There’s an old saying that if you want help with getting something done, ask a busy person to help you. Everyone knows at least one person like this – the person who always manages to cross everything off their list by the end of the day or week.
Part of their ability to
consistently manage their time effectively is based on the fact that they have
a system they follow. The better the system, like with the Pareto Principle
which states that roughly 80% of our results come from 20% of our work, the
more likely someone is to look like they just have a talent for managing their time.
Professionals have used this
principle to mercilessly reschedule their time and whittle down their
client/customer lists to build a stronger business platform. But truly rounded
professionals have learned that this principle can be applied to their personal
lives as well. From a strictly time management perspective, what activities are
you participating in outside of work that have a positive impact on your life?
Would it surprise you to learn that the
average person spends almost 5 hours a day in front of the TV? Perhaps, if the
whole family is watching TV together, it could be called “family” time, but
let’s not kid ourselves. Until we’re ready to take an honest look at the way we
spend our time outside of work too, we will continue to miss opportunities for
identifying the 20% of our activities that will bring us 80% of our happiness,
relaxation, joy, love, sense of contribution, and peace. Here are 3 ideas that
might help you identify your outside-of-work 20%.
1.
Make a list of all your family and
friends and decide which category each person fits into. This can be tough
to do, but asking and answering these questions will help.
- If you knew you were going to die tomorrow, who would you pick to spend today with?
- If you were going to live another 80 years, who would you want to spend all that time with?
2.
Remember that you are either in or
out of someone else’s 20%. Sometimes we just assume we’re in simply because
we’re family or a friend. But think about what you’re bringing to someone
else’s table. Do your family and friends know how you feel about them? And even
if you’re not great with saying the words, are you doing a good job of making
sure the people you care about know you care about them? Anyone can add this to
their busy schedule. It takes less than a minute to make sure someone gets the
message that we care.
3. Make sure your work schedule includes enough time for you to enjoy your
life right now. Even if you’re putting in long hours in at work for all the
right reasons, there’s no greater regret than knowing that we willingly let the
important people and moments in our lives slip by without a second thought.
The truly wonderful thing about
waking up each morning is that it’s another opportunity to do a little bit
better today, than we did yesterday. Broaden your perspective when it comes to
your time management strategies and you will have every reason to smile, every
morning.
Alan Luoma: I am a Sales Coach with extensive experience in industrial sales, sales management, new
product development, sales and product training. I work with a great national sustainable packaging company and their exceptional distributors to increase sales. My success has been and is in utilizing the Pareto 80/20 principal in business and life. I have become an expert in seeking out and eliminating behaviors that prevent business people from being successful. I am a member of the Hartford Springfield Speakers Network, The National Speakers Association and New England Speakers Association. You can view my profile on LinkedIn, or contact me at Luoma@snet.net
Alan Luoma: I am a Sales Coach with extensive experience in industrial sales, sales management, new
