This is
especially important for business owners, who often fill multiple job
descriptions in a typical day. If you feel frenzied but never seem to
accomplish anything, what you need is not more time, but better organization.
Realizing the problem is with your habits rather than the clock is the first
step toward taking charge of your work day.
Grasp this
concept, and you’re armed and ready to search out your archenemy, the sneaky Ima Timewaster. Whispering lies in your ear (It’ll only take a moment or Let
me just check one thing), this thief steals your productivity. Track your
daily activities and train yourself to recognize her subtle disguises wherever she lurks. These can be such innocent activities as emailing,
surfing the net in the guise of “research,” personal phone calls, or repetitive
tasks that can and should be automated.
What do
you do when you spot her? Sometimes the little trickster will dart from
one hiding place to another. The best strategy for rooting her out is to clear
away the underbrush, one shrub at a time. Make a conscious effort, for
instance, to make no personal phone calls at work this week; while you’re at
it, limit time-sucking chit-chat in business calls and stick to the business at
hand. Next week, just say “no” to your favorite computer game, or make wise use
of the TV remote’s “Off” button.
