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Name of author Rick Baker, P.Eng.

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"Time" Management

by Rick Baker
On Mar 6, 2012

First of all, I believe we all understand we cannot manage time. We cannot slow down clocks or speed them up...the ticking of the clocks was agreed upon and set by our scientific forefathers long before we were born.

We can, however, manage our thoughts and our actions. We can manage the energy consumed by our thoughts and actions.

Managing our energy, that's an important thing to do.

I don't think too many people would argue with that last point.

Manage your energy!

That's good advice.

***

Related to managing your energy, here are some questions to consider.

Per day, on average, how much time do you spend:

  • 100% concentrating/focusing on a single task?
  • concentrating on a single task, as best you can, while being interrupted by people, thoughts, noises, etc?
  • multi-tasking?
  • stewing about things that happened in the past?
  • being annoyed by things other people do?
  • being instructed by people who have authority over you?
  • giving instructions to people who follow you?
  • worrying about things that could happen in the future?
  • getting present?
  • meditating?
  • thinking or saying - "There are not enough hours in the day"?
  • learning how to focus and concentrate?
***
 
You have energy.
 
You can only use it 2 ways:
  1. Thinking
  2. Acting
The next level of detail...
 
You can only use your energy 4 ways:
  1. Thinking in a manner that aligns with your Goals
  2. Thinking in a manner that does not align with your Goals
  3. Acting in a manner that aligns with your Goals.
  4. Acting in a manner that does not align with your Goals.
These apply regardless of how clear or how fuzzy your Goals may be.
 
These are the 4 ways you use your energy.
 
These are the 4 ways you spend your time.
 
You can, by doing #1, choose the right 'balance' of these 4 ways...
 
...or you can not do that.
 
To the extent you choose and do #1 you can maximize #3, make the best use of your energy, and spend your time in a way you define as - well.... as in time well spent.
 
***
 
Really, what would you rather say...
 
"That was time well spent."
 
or
 
"There are not enough hours in the day."
 
 
 
 
 
 

Tags:

Change: Creating Positive Change | Habits: Good Habits, Bad Habits, & New Things | I'm too busy! - I don't have time! | Measure & Monitor | Questions?: The Art of Asking Good Questions

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Thought Tweet #417

by Rick Baker
On Feb 21, 2012

Thought Tweet #417 "The average American worker has fifty interruptions a day, of which seventy percent have nothing to do with work."

 

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

W. Edwards Deming said this. He is the fellow who revolutionized the auto industry. Here's a link to more about Deming.

Tags:

I'm too busy! - I don't have time! | Thought Tweets

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Time for Learning!

by Rick Baker
On Dec 23, 2011

Do you spend enough time Learning?

Do you view learning as knowledge sharing?

Do you view learning as knowledge creation?

According to experts1, learning is essential to Leadership.

Leaders with Good Judgment Are Committed Learners

  • They constantly evaluate their own performance.
  • They seek knowledge and build on experience.
Knowledge Creation for All Constituencies Is an Explicitly Stated Goal
  • Operating mechanisms support teaching and learning.
  • Judgment capacity is a key leadership development target.
Customers, Stakeholders, the Larger Community Are Tapped for Input
  • Everyone teaches. Everyone learns.
  • Front-line employees are the new knowledge workers.
That's how Tichy and Bennis introduce the importance of learning in the business sector.
 
Learning is one of Spirited Leaders' Values....part of our corporate culture.
 
We approach Learning this way:
  1. Learning must be embraced naturally...curiosity is the best starting point.
  2. Learning must be life-long...the fun of it must not diminish with age.
  3. The majority of learning must be aimed at understanding and communicating with People.
  4. For your work, focus much of your learning time on specialized knowledge.
  5. For your work, concentrate specialized knowledge around your talent themes.
  6. For your work, use specialized knowledge to hone your skills.
  7. For your work, learn cutting-edge theory...and learn even more about practical things.
  8. For your work, learn how to tap into your creativity.
 
 
Footnote:
  1. 'Judgment - How Winning Leaders Make Great Calls', Noel M. Tichy and Warren G. Bennis (2007)
 
 
 

Tags:

Definitions - Spirited Words Defined | I'm too busy! - I don't have time! | Spirited Leaders | Values: Personal Values

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Thought Tweet #354

by Rick Baker
On Nov 24, 2011
Thought Tweet #354 When people feel too busy difference is a problem rather than a blessing.
 
The Thinking Behind the Sales Tweet
If you feel 'too busy' or if, without feeling 'too busy', you think differences in people is a problem then you may find you need some education on:
  • how to be honest with yourself 
  • how to know yourself 
  • how to embrace difference

Tags:

I'm too busy! - I don't have time! | Thought Tweets

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Sales Tweet #274

by Rick Baker
On Aug 4, 2011
Sales Tweet #274 Busy people often see difference as a problem rather than a blessing.
 
The Thinking Behind the Sales Tweet
If you compare where you are against where you could be then you may find you need some education on:
  • how to be honest with yourself
  • how to know yourself
  • how to embrace difference

Tags:

I'm too busy! - I don't have time! | Thought Tweets

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Time, Self & Action Management

by Rick Baker
On Apr 19, 2011
While listening to audio book 'The Now Habit At Work’, it occurred to me the words time management may be stalling people.
 
I mean, most people can not manage time nor would they even try to manage time. Time is a concept. Time is a concept most people either take for granted or don’t think about. Time is a concept most people don’t want to dwell on let alone manage.
 
When we use the words 'time management' we are not speaking accurately.
 
And, we may be stalling people, which, of course, is the exact opposite of our goal.
 
I am not saying people may be consciously aware we are stalling them.
 
I am saying, when other people experience us using that word combination – time management – maybe we are setting off a subconscious reaction that causes them to stall.
 
Regardless, I think that word combination is just plain wrong. Few human beings have the ability to manage time. Maybe some monks or yogis probably can manage time? Perhaps Albert Einstein could manage time? [He knew a lot more about time than most of us.] We hear stories about people who face extreme danger and, somehow, their subconscious mind slows time for them. Or, at least, they manage to cram a huge amount of indelible perception into a small amount of time. Maybe those are some examples of time management? There are other examples like that...if they are examples of time management then time management is rare.
 
So, for most people the words 'time management' set a confusing ‘bar’. Maybe that bar is set too high or maybe that bar doesn’t make sense at all. I think it is the latter.
 
So, we need to use other words when we want people to ‘manage their time’.
 
We could use self-management but that is not ideal because that’s a broad topic that goes beyond the ‘management of time’.
 
From now on, I intend to use the words ‘action management’. That’s what we want to do and that’s what we want other people to do. We want to manage our actions.
 
Back to that audio book, 'The Now Habit At Work’…
 
It mentions 'strategic cramming', i.e., leaving some things to the last minute. I like that strategy because it is a way to Procrastinate For Success. I believe you can build 'action strength' by using methods like strategic cramming. You can - and at least some of the time you should - intentionally refrain from doing tasks until the very last minute. Then, when you [finally] do the task you should concentrate, focus, and expedite your action. Build this strength. It is a valuable strength.
 
Teach yourself you can do it – teach yourself you can handle last-minute crunches.
 
This is a sample of Procrastinate For Success.  Methods like strategic cramming help you gain skill (concentration) and it help you gain something more important - confidence. When we Procrastinate For Success that skill and the benefits it provides snowball...the more you do it the better you get at it.
Maybe your skill will become so great you will want to leave everything to the last minute?
 
Maybe you will be a Master of Procrastinate For Success?

Tags:

Attitude: Creating Positive Attitude | Change: Creating Positive Change | Hero Worship | I'm too busy! - I don't have time!

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