Stick to your schedule and watch what happens.
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How good are you at sticking to your schedule for the week?
How good are you at sticking to your schedule for today?
How good are you at sticking to your schedule period?
This is a great question to start of the new year with
because this is one of those key things that you need
to work on to make this your best year ever.
So, what are you doing to make it work?
I know this is very basic.
I know we all take it for granted we can do it.
But the truth is, most of us suck at it.
Let me repeat that for those who did not get it.
Most of us suck at sticking to schedule.
We might be great at creating it, but sticking to it
is another story.
But why are we not able to stick to our schedule?
Let’s look and try to understand some of the reasons?
1. We don’t have it in writing.
We have a schedule for the week and day, but other
than appointments on our calendar, the rest is just
in our heads.
Solution: Write it down. This will solve the key
problem most of us have.
2. We schedule no time for interruptions
We are planning to work 10 hours tomorrow and
we have our schedule all written out and put in
place. The problem is 2 hours into the day it is
shot because we keep having to deal with things
we never scheduled.
Solution: Schedule 20-50 percent of your work day
for interruptions. Depending on your business.
3. Be honest about the time you allocate for a task
and do it in that time. Why do we always under
estimate the time to do something. Who are we
trying to fool. It is the classic way to get behind.
Solution: Truthfully, it is better to over allocate than
under allocate time. If you have 2 hours for a task,
get it done in two hours or allocate more time.
Nothing worst than scheduling 1 hour when you know
it will take three. Be honest about it. This is so key.
I learned it working for Boeing. When we did projects,
if we allocated 1000 hours the project was done in
1000 hours, period. Learn to do this. Be honest in
time you allocate and determined to do it in that time.
4. Focus on the task you are working on and don’t do
anything else while you are working on it.
Why do we let ourself wonder. Why do we get
involved in everything else.
Solution:
If you are making calls. Then make calls.
If you are working on a report, work on the report.
If you are doing a proposal, do it.
5. Your schedule is the most important thing.
If it is not, then why did you schedule it.
If you are not working on the most important
things then why did you schedule it.
Yes, things change, but be honest, not that fast?
Solution: Build your schedule doing the most
important things and then do not get swayed.
Yes it is very hard to stay on track.
Yes it is very easy to get swayed.
But if you have scheduled the most important things.
If you have left room for interruptions
If you stay focused
and if you have allocated the right amount of time for the tasks
and if you have all this written down.
Then you can make it work
If you work your schedule you will create great
success in this new year.
Believe it and do it.
