8 STEPS TO ACHIVEMENT (4)

Step 7: PRACTICE ZERO BASED THINKING CONTINUALLY

This is one of the best tools you’ll ever learn to clarify your thinking and improve the quality of your life. Ask yourself on a regular basis, “Is there anything in my life that, knowing what I now know, I wouldn’t get into again today if I had to do it over?” Is there anything you are doing today; any relationship you’re in, any investment or partnership that knowing what you now know you wouldn’t get into if you had to do it over? This is one of the most important questions you ask and answer.

Many people waste many years of their lives working at something that they don’t particularly like or enjoy, and then in their 30s they have to start all over again in a completely new job in a completely new career. Is there any relationship in your life, business, social or personal activities that, knowing what you now know you wouldn’t get into again? Is there any part of your business, any product, service, expenditure or process that, knowing what you now know, you wouldn’t start up again today if you had to do it over.

Remember, whatever the situation, if it an unhappy situation it is probably not going to change. It’s probably going to get worse over time. The only question then is, do you have the courage and character to deal honestly with your life as it really is today?

By applying zero based thinking to every part of your life you’ll be absolutely amazed at how much better your decisions become and how much more productive you become at the same time.

Step 8: BE INTENSELY ACTION ORIENTED

I’ve referred over and over again in this article to the need for speed. Today everyone is in a hurry. Your customers didn’t even know they wanted your product or service until today, and now they want it yesterday.

People today are incredibly impatient. Nobody wish to wait in line anymore. The average internet surfer will switch in seven to eight seconds if the internet site does not load quickly. The most outwardly identifiable quality of the top performer in every field is that he or she is in constant motion. The top performer takes initiative to get the job done. The top performer takes action, over and over again, continuously toward the goal. In the final analysis, we only get paid for results. Results are everything. Intense result orientation goes hand in hand with high productivity and high performance in every area.

Make a decision today that you are going to move fast when opportunity or need presents itself. Pick up the pace. Take action of some kind. Get on with it. The good news is that the faster you move the better you feel. The faster you move the more you get done. The faster you move the more energy you have. The faster you move the more you learn and the more experience you get. And the faster you move the more you earn, the more you get paid, and the faster you get promoted.

Hmm! How did it go? Did you get anything? I guess you did. I suppose you will begin and continually practice zero based thinking henceforth? It is action time! For questions, send it to macstands@gmail.com or visit www.macstands.blogspot.com for more insights. For comments, please post it. Good luck.

8 STEPS TO ACHIEVEMENT (3)

Step 5: USE THE LAW OF FORCED EFFICIENCY

This law says that there is never enough time to do everything but there’s always enough time to do the most important things. Whenever you are put under significant pressure to complete an important task; a task for which there are significant consequences, you put your head down and you get the job done by the deadline.

Many people cannot discipline themselves to get the job done in advance. They then say that they work best under pressure. However, no one works best under pressure. This is just a justification for poor time management. When you are under pressure you not only experience more stress, but you also make more mistakes. These mistakes often require that the job be redone again at a later time.

There are four great questions that you can ask to increase your efficiency and double your efficiency. Here they are.

First, begin by asking before you start work, “What is the highest value use of my time?” What is it that you do that contributes the greatest amount of value to your work and to your life? What is it that you do that pays the very most or yields the highest rewards to you and your company? Talk to your boss and to the people around you. Ask for input. You must be absolutely clear about the answer to this question, and work on these high value activities all the time.

Second, ask yourself regularly, “Why am I on the payroll?” Exactly what have you been hired to do? Of all the things that you've been hired to do, what are the few accomplishments that most determine your success in your job? Whatever the answer to this question, these are the activities that you need to focus on all day long.

The third question for maximum efficiency is this: “What can you and only you do that if done well can make a real difference?” At any given time there is only one answer to this question. This is the sort of task that if you don’t do it, it doesn't get done. But if you do it and you do it well, it can make a major difference. Whatever it is, you should be working on it above all else. This is where you can make your greatest contribution.

The fourth question is perhaps the best time management question of all. It is simply this: “What is the most valuable use of my time right now?” Always ask yourself, “What is the most valuable use of my time right now?” And whatever your answer to that question is, be sure that is what you are doing most of the time.

Your ability to ask and answer these questions on a regular basis will keep you on track and performing at your best. “What are my highest value activities? Why am I on the payroll? What can I and only I do that if done well can make a real difference?” And, “What is the most valuable use of my time right now?” Discipline yourself to work only on your answers to those questions and this alone will double your productivity.

Step 6: WORK AT YOUR ENERGY PEAKS

One of the most important requirements for high performance is high levels of physical,  mental and emotional energy. All highly productive, highly successful, highly paid people have high levels of energy sustained over long periods of time. To generate and maintain high levels of energy you need to practice proper eating, proper exercise, and proper rest. You need to eat light nutritious high protein foods and avoid fats, sugars, white flour products, pasta, potatoes, candy, soft drinks, and deserts of all kinds. You need to get regular exercise, three to five times per week, 30 to 60 minutes each time.

Be sure to get lots of rest, especially if you are working hard. You need at least seven or eight hours of sleep per night and sometimes even more. You need to take at least one full day off each week and two full weeks off each year if you want to perform at your best.

You should identify the times of the day that you are the brightest and most alert. For some people this the morning. For others it’s the afternoon or evening. Whatever it is for you, you should schedule your most creative and demanding tasks during the time of day when you are at your very best. Especially, you should do creative work such as writing reports and proposals at your energy peaks.

Perhaps your most valuable asset in your work is your ability to think well and perform effectively. Maximum performance and productivity requires that you take excellent care of your physical and mental health and that you work at your most important jobs when you experience your highest levels of energy. This is a major key to high outputs and great success.

Hmm! How did it go? Did you get anything? I guess you did; begin practice the use of forced efficiency and the act of working at energy peaks. 

For questions, send a mail to macstands@gmail.com or visit www.macstands.blogspot.com for more insights. For comments, please post it. Good luck.