|
Be Like Santa: Make a List!
Everyone who's successful and super-productive makes a list
of things to get done. How do you think moms and dads
manage more than one child and the
household?
Here's a few tips on list making:
- Say no to things. Your relative really
don't need to swing by three times a week every
week just 'cause they're out.
- Figure out what you don't need to do...and
then don't do those things!'
- Limit your list. There are always more things to
do than there is time in the day. Start with a few
things and get them done. You can add more to your
list once they're done. But if you continually put
too much on your list and don't get them done you'll set
yourself up for chronic failure.
- Get the hard stuff done first. We avoid them
because they are painful. Face them, handle them,
life gets easier.
- Build in a fudge-factor. There will be
distractions and unavoidable things to cope with during the
day. So, add in a certain amount of time in which to
pad your timetable to account for unexpected time-taking
events. Most people in finance fail because
they don't factor in errors in budgeting and don't account
for random stuff that hits them in the
pocketbook. Look at your credit card
statements each month; there is always something that comes
up, like brakes and tires on the car, like a trip
to the vet, a new hot-water tank, a new sump-pump,
etc. It happens with money and time alike.
Factor this into your time management.
- Keep the list with you and visible. I put mine on
my clipboard which is with me from the time I get into the
office until the time I go home.
- Set a timer when you set your time table for the
day. When I'm in the clinic seeing patients, I
have one admin person who sets my schedule and has the
sole ability to run my life. She blocks my time
out and physically gets up from her chair
to keep me on schedule. One of my doctors
has a person get on the overhead intercom and
announce, "Dr. Smith, line 9, emergency room". That's
his cue to get a move on as he's getting behind on
his schedule. I have three digital times that I
use to keep me on task during the day,
plus synchronized clocks in every room.
Continue...
| 
