Tweet

Taking Care of Business

Guest post by: John Chasteen

Article Overview: Life demands oversight. Andy your the only one who can do that in your life. The article, "Taking Care of Business" shows you how to take charge of the everyday things in your life that really matter. Are you ready?

Taking Care of Business

Effective leadershipbeginswith yourself

In the late 70s, the group Backman Turner Overdrive (BTO) made famous the song "Taking Care of Business." The lyrics bemoan the woes of crowded schedules and heavy workloads in modern society. The hit song has resurfaced lately as somewhat of a mantra in our culture. An office supply chain has even licensed it as their theme song.

So what's all the to-do about "taking care of business"? Well, it's a hot topic mainly because it deals with the one issue with which most of us wrestle: the task of controlling our busy schedules, the likes over which most have lost control.

Admittedly, most ministers feel like their work is never done. There's always another phone call to make, meeting to attend, or issue to resolve. Consequently, one of the most important things a leader can do is to learn the art of scheduling his or her life.

I'll be the first to tell you that much of life can never be programmed. It rarely fits into a neat, orderly package. However, many of the stresses that cause us angst can be reduced or eliminated by simply developing better scheduling and planning skills. Need some tips on how to ease your overloaded schedule? Here are a few suggestions:

Develop Your Life According to a Plan

Have you ever stopped to consider the fact that God is a God of schedule? His first act recorded in Scripture is creation, which reveals to us that He is a God of order and purpose.

Notice, God didn't try to accomplish everything in one day and neither should you. Creation was a scheduled order of events. He had an agenda for certain times of the day, i.e. evening and morning. He scheduled the seasons-fall, winter, spring and summer-all an indication that certain things were to happen at certain times. What a revelation!

Have you learned to schedule? (See Ecclesiastes 3:1.) Now don't allow yourself to become in bondage to a schedule, just begin to use one and take charge of it.

Schedule Routine Into Your Life

To develop a routine means you learn to follow the same pattern frequently. It literally means to walk the same path regularly. Everyone needs some degree of healthy routine.

Discipline and healthy habits are the beginning point. Healthy habits, when followed persistently, become routines. Routine keeps you from becoming unbalanced in your life. Most of us get caught up in the activities we enjoy and shun the less desirable ones. Routine prevents this from happening.

Scheduling and routine work hand in hand. Learn to schedule important events into your life until they become a routine. Daniel practiced this principle by praying three times a day until it became his custom-routine (see Daniel 6:9).

Get Comfortable Periodically Using the Word "No"

I'm sure you've heard this repeatedly, but many people never master the art of telling people no. The very nature of leadership is demanding and requires huge amounts of time and effort. However, no one is called to do it all. Leaders must learn to examine their commitments regularly and adjust according to godly principles.

I'm not talking about a resignation of duty or responsibility but rather learning to say no to too many extracurricular activities. Have you learned to say no without feeling guilty? Or are you strictly a yes person?

Learn To Limit Your Time Wasters

Unfortunately, all of us have "timewasters" integrated into our lives. We live in a generation that has so many things to do. From sunup to sundown, gidgets and gadgets beg for our attention. If we could name the big three timewasters, they would probably be listed as: a) high tech innovation, i.e. Internet, TV, and other electronic gadgets; b) over excessive attention to hobbies (I'm not saying hobbies are bad.); c) disorganization. Wasted time can never be recouped. You have to guard your time.

Conclusion

"Taking Care of Business." The song may be 30 years old, but it still seems to fit, doesn't it? So how do you plan to deal with the crowded schedule that keeps showing up in your planner? You know it won't just go away on its own.

If you want to become a more effective leader you must begin by controlling your own life. You must become intentional with the way you schedule your personal and public life. Why not start today?

Coach John

Related Articles
  Don’t Neglect This Part of Your Business
  Want business success Stop neglecting yourself
  Recovery
  Extreme Self Care
  Business Travel: When You Are the Homefront
  Take What You Need and Leave the Rest
  Relationships: Giving Yourself Up Can Kill You
  What have I learned in 6 months of management? Part 2
  I am taking care of myself list!
  Self Care
  The Seven-step Path to Sustaining Success
  It's All About Love!
  Take Care of Yourself - Take Care of Your Business
  Is There Such A Thing As Healthy Narcissism?
  Needs vs. Neediness
  Enmeshed Parenting
  Create 10 Delightful Daily Habits
  Do You Feel Loved or Unloved?
  Is Home Care Funding Right For Your Private Duty Agency?
  Take Care Of Your Business

Article Tags: everyday things, oversight, taking care of business



Related Forum Posts
Home Care Business Opportunity - You should not buy a franchise until you review our Senior Care Business Opportunity... Michael Gultz
Finding creativity - Great topic Andy! For me it's: - Going for a walk (I always try to get out at least once during the day) - Taking a shower - Reading business magazines (especially Inc and Business 2.0) - Late at night (I'm more productive / creative at night than during the day) - Relaxing with a drink at the bookstore
Re: New Video - Should I Get A Job Or Start A Business? - Hi Evan, I was curious to know what you'd suggest and I think you gave excellent advice. Taking a year out to try and start your own business is a great idea. Taking a year out after college is a well established option so I guess it doesn't prejudice your chances of getting a job should you wish to do so later on; it probably improves your chances if you've been getting valuable experience of managing a business and of course, if all goes well, you won't need to find out. Definitely a video for my website. Thanks! David
My entry - 1. The Best Business Books Ever: The 100 Most Influential Business Books You'll Never Have Time to Read - this is a fascinating book about the history of Business theory, and I'd recommend it to anybody. 2. The Big Book of Small Business: You Don't Have to Run Your Business by the Seat of Your Pants, by Tom Gegax. Ditto. 3. PADI: The Business of Diving Book Okay, so this book won't be of use to anyone who doesn't want to start a scuba store, but I did, and this book was of course invaluable to me in reaching that goal.
Re: HI@All - Hi David, Welcome to the forum. Look forward to your contributions here. Take Care, Alan


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

12 Principles to Spark Innovation

10 Steps to a Great Support Team

Making the Most of Your Trade Show Experience

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.