First Things Last

Years ago clients would tell me they could not identify their priorities. Now I hear them saying 'I know what my priorities are?I just can't get to them'.

But effectively organizing yourself and managing your time takes an investment in time. Time to identify both long and short-term goals, time to set up workable systems and time to practice the processes these systems support. This investment leads to the actions that help us identify and remain focused on our priorities. But of course during this same time we experience increased workloads, unexpected deadlines, meetings, distractions and emergencies.

Master the basics
Setting up effective organizing systems is what gives us the tool to handle all the things we need to handle on a day-to-day basis. For many of us this is a formidable juggling act. But as master juggler Dan Thurmon says, "It is a pattern or system that allows us to handle more objects at the same time without dropping them."

Systems always have processes connected to them. But the processes, just like the systems, need to be refined on an ongoing basis because organizing is a dynamic state?not a static one. It means being clear on your goals and priorities and re-visiting them, if just mentally, several times a day.

Keep sight of your values
Values lie at the core of identifying both our goals and priorities. We make choices and decisions about our actions based on these two things. Choices that impact our professional and personal lives as we seek more balance and greater satisfaction. When we veer off the road from our goals and priorities, we essentially take a step backwards in achieving our hopes, dreams and aspirations.

Your organizing and time management system requires an investment in time. Remind yourself each chance you get about 'what matters most' in your life and take the next action step to getting there. Remember?thoughts lead to actions which develop to habits that develop character which determines destiny. If you are mindful. If you are conscious. If you live without hesitancy. You live your dreams. You live life.

Cynthia Kyriazis is an organizing and time management consultant, trainer, speaker, coach and author with over 20 years management experience in multi-unit corporations. Organize it, a division of Productivity Partners, Inc. is an organizational training firm she founded in 1995 and has been serving Fortune 500 clients ever since. Cynthia works with business and their employees to help improve performance and realize productivity gains.

Cynthia has appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer, Kansas City Star and the Legal Intelligencer. She currently serves as Secretary on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO), member of the National Speakers Association (NSA), member of the Kansas City of the International Society for Performance Improvement - (ISPI-KC) and consultant to the American Coaching Association.

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