Use
the "ABCDE Method" to organize your life --
and get things done!
By
Brian Tracy
Note from Derek: I'm really excited
to have Brian Tracy as this week's guest article writer.
Brian is a world-renowned author and speaker who teaches
people how to achieve higher levels of success by managing
their time and lives more effectively.
I'll be interviewing Brian about his proven time and
business management strategies on October 18th -- but
only Internet Entrepreneur Club members will be able
to listen in!
To learn how you can get a 30-day pass to my exclusive
members-only Club for only $2.95, go to:
www.internetentrepreneurclub.com/time-management-tips
Now here's Brian's article...
"The first law of success is concentration --
to bend all the energies to one point, and to
go directly to that point, looking neither to
the right nor to the left."
--William
Mathews
|
The more thought you invest in planning and setting
your priorities
before you start a major project,
the more important tasks you'll be able to accomplish
-- and the faster you'll get those tasks done.
And the more important the task is to you, the more
you'll be motivated to overcome procrastination and
launch yourself into the job.
The "ABCDE Method" is a powerful priority-setting
technique you can use every single day.
This technique is so simple and effective that it can,
all by itself, make you one of the most efficient and
effective people in your field.
Here's how it works...
1. Think on Paper
The power of this technique lies in its simplicity.
You start by creating a list of everything you have
to do for the coming day. Be sure to "think on
paper" -- you'll want to write everything down.
Once you've finished, place an A, B, C, D or E beside
each item on your list.
An
"A" task is defined as something
that is very important. This is something you MUST do.
It's a task for which there can be serious consequences
if you fail to do it, like visiting a key customer or
finishing a report for your boss that she needs for
an upcoming board meeting.
If you have more than one "A" task, you prioritize these
tasks by writing A-1, A-2, A-3, and so on in front of
each item. Your A-1 task is the most important and valuable
task you need to accomplish. In other words, it's your
TOP priority.
2. "Shoulds" versus "Musts"
A
"B" task is defined as something
you
should do -- but if you don't do it, there'll
be only mild consequences.
Someone may be unhappy or inconvenienced if you don't
do a "B" task, but it's nowhere as important
as an "A" task.
(For example, returning an unimportant telephone message
or reviewing your email would be a "B" task.)
You should never do a "B" task when there is an "A"
task left undone.
A
"C" task is defined as something
that would be
nice to do, but for which there
are no consequences at all, whether you do it or not.
"C" tasks include phoning a friend, having coffee or
lunch with a coworker, or completing some personal business
during work hours. This sort of activity has no effect
at all on your work life.
A
"D" task is defined as something
you can
delegate to someone else. You should
make a point of delegating
everything you can,
so you're able to free up more time for the "A" tasks
only you can do.
An
"E" task is defined as something
that you can
eliminate altogether and it won't
make any real difference.
This may be a task that was important at one time but
which is no longer relevant to yourself or anyone else.
Often an "E" task something you continue to
do out of habit or because you enjoy it. But every minute
you spend on an "E" task is time taken away from an
"A" or "B" task that can make a
real difference in your life.
After you have applied the "ABCDE Method"
to your list, you'll be completely organized -- and
ready to get your most important tasks done faster.
3. Take Action Immediately
The key to making this ABCDE Method work is to discipline
yourself to start your "A-1" task right away -- and
then stay at it until it is complete.
Use your willpower to get going and
stay going
on this one job. Don't forget, it's the most important
single task you could possibly be doing.
Your ability to analyze your list of tasks and determine
which is your "A-1" task is the springboard to higher
levels of accomplishment, as well as greater self-esteem,
self-respect and personal pride.
When you develop the habit of concentrating on your
"A-1" most important activity, you'll soon be getting
more done than any two or three people around you.
4. Review: Put your learning
into practice
- Review you work list right now and put an A, B,
C, D or E next to each task or activity.
- Select your A-1 job or project and begin on it
immediately. Discipline yourself to do nothing
else until this one job is complete.
- Practice this ABCDE Method every day and on every
work or project list -- before you begin
working on it -- for the next month. By that time,
you will have developed the habit of setting and
working on your highest priority tasks, and your
future will be assured!
Note: Special discount for IMC subscribers!
If you can't wait until my October 18th interview with
Brian to learn how you can master your life with his
proven philosophy of time management, I have good news!
You can get a $15 discount on his hugely popular 6-CD
audio program, "How to Master Your Time" by
using the coupon code "IMCTIME" at:
www.briantracy.com/master-your-time 
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