For years I got out of bed and went about my day doing things. I had a list of things to accomplish, and that is pretty much how I went about my day. It was pretty much a whirlwind-filled day, or as some say—a rat race!
One day many years ago I woke up and thought: “What am I trying to do?”
I thought: “I have to slow down and get focused on what I am trying to do versus letting the world drive me to do a bunch of stuff that may not even be that important in the end.”
Most of what I used to focus on was a list of work. That work did not often enough include people and what they wanted and needed. I know now—more than I ever did—that unless you know clearly what you are trying to do you will not spend your time wisely.
Yes—you will get a lot of things done . . . but will they really contribute to what you are trying to do?
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I know that the main thing in my personal life I am trying to do is to maintain good health and a very strong relationship with my family.
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I know that in my professional life I am trying to build a strong healthy organization where individuals can accomplish whatever they are capable of.
Think about this. What are you trying to do for your children as you raise them? When they are born, think 18 years ahead.
I would submit that what you should be trying to do is to get them ready to be responsible, independent citizens who are honest, ethical, and highly responsible by the time they reach the age of 18.
When you know what you are trying to accomplish, you are able to make the right decisions every day. Some of those decisions and actions will be hard. Doing hard things makes life easier. Doing only easy things makes life harder.
In both of these parts of my life, at home and at work, I now know that what I am really trying to accomplish each day is to create a healthy environment where people are made to feel special, respected, treated as individuals, developed, involved, and listened to.
I know that if I can use my position and authority to create a healthy environment our entire organization and my family will be able to succeed in what they are trying to accomplish. Helping others get what they want is a pretty good feeling. I can tell you it is a lot better feeling than just getting what I want.
One of the big outcomes of creating a healthy culture and environment is that you help others have good self-esteem, and you help build their self-confidence, which are the two building blocks for future success in all parts of life.
One of the ways that I used my authority and position at Disney was to make sure that we had the organization structure organized properly. The second way was to make sure that we were creating great leaders at every level. The third way was to make sure that we were focused on training and development for everyone.
My new book TIME MANAGEMENT MAGIC does a great job of teaching everyone how to get more done every day and to move from surviving to thriving.
Remember that being committed to something and being interested in something are two different things. Begin with the end in mind.
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Visualize the future state of things. Visualize your health and how you want to feel at 60, 70, 80, and beyond.
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Visualize how you want your children to behave and be viewed by others at 10, 12, 16, 18, and beyond.
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Visualize how you want your relationships to be with those special people in your lives in 5, 10, 20 years, and beyond.
YOU are the person who has the most control over how all of what you are committed to will turn out.
FOCUS early on all things important to you if you want them to turn out the way you want them to a long time from now.
What should you really do today that won’t pay off for a long time? Exercise, Retirement Planning, Education?
THINK About This! . . . Time Management Magic…How To Get More Done Every Day will be available in hard back on January 1, 2015 wherever books are sold….Bulk copies in softback will be available November 25, 2014 at a great discount. Contact me if you are interested in details related to a bulk order for your organization…Lee
Email Lee@LeeCockerell.com
Phone 407-908-2118