Is Your Schedule A Block Builder’s Masterpiece?

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lego-252602_1280Nugget: “You will never FIND time for anything. If you want time, you must MAKE it.”~ Charles Bixton

Reflection drill: Schedule your first block of time — today and every day — for your most important work.

Why it matters: Block out time to focus on your top priorities each day.

Before you start each day, block out time in your schedule for your most important work. Then schedule the time remaining for everything else.

Thinking drill: Of all your responsibilities, which items deserve the biggest blocks of time in your day?

Review your current schedule. Does the size of your time blocks reflect the value of your work?

How much time have you blocked out tomorrow for your most important job? Is it enough?

What’s your take away?

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Are You Too Busy Keeping Score To Play The Game?

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target-393387_640Nugget: “In truth, people can generally make time for what they choose to do; it is not really the time but the will that is lacking.”~ Sir John Lubbock

Reflection drill: We tend to rate our success by the number of activities we perform or objects we own. More is not always better! Simplify something in your life before this day is over.

Why it matters: Simplify by eliminating what’s no longer interesting or rewarding.

Simplify your life by cutting down on the number of things you do or possess.

Thinking drill: What unnecessary activities have wasted your time this week?

Which of your possessions are more of a burden than a joy?

How much can you eliminate from your life to create more time for what’s really important to you?

What’s your take away?

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Are You Lost In A Sea Of Manila?

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ID-10031899Nugget: “The secret of your future is hidden in your daily routine.”~ Mike Murdock

Reflection drill: Remove the clutter in your work area by removing those materials that you do not use on a regular basis. If you don’t need it right now, it’s only in your way.

Why it matters: Put things back where they belong — NOW — not later.

Organize your files by how often you use them. Keep the files you use most often closest to you.

Thinking drill:

Which of your files do you use most frequently? Where are they kept?

Do you have files that are close by but used less often?

What can you do to retrieve your most frequently used files more conveniently?

What’s your take away?

Image courtesy of marcolm at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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Keep Your Time Log Current

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2014-09-16 TimeLogNugget: “We sleep, but the loom of life never stops, and the pattern which was weaving when the sun went down is weaving when it comes up in the morning.”~ Henry Ward Beecher

Reflection drill: Time logs work only if properly kept, and regularly reviewed.

Why it matters: Investing time is completely different from making time or spending time. A time log helps you see the difference.

Thinking drill: How much was each hour worth to you last Monday?

How much was each day worth to you last week?

How much was each minute worth to you last Friday?

What’s your take away?

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Tired Of Being The Crossing Guard?

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Portrait of a young boy crossing guard standing on the road holding a stop signNugget: “Be ready when opportunity comes. Luck is the time when preparation and opportunity meet.”~ Roy D. Chapin Jr.

Reflection drill: Eliminate ALL distractions — of EVERY nature.

If you have a poorly located work area next to a heavy traffic pattern, change it if you can. Move your furniture; put your back to the hall to decrease distractions.

Why it matters: Take time in the next 2 days to do whatever’s necessary to your work area to decrease your distractions and increase your concentration level.

Thinking drill: Does your work area invite distractions?

What could you do to increase your privacy in your work area?

What will you do with the extra time you will gain from fewer distractions?

What’s your take away?

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Are You A Morning Person?

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Woman Stretching in Bed with a Man Sleeping Beside HerNugget: “A strong positive mental attitude will create more miracles than any wonder drug.”~ Patricia Neal

Reflection drill: Observe the times of day when you tend to be the most creative, social or adapt at problem solving. Do your best to match your scheduled tasks to the time when you’re at your best for that type of task.

Why it matters: Learn to work with your natural, daily rhythms instead of against them.

Thinking drill: What time of the day are you the most creative?

Are your interpersonal skills better in the morning, afternoon, or evening?

Which part of the day are you best at problem solving?

What’s your take away?

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What Are You Doing To Nurture Your Plan For Success?

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2014-08-26 PlansNugget: “When I am delivering my very best, then that is when I feel successful.”~ Art Fettig

Reflection drill: You’ll learn as you go. Make your best guess, then correct as required once you know more.

Why it matters: Wanting success is not enough. You must take action. You can modify your plan as you go, but success depends on your ability to TAKE ACTION NOW!

Thinking drill: What’s the most pressing item you want to take action on right now? Why aren’t you?

What are the potential rewards of taking action now?

Well? What are you waiting for?

What’s your take away?

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Are You Making Any Progress On Your Goals?

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football fieldNugget: “Wherever there is danger, there lurks opportunity; whenever there is opportunity, there lurks danger. The two are inseparable. They go together.”~ Earl Nightingale

Reflection drill: Begin every week by identifying the most rewarding step you will complete toward the attainment of your long-range goals.

Why it matters: Ask, “What’s the most important thing I can do this week to advance my goals?” You’ve now identified this week’s A1 task.

Thinking drill: What have you done so far this week to advance this week’s goals.

Which action could you take once a week that would make a significant step toward achieving your goals?

What’s the most important step you can take this week toward your financial goal?

What’s your take away?

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How Much More Do You Want To Accomplish?

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Daily OrganizerNugget: “Determine what specific goal you want to achieve. Then dedicate yourself to its attainment with unswerving singleness of purpose, the trenchant zeal of a crusader.”~ Paul J. Meyer

Reflection drill: Make planning a routine part of today’s agenda.

Make a To Do List and always have it handy. The more often you refer to it, the fewer good intentions you’ll leave behind.

Why it matters: If you want to get more done, keep a To Do List. Post it and your schedule where you can refer to them as you navigate through your entire day.

Thinking drill: Are you working from a plainly visible To Do List today?

Have you checked your To Do List lately?

What do you intend to get done soon? Is it on your list and schedule?

What’s your take away?

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Do You Have Any Old Business Hanging Over Your Head?

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2014-08-05 HangingOverHeadNugget: “Sometimes only a change of viewpoint is needed to convert a tiresome duty into an interesting opportunity.”~ Alberta Flanders

Reflection drill: Find all those half-finished projects lying about and finish them, one by one. You can’t concentrate 100% on new business until you’ve taken care of the old.

Why it matters: Persist with passion until your actual results meet or exceed your expectations.

Master the art of completing what you start.

Thinking drill: When, today will you find time to make a list of all your unfinished business?

How would you feel if all those unfinished tasks were already completed?

What’s the first new task or project you will finish that’s been hanging over your head?

What’s your take away?

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