Good morning, Leaders! It’s Friday!

It’s a new year and while many are focusing on resolutions, I didn’t make any this year. Not because I’m clever or lazy or so perfect that I couldn’t stand to improve behaviors, habits or beliefs…I think that there will always be room for improvement. I’m avoiding short term disappointment, guilt and anxiety. It’s also important to remember that we are running a marathon, not a sprint.

I’m busy enough on high priority items and have decided that a certain amount of white space in the calendar is necessary to incorporate and critical to defend.

From a time management perspective, If you don’t feel like you have the time to do something well, what makes you think you’ll have the time to do something over?

I resolve, by not resolving, to do… less… better and actually get more done. This also relates to delegation. Are you humble enough to accept the fact that you aren’t the best at everything? Even more so, have you identified what you are exceptionally good at and also identified who is best at other tasks you need done whether at work or at home?

A coworker identified these tasks as PtG (Pay the Guy).

Whether it is a renaissance complex or simply getting caught up in the whirlwind of life, we tend to attract tasks like flies to a strip and then get frustrated when we can’t get them all done in a timely manner.

In addition to putting more white space on your calendar, delegating more tasks and identifying what you a REALLY good at, I’ll offer up the prioritization advice reportedly worth nearly half a million dollars today. You decide whether it’s worth that much to you.

Story:
You may have heard the story about Ivy Lee and Charles Schwab (the steel guy, not the investment guy)
Lee offered to increase the productivity of Schwab’s executives by 20%. The idea is very simple and the story goes that Scwab wrote a check to Lee for $25,000 which equates to roughly $400,000 today.

Lee’s idea
1. Before you leave work, write down the six most important things you need to do tomorrow.
2. Go home. Leave work at the office. Spend time with your family. Read books. Write. Have fun.
3. The next morning, start with the first thing on your list. Work at it until it’s completed.
4. Work down your list. Interruptions will happen. Get back to your list as quickly as you can.
5. Repeat. Anything still on your list will probably go to the top of tomorrow’s list, unless it’s no longer relevant. Flesh out the list and go home.

If you are already doing this, Congratulations!
If not, give it a try. It does make a difference.

Have a blessed weekend!