Time is the one true equal opportunity employer

Time is the one true equal opportunity employer; we’re all blessed with the same 24-hour day. Yet virtually all successful people share one characteristic: they’re extremely conscious of using their time effectively, and rely on organized systems to help them do so. There are many different systems on the market to help you organize projects and manage time more effectively, ranging from simple paper and pencil calendars and system you use is less important than your willingness to discipline yourself to use one.

We often try to cram in so many activities that we don’t give ourselves enough time to enjoy any of them. (jeffry J. Mayer)

In the well-known children’s story, the velveteen rabbit was obsessed with becoming “real.” When do we become “real” as people? What is it that makes us real? It’s our work. The work we put into forming our habits and character; the work we put into building relationships; the work we put into serving others; the work we put into making the world a better place for ourselves, our families and humanity. 

Are you real? Make a list of all the things you did in the last month at your job. How much time you did you spend on real work- meaningful work that makes a difference in the world? And how much did you spend on busy work, pretend work and make work that creates nothing and leaves no legacy? Do you need to wake up, change your priorities and get real? 

In Thomas Cleary’s Translation of the book leadership and strategy: lessons of the Chinese Masters, one reads that, “The affairs of sages are limited and easy to manage. Their requirements are few and easy to satisfy.” Be ruthless with your time, concentrating it on those things that matter, and you’ll be amazed at your productivity. And there you have secret formula for No-Brainer Time Management: just say no to tempting distractions.