Linda, ============================================ Customer service is always at the top of the list. Lack of planning on someone else's part isn't always at the top. Sometimes that's a hard call.. but the list helps. ============================================ Good point. I can recall thinking many times (about other real estate agents), why is your incompetence now my emergency? At the risk of going all woo-woo on you, I learned a tip a couple of weeks ago that has helped me. I make two to-do lists, one for me and one for the Universe. I give the Universe the big tasks that I can't really do much about. That does free my mind from some of the things that otherwise cloud it. I don't get to dictate when those tasks will be complete, but at least I can stop thinking about them. The real value in this thread for me is the concept of putting just six on the list. Maybe I'll make a master list and add things as I think of them. Then I'll pick the top six each day and follow this principle. Cheri

Linda and Cheri, Such good points! Why? I kept asking myself as I read both of your posts (twice), nodding my head all the time. Why? Because that's exactly what I think and believe. Linda first: ============= "Lack of planning on someone else's part isn't always at the top." ============= That is why the word URGENT!!!! was invented, and is now used SO much. Your attention and speed is required to cover for somebody else's lack of attention, care and foresight - not to mention... their laziness. Now Cheri: =============== "That does free my mind from some of the things that otherwise cloud it." =============== EXACTLY! Getting things out of your head and onto paper (see my previous post) will free your mind and energise you. You can also exorcise things that are bothering you. I had to do that just recently concerning an annoying matter. It helps. Regards Gary Simpson

Dear Time-Management Experts Linda and Gary, this includes you but doesn't exclude anyone else with an answer for me. OK, did what I said, started a Master To-Do list. Got more than a dozen tasks down immediately, and I'm sure more will come to me. To organize priorities, decided to divvy them up into sections, Business, Home, Health, Money, General and take one task from each section daily. There are actually three business sections, one each for my three major areas of income generation. Here's the dilemma. Some of the business tasks are multi-day or multi-week projects even if I chunk them down. How to get to important tasks in other sections, while staying true to the concept? I have some thoughts, but would value yours. I'll synthesize the best for my new time-management routine. Already very helpful, thanks. Cheri

How about something simple like breaking them down a little further into "short", "intermediate" and "long term" with each having it's priority? For example a long term goal (lets say a month for this purpose) is broken down into intermediate (or weekly) goals that are further broken down into short (daily) goals. The main aspect is that you have some way to measure the accomplishment of the overall long term goal, thus allowing you to adapt as necessary.

Hi Cheri, I don't know whether I could class myself as a time management expert. I am just able to get a lot done when I am focussed. It would seem to me from:- ============ " To organize priorities, decided to divvy them up into sections, Business, Home, Health, Money, General and take one task from each section daily. There are actually three business sections, one each for my three major areas of income generation." ============ :- that you are somewhat overwhelmed by the enormity of what you have to do. Can you delegate? Here's me mentioning "delegating" when I am not real flash at it myself! If you can trust and rely on somebody doing some of the other tasks then ask them. I think that dividing the tasks into various area is a good idea - a sort of a master list. In that regard it is like a "duty statement" for a job. That will keep you focussed. Could you have a key code or colour code so that all of the tasks are on the same list but easily identified as belonging to the specific areas that you identified? Then the list can be prioritised in order of importance but not lost on where each tasl belongs. Does that make sense? If not, I'll come back an explain it better. (I was gonna say use some epexegesis LOL!) This post is getting to long and I have another point to make so I'll come back. Incidentally, Winston has weighed in with some good points too. Gary Simpson