“Redeeming the TIME, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:16
It seems like the best-laid plans can go awry in a hurry! At least that is the way it is for me. I think I have my day planned out so perfectly and one little thing can throw a catawampus to the rest of the day! Grrr!
Then, what happens? I end up at the end of the day with hardly anything accomplished. Double grrr! Planning can make a big difference when executing your day. But, do you know what is even better? Prioritizing! Yep, that is right!
1It is said that in 1918 Charles Schwab, who was the president of the Bethlehem Steel Corporation, was one of the richest men in the world at that time. Even though he had great wealth, Mr. Schwab felt that his company could be even more productive. So, he consulted with Ivy Lee, who was a very successful businessman in his own rights.
Mr. Lee requested just 15 minutes with each one of Mr. Schwab’s executives. He laid out a plan for them to follow for 90 days. At the end of those 90 days, he told Mr. Schwab that he could pay him whatever his plan was worth. So, this is what each executive was instructed to do:
1. At the end of each workday, they were to write down the six most important things that they need to accomplish that following day. They were not to write down more than six things.
2. They were then to prioritize them in the order of importance.
3. When they came to work the next day, they were to focus only on the first task. They could not move to the second one until the first one was accomplished.
4. They then followed the list through in that same fashion. If they got to the end of the day and there were some items still left undone on the list, they were to move them to the next day.
5. They repeated this every working day.
How well did it go? Well, at the end of the 90 days, Mr. Schwab wrote Mr. Lee a check for $25,000 … in today’s market, that would be right at half a million dollars!! So, what do you think? Do you think that his plan was productive? Most definitely!
We each are given 24 hours in our day. How we spend those 24 hours can make or break us … not just financially either! Prioritizing our time is so important!
What six things would be on your list? Would God, spouse, children/family, job, self, friends, health, etc? What order of importance would you have them lined up in? You could even have sub-points under each one … I am a lover of baby steps! Some projects are just too overwhelming when left alone and not broken down. So, what do you say? Should we try it?