วันจันทร์ที่ 2 กุมภาพันธ์ พ.ศ. 2552

Top Ten Motivators

Setting goals is the easy part -- but sticking with them over the long run can be a major challenge! Some people think that motivation requires will-power and dedication. Actually, staying motivated is all about setting up an environment that is conducive to you accomplishing your goals. Here are ten "tricks" for giving your goals staying power past January 31st:

BREAK YOUR GOALS DOWN

Do you know why 90% of us don't keep our New Year's resolutions? Because our goals are too big and too vague. Instead of telling yourself that you want to "get organized," try breaking that goal down into something smaller and more concrete. "Clean out all clothes that haven't been worn in a year" or "move all of the sports equipment to the garage" gives you a solid place to start -- then you can move on to another small goal that will take you one step closer to "getting organized."

PUT IN 15 MINUTES A DAY

Some people think that you have to commit hours of uninterrupted effort if you want to accomplish a goal. But the greatest advances are often the sum total of a series of SMALL EFFORTS -- a drawer here, a cabinet there, maybe a closet. Once you have set your goals for the year, commit to spending 15 minutes each day doing something that will move you closer to accomplishing that goal. You will be amazed at how quickly you progress!

PAINT YOURSELF IN A CORNER

The worst deadline you can set for accomplishing a goal is "over the next year" -- too vague, to broad, and too much room for slacking. Sometimes it's best to paint yourself into a corner if you want to get a project done. If your goal is to clean out the guest bedroom closet, invite company over! Make a COMMITMENT to someone else -- just knowing that other people are counting on you is often just the little "push" you need to get moving.

WORK WITH A "BUDDY"

This rule doesn't just apply at the gym! Do you have a friend who can help out with some of your organizing projects? Two people will get more done in shorter period of time -- and you will be less inclined to keep a bunch of junk you don't need! Just remember that you will be expected to reciprocate when your friend gets ready to clean out! And if you can't recruit any free help, consider bringing in a Professional Organizer -- someone who can be objective about your clutter.

TELL YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY ABOUT YOUR PLANS

The best way to make yourself accountable for accomplishing your goals is to tell other people about your plans. The minute you spread the word that you are working on a project, people become interested in your progress. "Hey, how are you doing getting that garage in order?" Every time you hear those words, one of two things will happen. Either you will feel inspired to dig back in and get to work -- or you will feel lousy because you haven't made any progress. Option A gets you moving, while Option B tells you that something is out of alignment and you need to RE-EVALUATE your goals. Either one is a step in the right direction.

PUT IT DOWN ON PAPER

You've heard it a million times -- if you write a goal down, it is more likely to come to fruition. There is something about the act of putting your thoughts (any thoughts) on paper that makes you more committed to the outcome. You have invested time and energy writing your goals down -- what a waste if you didn't actually go through with them! And it is wonderfully therapeutic to cross an item off of your list once you complete it!

REVIEW YOUR GOALS REGULARLY

The best thing about writing your goals down is that you have something physical to hold in your hand and refer back to when you need a boost. But reviewing your goals doesn't just mean skimming the page and counting up how many things you haven't done yet. You must also ask yourself some questions about each goal -- why haven't I made more progress on this goal? What's getting in my way? Is this goal still important to me? If your priorities have changed, drop it from your list. You have enough important things to do -- you don't need to sweat over not accomplishing an unimportant task.

DEVELOP A "MANTRA"

Repetition is the mother of success, so you need to remind yourself of your goals everyday. Pick your most important goal this year, and turn it into a one-sentence "mantra." Your mantra should be in the form of an affirmation -- a statement phrased as though you have already accomplished your goal ("I am the master of my time" or "I live in a clutter-free environment.") Repeat this mantra first thing when you get up, last thing before you go to bed, when you are driving in the car, as you take a shower. Post sticky notes with your mantra on it around your home and office. Pretty soon, this will become your natural way of thinking -- keeping you going when you run into a roadblock.

ENJOY YOUR SUCCESSES

When was the last time you really acknowledged the fact that you accomplished an important goal? Too often, we simply charge into the next task on our list without really appreciating our achievements. Next time, spend a few minutes reflecting on what you have accomplished -- remembering the time and effort you invested and savoring the feeling of completion. This will refresh and renew your enthusiasm to continue on with your next goal. Without that moment of pause, you will eventually burn yourself out and lose all sense of motivation.

PAT YOURSELF ON THE BACK

Do you reward yourself for a job well done? Lets go one step further -- do you plan ahead of time what reward you will give yourself when you complete a task on your list? There is a lot of wisdom in the old idea of a "carrot and stick." As you plan out your goals for the next year, attach a REWARD to each. It could be as simple as a walk around the block, or as grand as a two-week vacation -- just make sure that your reward is commensurate with the amount of work you will have to do to reach that goal. And be consistent about rewarding yourself for every accomplishment, no matter how small. You deserve it!

Ramona Creel is a Professional Organizer and the founder of OnlineOrganizing.com -- offering "a world of organizing solutions!" Visit <a target="_new" href="http://www.onlineorganizing.com">http://www.onlineorganizing.com</a> for organizing products, free tips, a speakers bureau -- and even get a referral for a Professional Organizer near you. And if you are interested in becoming a Professional Organizer, we have all the tools you need to succeed. If you would like to reprint this article, please send in an e-mail request to <a href="mailto:ramona@onlineorganizing.com">ramona@onlineorganizing.com</a>

Time is Money - Dont Waste It

"If you control your time, you control your life" - Alan Lakein (1973)

Time is Money. Time is a precious commodity and everyone gets an equal share, but we use it differently. Even different societies have different attitudes towards times.

One thing about time is that it is elusive; it cannot be changed, and once it is gone, it is gone forever. According to a saying, 'Time and tide wait for no one'. Our situation and needs influence our time orientation, but our time orientation (and needs) can be changed and that should lead to a more successful life.

Vilfredo Pareto, an early twentieth century Italian Economist, formulated what most of us call the '80-20 Rule', technically known as the 'law of maldistribution'. This rule states that "80 percent of our effort is spent on unnecessary activity and only 20 percent of our time is spent on something productive.' The question now is: how can we spend 80 percent of our time on something productive and spend 20 percent on something unproductive?

For more effective use of our time, the following tips are suggested. They are not sequential, you can decide the order.

The first is that you must set goals. A goal gives your life and the way you spend your time meaning and direction. You must decide what you want from life and organise your time around your goals. Look at your life in such areas as: finance, career, spiritual, social, health and community or cultural, and develop smarter objectives for each. Your goals must be specific, measurable, achievable, and realistic and it must be time bound. You must also evaluate and review your goals regularly to check whether you are heading in the right direction or not.

Secondly, you must plan and organise. Using time to think and plan is time well spent. Nobody plan to fail but many people fail to plan. Organise and plan in a way that makes sense to you, otherwise you will find yourself dealing with problems as they arise instead of creating opportunities for problems to be avoided and for progress to be made.

Thirdly, you must put first things first. In his book 'The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People,' Stephen R. Covey deduced that: "the one denominator that all successful people shared was not hard work, good luck or good human relation but 'putting first things first'". By putting first things first you eliminate the urgent and concentrate on the important things. Urgent tasks have short-term consequences while important tasks are those with long-term, goal-related implications. Work towards reducing the urgent things that arise and you will have more time for your important priorities. If things are important, they contribute to your mission and help you in achieving your goals.

Also, to make effective use of your time you must do the right things right. Noted management expert, Peter Drucker, in his book 'The Effective Executive' (Harper & Row, 1966) said: "doing the right thing is more important than doing things right. Doing the right thing is effectiveness; doing things right is efficiency. Focus first on effectiveness (identifying what is the right thing to do), then concentrate on efficiency (doing it right)."

Moreover, you must aim for excellence and not perfection. Excellence is attainable; perfection is elusive if not unattainable. I believe that the pursuit of perfection is a waste of time. Yes, some things need to be closer to perfection than others; but perfectionism - paying unnecessary attention to details can be another form of procrastination.

Furthermore, you must conquer procrastination. To be a peak performer and be able to make good use of your time, it is necessary to conquer procrastination. Do not postpone till tomorrow what you can do today. Alan Lakein explained in his book: 'How to Get Control of Your Time and Your Life' that "Many of us procrastinate when faced with long and difficult or unpleasant tasks, even though they are quite important to us. One technique to try in order to conquer procrastination is the 'Swiss cheese method'. When you are avoiding something, break it into smaller tasks, and work on the big task for just 15 minutes. By doing a little at a time, eventually you'll reach a point where you'll want to finish."

Be ready to say 'No'. This is such a small word, yet so hard to say. Focusing on your goals may help. Making time for important, but often not schedule, priorities such as family and friends can also help. But first you must be convinced that you and your priorities are important - that seems to be the hardest part in learning to say 'no'. Once convinced of their importance, saying 'no' to the unimportant things in life gets easier.

In addition, you must consider what time of the day suits you best. For instance, I like reading at night and writing in the morning because by late afternoon I am exhausted. Kathy Prochaska-Cue, an extension family economics specialist averred that: "Knowing when your best time is and planning to use that time of the day for your priorities (if possible) is effective time management."

Besides, to make effective use of your time you must have a 'To Do List'. I have a daily 'To Do list' which I do either the last thing the previous day or first thing in the morning. I also have a weekly, monthly and yearly 'To Do List'. You can either use a diary or calendar and you could combine the two. The coming of Personal Digital Assistant and Pocket Personal Computer has made life easier. Try any method that suits you. Having a 'To Do List' is essential for wise time management.

Another tip is that you need to be flexible. Allow time for interruptions and distractions. Time management experts often suggest planning for 50 percent or less of one's time. With only 50 percent of your time planned you will have the flexibility to handle interruptions of unplanned emergencies. Save (or make) larger blocks of time for your priorities.

Finally, reward yourself. Even for smaller successes, celebrate achievement of goals. Anytime I am able to finish the entire task on my 'things-to-do-today-list,' I smile and say 'thank you Lord'. Promise yourself a reward for completing each task or finishing an entire task. Keep your promise to yourself and indulge in your reward. It may be as simple as special snacks after getting certain things done. Doing so will help you maintain the necessary balance in life between work and play. As Ann McGee-Cooper said in her book: 'Time Management for Unmanageable People' (Ann Mc-Cooper & Associates, 1983); "If we learn to balance excellence in work with excellence in play, fun and relaxation, our lives become happier, healthier, and a great deal more creative."

Dayo Olomu is a UK-based Motivational Speaker, Writer, Business/Life Coach, Trainer, Media Entrepreneur and Competent Toastmaster. His core belief is that we are all endowed with seeds of greatness, and his mission is to help individuals and organisations achieve their full potentials. He is the author of best selling "4 Indispensable Strategies for Success" and the President of Croydon Communicators Toastmasters. Get his FREE monthly Rise to the Top ezine by sending a blank email to <a href="mailto:subscribe@dayoolomu.com">subscribe@dayoolomu.com</a> or visit his website at: <a target="_new" href="http://www.dayoolomu.com"> www.dayoolomu.com</a>

Are You Running Out of Time?

Here's some time management tips to try:

1) Set strict office hours and stick to them - use an answering machine to pick up calls after hours. Don't be tempted to &quot;pick up just one more call&quot;.

2) Have a day timer (or hand held PDA) that you write everything down in and carry with you.

3) If you're running late to pick up the kids call the school - keep doctors/dentists/personal phone numbers in the book too - you can book appointments while you're waiting in a line or stuck in traffic.

3) Keep a large calendar at home too - and make sure the whole family knows what everyone else is doing.

4) Take care of yourself - you're the company's most valuable asset (eat well, sleep enough and get some exercise)

5) If you find work is taking over your weekends for things like trade shows, or other appointments, be sure to take the same amount of time off during the week.

6) If you find you're really getting overloaded - write down what you do in every hour for a whole day. This will really show you the way you spend your time. This will also let you re-allocate your time to those things that are most important to you. You may find you're spending 30 - 40% of your time on time wasting tasks like answering non-essential emails or phone calls. If you can schedule a certain time each day for these kinds of tasks, OR delegate them to an assistant you will be able to spend your time more productively.

Do YOU have some time saving tips? Why not share them with other business owners? Send in your tips to: wendy@thinkwithoutboundaries.com with "time saver tips" in the subject line.

Wendy McClelland is a motivational speaker, marketing innovator and Certified Guerrilla Marketing Coach who specializes in teaching people to "think without boundaries!" She is a past nominee for "Canadian Entrepreneur of the Year" and her clients have included software developers, an Olympic athlete and a wide range of business organizations. She has spoken to 10,000+ conference attendees, about Marketing, Internet Business and Motivation. You can contact her through her website ? <a target="_new" href="http://www.thinkwithoutboundaries.com">http://www.thinkwithoutboundaries.com</a>

Time Management: How To Get More Done

If you can regularly ask yourself "Am I regularly and consistently working on those items that will move me towards my clearly defined goals?" and honestly answer "Yes" then you are probably doing ok.

If not, here are a few time wasters to be aware of and some strategies for protecting your time (priorities).

MAIL: Don't waste your time on junk mail (unless you are specifically looking for good marketing ideas to borrow) - if possible get someone else to go through your mail and sort out the junk and take care of the routine items.

If you do want to save the junk mail have it placed in a box or file that you can go through when you are brainstorming for new ideas. (This is commonly called a "Swipe File" by most writers - a resource to generate good ideas that you can swipe and adapt to your own use.)

MEETINGS: Scheduled and unscheduled meetings can be a terrible waste of time. Don't allow people to just drop in on you without an appointment and a purpose. Avoid any scheduled meetings that you possibly can.

If you are in charge of a meeting - make sure you have a plan for keeping it short and focused. If you have to attend a meeting and you are not in charge - have a plan for escaping once you are done with your portion (such as a phone call or appointment at a pre-arranged time).

Also, stop meeting people at restaurants, etc. They will invariably keep you waiting. Instead have them meet you at your office. That way, if they are late, you can continue to be productive. If you must meet them outside of the office, take something with you to read or work on while you are waiting.

DOWN TIME: Meaning time that you spend waiting, traveling, sick, etc.

Always have something to do, or to listen to, or to read. Ask yourself "What is stackable?" In other words, what

tasks can I combine and do at the same time, such as listening to training tapes while commuting.

LACK OF PLANNING: There is an old saying that I often repeat to myself: "Having lost sight of our objective, we re-doubled our efforts". In other words, not knowing where we were going we got there twice as fast.

Take a little time each day to focus on your tasks at hand and make sure they are leading you towards your goals. If they are not, then eliminate them all together or delegate them if necessary.

Then chart out the day in such a way that maximizes your available time. Combine activities where possible and block out portions of the day to accomplish the most important tasks. Then keep your appointments with yourself as strictly as you would with your most important client.

INTERRUPTIONS: The greatest productivity usually comes from being able to focus on a project for an extended period of time without interruption. Interruptions not only waste the time of the interruption itself but also the time to refocus your concentration on the task at hand.

Do whatever you can to avoid interruptions. If possible, have someone else answer the phone and then return calls at a designated time for calls. Train your clients, etc. to call during that time.

Become inaccessible to those that regularly steal your time by dropping in or calling to shoot the breeze. Hide if you have too. When I worked for a real estate company many years ago I specifically asked for the office that was hidden away down in the basement. It had it's own outside entrance so I could come and go without the other agents knowing I was there, eliminating all those unnecessary little interruptions.

If you can't hide, be busy and be obvious about it so others are less apt to interrupt.

DISORGANIZATION: "A place for everything, and everything in its place" is good advice. Few things waste more time than having to hunt for something every time you need it. Keep a clean desk, work on one thing at a time and put it away when you're done. (Sorry if I sound like your mother)

PAPERWORK: This can be a great time waster. If you have stacks of paper and files all over your desk or office do yourself a favor and go buy a filing cabinet and some file folders. Set up drawers for specific types of files, etc.

Have a place for every type of file or paperwork. Go through everything in your office and either file it or throw it away. Buy dividers or organizers or whatever is necessary to systematize the flow of paperwork through your office.

LACK OF FOCUS: Anything that keeps you from focusing on your priorities during those times you have chosen to be productive must be eliminated. That means TV, radio, internet, email, mail, etc.

Another cause of lack of focus is shifting priorities. What I mean is, starting on one project or task, then shifting to another project without completing the first, then shifting to another, and so on.

The world is full of opportunities and sometimes they each look better than the previous one (Yes, the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence). Be disciplined enough that, no matter what, you will finish what you intended to finish before starting something else.

Now this doesn't mean that you can't have more than one project going at a time, but make sure you have sufficient time allotted to accomplish each goal in a specific amount of time and get it done before replacing it with another project.

"If you chase to rabbits at once, both shall escape" Ancient Proverb

Shawn Meldrum has spent the last two decades marketing everything from almonds to landscape lighting. He currently specializes in marketing for mortgage brokers, loan officers and <a target="_new" href="http://www.real-estate-marketing-tips.com/">real estate</a> agents. For free <a target="_new" href="http://www.mortgagemarketingtips.com">mortgage marketing articles</a> and much more visit: <a target="_new" href="http://www.mortgagemarketingtips.com"> <a target="_new" href="http://www.mortgagemarketingtips.com/">http://www.mortgagemarketingtips.com/</a> </a>

Organize Your Time

Most people want to start a home-based business to make more money to supplement their income. The issue though, is finding the time to make this happen.

Most people are busy, with family, an existing job, and the general feeling that there are not enough hours in a day.

However, extra time to start a home-based business project can almost always be found. It may mean giving up or changing a few of your favorite pastimes, like watching TV but if you become successful with your home-based business project, you will have all the time you want for doing whatever you want to do.

The first thing you need to do is take inventory of your daily schedule. What time do you wake up? Then step-by-step, list everything you do each day. Most people will find that they have about three hours each day that can be utilized in a more constructive or efficient manner. As noted above, you may have to give up a few television programs you watch, but it will be worth it in the long run.

Time management is about planning you're time efficiently, and following that plan effectively. Start by making a list of the things you want to accomplish the following day, each evening before you go to bed. Try to consolidate your trips to the grocery store with the pick up of your children for example.

Organize your trips to take care of as many tasks as possible while you're out of the house. Take stock of the time you spend standing around shooting the breeze with a friend or neighbour, or the time you spend talking on the telephone. Eliminate all that isn't absolutely necessary.

When you have chores to do around the house, set aside a specific time to do them, and a specific amount of time to devote to them. For example, just one hour a day devoted to laundry or dusting and vacuuming should be sufficient to make your household clean and liveable. Don't try to do a week's work in one day. Whether it's painting your house, fixing leaky faucets, or mowing your lawn and trimming your shrubs, do a part of it, or one particular job each day, and you'll be amazed at your progress.

Take care of all your mail and emails the day you receive it. Don't let those bills and letters pile up, or leave a potential client waiting for your reply to an email.

The important thing is to think of time as your most valuable asset, because it is. So organize! Decide what you have to do, and what you want to do. From there, it's just a matter of arranging priorities.

Once you start listing and planning what you want to do, and then carry out your plans, you'll find plenty of "extra time" for handling virtually any kind of home-based business project.

The secret of all successful people is simply that they are organized and do not waste time. These people wake up each morning ready to seize the day. You should be no different.

Review your own activities, and then see if you can't find a couple of extra hours in each day to devote to your home-based business.

You should plan your work the same as you have planned your regular day-to-day activities, on a time-efficient basis. Do what has to be done immediately. However, don't try to do what would normally take you a couple of days in an hour. Once again plan out what you have to accomplish, what you want to accomplish, and when you are going to get it done. Then get right on each project without procrastination.

Finally, and above all else, when you're organizing your time and your business, be sure to set aside some time for relaxation. Be sure to schedule time when you and your family or significant other can be together. This is very important if you hope to be successful.

Taking inventory of the time you waste each day, and restructuring your activities into your money making venture is powerful stuff. It's a matter of managing your time more efficiently. It's really easy to do, and you will not only accomplish a lot more, you will also find greater fulfillment in your life. Best of luck.

Copyright 2004 Dirk Wagner

About The Author

Dirk Wagner is CEO and owner of <a href="http://team4success.biz" target="_new">http://team4success.biz</a> and the free, easy to install #1 home business toolbar with automated updates.A website dedicated to helping the home-based business entrepreneur start and succeed with there very own home-based business.

วันอาทิตย์ที่ 1 กุมภาพันธ์ พ.ศ. 2552

What Would Save You Time?

We all get overwhelmed from time to time, and sometimes it seems as if 24 hours a day is just not enough to get everything accomplished that we would like. Let's consider this a brainstorming session. Start creating a list of everyday tasks that, if you didn't have to do them, would allow you to have more time in your day. For example, most of us have to do laundry on a regular basis. That takes time. What about making dinner? Commuting? The list goes on. These types of tasks are usually necessary and unavoidable. It would be fantastic if we could hire a housekeeper, a personal chef or a chauffeur to handle these things for us. More often than not however, we end up doing ourselves the things that need to be taken care of each day.

Now try thinking of other things that take up your time. Maybe you are a small business owner who just doesn't have time to handle the bookkeeping portion of your business, or to deal with the email traffic coming into your Inbox. What about organizing your files (both hard copy and electronic) so that it becomes easier to find what you are looking for? In most cases, organizing your time better is all it takes to resolve these types of time management issues. Try reading your email only two or three times a day at specific times, instead of each time a new message arrives (although the curiosity factor might be quite strong!). Schedule your housekeeping items all at once on the same day, if possible. For example, do all of your laundry on Saturday mornings. Try planning your meals ahead of time, so you know exactly how long it will take you to prepare and cook each meal.

For the office tasks, spending some time with a professional organizer or partnering with a virtual assistant can save you hours of time. Plus, it would allow you to hand over tasks you do not enjoy doing to someone who makes a living doing those very things. Food for thought!

The main point I'm trying to make is that with a little thought and planning, you can create extra time in your life to do the things you love to do. Good luck, and happy planning!

Cynthia Morse is a Virtual Assistant, and the owner of Virtually At Your Service, <a target="_new" href="http://www.virtuallyatyourservice.biz">www.virtuallyatyourservice.biz</a>. She offers administrative support to small business owners and other busy professionals from her home office, allowing them time to focus on what they love and do best, whether it is running their businesses or taking care of personal matters.

Do You Over Promise and Under Deliver?

A new client recently admitted to me sheepishly that she often didn't get to complete a client's work until the client called to see if it was ready. I admired her honesty if not her time management skills.

I've had times in my past sales career when my work load got so out of control I worked in a similar fashion - on the priority of the moment. This method of work gives real meaning to the saying &quot;The squeaky wheel gets oiled.&quot;

Recently I sent some chairs out to be reupholstered. The fellow who picked them up said they would be done by the end of June. On July 15th they still had not arrived. I'd been calling about them since July 1st. The person who answered the phone said that the reupholstery had been completed but the painting was not.

We all have had times when we have promised something to a client or customer only to have life happen and we miss the date. When it is more routine than we care to admit however it would be best to examine our way of working so that we can find a solution to the problem.

&quot;Promise Little, Deliver Everything&quot; is the tenth "Principle of Attraction" in Thomas Leonard's book The Portable Coach .

&quot;Every step of the way, I made a point to under promise and over deliver. In the long run, that's the only way to ensure security in any job.&quot; says Howard Schulz CEO of Starbucks Coffee in his book Pour Your Heart Into It. &quot;Under promising and over delivering&quot; it is a way of work that is so much easier said than done.

When a client asks, &quot;When will that be ready?&quot; What is your response? If the client doesn't ask, do you promise something anyway or just let the work go to the bottom of the pile?

As a sales professional my customers always wanted their system as soon as they ordered it! I had to quote a reasonable time for me to get the order in and the factory to deliver the product. Some work I did myself and other parts of the order I needed others to do. Everyone had to adhere to a schedule to get the job done on time.

Even with the best of intentions this system sometimes doesn't work because the unexpected happens. According to the reupholsterer the painter needed to put more coats of paint on the frame than he originally thought he would. The problem was that they told me this on July 15th not on June 30th so I had two weeks to feel frustrated and angry.

Most business owners don't intend to disappoint clients. Sometimes it is the unexpected that gets in the way. Other times it is our inability to grasp all the other priorities we have and to see how this particular job fits into our work schedule. Having a way to regularly review what is outstanding and what the priorities are for the day, week and month helps to get realistic about what can be finished and what cannot.

If however you wait until the client calls to do the work, you are using a very stressful and exhausting method. If you have a lot of work that you manage this way, you are constantly under the gun to get something done for someone. Receiving calls from the client will be unpleasant. That's a recipe for burnout!

Life will be so much easier if you start using a good time management program. Hiring a coach or advisor to help you to incorporate good time management skills into your work environment also will ease the burden.

Take Action:

1. Take stock of your work habits. Do you under promise and over deliver? Where are you doing the reverse? What can you do about it?

2. How do you review your work load? Do you read your mission/vision weekly so you are clear on your goals? Do you do a weekly review of your priorities? Do you proactively call clients whose work will be delayed?

3. How do you decide the date by which you can promise to deliver? Do you co-ordinate it with other people's schedules? Are you good at forecasting and then delivering?

4. Need some help with time management? I work with lawyers and other professionals to get focused on their life priorities so they can forecast delivery dates and deliver quality work.

About Alvah Parker

Alvah Parker is a Business and Career Coach as well as publisher of Parker's Points , an email tip list and Road to Success , an ezine. To subscribe send an email to <a href="mailto:join-roadtosuccess@go.netatlantic.com">join-roadtosuccess@go.netatlantic.com</a>.

Parker's Value Program? enables clients to find a way to work that is more fulfilling and profitable. She is both a Practice Advisor and Coach to attorneys, managers, business owners, sole practioners, and people in transition. Alvah is found on the web at <a target="_new" href="http://www.asparker.com">http://www.asparker.com</a>. She may also be reached at 781-598-0388.