zz’ed from Val’s space, thanks!

 

How to get graduated in only three semesters, taking the same classes that people would normally take over a four-year period?

Clarity is key

Ÿ The first step is to know exactly what you want. Your goals must be so clear that it would be possible for a stranger to look at your situation objectively and give you an absolute "yes" or "no" response as to whether you’ve accomplished each goal or not.

Ÿ The key period I’ve found useful for defining and working on specific goals is ninety days, or the length of one season.

Ÿ If you aren’t yet at the point of clarity, then make that your first goal. It’s a big waste of time to go through life being unclear about what you want.

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Be flexible

Ÿ There’s a key difference between knowing your destination and knowing the path you will take to get there. You cannot know the exact path to your goal in advance. I believe that the real purpose of planning is simply so that you remain convinced that a possible path exists. Sometimes you can reach your goals faster by taking advantage of shortcuts that arise unexpectedly. Other times you should stick to your original plans and avoid minor distractions that would take you further from your goals. Be tight on your goals but flexible on your plans.

Ÿ I believe that having a clear goal is far more important than having a clear plan.

Use single handling

Ÿ If I had a 10-hour term paper to write, I would do the whole thing at once instead of breaking it into smaller tasks. Once I began an assignment, I would stay with it until it was 100% complete and ready to be turned in.

Ÿ This simple practice saved me a significant amount of time. First, it allowed me to concentrate deeply on each assignment and to work very efficiently while I worked. Secondly, I believe this habit helped me remain relaxed and unstressed because my mind wasn’t cluttered with so many to-do items. It was always just one thing at a time. I could forget about anything that was outside the current context.

Failure is your friend

Ÿ Most people seem to have an innate fear of failure, but failure is really your best friend. People who succeed also fail a great deal because they make a lot of attempts.

Ÿ Understand that failure is not the opposite of success. Failure is an essential part of success. Once you succeed, no one will remember your failures anyway.

Ÿ If the word "failure" is anathema to you, then reframe it: You either succeed, or you have a learning experience.

Ÿ Letting go of the fear of failure will serve you well. If you’re excited about achieving a particular goal, but you’re afraid you might not be able to pull it off, jump on it and do it anyway. Even if you fail in your attempt, you’ll learn something valuable and can make a better attempt next time.

Do it now

Ÿ Thinking and planning are important, but action is far more important. You don’t get paid for your thoughts and plans — you only get paid for your results. When in doubt, act boldly, as if it were impossible to fail. In essence, it is.

Ÿ It is absolutely imperative that you develop the habit of making decisions as soon as possible. I use a 60-second rule for almost every decision I have to make, no matter how big or important. Once I have all the data to make a decision, I start a timer and give myself only 60 seconds to make a firm decision.

Ÿ Too often people delay making decisions when there is no advantage to be found in that delay. Usually delaying a decision will only have negative consequences, so even if you’re faced with ambiguity, just bite the bullet and make a decision.

Ÿ Don’t spend more than 60 seconds in that state if you can avoid it. Make a firm, immediate decision, and move from uncertainty to certainty to action. Let the world tell you when you’re wrong, and you’ll soon build enough experience to make accurate, intelligent decisions.

Triage ruthlessly

Ÿ Get rid of everything that wastes your time. Use the trash can liberally. Apply the rule, "When in doubt, throw it out."

Ÿ Ask yourself this question: "Would I have ever gotten started with this project, relationship, career, etc. if I had to do it all over again, knowing what I now know?" If your answer is no, then get out as soon as possible. This is called zero-based thinking.

Identify and recover wasted time

Ÿ Don’t spend a half hour typing a lengthy email when you could accomplish the same thing with a 10-minute phone call. Batch your errands together and do them all at once.

Ÿ Clarity of purpose must come first.

Apply the 80-20 rule

Ÿ Also known as the Pareto Principle, the 80-20 rule states that 20% of a task’s effort accounts for 80% of the value of that task. This also means that 80% of a task only yields 20% of the value of that task.

Guard thy time

Ÿ To work effectively you need uninterrupted blocks of time in which you can complete meaningful work.

Ÿ You may need to negotiate with the other people in your life to create these uninterrupted blocks of time.

Work all the time you work

Ÿ During one of these sacred time blocks, do nothing but the activity that’s right in front of you.

Ÿ Decide what it is you should be doing, and then do nothing but that.

Ÿ If you need a break, then take a real break and do nothing else. Don’t semi-work during a break if you feel you need rest and restoration.

Multitask

Ÿ The amount of new knowledge in certain fields is increasing so rapidly that everything you know about your line of work is probably becoming obsolete. The only solution is to keep absorbing new knowledge as rapidly as possible. Many of the skills I use in my business today didn’t even exist five years ago. The best way I know to keep up is to multitask whenever possible by reading and listening to audio programs.

Ÿ One of the best ways to save time is to learn directly from people who already have the skills you want to master.

Ÿ Take real breaks when you need them, but don’t waste time in a state of partial effort. It’s more efficient to cycle between working flat out and then resting completely.

Experiment

Ÿ Everyone is different, so what works for you may well be different than what works for everyone else. You may work best in the morning or late at night. Take advantage of your own strengths, and find ways to compensate for your weaknesses.

Cultivate your enthusiasm

Ÿ The word "enthusiasm" comes from the Greek entheos, which means literally, "the god within." I really like that definition.

Ÿ If your enthusiasm level is high, you can work so much more productively and even enjoy the normally tedious parts of your work. I’ve always found that whenever I want to take my business to a new level, I must take my thoughts to a new level first.

Eat and exercise for optimal energy

Maintain balance

Ÿ I don’t think it’s easy to sustain long-term productivity, health, and happiness if your life is totally unbalanced.

Ÿ I believe the main goal of time management is to give you the power to make your life as juicy as you want it to be.

Ÿ By getting clear about what you want and then developing a collection of habits that allow you to efficiently achieve your goals, you’ll enjoy a much richer, more fulfilling life than you would otherwise.