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We Have All the Time There Is

Guest post by: Dave Mather

Article Overview: A new view of time utilization. It begins with a shift in our relationship to time.

We Have All the Time There Is

When I deal with clients, they almost always bring up the issue of time management, but if a person hasn't made fundamental choices around time utilization, time management techniques are useless. People tell themselves, "I don't have time," "I wish there was more time," "there's no time for this" and so on and so on. Mind-set shift number one is: "I have all the time there is." Try saying, "I have all the time there is" out loud three times. How do you feel? At first most people say they feel a bit uncomfortable, and then they connect to the reality of it.

Once we come to grips with we have all the time there is, the next step is looking at how we can maximize our time utilization. That's a very different position than "I don't have enough time."

Not everybody likes admitting this reality. Some people get defensive because they've used the "no time" excuse for so long, that we're kicking the crutches out from under them. We respectfully suggest that it is really important to accept that we have all the time there is.

Life is about choices. People may intellectually and easily accept this reality but often people say, "I have to do this", "I have to do that." Life is not an obligation it's a series of choices and our choices carry consequences. An old Chinese proverb says that it is important to decide what not to do. If we have unclear or vague goals then we'll say yes to far more things than we can actually complete and we may be saying no to the very things that could really help us.

Technology has the potential to make us more effective. Unfortunately, adding technology has not made us more effective or efficient. We have tools, that, when properly used, you would think would help us get more done but it takes discipline to learn how to effectively use tools to create the life we desire. We are more distracted than ever. Focus is often missing in business conversations and in time allocation. Rather than having the tool run us, it's important we use our new tools to effectively achieve our objectives.

My favorite tool is my blog. I can talk to people without calling them one at a time. I like email in terms of communicating with people with whom I have a relationship because I can send them quick messages. I love email but I find it ineffective in trying to communicate with people I don't know. Productive executives such as Bill Gates and John Chambers prefer to meet with people in person before engaging in internet-based communication. Networking in person is still the most effective way to secure relationships both personal and for business. Wherever possible, world-leaders meet in person to engage in private one-on-one conversations.

Typically, people want to have a productive life, they want to raise their children and do the best they can to produce something of real value. It begins with a genuine desire to do more with the time we have available. Distractions are our enemy. Other people can be a distraction. Technology can be a distraction. Media can be a distraction. There are a lot of things vying for our time and attention, so, it's necessary to be disciplined and focused. Some people claim to be effective multi-taskers but, more often than not, multi-tasking is a myth and does nothing more than dissipate our focus. For mundane tasks multi-tasking is fine, but not for activities that require real commitment and focus.

Ask most people how they spend their time and they'll say, "I spent about an hour here, 15 minutes there." Time-masters know where their time goes, others just guess. Time utilization is about focus so, wherever you are, be there.

Time management experts disagree on almost everything except these fundamentals.

1. Keep a time-log for at least a week. Determine where your time goes.

2. Find your time wasters and eliminate one per week

3. Prioritize your tasks - do the most important tasks first

4. Make appointments with yourself to complete important tasks and put them on your calendar in block time. If something takes two hours of focused activity, it will take up to three times more to complete in small chunks.

Apply these fundamentals this month and experience their impact. You'll in a better position to take charge of your life and make informed choices about your future.

Without being morbid, ask yourself, "If I were to die today, would I be pleased with where I invested my time?" Or, as a professional football player once told me, "When I get the ball I tell myself `this is the last time you`re going to carry the ball, now what are you going to do? `.

We recommend that this is your day. 24 shiny new hours that no one can spoil but you. So, plan for the future, anticipate tomorrow, but live today!

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Article Tags: management, success, time, time management



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