With some anticipation I was really looking forward to reading this book as I had heard of Mark Forster’s reputation in the time management world and because time management is something I have always been interested in.  I was looking for new information and wasn’t disappointed.

This book was published in 2000, in today’s world that seems like a long time.  Much of the world of work has changed considerably due to the advances and availability of post-modern technology.  Which if it were to be believed, should help us to be more efficient.  However I doubt if the word efficient is really on Marks mind when he wrote this book. Like the seminal work The Seven Habits Of Highly Effective People (1) the focus is on effectiveness, not efficiency. We can be highly efficient but completely in the wrong direction.

Mark focuses on effective time management outcomes such as maximising our enjoyment of work and leisure.  The good manager he says is decisive not impulsive. The key to this book and its main strength is that the author writes from his own experience.  He has tried and tested many of the other time management guru suggestions and basically found them wanting.

He doesn’t throw the baby out with the bath water however.  Rather he has adapted common time management techniques to his own style.  And in fact encourages the reader to do the same with his suggestions too.  He clearly practices what he preaches.  Only by dealing with resistance says Forster will his system and others will work.
 
Success he says is got by repeated, consistent, focused action with a bit of hard work thrown in. Do things in short bursts with frequent planned breaks. Add to that potent mixture automated systems to deal with the main culprate which is resistance, aversion, avoidance or the P words procrastination and perfectionism.  Something which according to Burka and Yuen affects 25% of US citizens. (2)

The system is based on project check lists, not to do lists (which he says are really for emergencies only), and deal with resistance by using his check system and halving technique (described on pages 120-3) to deal with free flowing activities, e.g. emails, phone calls, letter writing, projects and so forth. This allows a person to keep on track, taking small steps at a time whilst working in short bursts and taking frequent breaks.

He says we need to learn to allocate our work time and free time properly in order to maximise the available time and learn to cope with interruptions and emergencies.  One of the basic tenets is simply saying “No” to tasks until you can give the right time and attention to them. By simply removing added commitments, over time we focus on what we need to be working on much more effectively. We can also look at our current commitments and remove the ones that are no longer necessary.  This in itself will result in freeing valuable time and helping us remain more relaxed which is important for effective work.

One criticism I would have is that to do the tasks you must use a timer and stick to it rigidly, I think this might be were many people might fall down.  However, this is only for the initial stages, over time as you get more disciplined it is not as necessary to do. Another criticism is that there is no empirical evidence to back up a lot of his theories and principles on time management.  What works for him, may not work for you. I would also have liked to have seen a more updated version, mine was from the local library, with more diagrams and pictures, which tend to make it easier to read.  One positive thought here was that he did have useful summaries (action points) at the end of every chapter.

I found this book to be a very valuable, easily readable and simple steps that when applied would help most people.  I have personally applied several of his key principles and experienced increased enjoyment of what I am doing and the added confidence in completing task on time with less stress.

REFERENCES

(1) Covey, S.R. (1992) The Seven Habits Of Highly Effective People, London, Simon & Schuster
(2) Burka, J B. & Yuen, L M. (2008)  Procrastination: Why You Do It, What To Do About It Now, Cambridge, MA, USA, Perseus Books Group

Peace,

Gavin J Gowans

Generally I have found these very helpful especially if you are prone to procrastination, perfectionism or disapproving of yourself. I hope you find these as helpful as I have too.

1. Set Goals. Goals give your life, and the way you spend your time, direction. When asked the secret to amassing such a fortune, one of the famous Hunt brothers from Texas replied: “First you’ve got to decide what you want.” Set goals which are specific, measurable, realistic and achievable. Your optimum goals are those which cause you to “stretch” but not “break” as you strive for achievement. Goals can give creative people a much-needed sense of direction.

2. Prioritize. Use the 80-20 Rule originally stated by the Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto who noted that 80 percent of the reward comes from 20 percent of the effort. The trick to prioritizing is to isolate and identify that valuable 20 percent. Once identified, prioritize time to concentrate your work on those items with the greatest reward.

3. Use a To Do List. Some people thrive using a daily To Do List which they construct either the last thing the previous day or first thing in the morning. Such people may combine a To Do List with a calendar or schedule. Others prefer a “running” To Do List which is
continuously being updated. Or, you may prefer a combination of the two previously described To Do Lists. Whatever method works is best for you. Don’t be afraid to try a new system-you just might find one that works even better than your present one!

4. Be Flexible. Allow time for interruptions and distractions. Time management experts often suggest planning for just 50 percent or less of ones time. With only 50 percent of your time planned, you will have the flexibility to handle interruptions and the unplanned “emergency.” When you expect to be interrupted, schedule routine tasks. Save (or make) larger blocks of time for your priorities. When interrupted, ask yourself the question, “What is the most important thing I can be doing with my time right now?” to help you get back on track fast.

5. Consider Your Biological Prime Time. That’s the time of day when you are at your best. Are you a “morning person,” a “night owl,” or a late afternoon “whiz?” Knowing when your best time is and planning to use that time of day for your priorities (if possible) is effective time management.

6. Do The Right Thing Right. Noted management expert, Peter Drucker, says “doing the right thing is more important than doing things right” Doing the right thing is effectiveness; doing things right is efficiency. Focus first on effectiveness (identifying what is the right thing to do), then concentrate on efficiency (doing it right).

7. Eliminate the Urgent. Urgent tasks have short-term consequences while important tasks are those with long-term, goal-related implications. Work towards reducing the urgent things you must do so you’ll have time for your important priorities. Flagging or highlighting items on your To Do List or attaching a deadline to each item may help keep important items from becoming urgent emergencies.

8. Practice the Art of Intelligent Neglect. Eliminate from your life trivial tasks or those tasks which do not have long-term consequences for you. Can you delegate or eliminate any of your To Do List? Work on those tasks which you alone can do.

9. Let go of being a Perfectionist. In the Malaysian culture, only the gods are considered capable of producing anything perfect. Whenever something is made, a flaw is left on purpose so the gods will not be offended. Yes, some things need to be closer to perfect than others, but perfectionism, paying unnecessary attention to detail, can be a form of procrastination.

10. Procrastination. One technique to try is the “Swiss cheese” method. When you are avoiding something, break it into smaller tasks and do just one of the smaller tasks or set a tuner and work on the big task for just 15 minutes. By doing a little at a time, eventually you’ll reach a point where you’ll want to finish.

11. Learn to Say “NO” Such a small word-and so hard to say. Focusing on your goals my help. Blocking time for important, but often not scheduled, priorities such as family and friends can also help. But first you must be convinced that you and your priorities are important that seems to be the hardest part in learning to say “no.” Once convinced of their importance, saying “no” to the unimportant-life gets easier.

12. Give Yourself Approval. Even for small successes, celebrate achievement of goals. Doing so will help you maintain the necessary balance in life between work and play. If we learn to balance excellence in work with excellence in play, fun and relaxation, our lives become happier, healthier and a great deal more creative.

13. Strengthen Your Intention. Have an intention when you get up in the morning and during the day. This is very important to keeping yourself on track.

Peace,

Gavin J Gowans

 PS The above are drawn from a useful course called The Ultimate Time Management Course by Larry Crane  You will need to do the Abundance Course first though.  One caution I would make.  I personally have completed many of the Release Technique courses.  They are very effective, but personally the focus on becoming a millionaire in and of itself I  did not find helpful.  My preference would definitely be for the courses led by Hale Dwoskin and the Sedona Method.  Ultimately I think that our personal growth isn’t to get wealthy or anything else merely for itself.  It is about growing and of being of service to others.