METRIC FOR SUCCESS IN 2014

So, here's my solution: Assuming you'd like to achieve more
in 2014, you will have to do something differently.
That's it, really. Hopefully doing things "differently"
means doing things smarter, or faster, or more skillfully.
It might mean using your time differently, or working on
your personality, or your daily habits. It may mean
changing your priorities or your focus. It could mean
learning new skills, or abandoning some things that are not
working.
Without talking with you personally (without being your
coach), I can't know WHAT you'll need to do differently,
but simply working "more" or working "harder" probably
won't produce the joy and satisfaction, the results and
fulfillment you desire. We all work hard! But not everyone
achieves the results they desire.
Let's try to be as specific as we can in a general
newsletter.
First, "Time management" is a waste of time. No one
"manages" time! Time just flows, whether we use it well or
badly. We all have the same 24-hours in a day. The
distinction is how we USE our time. No one manages time;
high achievers manage their activities! (BIG distinction!)
High achievers focus on productive, results-oriented
activities. The majority of "average" folks spend an awful
lot of time working hard, being busy, or relaxing. They do
a lot of "have-to's" and routine maintenance activities. At
the end of the day, most people focus on relaxing or having
fun. But winners are not "most people" and they use their
time very differently!
Here's my suggestion: Begin by carefully monitoring your
time usage. Keep a log! Write down when you are productive
and when you do other things. Make notes of your most
productive actions, and the time you spend doing low-
priority paperwork or cleaning or filing. Note the time you
spend shopping, cooking, eating and cleaning-up. And the
time you spend sleeping. Then analyze your logs.
What can you eliminate or delegate? Where can you be more
efficient or more skilled? In the next week, where can you
increase your productivity, even if only slightly? The
winners in life are relentless about this!
Second, use the 80/20 Rule to your advantage. This is known
as the "Pareto Principle" after an Italian economist, and
it says that a very small number of the things we do
account for a huge percentage of our positive results.
About 80% of our time and work is largely squandered. It's
focused on busy-work and repetitious activity, while about
20% of our work accounts for most of our profits and
satisfaction.
Pareto says that, as a parent, about 80% of parenting is
focused on getting the kids to school on time, getting them
to bed, getting them fed or whatever. (All of these things
are important, but they do not create memories or mold
character!) Only about 20% of parenting involves really
talking with our children, teaching them skills, or
answering their questions. Focus on your most productive
20%! This applies to parenting. And to your career.
As those other newsletter suggested, I join them in wishing
you a productive and profitable 2014! May this be your best
year ever! But that will only happen if you change who you
are, what you do and how much you contribute. Look at what
you do with that precious 24-hours every day. Look at your
skill-set and your choices. The more productive you are,
the less you'll have to "work" and the more you'll be
rewarded in life.