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Personal Organization

by Tim Connor    

One of the things I have discovered about successful salespeople is their ability to handle a variety of tasks, problems, issues, responsibilities and challenges at the same time. This would not be possible if they lacked personal organization. I am not talking about time management, but personal management. You can’t manage time. It passes. What you can do in a framework of passing time is manage all the stuff: decisions, problems, resources, people, successes, failures, risks, paperwork, activities, etc.

I have to be organized. Each year I speak over 90 times, log over 150,000 miles in the air, publish six issues of my newsletter Life Balance, write over 400 articles, write 2 new books, read over 100 books, and manage my business with all of its administrative challenges with no staff.  And that’s just in my career. I also have a personal life and personal interests. I would like to give you a few ideas for your consideration concerning better personal organization.

Start with a plan of what you want to do.

Prioritize your goals, objectives, tasks, projects, whatever.

Stay focused.

Get rid of the clutter in your life.

Concentrate on one thing at a time.

Don’t stick with anything that you are no longer passionate about. 

Have routines for the regular tasks in your life like reading or study.

Get up earlier.  Go to bed later.

Organize your personal or business workspace so that you can be more productive.

Learn to say ‘no’ more.

If you are procrastinating in something, ask why.

Use mentors or get involved in a mastermind group.

When you say ‘yes’, mean it.

Don’t make commitments you can’t keep.

Respect and value your own time.

Play when it is time to play, and work when it is time to work. Don’t mix them up.

Have fun. Enjoy life as it passes, knowing you can’t do it all, see it all, or have it all.

Use technology as a tool, not a crutch.

Throw stuff away you don’t need, use, or want.

Surround yourself with things that help you to be more productive – flowers, music, photos, etc.


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Tim Connor, CSP, is a professional speaker and expert in the fields of management, sales, team building, and customer service. He's the author of 19 books and can be reached at 704-895-1230, speaker@bellsouth.net or www.timconnor.com.