You may have heard how it’s best to make time for the “important” things in life, rather than just doing the “urgent” all the time. Or, how it’s best to work “on” your business, rather than just “in” your business.
I’m going to be honest. I have not done a good job of this over the past year! Between lots of “life” stuff happening like selling our house and moving, and then the busyness of the Christmas season, I went from one emergency to another just putting out fires.
My work time would usually get eaten up by the most urgent things on my to-do list. I’d say to myself, “I better take care of that before it becomes a big problem.” Or, “Oh, that’s right. I really need to follow up with that person. I better take care of that now.”
Can you relate?
Something had to change, so I decided this year is going to be different. And I’m doing it with scheduling.
I realized what gets scheduled, gets done.
So, at the beginning of each month I plan to do some strategic planning. I will schedule blocks of time during the month to work on the “important” things in my life and business.
During this time I plan to do the following things:
1. Review my goals for the year and check my progress
2. Decide what the “important” things are for the upcoming month
3. Schedule blocks of time to work on those “important” things
Can you relate with my struggle? Have you figured out a way to ensure the “important” things get done in your life? I’d love to hear you thoughts!
Photo Credit: Ashley Burton via Compfight cc
Yes Michael I can most certainly relate with your struggle and I’m sure just about every one reading can. Actually I have chosen to take the next 4 weeks and seriously seek God about exactly how He wants me to proceed so that this year ends differently from previous years (business-wise). I feel like no matter how well I plan and schedule, things come up I hadn’t thought about and I get pulled off my plan. This year WILL be different.
That’s awesome, Ann, that you’re taking the time to get at the issue and make this year different. Blessings to you over the next four weeks!
Thank you Michael.
I sure can relate to you on this. I have projects that I can see will be really successful and profitable, if I would just make the time to work on them. They are always being pushed to the side by more urgent matters like getting sales tax paid, keeping quickbooks files up-to-date, finishing this and that. I’ve been reading “Seven Habits….” and should really implement those habits into my year, month, weeks and days.
I hear you, John. The difficult thing is that the urgent things are all good things… that need to get done. Love “Seven Habits.” Great book!