Let’s Make A Deal by Tamara Lowe

How to make sure you always come out a winner

Negotiation is a fact of life. To be successful you must remember that everything is negotiable. Many people find negotiation to be rather intimidating, thus shortchanging themselves, because they fail to engage in the process. Negotiating is viewed as a contest of wills in which power determines outcome, and the little guy doesn’t stand a chance. This may produce some short-term results – but it is a win-lose process. However, it does not have to be that way. Effective negotiation should result in meeting the needs of both sides while preserving the relationship.

Negotiating, in the fullest sense, involves the development of long-term relationships. Successful negotiations are based on respect, not hard-sell tactics. How we negotiate reflects our respect for the other party and our commitment to the life of that relationship. Good negotiators understand how to build key relationships, how to identify what others need, how to meet those needs and how to get what they want in return. Too often we receive bad advice about hard-core negotiating tactics, when in reality, those who are most successful at negotiating show a lot of style and grace under pressure – something their co-negotiators remember and appreciate.

In business, you’re often involved in one negotiation after another. We call it many different things–raising money, leasing space, selling, hiring, buying equipment–but regardless of the form negotiation takes, it is important to recognize the process for what it is. Otherwise you’ll miss opportunities to get better deals.

Try these principles to create win/win negotiations and improve the outcome of your next deal.

Be Prepared

Every negotiation requires preparation, planning, and practice–these can be the real keys to success. Do all necessary research, think of possible outcomes, rehearse what you will say and set goals. Have an agenda and stick to it as closely as possible. Always go into a negotiation well rested. Long negotiations can be exhausting, and the person with energy has the will to continue. Do everything in your power not to weaken your position by losing energy. Fatigue stops the positive thoughts necessary for good negotiations.

Know Your Bottom Line

Determine what you want before coming to the table. To get what you want, you’ve got to know what you want and be able to articulate your goals clearly. Before you sit down to negotiate, do yourself a huge favor. Make a wish list of what you must have, what you would like to have and what you can do without.

This is your road map, and it will give you more focus and power at the bargaining table.

Know Your Audience

Assess the person and people you’ll be negotiating with and adopt an appropriate communication style. Knowing the negotiation style of the person you are negotiating with can be critical to achieving a positive outcome for both. Know the authority of everyone involved in the negotiation. Make sure you know if you are negotiating with someone empowered to make the final decision.

Set Your Goals High Enough

No offer is too high provided you can present valid justifications that prove it meets the underlying needs of all parties. You can’t expect to make a deal without making concessions, so start high. The higher your aspirations are in the beginning, the more you will likely end up with at the closing of the negotiation. Ask for more than you expect, otherwise you may get less than you deserve.

Listen and Acknowledge

The role of a good negotiator is to listen to and understand what others are saying. As a listener, you are gathering information that is vital for understanding the needs and perspective of the other person. The better your understanding, the more flexibility and creativity you will have as you create options. After all, you can’t make an intelligent response to a need or objection you do not understand. It also shows respect and good intentions, and will make the other person feel valued. By listening and asking questions, you may discover a better deal than you ever thought was possible. One other benefit of listening is that the discipline to focus on other opinions can also give you the chance to reflect on the process and strategy, ultimately making you a more effective negotiator.

Avoid Emotions

Negotiation is just a game. However, it is a process that can deeply involve our egos and emotions. The more emotionally attached you become to a desired outcome, the harder you try to achieve it. Pretty soon you begin to lose perspective. It’s important to stay neutral. Separate the people from the issues to avoid personalizing them. Make sure each party understands the other’s perception of what is involved.

Be Prepared to Walk Away

Always be able to detach yourself from the situation and walk away. If you become too eager or desperate, it can be difficult to negotiate objectively. Control of the negotiation belongs to the party who is perceived to need the deal the least. When you care the least at the negotiating table, you have the most strength.

Negotiate in Good Faith

When you start negotiating, remind yourself that you want this agreement to work satisfactorily for everyone involved. It’s better to focus on how you can both win. The relationship that is established impacts the outcome of the negotiations. Always remember the needs of the other side throughout the process. Show compassion by listening for the real reason behind their objection or hesitation. Let them air their feelings, make comments, present objections and feel comfortable telling you whatever is on their minds. Then, and only then, will all parties come to the negotiating table in good faith.

Be Patient

Cultivate the use of a calculated hesitation. Once you make an offer, wait. The other party then has three choices – accept, reject or counteroffer. If you begin making concessions before they respond, you are doing their negotiating for them. All concessions teach the lesson that more concessions can be made on other issues. Hear them out on all their issues first. After that you can make concessions, but make sure your opponent takes some demands off the table as well.

Remember, there are no absolute rules in negotiation; every principle has an exception. The good news is that like anything else, negotiation gets easier as you do it. With practice, you will develop your own personal style and become comfortable with the process. Negotiating can be fun, empowering and enjoyable for both parties. It works only when all those involved feel as if they have won.

The Keys to Irresistible Public Speaking by Peter Lowe

Several decades ago there was a young man who knew instinctively the importance of public speaking to success in life. Unfortunately, he had none of the qualities that make a great orator. He stuttered, and spoke with a lisp. He flunked some of his high school courses, and never went to college. His first attempts at public speaking were embarrassments. He once was so nervous about a speech that he fainted! But what he lacked in natural ability he made up for in determination and careful study of the secrets of public speaking. His efforts paid off. His speeches rallied a nation to fight –and helped defeat –the seemingly invincible Nazi army. JFK said of him: “When his country had few and insufficient arms, he armed it with words.” Who was this great speaker? Winston Churchill.

Some years ago, a magazine polled Americans on their greatest fear. What do you think scares American adults the most? It’s not snakes, nor heights, nor flying, nor disease. The third greatest fear of Americans was “death.” Number two was cancer. The biggest fear of all was public speaking. I guess that shows that people would rather die alone than in front of an audience!

Don’t worry if you’re nervous before giving a speech. The great Roman orator Cicero had a reputation for suffering extreme nervousness prior to giving a speech. The great Jewish deliverer Moses was so frightened of public speaking that he didn’t want to be the leader of the Israelites, because he was afraid of speaking in front of Pharaoh’s court! So if you’re afraid of public speaking, you’re in good company. Take heart! Imagine how different the world would be if Churchill, or Cicero, or Moses had allowed their fear of public speaking to silence them!

Speaking with style is not as difficult as it seems. Most of us know intuitively what separates a good speech from a bad or boring one, but we don’t always know how to put that knowledge into practice. That’s why I’ve decided to share with you my top 9 keys to super speaking.

1. “Shake hands” with your audience

Make your first impression count. Whether it is fair or not, audiences make quick judgments about the credibility and authority of a speaker. Within the first 90 seconds of a presentation, the audience will have already formed opinions about both your speaking style and the content of your speech. Based on that first impression, they will either zero in or zone out. Your job is to make these quick judgments count in your favor.

When you begin your speech, do it with a bang! Begin with an attention- grabbing opener — perhaps a quote, or a joke, or an interesting story that will ignite interest in your topic. The introduction should be like a commando mission –dramatic and quickly executed.

2. Preview your speech

There is a simple formula for organizing a terrific speech: First, tell the audience what you’re going to tell them, then tell them, then tell them what you’ve told them. You can organize any speech using this framework.

3. Keep it simple

The foremost purpose of your presentation is not to impress or perform, but to communicate. Make your meaning clear and your message simple.

Keep your sentences short. Written reports tend to have long, windy sentences full of passive verbs and “bureaucratese.” These are hard enough to read, but they are awful to listen to and almost impossible to deliver to an audience.

Chop out deadwood. Preparing a speech should be like cooking a good stew –boil it down and serve only the meat.

4. Acquire “eloquence by osmosis”

How, you might ask, does one become eloquent by osmosis? Simple. Read the great speeches of history. Become familiar with the ancient statesman Pericles’funeral oration, the Sermon on the Mount, the great Presidential Inaugural addresses in American history, and the speeches of Winston Churchill, Franklin Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln, and Martin Luther King,Jr. Watch and listen to the speeches of modern-day orators. Observe how they grab the audience’s attention and establish a friendly rapport with their audience. Note how they organize their presentation clearly and simply, and stick to their main point. Analyze how they use simple language in creative ways to coin memorable and influential statements.

5. Be enthusiastic

Ignite the audience’s enthusiasm with your own. If you approach your speech convinced that your topic is boring, it will be. Everything you say and do will communicate your boredom — it will show in your voice, your face, and your demeanor. Just as predictably, your audience will be bored too. Get excited about your subject and your audience will also.

6. Be your own critic

Is your speech compelling? Is your delivery interesting? Be your own critic. Read your speech out loud. Does it contain words you stumble over? Is it full of tongue twisters? Is the meaning clear?

Ask a friend to videotape you as you practice. Take notes as you watch the videotape and judge yourself against the keys to super speaking: Do you convey enthusiasm? Does your introduction grab the audience’s attention? Write down your strengths and weaknesses as a speaker. This will help you know how to concentrate your practice session and accelerate your improvement.

7. Prove your point

Your goal as a speaker is not only to make your point, but to make it memorable. Winston Churchill once stated, “If you have an important point to make, don’t try to be subtle or clever. Use a pile driver. Hit the point once. Then come back and hit it again, Then hit it a third time–a tremendous whack.”

Approximately 70 percent of a speaker’s remarks are forgotten within one hour of the speech. A super speaker will take this into account when preparing a speech. To make the most important point stick, state it at least three times.

8. Tell a story

Enliven your message with anecdotes that emphasize your theme. Illustrations and stories are among the most effective ways of enabling an audience to understand and remember a speech.

To explain the concept of “redemption,” Jesus told the story of a reckless son who squandered his father’s money in carousing, then asked for his father’s forgiveness and was restored to his family. By using illustrations, Jesus explained complicated points of theology in a way his audience could understand and remember.

9. Be brief

Concentrate your speech on one central idea. If you try to say everything, your audience will remember nothing. President Franklin Roosevelt gave this advice about public speaking: “Be brief, be sincere, be seated.” Conclude your speech while the audience still wants to hear more.

Remember that great speakers are made, not born. Ralph Waldo Emerson stated, “all the great speakers were bad speakers first.” You have the potential and the knowledge to be a super public speaker! Put these keys into practice and you will excel as a public speaker.

How to Plan for Your Retirement By Peter Lowe

Planning for your retirement has never been more important. It is a simple truth that today’s workers will be forced to rely on their own retirement resources far more than previous generations. One study conducted for Oppenheimer Management found that almost half of all American households have no pension coverage whatsoever. At the same time, many companies are downsizing, forcing many workers into early retirement. In short, those who delay preparing for their retirement in hopes that their company will provide for them are standing on very shaky ground.

There is also the grim political reality that the future of Social Security is uncertain. Since the Social Security Trust Fund was first created in 1935, it has run at a surplus. Unfortunately, Social Security is projected to go bankrupt and start running at a deficit in the year 2011— right about the time the “Baby Boomers” start retiring. Social Security may be successfully reformed so as to operate well into the future but I am convinced that relying upon Social Security to provide for your future is both unwise and potentially disastrous.

Our free enterprise system provides both the freedom and incentive to participate in the generation of wealth. There have never been more retirement investment options than now. The information in this article will show you how to plan your retirement successfully. Your golden years should be… golden!

Step #1: Start Immediately

There is literally no time to lose. The more time you allow to plan, save and invest for your retirement, the more money you will acquire. For example, an eighteen-year-old who saves a mere one dollar a day until he is 65, and invests those savings at 15 percent interest will retire with a nest egg worth 2.65 million dollars!

If you wait until you are further along in years to begin planning for your retirement, you will have to significantly increase the amount you set aside each month. If you are further along in years and have not yet invested in your retirement, don’t be discouraged. If you missed your chance to start early, then start NOW. You should begin early, but no matter what your situation, you can begin immediately.

Step #2: Establish Clear Financial Goals

Consider what you want to do once you retire. Obviously, if you hope to globe-trot once you retire, you must plan for a larger nest egg than if you choose to work part-time into your seventies. The retirement life you choose will determine the way you prepare for your retirement.

Step #3: Make Money Management a Habit

Wise money management will not only help you prepare for retirement, it will help you in financing your children’s college education, caring for a relative with long-term disabilities, buying a house or starting a business. As the famous millionaire John Jacob Astor once declared, “Wealth is largely the result of habit.”

Make a habit of saving. A habit of regularly setting aside part of your income for your retirement is simple and even easy, yet most people never do it. Studies show that the typical 50-year-old has a net worth of only $2300! Habitually save at least 10 percent of your income. Consider this 10 percent of your salary the money you keep — for yourself and your family.

Avoid overspending

Government statistics show that every year, the average American spends almost 95 percent of what he earned. 95 percent! That leaves only 5 percent of one’s earnings for savings, investment, retirement planning, or charitable giving. Such short-term indulgence leads to long-term regret.

Reduce your debt load

The average American household has more than 4 credit cards, and carries a credit card balance in excess of $4000, with an average interest rate of around 18 percent! The total amount of debt owed by American consumers and businesses now tops $10 trillion dollars — more than twice the amount of the national debt owed by the federal government! There are certainly times when it is both wise and necessary to take out a loan — for instance, when you decide to buy a house or start a business, but in general, practice debt avoidance.

Step #4: Invest Wisely and Widely

You cannot merely save for your retirement; if you want to avoid a drastic reduction in your standard of living, you must invest for your retirement. Hoarding money is more likely to bring poverty than prosperity. Here are a few guidelines to put you on the path to wise investment.

Know your needs

Before you invest, you must take stock of your financial needs. How much money can you invest? How much risk are you willing to assume? What kinds of investments are you most comfortable with? Setting clear financial goals will help you answer most of these questions.

Learn before you leap

Always investigate before you invest. Take the time to research the performance, risks, long-term prospects and stability of any investment before committing your money. Don’t let anyone talk you into an investment that you’re not comfortable with.

Every investment brings risk, and often, an investment’s risk increases with its potential for wealth creation. Historically, investing in stocks has generated far greater returns in the long run than investing in government bonds and Treasury bills. Small-company stocks generally average a greater return than the stocks of large companies, although they carry greater risk and experience more price volatility.

Maximize capital appreciation

Ironically, one of the most common mistakes of retirement planners is that they are too conservative with their investments. The simple truth is, in order to keep up with inflation and the rising cost of living, your investment needs to make a good return. Savings accounts, money market accounts, even treasury bonds pay such a low rate of interest, that if you rely solely upon them for your retirement funds, much of the value of your savings will be eaten away by inflation.

Yet while you aim to maximize your investment return, you must balance the hopes for a high return with the desire for low risk. According to financial consultant Tod Barnhart, “One of the most important rules of investing is that capital preservation should always exceed capital appreciation.”

Diversify

The old expression “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket” is wise advice to the investor. One of the best ways to invest wisely is to invest widely. Diversifying among your investments will help to decrease your risk without sacrificing significant earnings potential.

Step #5: Think Long-Term

Get-rich-quick schemes are often quick routes to disaster. Preparing for your retirement is a marathon, not a sprint. There are many people who try to make up for years of inadequate retirement planning by aggressively gaming the market. It almost never works. Even the most seasoned Wall Street insiders often have difficulty predicting the ups and downs of the markets, and would be speculators who gamble with their money often lose.

Put the principles of retirement planning to work for you. The same steps that help you build a financially secure foundation for your golden years can also help you make wise financial decisions throughout your lifetime.

Do You See What I See? by Tamara Lowe

ACHIEVING EXTRAORDINARY RESULTS FROM ORDINARY PEOPLE

Throughout the years companies have adopted various management theories touted as the latest and best methods for managing and leading a workforce. Companies relied on these management tools to help identify strengths and weaknesses, gauge the competition and evaluate business and economic climates.

Eventually, managers began to question the effectiveness of these theories. There seemed to be an erosion of individual commitment, a loss of interest in change and an alarming growth of divisive internal politics. Above all, they began to notice a negative effect on what many believed to be the most valuable management philosophy and tool they had – vision.

Only an approach based on vision works over time. It inspires people to achieve only what they know they can achieve by concentrating on what is possible. To bring the vision to life, employees need to share the company’s vision, pull in the same direction and contribute fully in the company’s success. Building a shared vision gives a company an action plan, outlining where to go and how to get there. It also helps to measure achievements and accomplishments – are we furthering the vision?

The best way to create a shared vision is with input from your team. Getting people involved in the early stages of developing the company’s new vision creates strong ownership in the plan. By being a part of the beginning process and staying informed every step of the way, the team will feel in better control of their future.

Organizations need a framework around which everything else is constructed. This framework is the organization’s purpose. It provides its employees with the core values by which they interact. Building a shared vision enhances consistency in purpose and attainment of goals, both individual and organizational. A united vision is a clear, common, specific picture of the desired future state. Successful organizations must have a vision that touches the employees’ hearts and enables them to achieve the organizations’ goals. A common vision promotes bonding and a sense of collaboration between leaders and other members of the group.

Turning your vision into action is an ongoing process, not a one-time event. Utilizing “management by vision,” companies seek to create a community in which every member directs their actions toward these values and vision. To effectively build and grow this shared vision a leader must:

1. Formulate a clear vision which is aligned with the mission and values of the organization and captures the imagination of the workforce.

2. Describe the vision in simple language and regularly gauge understanding. 3.Translate the vision into measurable goals that stretch and challenge the leader and the team.

4.Demonstrate consistent personal commitment to the vision so as to secure the commitment of other team members.

5. Developing a vision is an exercise of both the head and the heart. It may take some time and involve a group of people. Conflicts and anxieties that can occur in vision creation often cause the process to end prematurely.

Using Vision to Create Change

All managers must not only accept change, but also welcome it and use it to achieve their goals. A change strategy without a direct link to a shared vision significantly increases the potential for failure. In a change process, a good vision clarifies the direction for change, motivates people to take action in that direction and helps make change fast and efficient.

Transformational change must be vision led. Change often requires people to venture into the unknown, stretching the organization beyond its current comprehension and capabilities. A successful change strategy requires a leader who is committed to making the vision a reality through involvement, teamwork and courage.Once performance expectations are established, leaders reinforce the behaviors and values necessary to reach the vision state. All elements in the transformation will prove insufficient without a leader who can guide the organization toward the shared vision.

Attributes of an Effective Shared Vision

An ineffective vision may be worse than no vision at all. Pursuit of a poorly developed vision can have catastrophic results. Leaders who are successful at building a shared vision will provide the business the greatest potential for success. An effective shared vision is:

Feasible

It shows a realistic picture of what the future will look like, with attainable goals.

Desirable

It appeals to the long-term interests of everyone who has a stake in the organization (employees, customers, shareholders, etc.).

Focused

It provides clear guidance in decision making processes.

Flexible

It is enough to allow alternate responses in changing conditions.

Communicable

It must be easy to communicate.

United

Eventually, everyone will be accountable for their contribution to the organization. Create a team that wants to build a shared vision together.

Leaders love to make strategy, but it is the shared vision and values that spawn strategic action. The absence of a vision will doom any strategy – especially a strategy for change. It is the most powerful tool you have for leading an organization.

Creating and integrating a shared vision is one of the most important tasks any organization can undertake. It requires you to assess your organization, your industry and your core values. A successful shared vision in your company is vital to achieving business excellence.

How to Find a Gold Mine of Prospects

Jump -start your business with these ideas for promoting yourself and getting more leads.

The gold prospectors of the California Gold Rush quickly learned one thing: those little nuggets could be very profitable, but it sure took a lot of hard work to find them. In the 21st Century, we’re still trying to find gold, but it’s in the form of prospects and not shiny stones.

So where do you find these elusive prospects? How do you get the word out that you have what they are looking for? Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Open Your Mouth

Nobody knows your product or service better than you do, so look for opportunities to tell people about it. If you don’t consider yourself a great communicator then start small. For example, ask your local library if you could give a small talk on a topic that would interest their patrons. If you’re a locksmith, speak on home security. There are lots of topics related to your service or product. Also, check out local civic or charitable groups. They usually have weekly or monthly meetings and frequently need speakers. You’ll become known as an expert in your field, and who wouldn’t want to buy from an expert?

Create a Booklet

Similar to the speaking idea, but even better if you absolutely can’t get up in front of a group or simply want to put something helpful into the hands of your prospects is a booklet. Make a list of tips or resources that the prospects can refer to. Of course, your company’s name, logo and contact information will be prominently displayed if they need to call an expert – you!

Use Your Website or Start Blogging

A company website is no longer the only option. Ask your vendors, business partners or anybody that has an appropriate related website to add a link to your homepage. You can also start a weblog, or “blog”, which is a journal about any topic you like. It’s great for communicating quickly with potential or current customers. Try http://www.wordpress.com or similar websites to get an easy start.

Shake Some Hands

Joining your local Chamber of Commerce is a great way to meet other businesspeople and develop a network of important contacts. For example, if one of their customers needs something they can’t supply but you can, it’s an easy referral.

Give Something Away

Everybody loves a freebie, so have a contest, a drawing or send a free gift. The information you get off of the entry card they trade you for the freebie will help start a mailing or e-mail contact list. But make sure you follow up on those leads soon after the event.

Use the Mail

Postcards are an inexpensive tool. You can find companies that will create a card, select an effective address list and mail it for you – all within your budget. Check your local phone directory, the Internet or ask someone. There are plenty of places to find those prospective gold nuggets. So keep your eyes open for those shiny sparkles that mean success to you and your business!

Organizing Your Life So You Can Live It

HOW TO BE MORE ORGANIZED, PRODUCTIVE & EFFECTIVE

Are you busy? Or are you productive? Do you have too much to do and not enough time? Do you feel stressed out because you’ve put in a long day, and still haven’t completed the important things? Are you running your business? Or is it running you?

The comment is heard frequently, “I don’t have time to organize.” We save paperwork because there are some great ideas we might need one of these days. But we never get to it, and the piles of paper continue to grow. We shuffle, search through and stress over it, yet we don’t take the time to stop and establish a system that works. Getting organized is vital because it cuts through confusion, promotes productivity and enhances effectiveness.

The truth is, it takes a lot less time and effort to be organized than it does to be disorganized. Disorganization takes more time than you can imagine and places huge obstacles in the path of getting things done. By becoming more organized you can complete more work in less time and with less effort.

The only prerequisite to getting organized is the desire and willingness to change. Instead of saying, “I don’t have time to organize,” start thinking just the opposite: “I will organize to have time.” Changing your thinking is the first step to getting organized. In fact, if you organize your thinking, becoming organized will follow naturally.

How Do I Start to Get Organized?

More productive and effective time on the job sounds great, but is your real problem simply disorganization? Perhaps you’re not sure where to begin. Or maybe you’re feeling overwhelmed. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

1. Visualize

In an environment plagued by chaos and haphazard schedules, you can feel too frazzled and unfocused to set and reach goals.If your head is filled with clutter,you can’t organize your thoughts. Imagine, for a moment, how wonderful life is going to be when your environment is clutter-free and organized. Focus on the desired outcome, not the effort. ‘

2. Get Started

What’s bothering you the most? This is usually the best place to begin. If you hate that pile of papers or mail in your inbox, start there. If you’re getting stressed because you can’t fit another item on your desk, then you’ve found the perfect starting point. The important thing is that you just start somewhere. Organize your environment by removing the small irritants that hinder your achievement. Rather than thinking about the huge project ahead, break that project down to little bite-sized,manageable pieces. Get it started. Take the first step, and you will likely continue it to completion.

3. Write It Down

Now it’s time to go beyond wishing and dreaming. For a few days write down each thing you do and how much time you spend on it. Once you’ve identified your main time wasters, create an ideal schedule. Assign time slots to tasks you do every day. You’ll be less likely to let one job expand at the expense of the others. Writing things down helps you to more easily remember all that you need to accomplish.

4. Do Daily Planning

It is said that people do not plan to fail, but a lot of people fail to plan. Take the time each night to manage one of your most precious resources: the next twenty-four hours. Write out a To Do list for the following day. Without a plan for the day you can easily get distracted, spending your time serving the loudest voice rather than attending to the most important things that will enhance your productivity. A schedule doesn’t close you in a box. When you plan well it allows you to prioritize with balance, be ready for the unexpected and choose what is most important to produce the results you want.

5. Avoid Distractions

Work on only one item at a time. Remove all other projects from your desk to avoid distractions. Time is lost sorting through other items while you’re working on one.

6. Clear the Clutter

We all need to cut back, cut out and cut down. The vast majority of us simply have too much stuff. When you bring something new into the office try to eliminate something else. Give away old computers, furniture and equipment to young businesses in the area, your local schools or not-for-profit organizations. Donating will discourage hoarding and provide you with the satisfaction of knowing you have helped others.

7. Reward Yourself

Make something you want or love to do dependent on the completion of a specific task. If you promise yourself that you will not watch your favorite television show tonight unless you work for 15 minutes on organizing your projects, you’re sure to get that small task finished. No cheating allowed. A little extra motivation is often an enormous help!

8. Maintain Balance

Your life consists of Seven Vital Areas: Health, Family, Financial, Intellectual, Social, Professional and Spiritual. You spend different amounts of time in each area every day. But if you are spending a sufficient quantity and quality of time in each area, then your life will be balanced. Ignore one or more of these areas, and you will get out of balance. Fail to spend time now on your health, and you may develop an illness later on. Ignore your family, and it may cost you a lot of time to repair relationships in the future.

The Top Ten Time Wasters

According to a Priority Management Systems survey

1. Shifting priorities

2. Telephone interruptions

3. Lack of direction/objectives

4. Attempting too much

5. Drop-in visitors

6. Ineffective delegation

7. Cluttered desk/losing things

8. Procrastination/lack of self-discipline

9. Inability to say “no”

10. Meetings

If you can recapture a wasted hour here and there and redirect it to a more productive use, you can make great increases in your daily productivity.

Without organizational skills you waste time. With limited time you find it difficult to get organized. This is the vicious circle that robs talented people of the life they want. People who are organized are getting the very best out of life. They are getting things done. They’re achieving their goals. They’re finding the time they need to do the things they love and to spend time with the people they care about. As you put these organizational tips into practice you will become more productive and effective in all you do.