“You can never really change someone. People must change themselves.” Stephen Covey
Are you willing to change – today?
Let me set you a challenge.
Instead of ignoring or speed reading this article/post and moving swiftly on in a ‘nothing for me, here’ kind of way (and assuming you aren’t already a disciplined time manager), I invite you to start exploring the art of time management in a meaningful way by either reading my posts and/or book, or exploring other writers’ and trainers’ products and offerings.
No need to splash the cash, yet. Just go on YouTube and look up David Allen on GTD, or Carl Pullein, or the Productivity Ninja, or FranklinCovey, or one of the many other providers of free input on how to manage yourself in terms of your productivity.
This is not a suggestion that you can do more than you already are doing; I know you are very, very busy.
This is a suggestion that you can do what you have to do, but in a less stressful, more organised and structured fashion. You’re productive and stressed. Wouldn’t it be nice to just be productive without the add-on?
I can’t force you – you have to decide for yourself whether what you are currently doing (or not doing) is serving you. I’m not even suggesting you spend any money – there’s enough free advice out there.
Word of warning on that front, however. When you start looking into it and find the inevitable truth that this stuff works, you may choose to invest a few quid in a book. My advice, therefore, is to find the one that you think will serve you best, and then master what is taught before thinking about the next book. You’d be surprised how you can get bogged down in different philosophies, only to discover that they all pretty much espouse the same ideas.
Me? I used Stephen Covey’s ‘First Things First’ for vision, values and self-leadership input, and I use David Allen’s ‘Getting Things Done’ for the reality of day to day productivity. I’ve never got so much done, and I’ve never been so organised and productive without stress, as I am today.
If you’re struggling with a heavy workload, I’d suggest getting a grip first and then, when there’s a lull, start reading the self-leadership stuff. (That’s why my book Police Time Management does things that way – deal with the reality of the now first, and then plan your future second.)
You may choose to do the same, or you might find something different that suits you.
But one thing’s for certain.
If you keep doing what isn’t working for you now, you have only yourself to blame if you don’t explore a better alternative.
Police Time Management 