Decades ago a business consultant named Charles Hobbs made an exhaustive study of the most successful people of all time. This group included greats like Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Walt Disney, and Bill Gates. He found the secret of their success without exception:
“High achievers have concentration of power. They know how to focus on vital priorities and cause those priorities to happen”
Just today, I read an article about Theodore Roosevelt, and his key to success. He believed in “deep thinking”. Each day was planned well. He worked in order of his priorities. On the most important ones, he made sure that he was at a time and place where he could get “narrow and deep” into his project or problem. In doing so, he got to the best part of his brain, and was able to achieve some miraculous things. This sounds simple, but how many people do you know who go “narrow and deep”?. With smartphones, Facebook, TV shows, and casual conversation, it can be a real challenge to think deeply.
The whole goal of time management is to manage today, since that is all have. That means that at any given moment of the day we are focused and doing the most important thing. We stay with the priority single-handedly until we take it to completion. Otherwise, we will fall short of our potential. Ready to take the challenge? Here goes:
At the end of the day, set aside 30 minutes.
Take a blank sheet of paper and put tomorrow’s date on it.
Look at your goals and list all the important things you need to do.
Categorize the tasks and activities.
Prioritize them.
Beginning next day, go through your list in order of priority. Stay focused.
If you stay disciplined, reward yourself with a cup of coffee!
