Ask me what my priorities were 10 years ago, my answer will be a lot different from my priorities today.
10 years ago, my eldest son was just for 4 years old while my second is just newly born. I have two kids then. Now I have three. My family has grown bigger. It seems that we are done with milk and diapers. Now I am thinking of how to pay for their college education.
Ask me what my business goals were a decade ago, you'll also find out that it's also very different from my goals today. I was more aggressive then, I'm a bit more conservative now. The ups and downs I went thru in business (and in life) has thought me well how to move both in faith and in wisdom.
Our priorities will change over time. What mattered to you before, may not be the same thing that matters to you today.
Your responsibilities will become broader. Eventually, your perspective will shift from short-term to long-term.The stakes will always change.
You can't live today with the same thinking you had 10 years ago. Somehow, you need to re-evaluate where you stand. You need to re-examine the way you do things. You need to find out what really matters to you today.
Keep in mind:
1. Re-evaluate your priorities.
2. Focus on what matters today.
3. Commit to continuous improvement.
Showing posts with label Time Management. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Time Management. Show all posts
RE-EVALUATE YOUR PRIORITIES
TO SOLVE A RECURRING PROBLEM
To solve a recurring problem, you need to get to the root cause of the problem.
Many times we look at the surface and forget to examine what's underneath it.
You may not have enough money, not because of your income, but as a result of overspending.
You always get complaints from customers, not because of your service people, but because of your company's poorly designed policies.
You're easily bored, not because of your job position, but maybe you're not exploring enough or stretching your potential.
The obvious can be deceiving. When it's recurring, check deeper.
Find the root cause of the problem. That's the only way you'll be able to solve it – permanently.
LIFE ISN'T A NUMBERS GAME
Life is not about...
...the number of 'stuff' you own.
...the number of job offers you receive.
...the number of people you meet.
...the number of friends you keep.
…the number of countries you've been to.
In your eulogy, people won't remember the numbers.
But what they won't forget is how you made them feel, how you've touched their lives, and the kind of legacy you're about to leave behind.
Don't just live for 'more'. Live more.
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Get P50 off when you buy a PRODUCTIVE PINOY book online. Free delivery nationwide via LBC. To order, simply click HERE.
MEETINGS CAN BE FUN, FUNNY OR AMUSING
The typical scenario – The management made new plans, and in the meeting, you were thrilled to hear about it. You leave excited for what's about to happen.
However, the fun becomes funny when you attend the next meeting and find out that nothing has been done. (yet)
In spite of the lack of progress, the funny becomes amusing, when the leader starts to introduce 'new plans' in the same meeting!
Sabi nga nila "Di pa tapos yung sa isa, may ibang plano na!"
Realize that 'meetings' should allow you to work effectively, not distract you from real work.
*To learn how to conduct an effective meeting, get a copy of the book, PRODUCTIVE PINOY. Visit National Bookstore, Powerbooks or Fully Booked.
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WHERE TO PUT YOUR PRECIOUS TIME
This is going to be a short post.
Life is without meaning without spending time with your Maker. That's non-negotiable.
Now, where should you spend the remaining of your time?
Answer – On what you do best. Operate in your area of strength instead of just spending most of your time compensating for your weaknesses.
Answer – On what you do best. Operate in your area of strength instead of just spending most of your time compensating for your weaknesses.
Your assignment: Know your core-competency. What do you do best? What's so unique about you and your work? What can you bring to the table that the others can't?
This is where you should invest your precious time – on work where you make a unique difference.
Photo Credit
Photo Credit
"STEADY KA LANG"
We live in an accelerated world. Everything is moving fast.
Today, even the pizza gets to your home faster than the police. To get an answer, it only takes a second for Google to answer. With a few clicks, you can plan your travel anywhere around the world, no need to fall-in line to consult a travel agency.
What we used to do for hours or days, we do it now almost instantly.
That's why we are not used to waiting anymore. To the point that we think waiting is hard, even if it's just sitting it through.
It's also the reason why sometimes, when we don't get what we want instantly, we move-on. We move on, not to better alternatives, but to wrong choices.
Pretty much like a how a butterfly waits before it can fly. A small caterpillar comes out from an egg. (first instar) His one and only job – to eat continuously.
Even if he is in a hurry, the caterpillar needs to crawl, slowly. He knows he'll be a butterfly someday, yet no amount of positive thinking can make him fly. Not yet.
Because his skin can't grow with him, he then grows a new skin underneath, and then he lets go of his old skin. (molting) Like a boring routine, he repeats this molting over and over again – five times.
He matures slowly. Stage by stage. Little by little. Can you imagine him being impatient?
He matures slowly. Stage by stage. Little by little. Can you imagine him being impatient?
For the last time, he molts again, but this time differently. The new skin underneath forms the outer shell of the chrysalis. (Pupa - Similar to a Cocoon)
At this time, his mission is clear – to wait.
He can't go anywhere. He can't move forward. But nonetheless, even if no activity is seen on the outside, transformation is happening inside. His body transforms. His wings are fully formed.
After 10 to 14 days of waiting, the butterfly is ready to see the world, differently.
It may sound ironic, but sometimes, the 'best move' for us is to WAIT. You may feel that nothing is happening, but there is a great possibility that transformation is happening inside you.
No matter what happens, never, ever, make the wrong choice – only because you can't wait.
The next time a friend tells you, "Steady ka lang", consider his advice. It might be good for you.
Photo Credits
ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER
A boxing match doesn't start in the ring, it starts in a press conference. For some reason, boxers 'bad mouth' their opponent as if the points were counted.
You can keep on telling people you're a champ, but your words won't matter if you get knocked-out first.
Remember when you were a child? You believed every funny and scary story your uncle told you. As if it's a fact. Then you tell the same stories to your friends. Only embarrassed to find out later on that the stories were just fiction. (Kwentong Barbero!)
That's when you decided to pay attention to their action instead of just the words they say.
Why does action speak louder than words?
Unlike words, your actions can't lie. Instead, it confirms what's in your thoughts or intentions. You can retract a statement or change your opinion anytime but you can't undo something that's already done.
Don't get me wrong, 'Words' do speak. But ACTION speaks louder. It tells what you don't need to say.
That's why, "Do as I do" is more effective than 'Do as I say'.
That's why, "Do as I do" is more effective than 'Do as I say'.
People may doubt what you say, but they will believe what you do. ~Lewis Cass
Stop, Look & Listen - Reassess Your Goals in Life
Take the time to Stop, Look or Listen.
Stop • At some point, you need to stop to be able to evaluate if you need to alter your course. The time lost when you stop is less compared to the time wasted when you go full speed ahead in the wrong direction. The turn around time will cost you more.
Look • What’s happening around you? What are the new opportunities unfolding?
Listen • There is a big difference between hearing and listening. Be alert, pay attention and understand.
After reassessing, go ahead and move forward to the direction that will bring you closer to your goals.
Photo Credit: FreeFoto.com
How People Value of Time
There are three types of people. Those who focus on the past. Those who focus on the present. And those who focus on the future. Watch this interesting video!
HOW NOT TO HIT THE SNOOZE BUTTON
My cousin had problems waking up early in the morning. He is always late for work.
Every time his alarm rings, his arms would automatically reach for the snooze button. It's a reflex most of us are familiar with.
Habits are things that are formed by repetition. For many years, his arms and hands were programmed to stretch out and press that snooze button. (even if he is still half asleep or half awake)
Whenever you press snooze, you'll instantly get another 10 minutes of sleep. The question – how many times can you press the snooze button? Once, twice or thrice?
But what if you hit the wrong button? You hit “stop” instead! You can always tell your boss that it was traffic or an accident slowed you down. (or you can just tell him that you accidentally pressed the snooze button)
I gave my cousin a few tips that I thought would only work for me.
1.) Set an annoying alarm tone. Not the cute sounding tones.
2.) Place your alarm at least five steps away from you. Make sure it's not within your reach. You'll be forced to get up.
3.) Never go back to bed!
After several days, he thanked me and said it worked for him. He is always early for work. But I’m not sure though how long that lasted!
15 WAYS TO BEAT THE FILIPINO TIME
It’s like DST (daylight saving time) but only backwards. Seriously, it’s about the extra 30 minutes, 1 hour or 2 hours ---being late or tardiness that is very common and acceptable in the country.
The Pinoys abroad are exempted from this phenomenon. They are always on-time. If not, they arrive earlier than needed.
So it must be the weather then? No.
The traffic? No.
Maybe it’s because of the billboards in EDSA?
Who knows why?
Someone told me it’s because of the Spaniards being laid back then? Isn’t that the Mañana habit? I’m talking about the Filipino Time here!
Let’s say you’re throwing a birthday party for your son this Saturday. 4:00pm. But in your mind you already know that your guests will arrive at 5:00pm or 5:30pm. That’s too late. Your reservation is only up to 6pm.
So you decide to invite them at 3:00 pm instead. Thinking that they will arrive at 4:30pm. Your guests confirms. The day came. They arrive the time that you have planned or maybe a little later.
Wow! What a complicated process to plan parties!
To put an end to this problem of habitual tardiness, we need to update some of our mindsets. Here are some suggestions:
(1) It’s ok to be the first one in the party. The party planner and the caterer won’t get offended in case you arrive earlier than them.
(2) Tell the traffic -- It’s not you. It’s me.
(3) Learn the Algebra:
If x is the ETA or the the estimated time of arrival then:
x = commute time + 1hr 1/2 time allowance
(4) In case you will be way too early --- Stop over, go to Starbucks or Krispy Kreme, line-up and pretend you’re a customer. They’d be glad to offer free samples to you.
(5) Just a little adjustment -- “It’s better late than never” to “Never be late -- it’s better”
(6) Always assume that the person you will meet will arrive on-time. So you better be on time. By the way, bring a book or something that you can do just in case...
(7) Conserve water -- don’t take too long in the shower.
(8) Realize that you are smarter than you think you are. Don’t try to trick yourself by adjusting your watch 30 minutes advance. It just doesn’t work. Who are you kidding here?
(9) Forget the grand entrance. Only do this if you are royalty.
(10) The first call you will receive is not the go signal to leave the house, it means you are already 30 minutes late.
(11) If you are meeting a client, try to compute the money involved. You don’t want to lose that money right?
(12) Be realistic with time commitments. If someone asks you “Are you free to meet tomorrow at 4:00pm” --- Think carefully and if in doubt, tell him that you can be there by 5:00pm. This gives you a buffer or an allowance time. Be there by 4:45 pm.
(13) Be known as someone who arrives on time --- People will then respect your time... Hopefully...
(14) Avoid the “photo finish” arrival! (5 minutes before the person waiting for you decides to go home)
(15) If you are throwing a party, playing in a concert, producing an event, doing a presentation... Please do start on time. Politely include the word “sharp” in your language.
If we value and respect other people’s time, we will arrive on time as agreed or promised. Make this conscious effort.
Thanks to my father who taught me the value of time at an early age. Because of him, I am always on-time. (ok maybe around 98% of the time)
Likewise, let’s teach our children this virtue. It’s never too late to pass-on promptness to the next generation. We can put an end to this habitual tardiness.
Together, we can reinvent the Filipino Time!
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Mañana Habit - "Mamaya na lang"
The Mañana Habit is something that we have learned from the Spaniards. The word "Mañana" means ‘tomorrow’ or ‘specified future time’ also known as “procrastination” in plain English, “mamaya na” in Filipino.
How it Works:
- You need to do something now.
- But then you decide to do it later.
- As a result of the delay, you end up not doing it.
- Now, you tell yourself or somebody that you will do it tomorrow.
- Tomorrow comes. The same cycle happens.
My father taught me these words when I was still young:
"Do it now"…"Don’t wait till tomorrow".
At that time, I didn’t see the value of that advice. It was too pushy or overbearing to hear. But then, later on I realized that it was a valuable habit that he was teaching me.
Three Important Words to Remember – Do. It. Now.
(1) Do.
Only action can beat procrastination. Drag your feet if you have to. Starting is the only challenging part. Jump start your way into it.
(2) It.
Face whatever needs to be done. Don’t do anything else. There’s always an excuse that you can say. But don’t give in.
(3) Now.
Not later or in the future. Don’t wait for the perfect time. Even if you don’t feel like doing it. You will appreciate what you did when you reap the benefits.
"Just Do It" is a slogan phrase that was popularized by Nike in one of their marketing campaigns. Right now it has become number two in the Top 10 Slogans of the Century.
It’s a good slogan to remember and practice. Don’t think it. Don’t plan too long. Don’t make excuses. JUST DO IT!
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