ABC organizing for people who do not planJoe Cornomortgage planning, organization
If you are the type who has previously purchased leather-bound
planners and never cracked them open, you need this article. If you
have been issued a company Palm Pilot and have yet to load and
program it, you need this article. Even if you use both of those
things, you need this article.
There are some people who simply do not conform or process
thought the same way that others do. In fact, if you polled people
who owned and operated special planner products, you would find
that you were not alone.
The majority of people seek simple and basic modes of operation.
Most owners of such devices and products use them for basic stuff -
to make phone calls and receive e-mails on the go - and that is
about it. They have yet to venture into beaming, downloading,
digitally planning, etc.
It is not that these products are not wonderful. They are
astounding if they are utilized. Most of those who do use the
amazing products have someone else assist and train them in
learning how to operate the devices.
I have a company-issued product that can do everything. However,
I am of the personality of wanting something tangible (e.g., ink on
paper) in front of me. For those like me who want to take notes, we
seek equilibrium with in-hand methods of figuring out the day,
week, month and year.
We hang calendars on the wall. Forget digital messaging; we use
a word processor to schedule, and we are happy to do so. However,
we also desire to be up to date and competitive.
Technology has afforded our type the ability to e-mail with
attachments because it has become simplistic to do so. If it were
not so, we would be calling on others to do it for us.
As the technology becomes easier, we embrace it more. However,
both electronic and classic planners require too much thought. The
following is an effective way to plan, organize and structure your
time, to accomplish the most out of each and every day. Use it
wisely. And to think - for all these years, you thought something
was wrong with you. Look how you embraced the mobile phonebecause
it was easy to do.
Start each day by listing down on a sheet of paper everything
that you need or think you need to do, in any order as it comes to
your mind.
Example
Get the car washed A B C
Buy diapers A B C
Get a haircut A B C
Call on leads (five of them) A B C
Go see the real estate agent A B C
Read a chapter in the marketing book A B C
Start with all the A's. These are the things that must be done
today, right away. If A's get done, do the B's. These are items
that could wait a day or two, but will quickly become A's if
neglected.
C means "See ya later." C's are things that do not need to get
done until they develop into A's or B's. Do not toss them. Rather,
place them into a C drawer or box. When you get a call on one of
them or the boss asks what the status of it is, pull it out and
make it an A or B on your list.
Do not worry about having items not completed on your daily
list. Drop the daily C items completely off and transfer A's and
B's to the next day's list. If there are no items left at day's
end, you are not making a complete list or need to add more duties
to your daily activities.
The list is simple and can be written on a lined pad, a blank
sheet or even a brown paper shopping bag. No Palm Pilot or
leather-bound planner is needed. Keep it basic and simple. After
all, if you are not utilizing a Palm Pilot or planner now, you are
not the type that would enter your schedule into your device
anyway.
Joe Corno is president of Utah-based We Be Consulting and
Seminars. He may be reached at (801) 836-2077 or e-mail
[email protected].
