Tag Archives: plan

THESE 7 TIME-MANAGEMENT SKILLS WILL GET YOU TO THE SUCCESS THAT YOU WANT

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Effective time management is about being the master of your time rather than a slave to time-wasting. Knowing how to manage time is critical to success on any level- personal, professional, and organizational. Get this:

  • Up to 80% of the average working day is spent on activities that do not promote you
  • Only 17% of Americans track their time
  • 46% of stress reported among employees in the US is caused by poor time management and getting overwhelmed as a result
  • 87% of students could achieve better grades if they had better time management skills.

Here are 7 tips for you, so that you can be the master of your time rather than a slave to it:

TIP #1: SET GOALS. NO GOALS= NO DIRECTION.

Think of goal setting as if you are the captain of a ship. You have just looked into the GPS of the ship and said: “What am I putting into the GPS of the ship of my life?” If you fail to program the GPS, you don’t set your goals. You just drift in the sea. You’ll end up somewhere, doing something, living somehow. However, you need to be able to determine for yourself what to program into that GPS. Where are you going?

To manage your time, you need to ask yourself: “What am I managing it for? What are my goals?”

Write down your goals and keep your goal list short, including no more than three. What are you looking to accomplish today? What are you going to accomplish this year? What are you putting in the GPS of the ship of your life?

TIP #2: LEARN TO BE QUICK AND HARSH WITH PRIORITIZING

We are bombarded with many tasks and so many other things that we want to do. We tend to multitask throughout our day and overextend ourselves. When the day ends, we ask ourselves: “What did I accomplish today? I ran around all day, but what did I actually accomplish?”

That’s because we tend to spend major time on minor things. The things that matter less tend to take most of our day.

Prioritize by making 2-second decisions on what matters the most to you, and just get out of your own head and give yourself a number. How much does this matter right now? How important is it, between 0 and 10 If you have certain things today that you assess as a “10” for you, you decide that no matter what, those are the things that you are going to focus on. The twos, the ones, the threes they can wait for later.

TIP #3: GET ORGANIZED. NOW.

The mess has to stop because the mess is eating up your energy and wasting your day.  If your household or your desk is chaotic, you’re going to find yourself spending a lot of time looking for things and information, trying to reorganize as you are going through the day.

Start each day with your inbox and your desk is organized and your household in a decent state.  you will find that you’re having an easier time managing your day. You wouldn’t be running around looking for things and trying to figure out where everything is and what to do. When you can find something that you really need, it gives you a clearer mindset.

TIP # 4: PLAN YOUR DAY

Stop starting your day without planning it because before you know it the day will run you- you will not run the day. Planning the day is about answering this one question: what must happen today? And then you write it down. You never, ever start your day without answering that question. How important is this? How important is that? Get out of your own head and give it a number, 0-10. Stop spending your day on your 2s and 3s. Plan ahead and focus on your 9s and 10s. That’s how you run the day.

TIP #5: DELEGATE. EVERYONE AROUND YOU CAN DO SOMETHING.

Stop being superwoman or superman. There is no trophy for you at the end of the road. Everyone around you is capable of doing something. And the only reason they are not doing it, is that you never told them to. Yes, I know that in an ideal world people could read your mind. Well, they don’t. And for that reason, you have to tell them. If you delegate- your life will improve instantly. If you don’t- you can blame no one but yourself.

TIP #6: CHOOSE TO MANAGE YOUR STRESS (OR YOUR STRESS WILL MANAGE YOU)

Stress is a choice. So is calm. Stop getting worked up. This is a behavior pattern that you can change- if you choose to. It doesn’t matter how you choose to manage your stress- walks, baths, yoga, talking to a friend- you know what works for you, so make the conscious choice to do it. You can also choose not to manage your stress or to manage it very poorly. That’s a choice that you can make. The result comes with a high price tag, though- poor thinking, poor health, and complete misery. Doesn’t a bubble bath or a walk sound much better?

TIP #7:  SET BOUNDARIES. SAY NO.

Why are you doing such a poor job at setting boundaries? Are you scared not to be liked? Are you pleasing others at the expense of yourself? Are you too tired and worn out because you didn’t set boundaries and now you just continue not to set them, just to become more tired and more worn out?

Can you just prioritize yourself for once? For heaven’s sake, and for the love of you- just say NO.

Run the Day- or the Day will Run You!

Managing time is managing yourself. We are talking about managing your life and everything that matters to you. Are you a leader or a follower? Are you going to run the day or let the day run you? Only you decide. And you, only, will pay the price or earn the reward.

Dr. Michelle Rozen, International Keynote Speaker, Change Expert and Author, is a highly influential Social Media Expert, and featured on NBC, ABC, CNN, FOX News and many other media outlets discussing change, motivation and how the human mind works to become exceptional in every area of our lives, professionally and personally. Dr. Michelle Rozen is one of the most sought after International and National Keynote Speakers!  Book Dr. Michelle today: https://bit.ly/34QbHPv

The Promise of a New Year

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Let’s not waste the opportunity to:

  • Think bigger
  • Help gratefully
  • Encourage sincerely
  • Compliment
  • Act mindfully
  • Serve happily
  • Lead decisively
  • Plan courageously
  • React kindly
  • Articulate clearly

People love the new year for the sense of renewal and a fresh start.

Think about how to make the most of your time, talents, and resources.  What will make the most sense for you, increases your happiness factor, and focus on where you want to be in a year?

It is important that we know what we want more of, as well as what we want less of. 

Maybe you want a promotion? More money, power, prestige, and influence. 
Maybe you want a demotion? More free time, decreased stress, and less responsibility.
Maybe you want deeper friendships, better relationships, and more community involvement?
Maybe you want fewer complications?

Think about what gives you satisfaction, joy, and provides value to your sense of purpose. 

Then make a P.R.O.M.I.S.E. to yourself to enthusiastically pursue those aspects that are the most meaningful,  most productive, and most important to you.

P. Plan courageously.

Want to take a vacation? Buy the tickets now and block the dates on your calendar before the year gets booked up. Want to acquire another company? Make the offer.  You can secure the funding later.  Ready to move across country?  Start packing now.  Put the house on the market.  Start job hunting. 

Assume that you will succeed when you take the necessary steps.  Be confident that you can handle the setbacks. 

Many people say they have a dream, but they don’t achieve those dreams because they allow the dream to dissolve without forming it into a plan. 

Take the idea and craft it into a plan.

R. React properly.

It is easy to overreact to bad news or the impact that an external shock might have on your business. React properly. Assess the situation for what it is.  Implement the right response quickly.  

O. Offer gratefully.

If you make an offer, do it with intention and gratitude. If you are in a business relationship and you feel you are getting taken advantage of, chalk it up to a lesson learned and move on.

A colleague was bemoaning that she had to redo her entire contract because one customer managed to work around some of the legal language to get more services than my friend understood she should provide.  My response was: “So what? Provide the services and move on.” 

Don’t let one negative encounter sour your relationship with your well-intentioned clients.  Don’t assume they were trying to take advantage of you.  

Every time I shop at a big box store, the ones where you have to show your sales receipt on the way out of the building, I wonder, “What prompted them to hire people to stand at the doors and check receipts?  Was there a parade of shoppers racing for the doors with carts full of rotisserie chickens, dog food, and muffins?” 

I wonder about the opportunity costs of hiring all of those people over decades to check receipts, and the additional time it takes for people to leave the store because of this process.  Were there that many people stealing the 64 packs of toilet paper?

Make the offer.  Be grateful for the people you get to work with.  Assume that people are mostly good. 

M. Motivate individually.

People are individuals, not a demographic. While our brains like to categorize people into boxes to make it easier for our brains to make sense of the data, it is a lazy way to respond.  People are different and they need different responses from us.   The danger is that we might think everyone in a certain category automatically shares specific traits so they receive the same response.  Appreciate and motivate individuals based on what matters to them as individuals, not according to their demographic profile.  

I. Imagine outrageously.

What would we do if we knew we couldn’t fail? What could we do if we thought big, like, really big? Where would our careers go? What would our business be like? Who do we admire? How did they think bigger?  Contemplate others who are big thinkers.  How can we think without constraints?  Imagine thinking crazy big thoughts.  

S. Strategize mindfully. It is easy to fall into the trap of “What did we do last year? Let’s do more of that next year (especially if it worked).“ That breeds status quo.  Great strategists look first at the changing needs of the markets and future trends, and then they ask, “How can I serve that market with what I know?  How am I different from everyone else in the market?  What makes me and my product offerings better?  What problem am I solving? What needs am I addressing?  What am I improving?”

Then, they craft the solution to the market needs.

E. Encourage sincerity.  People need genuine encouragement.  People need to know they are valued appreciated, and respected.  People have to be encouraged in a way that matters to them.  Leaders need to help the people around them stay focused, positive, motivated to do what they do. 

This year, let’s make a P.R.O.M.I.S.E. to stay motivated and inspired, while helping those around us do the same.

Mary Kelly, PhD, CSP, CPAE, CVP, CDR, US Navy (ret) What do all of these designations mean to you? Mary Kelly has EXPERIENCE and it’s this experience that your executives and your audience must learn to change the way they thrive in work and in life. Of all her titles, Mary’s favorite is teacher and after an outstanding career, she is focused on teaching professionals to navigate the economy, build their business, be a true leader and get more done.  Add inspiration, grace and a few hilarious stories and you have yourself one unforgettable keynote speaker, whether Virtual or Onstage! Mary just recently was named as one of the Top Keynote Speakers of 2020 by Top World Sales Inc, and her new Best-seller, “Who Comes Next?: Leadership Planning Made Easy” was awarded the Gold Winner Book Award for Non-fiction. To Book Mary Kelly for your next Virtual, Onstage, or Hybrid Event Call today at 888-766-3155 or visit https://bit.ly/3n1KYIM

Are You a Sheep?

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sheepSheep are not the smartest animals ever created! They have no sense of direction, poor eyesight, and can easily wander away. It is very hard work for sheep owners to keep their flocks focused through the season of growing the wool they will eventually take to market and sell.

One of the greatest dangers for a sheep is when they reach their greatest potential of producing all that fluffy wool on their bodies, if they do not carefully obey the owner they risk toppling over onto their backs and they will not be able to get up and eventually can lose their life.  Once this happens the owner has to quickly sheer the wool off of the sheep and set them back upright.

Then since the sheep was so stubborn the owner has to physically break one of their legs; and as they are healing carry the sheep around to let it know he will take care of it.  Once the leg is healed the sheep has a limp, but understands that the owner will take care of him and he follows the owners’ direction, knowing if he doesn’t he will die. Sounds like being a sheep owner can be extremely hard work, doesn’t it?

Do you ever act like a sheep in your business? Do you have a plan that keeps you focused and going in the right direction?  Do you limit how far you see into the future of your business? Are you easily distracted and end up wasting time, and then have to work extra hard to catch up? Do you need to remove something in your life so you can live up to your full potential and not give up and lose your dreams? 

The good news is we can change a little easier than a sheep. We can develop a business plan that works and will keep us on track. We can learn new skills that will keep us looking into the long term aspects of our businesses. We can learn to recognize and handle the distractions that want to keep us from achieving our goals and living our dreams. We do not have to chase after the wrong things but choose to live an honest and ethical lifestyle both in our personal and professional lives; no matter what. We can choose to remove anything that will prevent us from living life to it’s full potential!

Today I ask you- are you a sheep, or on track to be the most successful business owner you can be?  Glad I represent some of the best speakers and trainers that keep me on top of my game and living in my zone! They are helping so many others too! 

SimplySue_Logo_iPad Sue Falcone

Weekly #WOWfactor-Is Your Life HACKED?

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hackedRecently I experienced a major “invasion” of my website, email, and my life! All of a sudden when you came to this site you were connected with a foreign company! Our staff did not want to believe with all the security measures we have both here on the site and on all my devices this could happen! But it did! It was not an easy fix, but with the dedication of Assistant, Angela McPherson, of  www.noteworthynetchicks.biz ,  we were back up within two days!  No one realizes until it happens to you what you have to do correct it, and protect it from happening again!

As I was walking through this journey and receiving calls and emails asking what was going on, all I could think of was: “how will this affect the awesome professionals I represent here in being able to promote, market and book them for events?”  This business is not based on me; but on You, the ones who need the expertise of my speakers and presenters, and for our professionals to be “heard and seen” so they can do what they do best!  All kinds of thoughts raced through my mind!

After the initial panic set in, I realized I had a choice! I could let this “hack” into my entire life and lose the edge that has made this business successful, or I could use this experience as a motivation to become better and stronger in this industry and also help other face the same things in their lives as well!

Guess which one I chose? I attacked my agenda with a new fueled fury! I was not going to let defeat my attitude and want to run away and hide! I let people know what was going on, and yes prayers went up by many for the solution to be handled quickly!

Once the site was back up and running I saw this affirmation on LinkedIn, and I realized what had happened! My friend, Melanie Benson Strick shared this:

 “#Success Tip: If you are a problem solver, you’ll always have problems to solve. Become a solution generator.”

Today I ask you, are you letting your life, business, and world be “hacked” by all the problems that come up; or are you resolved to become a “solution generator” and live a life of fulfilled purpose and plan? Today is the right time to make a choice, and get to work!

Have a great day!

simplysuename2

 

 

 

 

Owner: “Simply” Sue Speaks! Former AT&T Executive, speaker, author, recognized Entrepreneurship, Small Business, Sales & Marketing Expert. Her professionals bring the “WOW” factor to your next event. Click on Contact on this site, it’s easy to book great talent here!

How is Your New “YOU” Year Going?

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new youHow is Your New “You” Year going? The end of the 1st quarter is fast approaching, and where are you in taking the challenge?  Have you gotten so busy doing life as usual that you just haven’t gotten around to it?

An awesome business owner and friend to many, Tracy Myers shared this and asked us to put it somewhere to view daily: 

“I know that every day is not a perfect day. In fact, some days can’t even be classified as “good.” Those are usually the days where you just want to throw in the towel and give up. But you can’t quit…especially on yourself.  You’ve gotta dig deep, kick it into another gear and barrel through any obstacles that may be in your way.  Yes, life can take its toll and drag you down but only if you let it. YOU are in control of your proverbial cup of life being half empty or half full so stop placing blame on everything/everyone else. It’s time to pony up and take responsibility. You can do this. It’s what you were born to do.” Tracy E. Myers, CMD

Is your wheel of life, (which includes these areas-Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, Family, Social, Career, Financial), running smoothly, or are you a little shaky and feeling overwhelmed and out of control?

Today to get back on the right track think about these three positive things as you begin your new week:

  • Do you know who you are and where you are going= purpose
  • Do you have priorities and goals in place to get you where you want to go = plan
  • Do you have a daily schedule in place that matches your purpose and  plan= practice

Life is exciting and ready to be lived. Are you prepared to complete your part?

suefalcone“Simply” Sue