Follow these practical suggestions to get things done in your life.
We are bombarded with information and knowledge coming from everywhere, some of which is credible and useful while some is nonsense. At the end of the day, we are all trying to survive in these chaotic times. However, due to the current circumstances, the world is changing very fast, as is the business landscape, workplace environment and the skills required. In this period, most, if not all of us, have plenty of time that we can invest in, but with some sort of self-discipline and time management. There are some applications of time as well as the law of time that we have to understand and
master.
APPLICATIONS OF TIME
“The greatest wealth of all time is the time and
money you spent on yourself.”
Everything has its own law, so do the time.
Having said so, and because of the luxury of
time we have in-hand now, the right investment
can be made, but people are divided into the
following;
• Some will waste time on things that they
cannot control;
• Others will enjoy chit chatting in mindless
and useless discussions;
• Others will whine from home quarantine
and not go out to cafés;
• Many will watch the news or follow a TV
series; and
• Wise people will make the right investment
in themselves.
Therefore, regardless of whether we fall into
any of the above categories, we, eventually, all
need self-discipline. Self-discipline is defined
as the ability to make yourself do what you
should do when you should do it, regardless of
if you feel like it or not.
It is easy to do something when you feel like it.
It is when you do not feel like it and you force
yourself to do it anyway that you move your life
and career onto the fast track. What decisions
do you need to make today in order to start
moving toward the top of your field? Whatever
it is, either to get in or get out, make a decision
today and then get started.
The late Peter Drucker, father of modern
management, once said; “When the end of
the day rolls around, have you ever thought
to yourself, ‘Where did my time go today?’” If
so, do you often vow to handle your time
management better tomorrow?
Do you commit to do a better job of planning?
This single act alone can change the whole
direction of your life. Here are some steps
that you can follow to discipline yourself and
manage your valuable time.
1. Decide exactly what you want in each part
of your life. Become a “meaningful specific”
rather than a “wandering generality”;
2. Write it down, clearly and in detail. Always
think on paper. A goal that is not in writing
is not a goal at all. It is merely
. Set a deadline for your goal. A deadline
acts as a “forcing system” in your
subconscious mind. It motivates you to do
the things necessary to make your goal
come true. If it is a big enough goal, set
sub-deadlines as well. Do not leave this to
chance.
4. Make a list of everything that you can think
of, that you are going to have to do to
achieve your goal. When you think of new
tasks and activities, write them on your list
until your list is complete.
5. Organise your list into a plan. Decide what
you will have to do first and what you will
have to do second. Decide what is more
important and what is less important. Then
write out your plan on paper, the same way
you would develop a blueprint to build your
dream house
6. Take action. Do something. Do anything. Get
busy. Get going.
7. Do something every day that moves you in
the direction of your most important goal.
Develop the discipline of doing something
365 days, each year, that is moving, you
forward. You will be absolutely astonished at
how much you accomplish when you utilize
this formula in your life every single day.
Finally, invest in yourself and invest wisely.
PROF. DR M AMR SADIK is Chairman and CEO
of Quodrat Egypt. He is an HBR Advisory Council
Member, Adjunct Professor IPE Management
School, Paris, and of Middle East Programs for,
Victoria University, School of Management,
Switzerland.