No B.S. Muscular Time Management

Time management is basically about being focused. Holding your short and long range plans in crystal vision. The Pareto Principle also known as the '80:20 Rule' states that 80% of efforts that are not time managed or unfocused generates only 20% of the desired output. However, 80% of the desired output can be generated using only 20% of a well time managed effort. Although the ratio '80:20' is only arbitrary, it is used to put emphasis on how much is lost or how much can be gained with time management.

Some people view time management as a list of rules that involves
scheduling of appointments, goal settings, thorough planning, creating things to do lists and prioritizing. These are the core basics of time management that should be understood to develop an efficient personal time management skill.

But there are more skills involved in time management than the core basics. Skills such as decision making, (most people err in ‘deciding” to do easy time consuming tasks of little importance) inherent abilities such as emotional intelligence and critical thinking are also essential to your professional growth and can change over time or as market conditions adjust.

Personal time management involves everything you do. No matter how big and no matter how small, everything counts. Each new knowledge you acquire, each new advice you consider, each new skill you develop should be taken into consideration. If you can associate a dollar value for what your time is worth doing/accomplishing any given task. The decision on how to invest your times becomes much clearer. Although not always easy…cuz the high payoff stuff is often the hardest work. And the wimpy part of all of us will make excuses to put off. Avoid this behavior if you want to be a star performer. Sorry if that burst somebody’s bubble but grow up.

Having a balanced life-style should be the key result in having personal time management. This is the main aspect that many practitioners of personal time management fail to grasp.

Time management is about getting results, not about being busy. As true “No B.S.” entrepreneurs we need to care little about looking busy and be 100% focused on getting results. With that said we must understand that most everything worth accomplishing does take time. Time to plan, time to execute and time to see results. Not to waste time during any part of this process but to use it in the most effective way. Since in the purest sense time cannot be “managed” the best we can do is a lot specific time periods to; a) plan b) execute c) see results. As Dan Kennedy has taught for years time blocking is one of the greatest tools you can have. The skill of setting a specific (reasonable) period of time to accomplish a given task and then committing to it will instantly put you in an elite group of highly effective people.

A standard digital kitchen timer that you can buy at any Target store for $10-$15 is a great appliance to have on your desktop. Here’s what you do. Let’s say you have decided to write a sales letter, article, blog whatever. I use this as an example as something that takes a fare amount of focused concentration and most people find e-z to procrastinate. If from past experience you know you can outline, draft on notepad or on directly on your computer do and ever so often do a quick proof read all at the rate of 500 words an hour you now have a time block. If want to write fifteen hundred words; enough for a three of four page compelling sales letter all you need to do is set aside a pure uninterrupted three hour “block”.

My advices is set your timer for no more than ninety minute chunks and go to work. Not rushed or hurried, just moving forward keeping your pen or keep pad moving. Make sure ahead of time you have created on environment that you are not likely to be disturbed. If for any reason you are distracted immediately stop you timer and take care of whatever, then look to your task at hand, turn on your timer and move forward.

Does this take disciple and self control? You can bet on it. The good news…great news is just like any muscle and skill the more you practice and exercise this the better and somewhat easier it will become. The payoff over even a short period of time is huge.

For an entertaining informative interview on “No B.S. Time Management” check out this out on our website http://www.nobsmichigan.com/audio.php

Until Next Time
Derek Freund,
No B.S. Certified Advisor
Southeast Michigan Glazer-Kennedy Insider’s Circle
www.nobsmichigan.com