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Time, Money and Life Balance, Part 1

Written by: Rodger Blaker

Article Overview: Highly successful people seem to be less busy than most every one else because they arrange it that way. They join fewer clubs, make fewer promises, run fewer errands and waste less of life's most precious commodity.

Time, Money and Life Balance, Part 1

This is the beginning of a three-part series on the topics of Time, Money and Life Balance.

Contrary to popular belief, you cannot "manage" time. Time just is. It moves in one direction, and you can't speed it up, or slow it down, or create more of it.

You can't save time or buy time, or make time. You can't borrow it or squander it or kill it, and the folks who write about "time management" should know better. With time, your only choice is to use it to create the life you want, or to live with the regret that time (and opportunity) have passed you by.

When we talk about "time management" what we are actually talking about is "life management". The following are three examples of good skills toward life management.

1. Self Management. Folks who don't have enough time usually have too much of too many other things. They don't have enough time, but they have lots of errands, lots of work, lots of hobbies, lots of commitments and lots of "stuff". They fill their lives with promises and deadlines. They are always busy, but complain their hard work doesn't produce the results they wanted.

Highly successful people manage their commitments. They say "No!" - often, and forcefully. They decline invitations. They refuse to accept other people's burdens. They are very selfish about sticking to their goals and priorities.

Highly successful people have a mature wisdom about this. They cannot do or have all the possibilities in life, so they commit to doing a few things very well, and manage their lives
around those selected commitments.

2. Environmental Excellence.

Highly successful people are fussy about their homes and offices. They don't have as many crises as other people. Yes, emergencies happen, but usually their environments serve and support them elegantly. Whether it's having "reserves" so they don't have to run to the store before dinner, or having great tools, or hiring a housekeeper, they rarely waste time. Their homes and offices encourage excellence and support productivity.

3. Effective Relationships. Highly successful people communicate well and often. They are choosy about their friends, and have clear boundaries. They value their relationships with friends and loved ones, but they also keep things "clean".

Highly successful people don't answer the phone every time it rings. They arrange boundaries so they can focus on their work, their personal development, and their loved ones, without interruptions. Time with family is treated like time with a valued client. Work and personal time are organized so they rarely interfere with each other.

There is a tremendous level of skill in managing life so time is used well, but consider the alternative! Highly successful people seem to be less busy than most every one else because they arrange it that way. They join fewer clubs, make fewer promises, run fewer errands and waste less of life's most precious commodity.

Next we'll will focus on managing money - yes, you can manage money! You can create it, replace it, save it, even make it grow, but none of that is true with time. Time just is, and we either manage our lives and use time effectively, or we don't. This month, challenge yourself to be a great manager! Manage yourself, your environment and your relationships so you create the life you truly want.

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Article Tags: better with time, burdens, commitments, contrary to popular belief, crises, emergencies, environmental excellence, environments, great tools, housekeeper, invitations, life balance, life management, possibilities, priorities, promises, self management, time management, time money, time time



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