5 Ways to Control Your Time

with Chris Croft

Types of Tasks: Prioritization and Time Allocation

How long
you spend
Important on it Not Important

1. Do it now and do it properly. 2. Spend minimum time on it.

Urgent Probably “crisis” • Say no or negotiate

(Ask why it happened. • Delegate
(Maybe Box 1 usually starts as box 3.) • Use efficient systems
because it is
important to • Do it less well
Risk: feels macho to be in this
someone box, but leads to stress Risk: mistaken for important
else)
because it’s urgent
When it
has to be
done 3. Plan (and do) ahead. 4. If it will get worse, delegate,
or plan when and spend
This is the key to all progress minimum time on it.
and results.
• Achievement Risk: put off until urgent
• Quality of life
Not Urgent
Prevention rather than cure Otherwise: Don’t do it.
Proactive, not reactive
People, systems, and vision Risk: done for fun at expense of
Can also be fun important tasks

Risk: procrastinated and

never done

Without goals, it is “Important” means it moves you Test for Unimportance

impossible to toward your goals. • Magic button?
manage your time
• Delegate?
effectively. Nothing else should be in this
column! • If you had a week to live?
• Would you miss it?
• Will it matter in five years time?

5 Ways to Control Your Time with Chris Croft 1 of 1