We live in a 24 / 7 world. We live in an instant world. We live in a world where some people live time zones way from where they work. We carry our computer and phone with us wherever we go. In fact, the first thing people say to a group these days is “please turn off your cell phone.”

Therefore, there are tremendous demands on our time. People will often say “I just don’t have enough time or if only I had more time.”

This need for speed and responsiveness has left few people or businesses untouched. Only a few short years ago, we were amazed with the speed of the microwave and today we are impatient that a computer may take 2 minutes to boot-up.

There is no shortage of unique time management planning systems to solve the time management problem. However, the question is can you really manage time and the answer is not really. You can only manage you. Do you need a system? Yes. You need a system that fits your needs and one that you will use.

Before selecting a system however you need to develop a strategy that works for you. Effective utilization of time is a skill, a mindset and a lifestyle. It can be learned by:

Ø Anyone who has a desire to get more out of their life

Ø Someone who wants to feel more in control

Ø A person who wants to achieve success in business

Ø Someone who wants to reduce stress and realize more balance in their lives

So if you want to have more control of your time then you need to commit to Change. Everyone knows that if we continue to do the same thing, we will continue to get the same result. So if you want to have more control of your time then you need to change.

There are 3 basic things you can do that will result in better utilization of your time:

v Do It Now - We normally do what we like first and avoid what

we do not like. We often do things at the last

minute that could have been done earlier.

Change that habit with scheduling the things we do

not like to do first. It will give you more time for

those that you like.

v Dump It - We may clutter our desks and life’s with things

that should be thrown away. Piles of paper and

magazines for instance that really either need

to be read now or just dumped. It will clear the

way to getting important things done.

v Delegate - We do too many things that others should be doing.

We do it because we can do it cheaper, faster and

better when in fact it would be better to delegate.

So in summary, the effective use of time begins with you and your willingness to change your habits. In the words of Paul Meyer “Time is usually wasted in the same way every day.”

If you want more information about Time Strategies contact Hank Sullivan at Strategic Solutions. hsullivan@stratsolutions.net

· Spend your time with optimistic, growing people.

· Become a reader. If you are not one already, this is an important source of learning and reflection. Many great books are available to inspire, guide, and instruct your improvement effort.

· Become a teacher. Give internal and external presentations on your area of expertise. Volunteer to present at the next professional conference you were just going to attend.

· Become a writer. Do you write in a journal for yourself? You can write articles for associations you belong to, your local paper, or internal newsletter.

· Become a speaker. I find that some of my best insights come from trying to articulate (or write) my thoughts.

· Become a listener. You can get hundreds of hours a year of education, inspiration, information, and instruction by listening. Try listening to audiotapes in your car.

· Become a student. Attend workshops, seminars, and training sessions. Take college courses.

· Keep your commitments. Call back when you promised (or before). Meet your deadlines. Show up on time. Under-promise and over-deliver.

· Put quotes, goals, reminders, and vision statements where you will see them throughout your day. Keep changing them and moving them around so you don’t start to look past them.

· Develop a personal improvement plan. Schedule time for personal and professional improvement as if your career depended on it. It does!

Finally, never give up. Leaders are people who show themselves and others that they set high goals and regardless of the obstacles will always work to achieve them. Here is an example of just such a person:

In 1831- He failed in business

In 1832- He was defeated for the Legislature

In 1833- He failed in a second business venture

In 1834- He was elected to the State Legislature

In 1840- He was defeated for elector

In 1838- He was defeated for Speaker of the Legislature

In 1844- He was defeated for a Congressional seat

In 1846- He was elected to Congress

In 1848-He was defeated for his Congressional Seat

In 1855- He was defeated in a run for Senate

In 1856- He ran for Vice President but did not win

In 1858- He ran again for the Senate and again lost

In 1860- Abraham Lincoln was elected President of the United States

Although Lincoln was a unique person , his life proves that setting ambitious goals and constantly striving for success are the attributes of good leaders.

•  Times are tough
•  The economy is bad
•  There is not enough time
•  Our prices are too high
•  We need more customers or prospects
•  Our competition has a better product

If we accepted those excuses for not achieving our business goals most businesses would go out of business and many do. To overcome this type of thinking we must stay focused on our goals and take action every day to achieve them.

When we stay focused on success we achieve the following:

• We change the way we look at things and the things we look at change
• We become aware of new possibilities
• We create new, different and more productive choices
• We create new and different life experiences
• We ask more questions and get more positive answers
• We create more opportunities to further sharpen our focus and improve the outcomes.

The importance of focus is that it provides you with your direction for success. It helps you remove the excuses and achieve at levels never attained before.

So how do you get that focus?

Ask yourself the following questions:

Ø      Am I doing what I need to do to be successful?

Ø      Am I asking for help when I need to?

Ø      Do I know what I am doing wrong?

Ø      Am I developing better habits personally and professionally?

Ø      Do I have a plan for success?

Ø      What is my real focus?

When you have the answers to these questions, then you can develop our focused plan for success.

Former Olympic Champion Bruce Jenner has this to say about focus “ To me, the definition of focus is knowing exactly where you want to be today, next week, next month, next year and then never deviating from your plan. Once you can see, touch and feel your objective, all you have to do is pull back and put all your strength behind it and you will hit your target every time.”

Hank Sullivan is a nationally certified business coach, author and speaker. His newest book is entitled “Speaking of Success”. If you need help in developing your focus contact him at hsullivan@stratsolutions.net or call 510-432-7596. 

A successful business coach helps you unlock your potential. Your coach is a person who makes you look deep into yourself and then you will take the action that will lead you down your path of achievement. In sports a good coach helps the players understand that the individual has to set high expectations for themselves and then practice-practice-practice. On game day it is all about the execution of the plays that have been practiced.

In the business world many people simply want to come to work each day and do their job. When they are not performing at the level they want, it is often blamed on some one else. A coach can help you look deeper for solutions that probably require introspection and change. You will probably , like the athlete, have to practice doing things differently to achieve a better result. A certified business coach is trained to listen to your issues and help you find the solutions .

Today’s business is sales-driven and today’s salesperson is a key link to success in business. One element that distinguishes profitable companies from non-profitable companies is their ability to better develop their salespeople. The result is salespeople who sell because they want to excel, and succeed because they understand why and how to utilize their knowledge. The Sales Development process not only makes sales development possible, but eminently profitable.

Key Areas:

Success in Sales

The Buying/Selling Process

Your Personal and Professional Growth

Prospecting Fundamentals

Planning Your Success Part I

Prospecting: Advanced Techniques

Communication Skills

Getting Appointments

Planning Your Success Part II

The Introduction

Gaining Favorable Attention

Discovering Wants and Needs

Building the Case for Action

Presenting Benefits and Consequences

Getting Commitment and Follow Up

Overcoming Obstacles for Continued Success in Sales