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How to Double Your Accomplishment Level
Here's a smart system for doubling or tripling your daily accomplishments -- without working longer hours. This small idea produces big results for business professionals, salespeople, office workers, educators, nurses, plant foremen and politicians. Actually, everyone who has tried it and written to me has enthusiastically endorsed this idea. Every day, schedule your top three priorities as appointments. Treat them as if they were the day's most important appointments. If you work in a fast-paced, hectic place, you might think that's impossible. It's not. For example, if your boss or top customer called you in the morning and said, "I need to talk with you about something big. How about this afternoon at 2:45 for 30 minutes?" You and I both know you'd make the time. Most people in business do not even get their number one priority for the day accomplished, much less their top three. When you consistently accomplish your top three priorities every day, five days a week, 52 weeks a year, year after year -- you are miles ahead of the pack. You will be recognized as a master in your profession. While most people spread themselves thin like flood waters in the Delta, you are like the Colorado River steadily producing the Grand Canyon. Does scheduling your top three priorities guarantee you will get them done? No. But it'll be a lot easier to say "Not now" to lesser things that try to pull you off course. And over time, your focused approach will bring you more rock solid results than a let-me-see-how-much-I-can-get-done-today approach ever could. Doug Smart is the author of the book, "TimeSmart: How Real People Really Get Things Done at Work." He is a management development consultant, professional speaker, and host of the daily motivational radio show, "Smarter by the Minute." For more information, click on Doug@GrowYourSales.org.Copyright 2005 by Doug Smart
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Therefore she vigilantly protected a scheduled tennis match just as she would a business appointment.2. Care for your body. Having a high energy level is a trait held by many highly successful people. No matter what your present level of energy, you can increase it by following these steps:Eat. Don't skip meals. Your physical and mental energy depend upon nourishment. Irregular eating patterns can cause a frayed temper, depression, lack of creativity and a nervous stomach.Exercise. Over and over again, highly successful people mention the benefit of exercise routines. Johnetta Cole, president of Bennett College for Women and former president of Spelman College, does a four-mile walk each morning. She calls it her mobile meditation. The benefits of exercise are mental, emotional, physical and spiritual. If you are healthier and have more stamina, you can work better and longer.Rest. A psychologist who has studied creative people reports that they rest often and sleep a lot.3. 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Try a new route to work, a different radio station or a different cereal. Break out of your old mold occasionally, with a new way to dress or a different hobby. The road less traveled can be a reward after a demanding event, a carrot that you reward your self with or it can be a good way to loosen up before a big event. Bobby Dodd, the legendary football coach at Georgia Tech, knew the power of this concept. While other coaches were putting their teams through brutal twice-a-day practices, Dodd's team did their drills and practices, but then took time to relax, play touch football and enjoy the bowl sites. Did the idea work? In six straight championships games!7. Be still. Susan Taylor, editorial director of Essence, sees to it that she has quiet time every morning. She regards it as a time for centering ? for being still and listening. She keeps a paper and pen with her to jot down ideas that come to her. 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