Dave Sherwin’s Time Management Secrets (Or Escaping To-Do List Hell)

Posted by scottywilson

Check out this excellent material from my mentor Dave Sherwin from
http://www.escapethematrix.net/blog

As a student of time management, I have picked up some nuggets I want to share that hopefully will benefit you as much as they have helped me. Following are some killer tips and thoughts, in order of importance, that can help anybody become much more effective.

Steven R. Covey. Before tackling your to do list, be sure you have identified your mission, your most important roles, and the goals that flow naturally out of your mission and roles. It doesn’t do any good to check off a to do that isn’t helping your over all life purpose.

Roger Merrill: Don’t let the Good be the enemy of the Best. Once you have a clear mission and goals and then identify the things you actually have to do, understanding you can’t possibly get everything done. Eliminate all those things that are simply “good,” and only keep those items that are the best.

Brian Tracy: Everything takes at least an hour. When you plan your day, don’t kid yourself. Each item will take longer than you think. Schedule at least an hour for each task.

Roger Merrill: Face the fact that you are on somebody else’s schedule too. Somebody is going to call, e-mail, or visit you. Your family needs your time. Don’t fill every slot on your planner with your own stuff, or you exclude others from your life by default. How many relationships have been damaged because mom or dad was “too busy” and focused when a distraught child really needed some loving attention?

Timothy Ferriss: You can only accomplish ONE really important thing per day, maybe two. And luckily, if you only accomplish one essential, mission critical item per day, you can have tremendous success over time. So only schedule that one thing, then accomplish smaller tasks after that is completely done.

Timothy Ferriss: Only check your e-mail box twice a day at worst, once a day is better, once a week is ideal. Think that’s not possible? Try just checking your e-mail once per day for a week and see how much more effective you’ll be. You’ll never go back!

Jeff Olson: The “Slight Edge” dictates that small, simple things done consistently and persistently ensure success over time. Put time on your side by being consistent and committed to the slight edge habits that your life requires.

Steven R. Covey: A ringing phone is not an emergency. Answering machines are a great thing, let them do their job.

And finally, here are some great questions to ask about your to do list:

1. What would happen if I didn’t do this? If the answer is nothing, don’t do it.
2. Can somebody else do it? If yes, delegate.
3. Does it have to be done now? Can/ should this be done later?
4. When is the best time of day to do this? This is a great question. Often, just doing things in the right order makes you more effective.
5. Business decisions: What’s the R.O.I. on this? (Return on investment). It’s amazing how much time you can spend on low R.O.I. projects while your real business gems get ignored.

And the last point I want to make is from Jim Rohn, who said, “Work harder on yourself than you do on your business.” To me that simply means that Personal Development time is the most important “to do” of them all, and I either start or end my day filling my head and spirit with great thoughts and inspiration, and that has become the best “to do” of all.

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