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Since the 1980s, the market has been flooded with “time management” books and products. While many of these have valuable insights, none of them can actually manage time. Time is a constant. It moves on at the same pace regardless of what we do (or don't do).
What they can help us manage, however, is our behavior. More specifically, they can help us focus on those things that are most important.
Stephen Covey's classic work The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, outlines the quadrants where our time is allotted. He defines the urgent on one axis and the important on the other, as follows:
As you can see, quadrants one and four tend to grab our attention and focus based on their urgency.
Quadrant two, however, holds the key to our fulfillment. Goals very often become goals because of the fact that they are important to us, but not urgent enough to have pushed their way into our focus on their own.
Achieving our goals will require the focus and dedication that has previously alluded us.
With all the distractions that abound on a daily basis, you can lose focus rather easily and be pulled off course routinely. Every new opportunity is a contestant for your time and focus that, once lost, creates collateral damage to existing results and momentum.
Don't let your goals be the collateral damage of the urgent! Find the time to singularly focus on those steps that will take you to an amazing life. As Brian Tracy said:
To concentrate single-mindedly on your most important task, to do it well and to finish it completely is the key to great success, achievement, respect, status and happiness in life.
Review your goals and secure your focus, today!
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Alison Moore Smith is a 61-year-old entrepreneur who graduated from BYU in 1987. She has been (very happily) married to Samuel M. Smith for 40 years. They are parents of six incredible children and grandparents to two astounding grandsons. She is the author of The 7 Success Habits of Homeschoolers.