Career and Work
Why do we work? Is it to buy "stuff" so we can keep working to pay for the
"stuff" we already have? Or is it simply because society and our families expect us
to go to school, get an education, get a job and become self supporting? Are you
doing work you love to do, or are you merely "doing your time" slogging away to
pay the bills?
Statistics indicate that more than 90 percent of the workforce is unhappy with
their jobs, so the chances are good that you may not be happy with yours either.
Many studies support the notion that most of us inherently want to do worthwhile
work and make a positive contribution to the world. However, we can only
contribute to others when we feel alive, positive, empowered and passionate
ourselves. Does your job empower you? Does your job reflect your passion and
fire you up for the day? Do you consider your "day job" to be your life's work? If
money, the scarcity of jobs, or other circumstances were not determining factors,
what would you be doing? There is no limit to what you can do when your work is
an expression of your true talents, skills, passion and purpose.
"stuff" we already have? Or is it simply because society and our families expect us
to go to school, get an education, get a job and become self supporting? Are you
doing work you love to do, or are you merely "doing your time" slogging away to
pay the bills?
Statistics indicate that more than 90 percent of the workforce is unhappy with
their jobs, so the chances are good that you may not be happy with yours either.
Many studies support the notion that most of us inherently want to do worthwhile
work and make a positive contribution to the world. However, we can only
contribute to others when we feel alive, positive, empowered and passionate
ourselves. Does your job empower you? Does your job reflect your passion and
fire you up for the day? Do you consider your "day job" to be your life's work? If
money, the scarcity of jobs, or other circumstances were not determining factors,
what would you be doing? There is no limit to what you can do when your work is
an expression of your true talents, skills, passion and purpose.
"While many people derive great pleasure from
their professional accomplishments, few can
rely on work alone to provide complete
fulfillment. By extension, this means that you
may never be fully satisfied with your
professional career if you've sacrificed
everything else to support it." ~ Katz and Liu
their professional accomplishments, few can
rely on work alone to provide complete
fulfillment. By extension, this means that you
may never be fully satisfied with your
professional career if you've sacrificed
everything else to support it." ~ Katz and Liu
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Top 10 Tips for Managing Your Time Effectively
By
Shirley Taylor
We all hear the old saying that we should 'work smarter, not harder', but how many of us actually abide by this?
It's easier said than done, isn't it? Experts actually say the key to working smart is to be more effective, not
necessarily more efficient. Efficiency is doing the job right. Effectiveness, on the other hand, is doing the right
job! Think about that! Here are my ten top tips for managing your time more effectively:
1. Figure out when you are at your peak
I know I work better from 9am to noon, so that's when I try to do my most important tasks. Figure out when
you are at your prime and plan carefully around this.
2. Turn off your e-mail notifier
Do you really need the pop-up or 'ding' every few minutes? Try turning off your e-mail notifier when you need to
concentrate on an important project, then you really can focus.
3. Expect the unexpected
Block out some planning time. Everyone needs some time for thinking, so try to build in some flexibility into your
daily routines.
4. Say NO occasionally
Sometimes we may have to be assertive and say 'no' if something is not urgent or a priority. Saying no
courteously may be seen as a strength rather than a weakness.
5. Set priorities
Categorize tasks according to priority, for example: 1 = The task is urgent and important 2 = It's important but
not urgent 3 = It's urgent but not important 4 = Its not urgent and not important
6. Stay focused in meetings
How many meetings have you attended where people go off at tangents? It helps to be clear about the agenda
before meetings, and make sure everyone knows what the objectives are. This will help you stay focused and
keep the discussion heading in the right direction.
7. Clear out your clutter
I know I can't work effectively if my desk is a mess with lots of paperwork everywhere. So once in a while I have a
good clearing and sorting session, and I clear out the clutter on my desk, trays, drawers and files. It's amazing
how much better I always feel once the clutter is gone!
8. Remember to take a break
We all tend to make more mistakes when we are tired or stressed, so learn to recognize the symptoms when you
are flagging and take a break from your work. Yes Mom, I hear you... this is something I'm not so good at!
9. Don't procrastinate
Tackle what's right now in the present and don't let procrastination get in the way. It's amazing how great it feels
when you can tick off those items on your to-do list!
10. Adopt a positive attitude
Keep your mindset positive. See solutions instead of problems. See positives instead of negatives. Do your tasks
with a happy heart, and smile!
Shirley Taylor is a popular trainer and author of many successful books on communication and business writing skills. Shirley lives in
Singapore and conducts popular workshops on business writing, communication skills and e-mail writing. Visit
http://www.shirleytaylortraining.com and receive five complimentary special reports in the Seven Steps to Success series.
By
Shirley Taylor
We all hear the old saying that we should 'work smarter, not harder', but how many of us actually abide by this?
It's easier said than done, isn't it? Experts actually say the key to working smart is to be more effective, not
necessarily more efficient. Efficiency is doing the job right. Effectiveness, on the other hand, is doing the right
job! Think about that! Here are my ten top tips for managing your time more effectively:
1. Figure out when you are at your peak
I know I work better from 9am to noon, so that's when I try to do my most important tasks. Figure out when
you are at your prime and plan carefully around this.
2. Turn off your e-mail notifier
Do you really need the pop-up or 'ding' every few minutes? Try turning off your e-mail notifier when you need to
concentrate on an important project, then you really can focus.
3. Expect the unexpected
Block out some planning time. Everyone needs some time for thinking, so try to build in some flexibility into your
daily routines.
4. Say NO occasionally
Sometimes we may have to be assertive and say 'no' if something is not urgent or a priority. Saying no
courteously may be seen as a strength rather than a weakness.
5. Set priorities
Categorize tasks according to priority, for example: 1 = The task is urgent and important 2 = It's important but
not urgent 3 = It's urgent but not important 4 = Its not urgent and not important
6. Stay focused in meetings
How many meetings have you attended where people go off at tangents? It helps to be clear about the agenda
before meetings, and make sure everyone knows what the objectives are. This will help you stay focused and
keep the discussion heading in the right direction.
7. Clear out your clutter
I know I can't work effectively if my desk is a mess with lots of paperwork everywhere. So once in a while I have a
good clearing and sorting session, and I clear out the clutter on my desk, trays, drawers and files. It's amazing
how much better I always feel once the clutter is gone!
8. Remember to take a break
We all tend to make more mistakes when we are tired or stressed, so learn to recognize the symptoms when you
are flagging and take a break from your work. Yes Mom, I hear you... this is something I'm not so good at!
9. Don't procrastinate
Tackle what's right now in the present and don't let procrastination get in the way. It's amazing how great it feels
when you can tick off those items on your to-do list!
10. Adopt a positive attitude
Keep your mindset positive. See solutions instead of problems. See positives instead of negatives. Do your tasks
with a happy heart, and smile!
Shirley Taylor is a popular trainer and author of many successful books on communication and business writing skills. Shirley lives in
Singapore and conducts popular workshops on business writing, communication skills and e-mail writing. Visit
http://www.shirleytaylortraining.com and receive five complimentary special reports in the Seven Steps to Success series.