Pace and Priorities
http://www.refresher.com/mindfulnetwork/articlelive/articles/790/1/Pace-and-Priorities/Page1.html
Jim Stovall
Jim
Stovall is the president of Narrative Television Network, as well as a
published author of many books including The Ultimate Gift. He is also a
columnist and motivational speaker. He may be reached at 5840 South Memorial Drive, Suite 312, Tulsa,
OK 74145-9082,
or by e-mail at Jim@JimStovall.com By Jim Stovall
Published on 01/17/2011
We do not go to work or live our lives to fill up every minute. Our goal is to accomplish things that matter to us in our personal and professional realm. As you go through your day today, remember: It’s always best to be working on the right thing, at the right time, for the right reason, and doing nothing is better than doing the wrong thing.
Pace and Priorities
Each of us has 24 hours in every day. While this seems abundantly self-evident, the frantic feelings we often experience can make us think some days are a few hours too short.
If you look at the number of appliances, electronic conveniences, and other modern-day marvels that are supposed to conserve our time, effort, and energy, you may find that some of them can be counterproductive. Cell phones have to be charged, computers have to be updated, automobiles have to be repaired, appliances have to be fixed, and before we know it, we are spending our time working for the gadget that is supposed to be working for us.
I am a huge fan of Dr. Stephen Covey. In his book First Things First, which I would highly recommend, he describes the difference between important and urgent while giving some great object lessons in how we invest our time.
Things that are urgent generally require something to be done immediately or a perceived loss may be suffered. Things that are important feel as if they can be done later but really are the keys to our power, our priorities, and our passion.
As you look at your daily list of professional and personal tasks that need to be done, you must first prioritize. Run down the list of items and ask the simple question: If I could only accomplish one of these things today, what would it be? Put that item at the top of your list, and run through the list again, prioritizing the second item, the third, and so on. Once you have a prioritized list of tasks, you need to ask the following questions:
It is important to realize that doing the wrong task is wrong, even if you don’t have anything else to do. Doing nothing is better than doing the wrong thing. Doing nothing at least leaves the door open to contemplate and prioritize the right thing to do.
We do not go to work or live our lives to fill up every minute. Our goal is to accomplish things that matter to us in our personal and professional realm.
As you go through your day today, remember: It’s always best to be working on the right thing, at the right time, for the right reason, and doing nothing is better than doing the wrong thing.
Today’s the day!
If you look at the number of appliances, electronic conveniences, and other modern-day marvels that are supposed to conserve our time, effort, and energy, you may find that some of them can be counterproductive. Cell phones have to be charged, computers have to be updated, automobiles have to be repaired, appliances have to be fixed, and before we know it, we are spending our time working for the gadget that is supposed to be working for us.
I am a huge fan of Dr. Stephen Covey. In his book First Things First, which I would highly recommend, he describes the difference between important and urgent while giving some great object lessons in how we invest our time.
Things that are urgent generally require something to be done immediately or a perceived loss may be suffered. Things that are important feel as if they can be done later but really are the keys to our power, our priorities, and our passion.
As you look at your daily list of professional and personal tasks that need to be done, you must first prioritize. Run down the list of items and ask the simple question: If I could only accomplish one of these things today, what would it be? Put that item at the top of your list, and run through the list again, prioritizing the second item, the third, and so on. Once you have a prioritized list of tasks, you need to ask the following questions:
- Does this task need to be accomplished today?
- Is there anyone else that can do this job?
- What is the worst thing that is going to happen if I don’t do this and the best thing that might happen if I do?
- Is this task getting me closer to my goal or helping someone else get closer to theirs?
It is important to realize that doing the wrong task is wrong, even if you don’t have anything else to do. Doing nothing is better than doing the wrong thing. Doing nothing at least leaves the door open to contemplate and prioritize the right thing to do.
We do not go to work or live our lives to fill up every minute. Our goal is to accomplish things that matter to us in our personal and professional realm.
As you go through your day today, remember: It’s always best to be working on the right thing, at the right time, for the right reason, and doing nothing is better than doing the wrong thing.
Today’s the day!