My Kingdom for a Paperclip: Plan Your Maintenance Activities

2017-07-07T10:47:51-04:00By |Delegation and Elimination, Prioritizing|

One of my favorite sayings when working with clients is "my kingdom for a paperclip." When I use this typically I'm referring to having a big project stall due to lack of planning or not keeping an eye on the details. In your attempt to build your capacity, you are doing a great job keeping the big picture in mind. You may be using [...]

What Do the Rule of 3 and Gratitude Have in Common?

2016-12-07T20:00:02-05:00By |capacity, Checklists & Systems|

In the book The Productivity Project, Chris Bailey uses the "Rule of Three" as a strategy to retain your focus throughout the week. The goal is to decide on three activities, projects, or actions you want to complete prior to the end of the week. Once you can define your "three," you can keep them top of mind throughout the day so you stay on [...]

How to Prioritize an Overflowing Task List

2016-12-07T20:00:06-05:00By |AWE, Prioritizing|

I talk often about prioritizing (here, for instance), but haven't provided practical advice in a while. Now's the time! You are frustrated by a  lack of progress at the end of the day. What you need is to be able to control your to-do list so you can feel a sense of accomplishment each day. So, here's the question of the day ... How do [...]

6-Step Plan to Succeed in Time Management

2016-12-07T20:00:07-05:00By |AWE, Checklists & Systems|

In previous posts I’ve talked about creating a time management system that works for you. (Read Mary's story here, for example.) You must have a plan that is simple and easy to follow - "trying harder" and "more discipline" are not the answers. When you develop strong, easy-to-implement programs and systems, you become more efficient, productive and effective. Though I’ve written about this concept [...]

How to Fit Just “ONE” More Thing Into Your Day

2016-12-07T20:00:08-05:00By |Checklists & Systems, Distractions and Procrastination, Prioritizing|

How often do you say, "I'll do just one more thing before I leave for my appointment"? Or "I'll just finish up one more thing in the office before I end for the day"? Or "I'll do one more thing before I go to bed"? And, if you are a "one more thinger" . . . how often does it stop at ONE? Or [...]

What To Do When There’s Too Much To Do

2016-12-07T20:00:09-05:00By |Goal Setting and Mind Set, Prioritizing|

Sometimes even the best time management strategist cannot "create" room in a schedule. Sometimes everything that can be delegated has been. Every task / activity / commitment that can be deleted has been removed from the schedule. (Read more about this process here.) Everything that remains is important and has a direct correlation to a goal. So then what can you do if you are [...]

Effective Delegating: The Solution to “I Really Like Her – Do I Have to Fire Her”?

2016-12-07T20:00:11-05:00By |Checklists & Systems, Delegation and Elimination|

Delegating effectively is a tricky concept! If you delegate in too much detail you run the risk of annoying the person you've delegated to AND spending more time than necessary. Yet, if you don't share enough detail you run the risk of the end product not being what you want. Recently a client (we'll call her Lexi) shared her delegating challenge with me during [...]

What Is the Connection Between Crying and Time Management?

2016-12-07T20:00:12-05:00By |Checklists & Systems, Goal Setting and Mind Set|

Fifteen years ago I sat on my kitchen floor and cried. It was the day after Thanksgiving and I was expecting 40 people in my home in about an hour. I had worked most of the weekend and all week except for Thanksgiving day. I had just found out that one of the guests was a vegetarian and I was SURE I wouldn't have [...]

11 Steps to Tie Up Loose Ends

2016-12-07T20:00:15-05:00By |Checklists & Systems|

Imagine a typical work day.  Do you move quickly from activity to activity, task to task, phone call to email to appointment?  Or do you have plenty of time to complete each activity before starting the next? Odds are your day tends to look more like the former than the latter. In which case, as you start to relax in the evening, you probably [...]

The Best Time to Create a Checklist Is …

2016-12-07T20:00:18-05:00By |Checklists & Systems, Goal Setting and Mind Set|

Have I mentioned recently that I love checklists?  Well, I do!!!  (For many of the reasons why, please check out these other posts on the value of creating a utilizing a checklist.) First, for what activities should you create a checklist?  Just about anything that recurs and has multiple steps. For example ... Create a dinner party Plan a work event Prepare for vacation [...]

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