Simple. It's just too difficult for me to sustain change. If I initiate anything big, I usually go back to my old ways in a few weeks. Inertia gets the best of me. So to make lasting change permanent, I take it 1 small change at a time. One small change done in 21 days should do the trick. It becomes permanent and part of routine already.
The challenge of course is where do I begin? How do I become 1% better in the next 21 days? Which area should I focus on? Which area would have the most impact?
Hmm. I don't have time to actually go through all the things I'd like to overhaul in my life so I'd take a stab at the most problematic area at the moment. Time Management. I've read a couple of time management books already with two authors coming to mind - Stephen Covey and Brian Tracy. I've tried some of their ideas but nothing permanent has lodged itself in my life. This blog is actually in danger of being one of them. I'll try anyway.
The idea of being 1% better actually came from Brian Tracy, in his book Focal Point. In that book, he even takes it one step better by suggesting you become better by 0.1% in the next 24 hours! That should roll up to 1004% in 10 years. I suggest you read his book to check his proof. I won't dispute that here. My point is if I want to become 1000% better than how I am now, I just need to be 0.1% better today.
How can I do that? I'll start with Time Management. I'll start with daily goal-setting. I won't be concerned with getting 100% goals achieved at first but I need to establish the habit of setting and working towards goals. I have some of that already on the yearly level. I just need to bring it down regularly to the daily level.
That's how I plan to do it. Tell me how I can do it better. Maybe you can share some of your best practices.
About Me
- Ronald
- I am a full-time employee for a Fortune 500 company. I also have a Real Estate business and I am a franchisee of the Think Rich Pinoy Millionaire Network.
10 comments:
Hi Ronald!
You are not alone. I also have similar experiences as yours, trying to master this "Time Management" thing with not much success.
I have not yet read the book you mentioned but it sure has some wisdom in it. I will check it out later.
I'm looking into a technique today. I will share it with you if I find it effective for me.
Hi Ronald! Nice blog. It's inspiring and had inspired me. Thanks for sharing.
"Whatever we focus on expands!". So just keep on going. See you at the top! =)
Practice makes.... Permanent :D
Richard/Thea, let's keep sharing thoughts and ideas and inspiring each other. Glad to be working with you, guys. :)
Wielder, thanks for reminding that practice is essential. I'll work on that. :)
Ronald,
Everyday, at the start of the day, take a post-it or index card. Write down the things you want to do for the day. Put only 3 things down there. Ask yourself the question - if you're going to die today, what is the 1 or 2 things you need to do? For your business, what is the 1 thing I can do today that will bring in the most profit?
Time management is a myth. You can't manage time. You only manage your priorities. The important thing is to FOCUS on the few that will bring the most results.
Pareto, an Italian engineer discovered that 20% of "things" account for 80% of the results. People found this 80/20 rule is true for many of life's aspects. Sometimes, it's even more extreme. Like 1% of the population has 90% of the wealth. The reality that I found is this:
To get more out of life, you have to do less - not more. Find out the 20% of your activities that will give you 80% of the results.
That's why, don't have a long list of activities in your To Do list. Doing more will not get you to greatness. Doing the critical few will.
More about this in my blog - tracetrajano.blogspot.com
Trace
To be honest, Trace, that's a paradigm shift for me. I need to bring myself to the level where I can afford to delegate the 80% of activities I don't need to do.
At this time, I think what I can do is make sure I do what you tell me to do first before doing anything in the 80% section. That way I address the most important priorities and still don't leave anything undone that I haven't been able to delegate yet. What do you think?
Have you read/watched "The Secret"? Remember when we are told to think big and then start with the first step? The simplest act of just thinking about your goal starts your journey towards it. What you do next would test your style, focus and determination. Good luck!
Hi Ronald.
I just read "The Secret" by Rhonda Bryne. I learned that we are actually responsible for event that happens in our lives. We can all be better persons if we want to... we could all be financially free if we want to. All we have to do is ASK, Believe and Receive!
About time management, I suggest you 'CREATE YOUR DAY IN ADVANCE' through your thoughts. Set the Universal forces ahead of you in everything you will do, and with this you would be able to experience that you have more than enough time. I'm not just saying this because I read about it...but because I already am experiencing it.
Hope my thought inspire you as all of you guys inspire me.
joanne
Mendz/Joanne,
Two comments on "The Secret." Interesting.
Mendz, I like the part where you pointed out that the way I achieve my goal shows my style, focus and determination. Currently, I don't have much of those. Hehehe. :)
Joanne, I have a tough time creating my thoughts. I easily get distracted. Like Mendz said, it's about my focus and determination. I suppose I need to do something first before I create my thoughts like get settled with my self first.
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