The LifeLine Issue 2

What are You Doing with Your Time?

Have you ever said these words; "I didn't have time to do that" or "I just don't have enough time to get everything done"? If not those words, something similar I'll bet! Time for a reality check. We all have the same amount of time each day, 24 hours (that's 1440 minutes if you're counting). That seems like plenty of time to me. And since we all choose what we do with that time, it seems more appropriate to say, "I chose to do other things with my time".

OK, now that I have your attention, may I make a suggestion? Start keeping track of what you really do with your time, and you may see why you aren't getting the most important things done, or maybe not accomplishing your goals. I have a worksheet you can download for *Free* from my website (click on this link) Time Worksheet.pdf that will help you track what your day really is like.

If you're faint of heart

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Eleven Habits Toward Success

Begin with the end in mind. You must know where you intend to go, before you set out on the road to success.

Set Goals. Write down everything you want and everything you want to achieve. Review the list daily.

Eliminate time wasters. Focus on the activities that will bring you what you want.

Be consistent. Do the things that bring you toward your goals on a regular scheduled basis. Practice your skills, do your marketing, make your sales calls or whatever brings you business each and every work day.

Pay attention. Really look at what you are doing and it's effectiveness. Measure your actions and the results.

Get feedback. Ask others for feedback about your actions, marketing, business cards and anything else you may want to improve. Set aside your fear and your ego, listen to the answers and make changes that feel appropriate.

Put in the good stuff. Read, watch and listen to positive, educational and uplifting material. Turn off the News, violent TV shows and avoid negative, low energy movies.

Stop making excuses. Eliminate the words "I can't", "I should" and "someday I'll" from your vocabulary. As one of my old coaches use to say, "Ready, Fire!, Aim".

Be a positive thinker. Focus on what you want, what's good in your life and what you appreciate. Skip the 'Victim' thinking. Earl Nightingale said "We become what we think about". Think about the good stuff.

Give freely. If you want to bring more abundance into your life, you must give more first. Provide more value for your clients, your company and your family. Hand it out in slices, it will come back in loaves.

Build your self esteem. The most important thing you can do for yourself is appreciate who you are. Love everything about who and what you are right now. Fill yourself up and you will have more than enough to give.

just try tracking one day. If you're really brave, try a whole week. Make sure to REALLY look at where you are spending your time. No more guessing, agreed?

Be sure to put down your TV time, commute time, long lunches as well as the activities that make you money and lead to your success such as marketing, face time or phone time with clients and prospects. Then rank your activities A, B, or C according to their importance.

Now, after you pick your jaw up off the floor, vow to never say "Oh, I didn't have time to do that" again. Instead replace it with "I choose what I do with my time and I am responsible for the results". So with all that extra time you have now, here is one suggestion that will make a huge change in your life.

Spend 30 minutes each day (about 2% of your time) reading books or listening to audio programs that enhance your self esteem, improve your business skills or develop more expertise in your field. In just one year you will have spent over 180 hours educating yourself! Now who says you don't have enough time?

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Thanks!

~ Steve O

What are You Doing with Your Time?

Turn it UP ñ to 11

Eleven Habits Toward Success