One Small Change in Conversation, One Giant Change In Your Game Plan

Mark Twain supposedly said, "Everybody talks about
the weather but nobody does anything about it."

But we can do a lot about time - in fact, we can
change our time management just by the way we talk
about it.

In my experience, there's one way you can tell when
people are seriously ready to make a move, i.e.,
start abusiness, accelerate their career, take a sabbatical.

They begin to talk about time as an investment.

You know change is in the air when you do these 3
things.

(1)Calculate your rate of return on your time
investment.

You find yourself saying, "This is not a good use of
my time." You might take time to relax and enjoy a
movie or family meal -- but your rate of return will
be high because you get meaningful (though intangible)
rewards.

(2) Assign a value to your time.

You find yourself saying, "If I hire someone to do
this, I'll come out ahead."

Or you think, "My company could automate this
process. Then each person wouldn't have to spend
hours, all doing the same thing over and over again."

Too materialistic? You can assign units of happiness
or meaning if you prefer.

(3)Focus on outcomes rather than process.

You're talking about results - not effort. You won't
mention working hard or putting in hours. You'll
talk about how you transformed a situation, earned
revenue or solved a problem.

And you probably charge your own clients a flat fee
rather than an hourly rate (and prefer to hire
resources
the same way).

If you're already talking this way, congratulations!
You're probably taking charge of your career and maybe
considering a business venture. You may be frustrated
with others who don't understand your new focus.

If not - no problem. Your value system may be
different. You may be in a different life phase. Or
you may be one of those who defy logic and still win
the game.

More: Visit

my irreverent time management guide.

7 Time Management Strategies To Complete Your Stalled Projects

Q. I have several projects going at once -- but I never seem to finish them! I'm pulled in so many different directions -- and I end up with nothing to show for my efforts! A. While you're in a creative mode, you're most likely to be swamped with ideas! Feeling swamped can be a source of stress. Here's how to deal with the "too many to finish" challenge. (1) Stop berating yourself for not finishing a project. Instead, say, "I don't feel ready to move in that direction. I'll write down the idea and file it away for the future." (2) Tell a story about what would happen if you finished each project. "Susan finished all her art projects and..." You may be surprised what comes up. One client resisted finishing a book because she dreaded getting a slew of rejections from agents. Another resisted applying for jobs because she dreaded spending eight hours chained to a desk. (3) Review your finances. If you're desperate to finish these projects to make money, fear may be blocking your intuition. You'll have trouble thinking clearly and setting priorities. On the other hand, if you don't need the work, you may not be motivated. Some people need a certain amount of pressure to get moving. (4) List up to three goals that you'd like to accomplish in the next six months, even if you do nothing else. Some people need to focus on a single goal or they get hopelessly distracted. However, others (including most gifted adults) are multi-taskers, who aren't happy unless they're juggling several balls in the air. (5) Study the market for each project you are considering. Once you've identified your target customers and the need you'll be meeting -- and made sure people will pay for what you offer -- you'll realize whether moving forward makes sense. (6) File each new idea in a computer or paper folder or set up an "idea board" near your desk. As you think of ways to flesh out an idea, add notes to each folder. Give each idea time to mature. Some will fade away on their own; others will ripen into exciting opportunities. (7) Create a strong support system, even if you have to hire a consultant or coach. As Julia Cameron wrote in The Artist's Way, the notion of solitary creativity is nothing but a stereotype. Writers, artists, business owners and professionals need opportunities to talk about their progress. They need to feel someone cares about what they're doing and believes in them. In my experience, this lack of a support network tends to be the single greatest source of success in any field. Are you ready to take your Time Management system to the 21st Century? Click here and begin adding hours (and accomplishments) to your day. You may reprint this article in your ezine or blog if you make no changes and include this resource box with live links: Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D., is a career consultant specializing in midlife professionals who want to manage any area of their career: office politics, job search, career advancement or striking out in a whole new direction. Visit http://www.cathygoodwin.com Discover the 5 essential ingredients of successful career change: http://www.cathygoodwin.com/subscribe.html