to steal our valuable time. “Dost thou love [...]

Continue Reading →

Stop Answering the Phone!

iStock_000001467909XSmall - answer phone

Once upon a time people rushed to answer phones.  For those old enough to remember, you had to get to the phone. At one point we did not have answering machines.  We did not have even have CallerID. So, if you didn’t get to the phone…you did not even know who called. ——- Today is [...]

Continue Reading →

What Did You Forget to Pack?

reminder list

On your last trip, what did you forget to pack? You would be amazed what people will forget: Socks Cell phone charger Workout shoes Maybe even their brain! (Some people have admitted to this…) Traveling can be stressful enough, but when you are disorganized and worrying about packing it only adds to your Life Friction. [...]

Continue Reading →