Time Management Secret Gold Time

Time Management Secret - Gold Time
By Lynnelle Bianco

As you probably know, the success of your business isnt just about the plan; it is about getting the results expected from executing the plan. But knowing and doing are two different things. Effective time management is a large part of making this happen and success in managing your time effectively works much the same way - Focus on the results ...not on being busy.

Were used to the frenzy of the work day and if were not literally in motion we feel were not being productive. The funny thing is that so much of what makes your business (and life for that matter) successful has little to do with motion or being busy and everything to do with results. The Pareto Principle (also known as the 80-20 rule) applies here; 80% of unfocused efforts account for only 20% of the results achieved.

So, how do you solve the Pareto problem? Focus on the Gold Time; the time you spend on important but not urgent activities. Gold Time activities focus your attention of the results that will bring about the biggest improvement or that are most important to you and/or your business.

For example, lets consider doing your taxes (ugh) and having to get your business receipts together, organize and summarize your mileage and auto expenses, make sure you have all your bank statements in order, etc. As I write this it is late February. Would you consider this to be urgent now? Probably not. However, can you see how these activities could become urgent, quickly? You turn around and its April 12 (March depending on your deadline). If you hadnt started doing this record keeping chore, how do you feel, what is your stress level and what does this do to your schedule for April 12 and possibly 13, 14 and possibly 15?

Exercise and eating healthy can also be important but non-urgent activities. From my own experience, you can easily put off exercising because Ill start back as soon as . You fill in the blank. I have a zillion reasons and Im sure you have one or two as well. After so long (too long) I turned around and its 10 pounds, 2 inches and a wardrobe later. Urgent? You betcha. At least I didnt wait until my heart told me it was urgent. I listened that old pair of jeans to get the message.

Yes, unexpected issues come up during the day that need addressing; there are changes in schedules, phone calls that throw you off. The challenge is having the discipline to do the important, non-urgent activities before you focus on the crisis activities. Those important and urgent activities HAVE to get done. They WILL get done and generally 1 hour wont make any difference.

BEFORE you check your email, before you return the irate customer call, before you go for that second cup of coffee and before you tell everyone how great that Marcia Ball concert was, spend just one hour focusing on an important long-term results or an important but not urgent task.

Making this change usually involves changing your behavior which isnt easy and takes persistence and patience. Over time however, practicing Gold Time Management you will:
Be more in control of what you do;
Be more productive and effective;
Have less stress;
Enjoy your work more; and
Have more quality time to relax and enjoy life outside work.

As Goethe said, Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least. Focus on results, not tasks; and focus on the most important result first.

Bold Vision Consulting, Inc. helps helps independent professionals, business owners and organizational groups achieve breakthrough results by providing the learning experience combined with the system needed to bring about the real changes needed for sustainable and breakthrough performance, year after year.

Lynnelle Bianco, president of Bold Vision Consulting has over 25 years experience as a leader in sales, marketing, client service and in the effective planning and execution of strategic plans and projects.

Originally from Dallas, Texas, Lynnelle moved to Portland Maine from New York City in 2003 after a successful 15 year career as Vice President in JPMorgans Worldwide Securities Services division.

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Tools for Managing Time

Tools for Managing Time
By Steven M Hall

No, I am not going to tell you to purchase monkey wrenches, hammers, nails or other mechanical tools to manage your time. Rather, we are going to talk about tools such as, persuasive writing, which is a part of communication. Persuasive writing and communication skills are great tools for time management in the sense it brings forth successful results.

Today, specialists are required to use the power of manipulation positively to get results in business development. When we use persuasive writing and communication in our daily lives we are manufacturing effectual communications skills in our voice, emails, proposals, and other forms of documentation that we frequently adhere to daily in our business. If you have problems with communication upfront and in person, then you will need to learn accuracy, information dialect, organizing skills, and corporate communications, which means reading between the lines.

When you are sending emails, promotional materials, or creating a website for your company, you will need effective communication skills. The world is filled with advertising slicks, and often the slicks are highly enticing, so if you are not ahead of the game, your messages might rank at bottom.

Stress is another problem many of us face today due to the face pace changes in our daily lives. Managing stress is important since stress affects our health, also it can affect others in our lives. Time management will help reduce this stress if the proper tools are used. You want your co-workers to listen when you talk, and if you show signs of stress, your co-workers are going to focus on you and not what you are saying.

In time management, we also have to consider evocative conferences since most businesses have meetings regularly. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says that over half of the businesses spend the majority of their time in conferences. Therefore, to manage your time you will need to learn practical skills that will benefit you in a meeting as well as outside of your business. Practical skills include taking notes before a conference begins, and learning how to write persuasive proposals and plans.

Another helpful idea for time management is including tools that support and help you with time and precedence organization. When you are in a business that requires multitasking skills, and the business is in constant change, then learning yourself and managing your time is essential to achieve.

We also have to consider our customers in business, our family at home, our friends, and others that touch our lives. Quality customer service is important to any business. I will be the first to tell anyone that the first thing I look for at a business is customer service. If the reps of the business are making any mistakes, trust me, I deal with them, and rarely return. I am a human being and refuse to be treated ill, so learning effective communication and customer service skills is vital to time management.

Motivation is also a helpful tool that helps us to manage our time. Stay focused, motivated, learn communication, plan, strategic, and manage your time well.

2005 http://www.your-offical-guide.com; All Rights Reserved

Steve Hall is the owner of http://www.your-official-guide.com, your one-stop location for getting the information you are looking for on a wide ranging and ever-growing list of subjects.

Need to get more time? Try the Soundview Executive Book Summaries.

Learn to Manage Your Time Effectively ==>Click Here

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Time to Wake Up Notice the Awakening

Time to Wake Up, Notice the Awakening
By Jeanie Marshall

Every morning you wake up. Unless, of course, you have not slept all night or have a non-ordinary schedule.

Some days you may wake up grumpy. You may even stay grumpy all day. Sometimes, perhaps, you even enjoy your grumpiness or find familiarity in it. It is much better to be grumpy with intention and style than to be grumpy unconsciously. Notice, just notice. If you notice your grumpiness now, you will notice the awakening more easily when it comes.

Some days you may wake up and want to get back under the covers. On those days, even if you choose to leave the bed, you may act all day as if you are still under the covers. Everything is muted or distant. As you try to notice inside and outside yourself, you may find that you are not sure what you are unsure about. Just notice what you can.

Some days you may wake up and want to roll over and return to sleep or touch the snooze alarm until noon. If you do get up on days like this, you may feel that you are rubbing sleep from your eyes until it is again bed time. Everything is foggy. It is hard to notice anything clearly. Notice the noticing.

And then there are those days you wake up as if you are as powerful as the sun, bright and shiny. You feel a bounce in your walk, a laugh in the ready-to-go state, and a kind word for everyone. It is easy to notice that the world is filled with magnificence. On these days, when you find your attention lands momentarily on something you do not want, you find it easy to shift your attention to something you appreciate. Notice the magnificence.

This is an age of awakening. It is a time of steady and strong expansion of consciousness. It is a time to wake up to who you truly are, and to awaken with vibrant energy to aliveness. This is not the best time to roll over and go back to sleep, although you have the freedom to do just that.

As you awaken to the power within yourself, you lift in consciousness. Each day that you touch the inner parts of your self, you can view and embody a greater level of consciousness. You are empowered when you embody greater consciousness. You are empowered when you wake up consciously, with intention, with appreciation for life. You are empowered when you recognize your magnificence.

How did you wake up today? How will you wake up tomorrow? How do you want to wake up each day? What do you want to notice as you move through your life more awakened?

Copyright 2006 Marshall House Jeanie Marshall, Empowerment Consultant and Coach with Marshall House, produces Guided Meditations on CD albums and MP3 downloads and writes extensively on subjects related to personal development and empowerment.Voice of Jeanie Marshall, http://www.jmvoice.com

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May You Live In Interesting Times

May You Live In Interesting Times
By Karen Hall-Foster

There is an Old Ancient Chinese Proverb: May you live in interesting times. This is supposedly seen as an extremely wicked curse, when actually it represents the complete opposite. The idea is that as humans we all naturally resonate to a humdrum life of routine habits which pacify our soul/sole existence. However lurking somewhere deep within us all, there is a desire to feel alive again.

This desire is unconsciously pursued through what seems to be opportunities which are simply either too good to be true or temptations almost impossible to resist. All of which come under the banner of a 'life test' sent in disguise to snap us up out of our complacent approach to the people we have become. Whilst the experiences in themselves reveal the true value of the test at hand fairly quickly, the side effects can send our stress levels soaring as everything we ever believed in, comes crashing down into a reality we never knew existed.

Opening up a new chapter to our life can therefore, often mean closing a previous one, and sometimes this feels as if we have just opened up Pandora's box. It hurts, it always does and it always will. Most times during these periods it is found that we are completely unequipped to cope. Due to this we are forced to dig deep down into the very core of our being in which to bring forth some of our rawest instinct and courage, in order to adapt, if we are not to be ripped apart.

Life has a peculiar way of making us all shed our alien skin now and then; even when all appears to be be contented. By continually living a life that is always warm and fuzzy, we become dull, lifeless and unsympathetic to the sorrows of others and certainly detached from them. Unfortunately, It is in this state of unconsciousness that we dissolve our purpose for living; to the point that we simply end up not caring anymoreafter all life is good to usand when was it exactly when we just stopped caring?

My attitude towards change, whether good, bad or just damn right ugly, is that it disturbs our present comfort zone in order for us to question what we have in order to re-evaluate it and then appreciate it more than we had done previously. This then creates anxiety because it represents having to face up to times of complete uncertainty and in this uncertainty we shine as individuals because we have never felt so alive.

So, with all this in mind it is usually through those things that seem to be negative by comparison, where we are really able to find true contentment, inspirations, hidden creative talents and new found skills and abilities even if it means having to start all over again from scratch. By breaking free from the chains of our constraints, we do indeed experience far more 'interesting times' for which, in turn makes us far more interesting people.

It is said that during these supposedly absolute dire catastrophes of our life, we fundamentally not only learn to survive our trips to hell and back, but find out who we really are in the process in order to bring out the parts of ourselves which have faded into the background of stagnated hopes and dreams.

Ok, so we need a little friction to upset the apple cart occasionally, if we are going to question anything at all in life. If you can see past all the blood, sweat and tears you will realise that you have changed in some way and truly moved one step forward towards evolution.

If you understand this and embrace the challenges as a test of spirit and know that with faith and understanding you can achieve a life of purpose, you will never have to become a victim to your circumstances because you have acknowledged that the illusion of Fear is in Fear itself.

Everything changes, nothing changes and in the end everything is the same. The only thing permanent in life is Change.

It is with this that I point out to you now that if anybody ever says to you May you live in interesting times know that they are actually wishing upon you the Gift Of Life and that true insight is really only born out of trauma.

I am a Professional Numerologist and have been studying this metaphysical science for almost two decades. Most importantly of all I am a philosophiser of life and people and strive to find the answers to the mysteries found behind human nature. I am on an adventure trail to find the pot of gold at the end of my rainbow, although my pot is not filled with Gold but insight, revelation and true enlightenment of which, can only be truly found from the real experience of life and living.

Karen Foster
AstroStar Numerology
http://www.astrostarnumerology.co.uk

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Coaching Prime Time

Coaching Prime Time
By Andrea J. Lee

An awful lot of fantastic coaching has been coming out of Hollywood lately, have you noticed?

Whether it's Morgan Spurlock's feature film debut Supersize Me...

Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11 also on the big screen...

Or the immense coaching breakthrough moments in Queer Eye for the Straight Guy...

Tears of joy and newfound confidence in What Not to Wear...

And ABC's lifechanging Extreme Makeover, Home Edition...

It's undeniable. Coaching has come, and found it's place in what I consider to be some of the very best work coming out of Hollywood.

And that's not even mentioning the more obvious Starting Over and other reality TV shows that revolve around the idea of changing lives for the better through Life Coaching.

Pretty darned cool stuff especially when you consider the limitless reach of television and film in our lives. Will video games with a coaching theme be next? Well if those things have to exist, I can only hope.

Question for you.

Seeing as we're talking about movies and such.

If you were the last coach on earth, and it was up to you to save the world from its impending doom, who would be the 10 people you would do ANYTHING to coach.

In other words, if your coaching skills were the only thing between survival and certain death and destruction...what 10 people would you choose, out of all the people you know, or maybe who you currently coaching, to coach like a fiend, and save the day?

I know, it's a pretty funny premise. And no I don't think any studios will come a-knocking, but I do have a reason for asking.

I strongly believe that coaching has a large role to grow into, to coach those in the public eye, whether that be actors, directors, studio executives, station owners, news programmers, journalists, politicians at all levels of government.

In fact, Ill call it a responsibility of the coaching profession going forward.

These are the people who through coaching, can be said to have a level of influence that has the potential to spread the effects of coaching to the Nth degree.

Don't get me wrong, there is nothing small or unworthy about coaching clients who aren't in the public arena.

But it was Archimedes who said Give me a lever long enough and I will move the world.

Andrea J. Lee coaches entrepreneurs and online business owners. As Thomas J. Leonard's General Manager, she helped build and manage the largest network and trainer of personal and business coaches in the world. Now the CEO of Andrea J. Lee Group of Companies, she writes, speaks and consults on Marketing, Internet and Business systems. This is an excerpt from the her NEW BOOK - Multiple Streams of Coaching Income, http://www.multiplestreamsofcoachingincome.com

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Success is a Just a Matter of Time!

Success is a Just a Matter of Time!
By Ricardo Leal

Time is not on our side! As a matter of fact from the day we enter this world time is ticking against us. To put it another way, from the very first instance we fill our tiny little lungs with air, from that very first breath we take at birth; we are already dying!Its a grim perspective, but it is one that will improve the quality of your life, and really allow you to see how precious time really is. In essence, life is just time! So, my question is, How will you spend your time?

If we are to enjoy this life of ours, then we must have goals, we must want to achieve something, anything. This is a prerequisite for living, and an essential part of your life experience. Once you know what you want you can begin to plan how you will get it. Remember there is no time to think about excuses, only solutions. Success takes action. The word impossible must not live in your vocabulary. You dont have the luxury of procrastination. Today is here, if you wait until tomorrow you will be no closer to your goal; instead you will be closer to dying.

Hey, I know how this works. Right now there are about 20% of readers who will completely ignore this advice, call it stupid, make comments about how you should be positive and not think about the end of life! Blah blah blah blah! And then go and sit on the coach and watch their favourite soap. Enjoy!

60% of readers will agree, life needs to be lived, enjoyed. These people understand that you have to try to get the most out of life. They will read it, think about a goal and probably even think about making it happen, but not really do anything about it! Life will be good, but setbacks and failure to truly succeed will always be blamed on external factors, and bad luck! Tick Tick Tick

19% of readers will get it! They will begin to think about the future and how they would like to live it. They will right down their goals. They will generally be happier then the other 80% because they have purpose in life. They are doers and probably have already set and planned goals previously. They have a vision of the future and they want to do what they can so that it will become reality. They will succeed at reaching goals, and will enjoy the journey as much as the destination.

1% of readers will know how important time is. They value each and every minute of life. They set goals, they plan, they visualise the future, and they succeed! All because of a simple change of perspective. They are generally the type of people who also have great jobs, and loads of money, or they have a great family bond and true friends. Of course there are many other important factors to live an inspirational life. Love, laughter, compassion, passion; with these added in, you will live an extraordinary life!

So my question to you is How will you spend your time?

Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.Helen Keller

R.Leal Ricardo Leal was born in Portugal in 1974 on the dawn of the Revolution. He immigrated to Canada with his parents at the age of 6 and studied in Canada. He obtained a Business college Diploma in Finance and Marketing and launched his first business at 22- Conquest Productions, an Event Planning and Production Company. He then opened his 2nd Business at 25, a nightclub called'Mambo Bar & Grill'. He sold his share in 2001 and moved to London, England. In england he has worked with large Leisure Companies and has coached and produced great Managers and Leaders for a wide variety of Businesses. He is currently writing his first Non Fiction Book, and has recently launched 2 new businesses, Tappy Toes, a childrens Dance/Movement Business, and his first Internet Venture still under construction. Check out his Success tips at http://www.thesuccessproject.blogspot.com

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Top Ten Ways to Manage Your Time

Top Ten Ways to Manage Your Time
By Rose Zappa-Jehnert

1. Have a FINE day - Formulate a plan before you start your day make a list of what needs to be accomplished, Implement your plan with energy and enthusiasm, Navigate through your day with flexibility and patience, and Evaluate your day, because there is always chance for improvement tomorrow!

2. List the tasks that need to be accomplished and rank them in order that you will accomplish them using an ABC method. A must be done; B should be done; and C would be nice if it gets done. Check off all that you accomplish. Not only does it give you a visual of what you have accomplished, but also it helps you map the next days tasks.

3. If your task list includes errands, make sure that you review the route you will take and create a mapping to get to each location in a timely and efficient manner, while also saving gas!

4. Make your information hub a constant companion. Whether you utilize a palm pilot or a paper planner, have your weeks tasks and phone numbers with you at all times in case changes need to be made, or you need to contact someone to let them know of a change in plans.

5. Take busy work with you whether it is a book or magazine to read, sewing, whatever is portable that will fill the empty time when you find you must wait in a doctors office or for a late running appointment. It will reduce your stress and help you get the stuff done you dont have time for otherwise.

6. Realize your limits dont take on more tasks or volunteer assignments then you have time for or can handle. People dont know what is on your plate if you accept more than you can do, you do others and yourself a disservice.

7. Multi-task. Many times you can do more than one thing at a time. For example, while preparing dinner, open and sort the days mail. Get a headset for your phone and you can accomplish other tasks while talking.

8. As much as possible, limit interaction with time-thieves. People who want to talk for an extended amount of time, constantly ask you to do favors for them, etc.

9. Set a regular time to do certain tasks, such as paying bills, filing of papers, grocery shopping, etc. This allows you to be aware of the empty spaces in your day to schedule other appointments.

10. Set an appointment with yourself. You will find that you can accomplish much more with less stress when you schedule Me time. Whether its a bike ride, a yoga class, or even a stop at Starbucks to sit, drink coffee, and read, it is important to take care of yourself each day!

By: Rose Zappa-Jehnert,

President

Get It 2Gether Organizational Services

http://www.getit2gether.com

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To Find Out More About Yourself Spend Some Time Alone

To Find Out More About Yourself, Spend Some Time Alone
By Keith Renninson

I remarked to my Dad a few days ago how everywhere you look you see someone talking on a cell phone. I use mine a lot too, but its generally for business, setting a meeting, following up with a prospective client or checking my answering service for messages.

It seems as though many people use their phones just to talk to friends or text messages back and forth. They do it walking, driving, sitting in restaurants, libraries, and bookstores, or while shopping or banking. Some people cant even order a hamburger at McDonalds because they are on the phone. With all of that constant communicating when do you spend time just with yourself?

Developing a life philosophy can only be accomplished after you have made life decisions for yourself which you check in on periodically to see what is working and what isn't. That philosophy will grow with you, but it cant be developed without time alone to actually think about what you want out of life.

Alone time is so important to reflect on your past, present and future, to discover how you really feel without anyone elses input, and most importantly, to realize that you can depend on yourself to make good choices for your life. I dont care how old you are, teenager, twenty-something, middle-aged or a senior citizen you need time to listen to your thoughts, compare ideas, see what sounds exciting and what is just someone elses idea for you.

So often people never spend enough time alone in deep thought to really know who they are, they rely on what teachers, the media or family and friends tell them. Early in life we depend on our parents, close family and friends to help us evaluate how our lives will go, but at some point we have to take control of our thinking, formulate our lives around a plan that we alone design.

The whole world has bought into the idea that you have to be in touch with someone all the time; to that extent Europeans spend even more time on their cell phones than Americans, if you can imagine that.

Dont get me wrong, I love to talk as much as the next guy, stay in touch with friends about getting together, talking politics, bicycling, skiing, etc., but to do it constantly has got to have its drawbacks. Unfortunately, its also addictive, the more time we spend in contact with others, the more we become insecure about being alone; you dont have the perpetual personal reinforcement you need to feel good about yourself.

Feeling good about who you are comes from the confidence in knowing you will do the right thing for yourself and for others; that through practice you can accomplish life on your own terms.

You dont have to be a Buddhist monk, practice yoga daily, sail around the globe alone or be a hermit to have alone time; it does help to plan it though. I take time each morning, before I write, to take stock of how things are going and answer some basic questions: am I pleased with progress in my work, if I'm taking a course, am I keeping up with the demands of my class and achieving the level of grade I desire, am I making enough money to keep me happy, is my social life living up to its potential, is my physical fitness where I want it to be for the upcoming bicycle racing season?

If I can realistically and truthfully answer these questions, Ill know where I am in my life plan, the changes that need to be made will be obvious and then its up to me to make them. We all have to make mid-course adjustments in life; you cant drive a car in traffic with out making constant adjustments in your lane position, speed, checking the rearview mirror, etc., life is the same only more serious.

Time spent in your car is the perfect opportunity to think about how you feel about you. Dont play the radio or your latest CD, dont talk on the phone, but mostly dont just sit there like a bump on a log. Use the time to bolster your ideas, make exciting decisions, and get stoked on what you are accomplishing and how great your life is right now because you pay attention.

Occasionally, Ill ski or ride my bike alone to be free to think and appreciate life, nature and my abilities. You could take a hike, go canoeing, a walk in the park, or meditate it doesnt matter, just do it alone occasionally.

In our fast paced global life, we sometimes lose track of where we are because we become so busy, and sometimes we intentionally make our lives busy so we wont have to think about the tough questions. This is the insecurity I spoke of earlier; we lack the confidence to think for and about ourselves constructively.

Like anything else in life, practice makes perfect and practicing to take charge of your life through time alone is just a matter of planning and executing it. To get started make it a game that you play with yourself; pretty soon it will become clear that you have taken charge, and you will actually enjoy planning many more aspects your life.

Sometimes when I plan to do some thinking about my life, Ill have paper and a pen handy so I can make notes of decisions, changes or ideas that might enhance what Im trying to accomplish. In the past, Ive also used a notebook that Id set beside my bed and write these notes upon waking in the morning, that way Im rested, thinking clearly and the clutter of the day isnt in the way yet.

All of this can be summed up in two thoughts: 1) pay attention to who you are and where you are going, and 2) take time to be alone, to let life be quiet and thoughtful. Try it you might just like it.

Anyway you look at it, its just on mans opinionmine.

Keith E. Renninson is a motivational speaker and co-author of the popular parenting tool and illustrated storybook ooch the Pooch, My Best Friend. Through the 1990's with much self-examination, academic study, bicycle racing, and mountain climbing, he discovered a renewed zest of life, which included a love of metaphysics, philosophy, humor, and writing and speaking. As Keith says, Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue...it's all in what you make of it. You can read more about ooch the Pooch or contact Keith to speak at: http://www.zoochthepooch.com

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Time Management Time Well Spent

Time Management - Time Well Spent
By Paul Lemberg

Many entrepreneurs and executives play the role of Chief Cook and Bottle Washer on the job. They feel that it is their responsibility to do everything and anything to expand their business. Although this is often appropriate in start-ups, there comes a time when the CC&BW approach to running your company will hold it back.

At a certain stage, your company needs a Chief Executive - a CEO. What is a CEO? My definition, pieced together from assorted dictionaries, is that a CEO is the person of the highest rank, with the power to determine or settle issues, and chargeable with being the source of the management and direction of the business.

Role of the CEO

I've compiled the following list of activities which comprise the role of a Chief Executive:

Craft the company vision and strategy

Communicate the vision to insiders and outsiders (this includes executives, managers, individual contributors, customers, partners, vendors, shareholders and the public).

Make the big decisions

Inspire people with the vision and strategy

Delegate the work, then hold people and teams accountable for the results

Develop new leaders

Foster key relationships with vendors, customers, partners and government.

Making the shift Making the shift from CC&BW to Chief Executive requires three transitions.

Understanding your highest value contribution to your company and focusing on that role.

Recognizing your position as a leader and owning the job.

Delegating everything else, and holding others accountable. Without apology.

In this article we will focus on Transition One.

Understanding your highest value contribution

As CEO, you make the highest value contribution to your company's growth by acting consistently with the list defined above. Providing leadership inside and outside of your company is an act of great leverage in the truest sense of the word. Through vision, strategy, enrollment and inspiration, you provide energy and the direction to expend that energy - dramatically multiplying the effectiveness of your team.

In your organization, you may hold other roles in addition to CEO, such as head of sales, or technical guru. Such roles exist outside of the CEO role and as soon as it is cost-beneficial, you will give them up. For now, it is important to distinguish the CEO role.

Time for a bit of introspection. Considering all your roles, make a list of your top priorities. Limit the list to no more than seven. Your list could include priorities such as developing new leaders, coaching middle level executives, closing key sales, and working with the board. Ask yourself this, What am I directly responsible for and what actions do I take, which make the most difference?

Review your list and test it - are the priorities you've listed 1) important, and 2) practical? Make sure the priorities you have defined are consistent with your values. Then ask yourself this key question: If everything I did, all day long, was something related to this list, would that move the company forward faster?

If the answer is yes, then 1) you've created the right list, and 2) why are you working on anything else?

Find out how you really spend your time.

What do you do all day long? Most executives think they know but in fact do not. Are you ready to find out?

Keep a time log. Commit to a two-week program. Carry around a small stack of 3x5 index cards or a small spiral notebook. Every fifteen minutes or so, make a note of what you've been doing. At the end of the day, sum it up. At the end of the week, sum it up. At the end of two weeks, sum it up again.

You will probably find the results surprising. Your time will fall into three categories:

Things inside the scope of your priority list. Keep doing these things. Find ways to allocate even more time to them.

Things to delegate. Find someone in your organization to do these things, or outsource them to a professional services firm or contractor.

Things no one should be doing. You will know these things as soon as you think about them.

There are two special categories of items which may show up on your list:

One is called Things I Do Best. Look closely and examine if this is true. Is there someone else in the organization who might do this thing just as well? Maybe it is time to train someone. Maybe it should be outsourced. Regardless of how well you do this thing, if it is not on your list of priorities, get rid of it.

If there is something your company counts on you, and only you, to do, particularly as part of day to day operations, you are a bottleneck. And if you are out on the road, or out with a client, or meeting with The Governor - that thing, whatever it is - will not get done. Get out of the way.

The other special category is called Things I Like To Do. These are things you really enjoy, but even you know could best be done by someone else. Give them up. At a certain stage in your company's development, you simply have to stop debugging programs, or handling every customer complaint, or ordering supplies. Treat this category similarly to things you do best. Stop doing them.

Use your priority list to evaluate how you spend your time. If a contemplated activity will not forward one or more priorities, do not do it. Delegate it to someone else. Period. If there is no one to give it to, don't do it.

The bottom line.

This sounds like time management. What does it have to do with being Chief Executive?

Everything! As Chief Executive, your primary role is source of the management and direction of the business. Your priorities should support this role. You are like an enzyme or an accelerant. You help other people make things happen. You are, in the words of General Colin Powell, a force multiplier.

When you act in the role of CEO, things speed up. When you don't, things slow down or stand still. You are the true leverage in your organization. And you can't be that if you are debugging a program or writing checks to suppliers.

Discipline yourself to spend a few weeks in Transition One. You won't go back. You're company won't let you.

Transitions two and three will be covered in future articles.

Note for professionals or solo entrepreneurs: Everything said above about CEOs applies to you as well. The only difference is you will delegate to people outside of your organization. For everything you do outside of the list of highest value contributions, consider the following: If you were to hire an assistant, a contractor, or a professional services firm, while you spent your time concentrating on your highest value activities, would your net income go up or down?

Paul Lemberg is the president of Quantum Growth Coaching, the world's only fully systemized business coaching program guaranteed to help entrepreneurs rapidly create More Profits and More Life for entrepreneurs. Guaranteed.

Learn about our Business Coaching Franchise.

Visit Paul's Website for help with your Business Development Strategy?

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Time Savers

Time Savers
By Lael Johnson

I'm sure that you as a business owner, have discovered the value of using your time wisely. When it comes to running a business, time is money. Your work, time and resources should be directed toward increasing revenue in a balanced schedule. Your time should be spread among the following areas: planning, taking work breaks, celebrating and reflecting. The following list of time-savers addresses each of these areas. These ideas are designed to encourage saving time, by balancing the use of your time.

Write your to-do list. Remember to include no more than five items. You can always remove or add items, as your schedule permits. The purpose of this time-saver is to establish a specific focus for your work day.

Choose the highest priority project. LIst all actions that are necessary to complete that project. Choose one action, complete it and continue through your list. The purpose of this time-saver is maintain the focus of your work day.

Use a timer or other device, so that you can focus on completion of your project. Remember that you can also listen to a tape, CD or a radio or television program. Choose the device that is least distracting to you. The purpose of this time-saver is to keep your focus on completing your actions.

Use your calendar to schedule time for each project (action by action), as well as for your work breaks and other regular appointments. Give yourself ample time to complete your project. The purpose of the calendar is to clarify priorities, direct long-term planning and increase productivity.

Find a work buddy. Call this person, before, during and after you complete a part or all of your project. Share your process and your success.Small business owners greatly benefit from interaction with one another. It's helpful to socialize, problem-solve and celebrate The purpose of this time-saver is take care of your support needs.

Reward yourself after each task is completed. It's important for you to give credit to yourself for what you have accomplished. I've put stickers on my to-do list. I've eaten snacks, made a short phone call or sent an email. I've also looked out my living room window, to rest my eyes and enjoy the view. This time-saver is designed to encourage you to care for your individual needs.

Schedule breaks between tasks. Don't wait until you have finished your project.. Break your project into a series of actions. Schedule your breaks after completing at least two actions. Working without breaks promotes low productivity and increased errors. The purpose of this time-saver is to promote indivdual renewal and balance.

Finally, keep a notepad nearby. Remember to record the following: 1) Actions that you would rather take than working on your project. 2) Reminders, random thoughts or anything else that isn't immediately relevant to your current project. 3) Any interruptions. 4) Any other distractions. The purpose of recording this information is to look for hidden time-wasters. You can use this information to help increase your productivity and decrease your errors on future projects.

Please note that implementing any or all of these time-savers will increase your efficiency. Choose and implement one for a month. Track your results and see what improvement occurs.

Copyright 2005 Writer's Eye Advisory Service

Lael Johnson, owner of Writer's Eye Advisory Service, offers creativity coaching services and additional writing resources. For more information visit: http://www.writerseye.com

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Time Management Basics

Time Management Basics
By John Watson

At my back I always hear time's winged chariot hurrying near.

Time management begins with the realization that without some thought and planning, we are likely to waste a great deal of time in the future and have already wasted a huge amount of our life span in the past.

Wasting time is folly since time really does have wings and our lives pass very quickly. By using proven methods we can make the most of whatever time we have.

Billy Connolly, the great Scottish comedian, describes the speed of time in his own vivid way:

A year in my life goes like this:

'Should auld acquaintance be forgot'

'Happy birthday'

'Jingle bells! Jingle bells!'

He also tells a time related story. I've cleaned the language up a bit:

Two men were standing having a chat. The first man asked the second man:

What would you do if you knew the world would end in 3 minutes time?

I'd have sex with everything that moved, replied the second man and then he added a question: What would you do?

I'd stand perfectly still, said the first man.

This story has a lesson. With 3 minutes to live we will tend to do what we really want to do whether it is having sex (or avoiding it!) or eating chocolate or telling our family and friends that we love them. Yet too many of us spend our lives not doing what we really want to do.

If we imagined the world was about to end soon we might finally be able to discover what we really want to do in life. Of course we still need to have the courage to do it.

The time management basic of all this is that life is too short, even when we have 30 more years and not just 3 mins to live, to waste on doing things we do not really want to do.

The number one essential of time management is to discover what we really want to achieve in life and then get on with it.

A second basic is that we don't even have enough time to do all that we really want to do. We have to choose. I found out the hard way that you cannot learn several different musical instruments well unless you are a bit of a genius.

In my twenties, I decided I wanted to learn the bagpipes, the drums, the banjo, the guitar, the blues harp and the tin whistle.

I never got round to the tin whistle and only learned to play the other instruments at a pretty basic level. It is wiser to focus on one key goal at a time in each key area of our lives.

Set goals that are achievable, unlike mine, and then take massive action to attain them. Set SMART Goals - specific, measurable, attainable, results oriented, time based e.g. Do twenty pushups a day for a month. Count the pushups. Do an easy version of them if necessary (i.e. keep your knees on the ground). You feel and look stronger. You do the pushups for one month.

If one of your goals is to learn a skill like copywriting, decide to spend an hour a day for 6 months improving your copy writing. Use a spreadsheet to measure out 180 squares and cross them through after each one hour session. If you wish to learn 3 skills in 6 months, you will obviously need 540 squares.

A third basic of time management is to follow the famous advice which Charles Schwab paid $25,000 for i.e. make a list of about 6 things you want to achieve tomorrow.

Sleep on it overnight and your subconscious will provide you with the drive and the wisdom to make a good stab at achieving those 6 things in the next 24 hours.

In the morning start on the most important of those 6 things and get as far as you can. If you have anything left to do. Put it on your list for tomorrow.

I won't take up any more of your time with this article as you are doubtless keen to make your list of 6 key things to do tomorrow.

About the author

John Watson is an award winning teacher and martial arts instructor. He has recently written two books about achieving your goals and dreams.

They can both be found on his website http://www.motivationtoday.com along with a daily motivational message.

The title of the first book is 36 Laws To Ignite Your Inner Power And Realize Your Dreams Now! - Acronyms, Stories, And Pictures...Easy To Remember And Use Everyday To Grab Your Life And Soar With The Eagles

The book can be found at this URL

http://www.motivationtoday.com/36laws.php

The book uses acronyms, stories and pictures to help readers remember 36 laws that can gradually transform your life if you apply them.

You are welcome to publish the article above in your ezine or on your website so long as you do not alter it and keep in the words about the author and the 36 Laws.

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