True fact: some things are important but even amongst those things, some are more important, and then there's the most important.
Let's take a pause.
PRIORITY Is something that supercedes other things and merit our primary focus, time, resources and energy.
Let us look at a story of two sisters; Doris and Divine.
They both registered for an Entrepreneurship class with Mr Thomas, he comes to the house to teach them and slowly they were picking up. Doris wanted to be a successful Chef and Divine wanted to be a successful Fashion designer.
It got to a point when Doris will always remain in the Kitchen trying some recipe to serve Mr Thomas before he leaves while Divine will sit down with him in the balcony and hear him teach while she ask her questions...
One day, Mr Thomas decided to give them a test to write a review of all they have learnt and submit to him... Both of them sat in different places and started writing, at the end of the day Doris wrote that she was got compliments from her recipes while Divine explained in details the steps to take to become a successful Fashion designer, the benefits, the disadvantages, the limitations and lots more...
He then told Doris that she failed and that is because One thing was needful* #Learning.
You will agree with me that Doris busied herself with what was important but Divine chosed the most important thing at that point, which was listening to Mr Thomas.
Your PRIORITY determines what you do and one of the most important things in use is to know what you are supposed to do because
what you do determines who you are and what you become.
A man that does not set priorities is likened to a footballer that has his phone with him while playing on the field because he is expecting a call from his wife! You don't need me to tell you the fate of his team.
If you don't set priorities, whatever seem most pressing at that moment will capture your focus. Let me tell you one important tip that makes setting and attending to priorities as easy as ABCDE, Hmmm.
Brain Tracy said
"A” stands for “very important;” something you must do. There can be serious negative consequences if you don’t do it.
“B” stands for “important;” something you should do. This is not as important as your ‘A’ tasks. There are only minor negative consequences if it is not completed.
“C” stands for things that are “nice to do;” but which are not as important as ‘A’ or ‘B,’ tasks. There are no negative consequences for not completing it.
“D” stands for “delegate.” You can assign this task to someone else who can do the job instead of you.
“E” stands for “eliminate, whenever possible.” You should eliminate every single activity you possibly can, to free up your time.
When you use the A-B-C-D-E method, you can very easily sort out what is important and unimportant. This then will focus your time and attention on those items on your list that are most essential for you to do.
Do you want is called A Target Calender?
This isn't like the calendar in your room or on your phone, it's a Conscious effort you set in your mind to follow through what your to-do list is saying. You can agree with me that most of us make a to-do list on paper or our device and at the end of the day, we didn't accomplish them all right?
But a target calendar is different! It's a conscious decision your mind have made that whatever the situation today, I must get this done and ruled out in this time frame. Remember our mindset affects our accomplishments.
For example, if I have a target calendar to to finish reading a book and review it in the next 3hours, I won't think of standing up to fix myself sausage because I know the time I'll put in to make the sausage is included in my three hours of finishing that book. I'll have to finish the book first, then get myself sausage if I was able to beat time.
Set out time to think through your priorities and if you haven't really established any, I will advise that the moment you are down reading this, take a pen and paper and write down your priorities from the most important to the important, then to the least important and have a target calendar TO ALWAYS beat time, this way you are clear about what to attend to.
HOW TO SET PRIORITIES AND BEAT TIME
Drop talking and start doing
Don't be a jack of all trade; you cannot handle them all in one day. Collect a list of some most important and trash it out.
In the most important, some are urgent and others are not... Start with the urgent.
Be sure your most important is adding value to your dreams and goals.
Sometimes the most important are stressful, learn to enjoy it; be flexible.
Know when it's time to cut and swap to something else; don't use the whole day on one when you have over three left undone.
In a paraphrased words of Dr Myles Munroe...
Any activity we undertake consumes our time, talents, energy and life. Therefore, setting priorities helps protect our valuable energy, time, resources and talent.
