Time Management Success Newsletter from Baker Communications

Losing the Rat Race

By James A. (Jim) Baker
Founder and CEO
Baker Communications, Inc.
February 2006

I don't have to tell you that we are all busy and getting busier. The whole world is moving faster and our culture is expecting more of us at work, at home, and everywhere else we go. This has created a big demand for time management training, as people struggle for ways to get their schedules and their lives under control. I am often asked, "What is the number one enemy of effective time management?" People are always very surprised when I quickly answer, "YOU!"

It's true. People are always blaming something, or someone else, for the fact that they are always behind or late or feeling overwhelmed. My boss is too demanding, the traffic was horrendous, marketing was late getting me the research I needed, my spouse signed me up without checking with me first. We have a million excuses. Don't get me wrong; sometimes our time gets eaten up by circumstances beyond our control. When that happens, you just have to adapt and keep moving. However, most of the time we are our own worst enemies when it comes to effective time management. If you want to win the battle against time bandits, you better start with the one person you can control - you know who!

Here are some hints to help you beat your number one time bandit:

Stop keeping lists in your head. You can keep a few schedule items juggling around in there, but can you keep up with all of them? Probably not. Most people can only remain aware of about 6 or 7 pressing responsibilities at any one time. I am not talking DOING them, only remembering them. Unless you are retired and all you have is a golf game and a honey-do list to keep track of, get some kind of planning and tracking system and USE it.

Stop trying to squeeze in "just one more thing" before you head home for the day, or depart for some other important function. First of all, squeezing something in implies that there isn't really room for it, which means you are likely to mess it up somehow because you don't have the capacity to deal with it adequately....

For the full article, click here

Everything You Need to Know about Setting Goals

The simplest explanation for why most people work hard all day and don't get anything done is that they don't know what they are doing! Perhaps it would be fairer to say that they don't know why they are doing what they are doing, or that they aren't exactly sure that what they are doing is really what they should be doing. No matter how you say it, the heart of the problem is a lack of clarity regarding how to identify, prioritize and pursue high-value goals. Maybe you think you understand what it means to set goals, but the proof is the quality of your productivity every day. If you are frustrated with your output, you need to review your input.

During this interactive webinar, you will:

1. Learn to use the GAP method to set priorities
2. Learn to identify SMART goals
3. Discover how to sort all your activities into actionable categories
4. Learn how to make use of the ABC principle for arranging your work plan
5. Learn a process for maintaining your perspective amid shifting priorities
 

To see all of our available webinars or for more information, Click Here.

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Simple, Powerful Techniques for Managing Anger and Saving Relationships
by James Baker


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When counting to 10 doesn't cut it anymore

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