If you don’t have a baseline to measure against, you can never really know how effectively you’re managing your time
If you go to your local bookstore and browse the business section, you'll likely see dozens of books on the subject of time management. Everyone wants to know how to squeeze every little bit out of those twenty-four hours that we each have in a day. Most books, articles, videos, and workshops will give you practical tips on activities you can engage in to cut down on the amount of time you're spending on various tasks. Many of those can be helpful but, before you get down to the tactical level, I think you need to take a broader view.
The single most important thing to do in order to manage your time more effectively is to clarify your priorities. As a leader in the mortgage industry, that means specifying exactly what you do, why you do it, and what you're trying to accomplish through your work. If you don't have the foundational baseline to measure your work against, then you can never really know how effectively you're spending your time. You can technically save a lot of time and still not accomplish your purpose. Before you figure out how well you're using your time, you have to figure out what it means to use your time well.
At the end of the day, you've always got to ask yourself a single question: are you managing your time, or is your time managing you? In other words, are you just reacting to everything that comes your way, or are you being deliberate in your choices? Managing your time effectively means know what you're doing and why you’re doing it. Do you have clarity in your work? Do you know your priorities? If not, how about taking a look? There's no time like the present!Related stories:
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