Think on paper.
1. Write down your goals, set deadlines, list steps to achieve goals, organize steps into a plan by priority and sequence, do something every day on your highest-impact goal.
Do now: list 10 goals. Pick your highest-impact goal, set a deadline, make a plan, take action.
2. Make a master list of everything you want to do, make a list for the coming month, make a list for the coming week and for the next day. When planning a project, list all the steps and organize them by priority and sequence.
Do now: list everything to be done in the next 24 hours, list all projects. For each goal/project, prioritize and sequence the tasks involved.
3. Work on the 20% of the tasks that contribute to high value results first. Don't clear up small tasks first.
Do now: list key goals, activities, projects, responsibilities. Decide which 20% of these tasks will contribute 80% of results (Pareto principle).
4. Think long term: 5, 10, 20 years. 'The law of Forced Efficiency says that "There is never enough time to do everything, but there is always enough time to do the most important thing."' What are my highest value activities? What can I and only I do that will make a real difference? What is the most valuable use of my time right now?
Do now: Work on the most valuable task right now.
5. Outsource, delegate, eliminate.
Do now: Abandon activities that aren't contributing to goals.
6. ABCDE tasks: A tasks are high priority, B tasks must be done eventually, C tasks might be nice, D tasks can be delegated, E tasks should be eliminated.
Do now: go through your list of tasks and label them ABCDE.
7. key result areas of management are planning, organizing, staffing, delegating, supervising, measuring, and reporting.
key result areas of sales are prospecting, building rapport and trust, identifying needs, presenting persuasively, answering objections, closing the sale, and getting resales and referrals.
Do now: Determine your key result areas. Grade your performance in each area. Make a plan to improve in the areas where you're worst.
8. List the three most important goals in: career, family, financial, health, development, social/community, problems/concerns. Spend quality time at work and quantity time at home.
Do now: work when you're working
9. Prepare your workspace and get on with the job.
Do now: clean your desk.
10. Take it one step at a time.
Do now: select a goal you've been procrastinating on, list the steps, and do one.
11. Never stop learning. Read in your field one hour each day. Take courses and seminars. Listen to audio programs in your car.
Do now: identify key skills that you need to learn and make a plan to learn one.
12. What are you good at? What do you do easily and well that is difficult for other people? Looking back at your career, what has been most responsible for your success in life and work to date? What have been the most significant frogs you have eaten in the past? What is it that you do that gets you the most compliments and praise from other people? What do you do that positively affects the work and performance of other people more than anything else?
Do now: focus your plans so that you're doing the things you're best at.
13. Identify what is holding you back, what is the limiting factor.
Do now: Determine the constraint that is most impeding your progress toward your most important goal.
14. Create your own deadlines.
15. Take care of your health:sleep, eating, exercise.
16. Practice positive self talk. Positive mental attitude: look for the good in every situation, 'difficulties come not to obstruct but to instruct,' look for the solution to every problem, think and talk continually about your goals.
Do now: control your thoughts, accept responsibility for what happens to you, don't criticize or blame others, focus forward.
17. Don't become addicted to technology.
Do now: Turn off technology for one hour in the morning and one hour in the afternoon. Take a day off each week from keeping in touch with the world through technology.
18. Break down tasks in order to feel good about making progress. Salami: outline a task in detail and complete a slice. Swiss cheese: work for 5-10 minutes on a task.
19. Schedule blocks of time and eliminate distractions.
20. Build up momentum as you work fast. Create your own sense of urgency. "Do it now! Do it now! Do it now!" or "Back to work! Back to work! Back to work!"
Do now: When you are given a task or responsibility, take care of it quickly and report back fast.
21. Don't be stopping and starting your task.