Calendar Control #1 – Say No

Submitted by mauzenne on Mon, 07/12/2010 - 04:07.
in

This cast describes a simple technique for controlling one's calendar, thereby keeping more time available for primary objectives.

Have you ever left the office thinking, hey, I got everything done today? All my projects, all those things on the backburner, finally everything is done?

We know how hard it is to get everything done every day – we never do. In fact, when we think about it, we realize we don't know anyone who DOES get everything done, EVER. Which makes us wonder, IS there some way to get everything done? And if there isn't, what's the best way to approach all of that work?

Here's a simple start in the right direction.


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E75's picture
Submitted by E75 on Fri, 07/16/2010 - 08:28.

Saying no to customers?

How would you apply this in my context, where 80%+ of requests for my time come directly from my customers regarding ongoing, upcoming or new projects or smaller tasks?

My first instinct would be to negotiate an understanding of priorities with each one and then, at my own discretion, prioritize those. What would you recommend?

 

As an aside, which kind of "No" are you recommending: "No, but maybe later" or "No, not never ever"?

Mcheek's picture
Submitted by Mcheek on Mon, 07/26/2010 - 02:18.

support

Just some supportive quotes from people much wiser than me who agree:

You've got to say 'no' to the good to say 'yes' to the great. -Zig Ziglar

It's not the daily increase but daily decrease. Hack away at the unessential. - Bruce Lee

There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all. - Peter Drucker

cmcain's picture
Submitted by cmcain on Wed, 07/28/2010 - 17:43.

Priority Management

Great pod-cast.  This is the Gold Standard.

I tell my folks all the time:  "Decide which plates you want to keep in the air and ignore the rest.  Inevitably, some plates are going to drop." It really gets ugly when the wrong plates drop.