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 Getting the Edge Part 1
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Getting the Edge Part 1
It is no secret that innovation is vital to ones success in the modern corporate environment. If you want to “Get the Edge,” you and your team need to take a fresh look at all aspects of your work environment and come up with new ways of looking at old ideas. This is the essence of lateral thinking, or, as it is often referred, “thinking outside of the box.”
When asked to speak on “Getting the Edge,” I often discuss new and fresh ways of looking at time and time management. These different ways of looking at time are designed to “shake up” your ideas about how you perceive your work day, and encourage you to start looking at the resources you have at your disposal in a new and invigorating way.
Here are a few commonly held myths that altogether too many people live by:
Myth #1: I never have enough time
I suggest you dispose of that opinion immediately. Rather, look at time as the great equalizer. It is portioned out to all of us in exactly the same amount: that is, we all get 1,440 minutes, divided into 24 hours in each day. The problem is not that there is not enough time. The problem is that you need to use it to your advantage. If it feels like you don’t have enough time, then you need to stop criticizing the hours of the day and start looking at your technique. Remember it is not time that is to blame. You have to examine you method!
Myth #2: There are many ways to Save time!
The truth is that you can not save time. You can only spend it! When you think only about “saving” time, you run into a trap. Consider this: there are now hundreds of so-called “time-saving” devices out there on the market, many of which you already use, and yet you still feel like you have no time. The bank machine was supposed to save you time. The answering machine was supposed to save you time. Instant coffee, fast food restaurants, cell phones, e-mail, and personal computers were all meant to save you time. So where did all this so-called “saved time” go? You are still rushed off your feet! How can that be? You fell into the trap of thinking that “saving” time was the answer to your frantic day. The trick is shift your paradigm from saving time to effectively spending your time. Budget your day the same way you budget your salary. Be sure to put aside a little down time for rest and relaxation, and time with those you care about. Don’t depend on time saving techniques of technology to give you more time. Remember: more time doesn’t exist. Spend what you get, (indeed the time that EVERYONE has been given,) wisely.
In future articles, I will address a few other prevailing myths about time and ways that you can avoid the problems that accompany them. Re-conceptualizing you relationship with time will make a difference in both your personal and professional life. And all it takes is a fresh look at some commonplace ideas! |
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