Time management, make to-do lists, use a daily planner, learn to
say no to people when you're busy. These are all items that
you'll read when learning the ins and outs of time management;
but what does it really take?
Finish what you start! That may seem easy, but let me tell a
little personal story. I was sales rep for a very large
territory, I knew my product, I was good with people, and
figured I'd be very successful. What I didn't expect was with
this big territory came a lot of phone calls, quotes, and
inquiries. Something I wasn't used to or prepared for I guess.
So I found myself with more work then I was used to. I was
starting a quote getting another phone call moving onto
something else. Basically putting out fires as they arose. As
time went on I found I was always busy but nothing seemed to get
done. I was always on the road the phone was ringing off the
hook, but I wasn't closing any deals, and worse I wasn't making
any money. So what did I do?
Simple I started finishing the task I started. When I stated a
quote I'd finish it before moving onto the next one. I'd answer
the phone if it rang, but I wouldn't stop and start checking my
email, or move onto another quote, or get up from my desk and
tour around the office. I'd finish that quote then move on.
So why is this such an important point in regards to time
management? Think about your own office life, or personal life.
Do you find you're involved in lots of things but none of them
are coming to completion? Or you've got lots of stuff on the go
but nothing finishing up? We can be busy but accomplishing
nothing, and that can be worse then doing nothing at all. Moral
of the story, we can make all the lists, plans and prioritizing
we want, but finishing what we start is the first step towards
accomplishing as much as we can with the time we have.
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