Time Management: How to Maximize Your 24-Hour Gift

Time Management=24 60 minute "gifts" a day, 168 ho

Have you ever had a day off from work and planned to accomplish an agenda, only to go back to your job the next day dissatisfied that little or none of what you planned occurred? Ever go on a vacation only to just waste your time away and do nothing? Ever pick up a book and plan to read it in a few days, and find it on your nightstand a few weeks later virtually untouched? Even worse, are you guilty of the haphazard job search, the wasted time staring at the television, Internet or gabbing on the telephone gossiping about inconsequential, unimportant gossip? Do you remember 10 years ago? How fast did those times go until now? Don't you wish you had that time back to do whatever you dreamed? The unattained degree, the wrong soul mate, the bad job fit, the empty savings account-all occurring as a result of making poor conscious choices between satisfaction and sacrifice. And the dreadful result of not making the correct choices: allowing other forces to dictate how your life plays out. If you have answered "yes" to any of the past questions or scenarios then attorney Jim Randel's "The Skinny On Time Management" will really make you stop and think what you are doing with your time and life, e.g. your past, present and future.

What is time management? Well, let's briefly talk about what it is not. Individuals that cannot properly manage their time may be unable to sit still, plan ahead, finish tasks, or be fully aware of what's going on around them. To themselves, their family, classmates and others they may seem to exist in a whirly-gig of disorganized or frenzied activity. Some mental health professionals contend that the symptoms of "Attention Deficit Disorder" are behaviors such as often fidgeting with hands or feet, or squirming while seated, having difficulty remaining seated, awaiting one's turn in games or group activities, blurting out answers before questions are completed, and having difficulty in following instructions. Even further, an individual with this affliction has difficulty sustaining attention in completing tasks or play activities, shifting from one to another. They experience difficulty playing quietly, talk excessively, and interrupt or intrude on others, often not listening to what is being said. However, just because an individual forgets things necessary for tasks or activities, and is easily distracted by extraneous stimuli, it is not definitive that they have this disorder. After reading Mr. Randel's book, it is possible to come to the conclusion that the aforementioned symptoms of ADD could be confused with a person that simply does not have effective time management skills. Avoided are the unnecessary, stigmatizing and embarrassing labels of a non existent condition that could very well be a self fulfilling prophesy. Jim Randel asserts that thoughts are "things" just like any other tangible item and can be kicked out of one's own mind, just like a misbehaving cat would be tossed out of a house. The bottom line of this publication is the belief that every hour of one's own life must be used in an intelligent manner. Every student of time management must use their energy as effectively as possible by considering in advance where, when and how one wishes to take action. Stressed is the cliche "every hour of planning is worth 5 in execution." Randel insists that since there are activities that have more reward than others, the majority of one's energies should be towards those that give you the "biggest bang for your buck." Twenty percent of your actions produce 80% of your results. Randel tries to show the reader how to identify which of your actions and efforts are the critical 20%. Have you ever heard the expression "work smart, not hard?" Obviously, time is an invaluable opportunity to make something great happen and to change your life. Ultimately, time management is about making correct, beneficial choices that will help you achieve your goals. This book will give you the strategies to do this. If the thoughts and actions outlined in the beginning of this review applies to you, this book is indispensable!