Action Enforcer

Each day for a few weeks, I’ll give you a new tip on how to get more done with the same hours you already have.  Here’s the next tip:

Focus On One Thing At A Time

Think of driving in your car with the destination being the other side of town.

How much faster are you going to get there driving a straight road with your foot constantly on the gas as opposed to starting, stopping, changing directions, starting again, stopping again, changing directions, and so on?

If you take that straight road with your foot constantly on the gas, you’ll get to your destination at least 10-times faster than if you’re constantly starting, stopping, and changing directions.

Focus has the same effect on your life – it gets you to your destination or goal much faster when you practice it. Lose the ‘multitasking’ mindset of trying to do several things at once, and you’ll begin scratching things off your to-do list faster than ever!

Each day for a few weeks, I’ll give you a new tip on how to get more done with the same hours you already have.  Here’s the next tip:

Work As Disconnected As Possible

This means, turn off your phone (you can do it, I know you can), close your instant message program, and close your office door (use a Do Not Disturb sign if necessary).

You have got to get momentum on your side, because once you work in a state of ‘flow’, you’re able to take action much faster, with greater results.

When working, eliminate all distractions!

Each day for a few weeks, I’ll give you a new tip on how to get more done with the same hours you already have.  Here’s the next tip:

Take Control Of Your Inbox

A whole book could be written on the topic of managing email (there have been, many of them), but these would likely be the highlights:

Immediately answer any email that can be replied to quickly. Quickly means less than a couple minutes.

Keep your replies short when possible. Lose the ’small talk’ and get to the point (but maintain sincerity). As much as you don’t like writing lengthy emails, the person receiving one probably likes reading them a lot less.

Delete any emails you haven’t responded to after a month. Holding on to them does nothing but make you feel guilty every time you open your inbox. Guilt is an action-killer, so get rid of the old emails and get rid of the guilt!

Each day for a few weeks, I’ll give you a new tip on how to get more done with the same hours you already have.  Here’s the next tip:

Set Aside A Specific Block Of Time For Consuming Info On The Web

It’s time to end the wasting of hours upon hours of your valuable time mindlessly on stuff that really requires no more than 30 minutes each day.

I’m talking about everything on the Web that you do to consume information – reading emails, checking Facebook, Twitter and digg, reading blogs, the news – everything!

Give yourself 30 minutes to an hour each day to do nothing but enjoy it, take care of it, or however you look at it. But once you’ve used up your time, don’t go back to it at all until later in the day or evening, once you’ve accomplished a number of other tasks.

Keep these things in their place and quit letting them control your life!

Give up checking this stuff every 10 minutes. Not only is that a momentum-killer, but chances are, the rest of the world isn’t going to sit at a standstill waiting on your next Facebook update.