The Power of Now!

Every leader I talk with, coach or train tell me the same thing.  They all tell me they have lots to do – more than they did six months or a year ago, with no end in sight. 

I could write a post about the factors that lead that to be true, but that isn’t this post.

I could write about the difference between perception and reality – are they really busier or do they just feel that way?  That post wouldn’t be very interesting, and the people it might most help might remain in denial anyway.

The reality is that people are busy.  They have full plates.  They are balancing home and work life.  They have competing priorities.

This conversation came up in final hour of the Leadership Training Camp Workshop I was leading yesterday.  People were searching for solutions.  One person hopefully asked me for a good time management book recommendation.  When I suggested one, she said, disappointedly, “Oh, I already have that one.”

It is time to stop searching.

The answer is Now. Get going.  Start now.  Do something now. 

Yes, I know time management is a tougher and bigger question than can be answered with one word, but we all have to start somewhere.  My suggestion is you start with these few questions, applied regularly, starting right now.

What are my highest priorities overall?

What must be done today?

How can I finish this task right now?

What is the best use of my time right now?

What is the most important thing I could do now?

You’ve heard these questions before.   This may seem like common sense.  But when was the last time you asked them, and listened to and acted on your answers?

Write these questions down (right now).

Review them or discipline yourself to ask them several times each day.

Ask, answer, and act.

Starting now.