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Priorities and Schedules

Guest post by: Jim Stovall

Article Overview: Each of us on a daily or weekly basis somehow reduce our activities to a schedule. Some people use formal organizers or planners; others scribble notes on blank sheets of paper; and still others use obscure systems that defy description. But, in our own way, we each come up with a mental or literal "to do" list for the day. As we examine our list of activities each day, we generally prioritize them. That is, we determine which of these activities is the most important and which can wait till later if necessary.

Priorities and Schedules

Each of us on a daily or weekly basis somehow reduce our activities to a schedule. Some people use formal organizers or planners; others scribble notes on blank sheets of paper; and still others use obscure systems that defy description. But, in our own way, we each come up with a mental or literal "to do" list for the day.

As we examine our list of activities each day, we generally prioritize them. That is, we determine which of these activities is the most important and which can wait till later if necessary.

Recently, I was on a business/pleasure trip and had some time to contemplate priorities. Not only the priorities in my business life, but my life priorities as well. I found that the things that are most important to me in an overall sense rarely, if ever, are included in my daily list of priorities. I realized that I have been making the mistake of prioritizing my schedule instead of scheduling my priorities. There's a big difference here I hope you will grasp and apply to your life.

How many of us have been waiting to take that three-day weekend or have a special lunch with an old friend, etc., until time was available in our schedule. You know the old story as well as I do: Time is never available, and things only happen when they are scheduled. For this reason, in order to be a successful human being, we must take the life priorities that we all have and make sure they all fit into our schedule. Our business activities can expand to account for the entire day unless we first and foremost schedule our priorities.

Time for family and personal growth should be blocked out in our calendars before the daily crush of activities is allowed to take over our lives.

Remember that yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift. That's why it's called "the present." Be sure to live it that way and plan to live it that way in the future.

Today's the day!

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Article Tags: Jim Stovall, organize, priorities



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