Time Management

Begin with the End in Mind

In ones life, the most effective way to begin with the end in mind is to develop a mission statement one that focuses what you want to be in terms of character and what you want to do in reference to contribution of achievements.

In order to write good mission statements, we must first begin at the very center of our Circle of influence, that center comprised of our most basic paradigms, the lens through which we see the world. Whatever is at the center of our life will be the source of our security, guidance, wisdom, and power.

Your mission statement becomes your constitution, the solid expression of your vision and values. It becomes the criterion by which you measure everything else in your life.

Some suggestions in creating a mission statement may be:

1. Write down your roles as you now see them. Are you satisfied with the mirror image of your life?
2. Start a collection of notes, quotes, and ideas you may want to use as resource material in writing your personal mission statement.
3. Identify a project you will be facing in the near future and apply the principle of mental creation. Write down the results you desire and what steps will lead you to those results.

Define Your Roles

We each have many different roles in our lives: student, sibling, employee, child, and many more.

Beginning with the end in mind is all about focusing on the important activities that exist in our different roles. But which roles are most important? Each role should have goals, but make sure that you don’t have too many roles. Stephen Covey states that you shouldn’t have more than seven roles, and having only three to five is preferable. Taking the time to understand each role and determining the goals to accomplish in each area better equips you to fulfill each role effectively. 

Fulfilling your role as an employee begins by asking yourself, “What is the most critical part of my role to the company?” If you’re in customer service, what activities produce long-term results for the company? If you’re an engineering intern, what activities produce the best quality, best cost, and easiest-to-produce unit designs? If you’re in manufacturing, what activities enhance your ability to do your job, and what functions of your job are critical to the company’s success?

Filter the vitally important priorities from distractions.​
Each role ties into your long-term goals. Each role has weekly/daily activities that you can perform to get you closer to the long-term goals.” Determine the major roles you have in your life – this helps you to sharpen your goals. 

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Access Priorities  

Although time seems to fly by, we all have the same 24 hours a day. So why is it that some people are able to accomplish so much more than the majority of the population? One possible explanation can be found in their skill to manage time more efficiently than others. But how is it possible to cope with the flood of tasks that all require our immediate attention? In a time where missing deadlines is not an option, the time management grid, developed by Stephen Covey, can help you to manage your available time more efficiently.

You will notice that the majority of your activities can be found within quadrant I and III. Experience shows that quadrant II is neglected by most people, especially in the area of their own personal development.
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• Accurately discern the important from the less and not important
• Clarify what success looks like in their current, most important roles in life
• Be able to balance work and life priorities
• Implement planning processes to identify, schedule, and execute on high impact activities

By sorting the tasks and responsibilities into the appropriate grid you will be able to quickly identify activities that need your immediate attention. Assign a value to all of the items on your to-do list.