Time Management/Organization

Category Archives: Time Management/Organization

Gary Vaynerchuk VS Tim Ferriss

Posted by Grant on October 28, 2009 – 7:17 am

Filed under Books, Thinking Out Loud..., Time Management/Organization

I read a lot of books and two of my favorite business books are Crush It by Gary Vaynerchuk and The Four-Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss. While they both talk about business and being successful, they also talk about (to steal a phrase from Tim Ferriss): “Lifestyle Design.” They talk about what you want your life to look like and shaping how you personally define success. But the interesting thing to me is these are two completely opposite books.

In The Four-Hour Work Week, Ferriss is advocating working less and enjoying life more (as the title might indicate). He’s not promoting laziness but rather stating that life is too short to work and work and work and fall over and die one day.

Crush It is just the opposite. Gary states multiple times that in order to crush it, you better expect to outwork your competition and do whatever you need to do to make your goals happen. For him, that means working 18 hour days everyday.

(On a side note, ironically, although these are polar opposites of one another, Tim Ferriss has an endorsement quote on the cover of Gary’s book Crush It!)

As I read each of these I found myself drawn to thoughts from both. I agree with Gary that success comes from hard work. Period! But I have no desire to work 18 hour days. I also agree with Tim that I would rather enjoy my life than just work constantly, but if I just worked four hours (although again, that’s not necessarily what he’s teaching), I would be bored and go crazy.

The point is that each one of us have to decide what success looks like for ourselves. For you it may be working 18 hours a day and being the best in the world at what you do. For you it may be traveling the world gathering experiences. For you it may be quality time with your friends, family, or significant other. For you it may be a big bank account or owning a fancy car. Everyone is different, but you have to define what success looks like for you.

For me…I love what I do. I love being my own boss. I love working hard and making things happen. I love having freedom and flexibility. And although you could argue that the more you work, the more you earn, I love my family more. I love my wife. I love my daughters. I love my life. So working 18 hours a day has zero appeal to me. But working 4 hours a week also does nothing for me. I have to find a healthy balance between doing what I love and am passionate about and also being committed to experiencing life with those I love most.

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Do You Really Not Have The Ability To Be On Time?

Posted by Grant on August 26, 2009 – 8:00 am

Filed under Thinking Out Loud..., Time Management/Organization

People showing up consistently late is a huge pet peeve of mine. Don’t get me wrong, I completely understand that occasionally, something legitimately random happens and you’re 5 minutes late. I get that. I’ve even been guilty of it from time to time.

But it’s the people (and we all know people like this) who are late to EVERYTHING. Before long, you start telling them to be somewhere 15-30 minutes (or more) ahead of when you actually need them there, so by default, they will show up “on time”.

When you can’t show up on time, it shows a complete lack of respect for the other person (or people) who do show up on time. You come across as irresponsible and in some cases even lazy.

You’re an adult for crying out loud! You own a clock…you know what time you’re supposed to be there…you know how long it takes you to get from point A to point B…you know how long it takes you to get ready. What else do you need from the outside world so that you can be responsible enough to do what you said you would do?

Whether you’re a teenager or an adult, learn to be on time. Better yet, be early. It shows people that their time is valuable and you respect them.

I’m not trying to be a jerk, but just trying to figure out how some people can be so irresponsible. Thanks for letting me vent.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got an appointment to get to, and I plan on being there on time early.

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Halftime: How To Get Back On Track For The Rest Of 2009

Posted by Grant on July 6, 2009 – 5:43 am

Filed under Thinking Out Loud..., Time Management/Organization

Give or take a few days, we’re about halfway through the year right now. Pretty crazy how fast it flies by, huh?

So now is as good of a time as any to evaluate how things are going for you, where you’re at, and where you’re going.

If you’ve ever played sports, you know halftime is that opportunity to figure out what worked in the first half and improve on what didn’t work. You have the same opportunity with your life in 2009.

Regardless of whether you’re doing well or have fallen off the wagon, here are some key questions to get you on track for the second half of 2009…

What’s Working? – Hopefully you’ve been doing something right so far in 2009! Not only are you looking for areas to improve in, but you also need some “atta-boys” of where you’ve been successful. What are the areas in your life that you’ve really been solid in?

What Do I Want To Accomplish By December 31? – Goals don’t just magically happen. You have to be proactive in working towards accomplishing them. If you know what you want your life to look like on December 31 of this year, you can work backwards to figure out how to accomplish it.

What Regrets Do I Have? – Great leaders (and smart people in general) learn from their mistakes. Regrets can either be mistakes of things you did that you wish you hadn’t done, or things you didn’t do that you wish you had done. Live with none of the above.

What Do I Do For Fun? – Life is too short just to go and go and go and then fall over and die. What gives you life? Besides breathing. What hobbies or passions do you have that give you energy?

What Matters Most To Me? – How can you set any goals or make any adjustments in your life if you don’t know what matters most? Write down your top 3 priorities and adjust how your time is spent according to these items.

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10 Time Management Tips For Teens

Posted by Grant on June 25, 2009 – 7:55 am

Filed under Students, Time Management/Organization

First of all, just try saying that title as fast you can repeatedly.

If you are doing that right now, then you really need this post to help you with your time!

Yesterday, I was interviewed by a writer who was working on an article for a national magazine about helping students better manage their time. We talked about a lot of different thoughts and ideas, but I thought I would share with you 10 tips to get you going with time management…

Learn To Say No – Most of us are people pleasers who hate disappointing others. So we say “yes” more than we should and end up taking on more than we can handle. What’s one thing you need to say ‘NO’ to this week
You Can’t Be Liked By Everybody – If you start saying “no” to invites, requests, or opportunities, people may initially be offended. Realize in your mind you’re going to let others down (this guy is not very motivational!). Is it more important to be liked or respected?
Have An Outlet – In your car, you’ve got a gauge that goes from an ‘F’ to an ‘E’. When it gets to an ‘E’, you go refill, recharge, and reconnect so you can continue on your journey. What do you like to do for fun that gives you life?
Keep Track Of Your Time – Have you ever noticed that it’s possible to be really, really busy and yet really, really unproductive? For one week, write down what you do every single minute of the day and evaluate where your time is really going. Are you really as busy as you think you are?
You Can’t Have It All – You can’t be quarterback of the football team, student body president, captain of the chess club, have a 4.0 GPA, be manager at McDonald’s, get into Harvard, and be xbox champion of the world. What do you need to sacrifice?
Determine What Matters Most – Until you answer the question of what matters most to you, then everything is important and nothing is important. How do you know what to say ‘no’ to and what to say ‘yes’ to? What matters most to you?
You Have A Capacity – You only have 24 hours in a day, 7 days a week. You have a capacity. You have limits. You can’t do it all. Stop trying. What areas of your life are you trying to do too much?
You Must Have Margin – Have you noticed that they make the lanes a little bit wider than your car? Why? Because they’ve seen how some of you drive! You need that margin. You need that space in life that gives you some breathing room. Do you have any margin in your life right now?
Have A System For You – Where do you keep your schedule? Your to-do list? Reminder notes? You can use some type of technology such as a Smartphone, PDA, or Google tools. Or you may just use good old fashioned paper and pen. Just do what works for you. What tools are you using to organize your life?
Be Proactive – Having a balanced life doesn’t just naturally happen. It’s something you have to work at on a regular basis. Take ownership for your life and pick out a few of these tips you can implement starting today. What changes are you going to make in your life to better manage your time?

YOUR TURN: What other time management tips do you have for students?

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I Know I Should But…

Posted by Grant on May 26, 2009 – 5:50 am

Filed under Time Management/Organization

How many times have we all said that before?

We say it when it comes to exercise, taking care of our finances, reading more, working less, spending time with our families, or taking time off.

I know I should do those things but…

What excuses are you coming up with for why you’re not doing what you know you should?

For a lot of us, it comes down to one of two things: time or money.

We never seem to have enough of either, but both will be spent on what matters most to us. Show me your bank statement or your day planner, and I can tell you what’s important to you.

The question though is are you spending some of your time or money on things that really don’t matter? I guarantee that you are.

Don’t worry, I know I am too. We all are.

So what are you going to cut out of your life in order eliminate the excuses for those things that…you know you should do but…

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Take Time For “Nothing” This Weekend

Posted by Grant on May 20, 2009 – 6:14 am

Filed under Family, Personal, Time Management/Organization

I spoke last weekend at North Point and talked about the importance of “Pausing” in life.

For most people, you have a 3-day holiday weekend coming up, and it’s a great opportunity to pause in life. Memorial Day weekend is kind of the natural transition time into the summer, which I’m sure we’re all excited about.

We talked about the idea of scheduling times of “nothing” into your life. Schedule your personal time like you would any other appointment on your calendar. And then guard it religiously.

Take time to do something fun this weekend. Go for a walk. Fly a kite. Come admire the fence I built.

We all live busy, hectic lives, so we need time to recharge the batteries. This is the perfect weekend to do that.

Get your work done by Friday. It’ll still be there on Tuesday when you come back. Pause and enjoy the weekend.

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Go One Week Without…

Posted by Grant on April 17, 2009 – 7:24 pm

Filed under Thinking Out Loud..., Time Management/Organization

Most of us could probably categorize ourselves as being busy. We have a lot going on and rarely slow down.

One simple concept I’m continually reminded of is that of capacity. We all have limits and boundaries to what we’re able to accomplish with our days and with our lives (not to be confused with “days of our lives”!). We’re very good at adding more and more to our lives but have difficulty when it comes to subtracting.

So that’s what I want to challenge you to do.

Subtract something. Not permanently (and least not yet). Just for 1 week…7 days…168 hours. Nothing major.

What would you be willing to subtract for 1 week? Could you go one week without…

Television
Mirrors
Internet or Email
Talking
Spending Money
McGriddles from McDonalds

What could you subtract for 1 week?

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How To Create Irresponsible People

Posted by Grant on March 17, 2009 – 4:12 am

Filed under Thinking Out Loud..., Time Management/Organization

So how do you create irresponsible people? Very simple…

Push back the deadline to accommodate their laziness.

The reason I say that is because I’ve seen some situations lately where this principle is true.

In school, students will find out on Day 1 that there is a major project due in 3 months, and yet they will still wait till the last minute to get it done and then complain when they don’t have enough time to complete it. They know if they gripe enough, the teacher will probably move the deadline and give them an extension.

Recently, it was announced that the switch to digital TV would be postponed for another few months. There have been commercials and announcements about this change for as long as I can remember and people still aren’t ready? So what does the government do? Push back the deadline.

On April 15 this year, your taxes will be due. And yet a lot of people will still file for an extension. But guess what? Your taxes were due last year on April 15. And they will be due next year on April 15. The IRS doesn’t move the date, so it shouldn’t be a shock each year when April 15 arrives. And yet people still need more time.

So how do you create responsible people? When people have a deadline, hold them accountable to it.

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Why You Should Reevaluate Everything…

Posted by Grant on February 18, 2009 – 2:23 am

Filed under Money & Finances, Thinking Out Loud..., Time Management/Organization

From time to time, we all find ourselves stuck in ruts and routines, going through the motions of life.

But every so often, it’s good to take a step back and reevaluate everything. Think about this in the context of your finances.

By asking yourself some evaluating questions, you may find yourself making more money, spending less money, and saving more of your income.

As it relates to your personal finances, ask yourself some of these type of questions…

Why do you bank there? Could you get a better interest rate somewhere else?

How do you manage your finances? Is there a better way to do it?

Why do you pay your bills by mailing a check? Couldn’t you use online bill pay?

Why do you still pay for that service you don’t use? (i.e. gym membership, home phone, security system, etc)

Could you save $20 a week by clipping coupons?

Why do you have to work Monday through Friday from 9-5? Would your boss let you work later each day if you got Friday off every week?

Why do you work from an office? Could you be more productive at Starbucks, the library, or even at home?

Could you account for how every dollar is spent every month?

Do you deserve a raise? If so, why haven’t you asked for one?

Why do you drive that car? Is there a less expensive, better option out there for you?

Why do you live in that house/apartment? Again, are there better options for you? Closer to work, more within your budget?

Why do you shop at that store? Can you get the same thing cheaper elsewhere?

We all have areas in our lives that we need to improve on, but improvement will never happen if we don’t stop and challenge the status quo. Take this concept of evaluating your finances and ask similar questions in other areas of your life.

What are other evaluating questions about personal finances that someone should ask?

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How To Organize Blogs With An RSS Reader…

Posted by Grant on February 4, 2009 – 3:57 am

Filed under Blogs, Time Management/Organization

Writing, reading, and following blogs has quickly become one of the best ways to get information and content not only from the internet, but through all forms of media.

Blogs give everyone the opportunity to be an expert, and we all have the chance to display that expertise to a virtual audience on the world wide web.

So first of all, if you’re not reading blogs, you’re really missing out on some valuable content that may exist for your industry or your interests. But for the sake of today’s post, I’m going to assume you already know what a blog is and that you keep tabs on a handful of the ones that exist out there.

You’re probably finding that going back to those sites on a regular basis, just to see if they have any new posts can get a little old and tedious. So I want to walk you through how to organize your blogs with an RSS Reader.

A what? (Is that similar to a bird feeder?)

RSS stands for “Really Simple Syndication” and is a way to gather new content from blogs or other websites without having to continue checking that site for updates. You’ve probably seen the symbol at the top of this post before which is the RSS logo. If you see this on a website, it is telling you…”if you want to know when we add anything new to this site, we can keep you updated so you don’t have to keep coming here.”

That’s my interpretation of course.

In order to do that, you need some kind of RSS Reader, of which there are several. I just converted to Google Reader from Bloglines, but there are also sites like Yahoo, AOL, MSN, or NewsGator.

Once you set up an account with one of these services (all free), you can go around to the blogs that you’re interested in (such as this one – wink, wink), click the RSS logo and add the blog feed into your RSS reader. Then instead of going to each individual blog on a daily basis, you go to one site (your RSS Reader) which will automatically collect anything new and have it ready for you to read.

One of the cool things about RSS is more and more types of websites provide an RSS feed, so you can keep up on updates as they happen. For example, my wife and I have a little field trip to Maui coming up, so we’ve been on the look out for bargains and deals for while we’re out there. I have an RSS feed on Craiglist-Maui-Tickets, so that any time anyone posts anything new in that category, I know about it immediately.

So what do you need to do now? Follow these 3 simple steps…

Set up a free account with an RSS Reader (I recommend Google Reader)
Add the links/feeds of your favorite blogs and websites to your Reader.

3. Add in Grant Baldwin’s Blog. At the top of the right column, you can subscribe to this blog with one click or you can receive email updates for the blog (sorry I couldn’t help myself).

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