Ever wonder how they do it? How a short-order cook prepares tasty meals in a hectic, rush-rush environment, and does it all with a smile? The answer is simple: A system. The next time you are in a little diner for lunch purposefully sit in a place where you can see the short-order cook preparing the food. It is like poetry in motion.
What you will see is a system where food orders are delivered to the kitchen by a waiter or waitress, which usually clips them to a spiraling clipboard. The cook reads the order and starts the "music." For a traditional breakfast order he would quickly begin frying strips of bacon, beating eggs, and browning toast. Doing this for not just one order but many at the same time. Once the food is done, the cook plates the food and sends it out to be served. This system has been used for decades, even in our high-tech world, there is not a better system for the short-order cook.
What about your world? If it is like mine, your world is filled with to-do lists, appointments, meetings, phone calls, and projects. Like the short-order cook, without a system in place your world would not be very productive and probably very chaotic. However, with a system you will be able to focus on multiple tasks at once, prepare for appointments, and make good use of your time.
The first step you must consider in your system is your calendar. Do you have one? Just one? Is it helping or hindering you? Your daily calendar should be the tool that tells you?
What to do ? your task list
Who to call ? your contact list
Where to be ? your daily calendar
Many people that I come in contact with say they don't need a calendar or don't need to write everything down because they can log it all in their memory bank. Always remember, the faintest ink is better than the best memory. I have gotten up many times in the middle of the night to write something down. Even if God speaks to you during the night, or during your prayer time, there is no guarantee that you will remember it unless you write it down. Now, where do you write it? Having one central place to write all of your important information is best. However, when an inspirational thought or a simple to-do hits your mind, write it down anywhere. You can transfer it to that central place later.
One tool that hit the market a few years ago is the Pocket PC (PDA). The vote is still out as to who loves them and who does not. However, many feel they can't keep up with a PDA and a manual calendar system. I would quickly agree. Also, for many, they are comfortable using the paper system and would be lost not having something to write an appointment down in or a piece of paper to write notes to themselves.
I was one of those type people, always caring my manual calendar/planner system with me. The thought of using a PDA was scary, but I have found a balance that will work for most anyone. I have also found great benefits from this system. The benefits of using a PDA is its?
Sync-ability ? I keep my PDA updated with what I want to do, calls to make, and calendar items. I have the ability to connect the PDA to my computer. This connection synchronizes all my "new" data from my PDA to the computer and visa versa. Therefore, my computer and PDA always have the same information. I can print reports or set alarms right from my desktop computer. This has helped me because when I leave my office I carry a tool (my PDA) that is up to date with all my latest information.
Flexibility ? I keep my PDA in a small binder that has rings for notepaper. If I think of a person that I want/need to call, something that I need to do when I get to the office, or if I make an appointment I can write it on my notepaper and then transfer it to the PDA when I have time. Sure, I could add it to my PDA at the time, but I have found this system much easier and more efficient.
Expandability ? My PDA has much more on it than just a calendar system. I can type letters, design spreadsheets, play games, check the weather, and read the Bible. My PDA has expanded as my life has expanded. Something I could never get from my old "paper" calendar system.
Record-ability - My PDA has become a very useful tool to me. One last benefit is note taking. I can pull up someone in my contact list and record notes from a meeting. Therefore, when I speak to them again I can refer back to these notes. This really makes me look organized.
In order to reach your potential each and every day you must have a system. I hope my personal system ideas will be become gold nuggets of information to you.
About The Author
If you need further help in setting up a system I would be glad to become your "Organized For Life" coach. Coaching you to your potential is success in my book. Feel free to contact me at jeff@jeffearlywine.com or check out the website link below.
Wood Dale Chicago prom limo .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareIt takes effort to get results, and not just any... Read More
Clutter in any area of your home is a sign... Read More
Sometimes the task of keeping a clean, tidy house just... Read More
1. All or nothing thinking/taking on too much." I'm going... Read More
"I don't have enough room!" -- this is a common... Read More
EVERY HOME NEEDS AN OFFICEYes, it is true that every... Read More
Studies show that 80 percent of what we use comes... Read More
Spring is here and its time to sweep away the... Read More
Everytime Mary had to find a file on her computer,... Read More
Whether you are in your own business or an employee... Read More
Time has flown. It's been six months since you came... Read More
Remember when you charged into the office that first day,... Read More
Decluttering is a simple-to-learn process, once you break it down... Read More
There are 3 kinds of clutter: Inner (between our ears);... Read More
* Cupboards and drawers should contain items that are grouped... Read More
Clutter costs you time, money, space, and peace of mind.... Read More
I like a room you can dance in the middle... Read More
Whoever thought you'd be able to get organized in just... Read More
Spring?. Fresh breezes through open windows, sleeping trees come awake... Read More
Coping with clutter is rarely easy. There's more involved than... Read More
I'm sure most of you have heard of Zig Ziglar... Read More
Are you overwhelmed by clutter wherever you turn? Here are... Read More
Buried under mountains of paperwork from your company? Do the... Read More
If you look at any major organisation, there is this... Read More
It happens without warning. One day you notice your home... Read More
Antigo wedding limo ..After more than 20 years as an entrepreneur and a... Read More
You arrived on earth without clutter. Your parents and doting... Read More
In your quest to get 'up and running' so to... Read More
Spring is here and its time to sweep away the... Read More
Getting organized is hard. If it weren't, we wouldn't put... Read More
Much of my time as a Professional Organizer is spent... Read More
Some people would say I'm the last person in the... Read More
Life with ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) can be a constant... Read More
Spring?. Fresh breezes through open windows, sleeping trees come awake... Read More
Article excerpted from the new book, "How to Do Space... Read More
How to do keep track of all you have to... Read More
Whether you are in your own business or an employee... Read More
To make room for new things to come into you... Read More
"My job is an endless series of deadlines, I am... Read More
I have a huge white board in my home office,... Read More
Remember when you charged into the office that first day,... Read More
In one of my favorite books, First Things First, written... Read More
Nature loves clutter. Just think of all the stuff that... Read More
What's in a Name?Everything.What do you do with all the... Read More
'A well-ordered life is like climbing a tower; the view... Read More
I've noticed that in the two years since the major... Read More
Decluttering is a simple-to-learn process, once you break it down... Read More
I recently had a conversation with a friend about clutter.... Read More
"The real question is, why do you want it? What... Read More
What does "time" have to do with getting organized? Everything!... Read More
Get Organized - Organization |