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Most successful people use "TO DO" lists. They
range
from the top CEOs of multi-national companies to
entrepreneurs of small businesses.
Busy housewives and retired workers - anyone who wants to
use their limited time effectively.
You can also use these lists to keep you focused
on what really needs to be done, and keep you away from
un-important tasks that have no value.
The result - more time to do what you want!
1. Make It A Daily Record
Every day you should make a "TO
DO" list. You will find it invaluable in helping you
decide where your priorities lie.
2. The Nuts and Bolts of Your "TO DO" List
Write down all your outstanding tasks on a sheet of paper,
then carefully go through deciding if an item is to be
graded as :-
A. Urgent.
B. Important but not urgent.
C. Not urgent nor important.
Within categories A and B it will be necessary for you to prioritize
so the most urgent task becomes A1, then the next becomes
A2 etc.
Similarly with the set of tasks you have decided are B.
This is not necessary with the C tasks of course.
Some people prefer to color code the items instead so with
such a system the A tasks may be colored red, the B tasks
blue etc.
You may choose whatever colors have meaning for you. It
really is an individual choice.
3. Using the "TO DO" List
Each morning you must update your "TO DO" list.
Bring
forward the A, B, and C items not completed the day before
on to another sheet of paper.
Add new items to the lists after considering carefully
where each new item should go.
Then review the list and start on the top priorities,
crossing off each one as it is finished throughout the
day.
Some managers prefer to have separate sheets for each type
i.e. one sheet for the "A" list, another sheet
for the "B" list etc.
That way you know you are working on the most
urgent tasks from the listing itself because the A list
should always be on top.
So what do you do with the C items?
If you have staff, then delegate - if not, decide if you
are going to complete them or not.
Dispose of all items you decide are not worth doing.
Instead of re-writing your list each morning an
alternative method is to spend the last 15 minutes of your
day on your list so that you can start immediately the
next day.
4. How Pareto's Principle May Help You
Pareto was an Italian economist who observed that 20% of
the people in Italy owned 80% of the country's wealth.
This has been found to have real significance and has
resulted in the 80/20 Rule.
Broadly speaking 80% of all results come from 20% of all
efforts. So identify which 20% is the most important and
you can't help but be more successful.
One word of caution - items on the B list which are not
completed within a reasonable time scale have a habit of
suddenly becoming a major A item!
I have used a "TO DO" list for many, many years
and it
enabled me to keep on top of my responsibilities and enjoy
my
family life. I sincerely recommend that you use such a
list.
Copyright ® 2003 Joe McHenry. All rights reserved. Please
feel free to pass this article on to your friends, or use
it in your ezine or newsletter. To find other tips and
advice visit http://www.tips-for-boomers.com
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