What Clients are saying about It’s About TIME Mark clears all the smoke and mirrors and delivers a combination of countless productivity-enabling strategies along with the motivation and inspiration to spark action. I need a silver platter so that I can properly serve up this amazing book to my family and closest friends! —John Bridge, president, StickyMan, Self-help That Sticks! I always enjoy hearing you speak and reading your tweets, monthly e-newsletters, articles, e-books, and books. They are filled with useful, life-changing information that make a difference in both my personal and professional life. —Kate Kelly, editor, Penton Media Your writing has changed my life in a very short time. I read the books you suggest. Thank you. —Bill McKinley, mortgage broker You uncover the causes of success in business and life. Your approach in both your writing and speaking gives us tools for change and sparks success. —Tom Jackson, CEO, Jackson Systems I found this book to be easy reading, extremely informative, providing step-by-step processes, and offering powerful tools in mastering the principles that are needed to change habits and live a grateful fulfilled life. Time IS a Gift —Donna Dubicki, property manager It’s About TIME It’s About TIME How to Get Twice as Much Done in Half the Time and Enjoy Balance and Peace of Mind! Mark Matteson Copyright © 2012 Mark Matteson all rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission from Mark Matteson. Limit of Liability and Disclaimer of Warranty: The author has used his best efforts in preparing this book. Every attempt has been made to source all quotes. They make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of this book’s content and specifically disclaim any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. No warranty may be created or extended by sales representatives or written sales materials. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for your situation. You should consult with a professional where appropriate. Neither the publisher nor the author shall be liable for any loss of profit or any other commercial damages, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages. Editing: Julie Taylor, Writers’ Services Interior Book Design: Fracica Enterprises, Inc. 1. Time Management Printed in the United States of America 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Contents Introduction ................................................................. IX 1. Inspiratinal Dissatisfaction! .................................... 1 2. On Habit and Comfort Zones ................................ 13 3. Let’s Roll Up Our Sleeves .................................... 19 4. Thoughts on Organization ..................................... 31 5. On Procrastination ................................................. 39 6. On Values and Goals ............................................. 47 7. The Self Confidence Formula ............................... 61 8. 7 Deadly Sins of Effective Communication .......... 65 9. On Attitude ............................................................ 71 10. Anthropomaximology? ......................................... 79 11. On Words .............................................................. 89 12. On Technology ...................................................... 99 13. On Keeping a Journal .......................................... 105 14. On Social Media .................................................. 115 15. 10 Ways to Improve Life and Work Balance ...... 129 16. On Gratitude ........................................................ 135 17. Anyway! .............................................................. 143 18. On Mentors .......................................................... 147 19. A Final Word ....................................................... 153 About the Author ....................................................... 159 VII Introduction re you ready to embrace new and better ways of getting things done? Now is the time, today A is the day for exciting and new actions. My sincere hope is that this book will inspire you, empower you, and that you will use the tools and simple strategies contained here toward improving your personal effectiveness. Others are watching you, waiting to see what you will do. Results are the name of the game. This book will assist you in achieving twice as much in half the time IF you persist in taking action every day to create a more effective YOU. In time, others will want to know how you get so much done. Then—and only then—will you be ready to make a difference in the world by sharing it with others. Thank you for your trust. I promise you when you put this book down, you will be a different person. Mark Matteson IX Chapter 1 Inspirational Dissatisfaction! ave you ever heard someone say, It’s about time? When things get bad enough in our life, H we are motivated to change. I like to call it INSPIRATIONAL DISSATISFACTION! This little project is something I HAD to write. These are lessons I needed to learn and then relearn. In sharing this with you, I am reminding myself that IF I practice what I preach on these pages, I will get the results I seek in a fraction of the time and effort expended. First-person experience has proven this time and time again. Like me, if you have ever spent an extended period of time disorganized, frantic, going 200 mph and ultimately not getting the critical things done, you will appreciate what these simple (not easy) ideas can do for your life. You will experience joy, balance, peace of mind, and a sense of control and effectiveness that is truly life altering. Once you have mastered some of these principles, teach them to two people you care about. It 1 It’s About TIME will help them and cement the learning, so you might attain mastery of your time and talent. It’s called “dual-plane learning.” Think of this book as a buffet. On your first visit, take a few things and put them on your plate. Taste them. How are they? Do you want seconds? On your next trip through the line, try something else. Taste it. Good huh? Have some more. Life is like that: trial and error. It’s also governed by the greatest law in the universe, the Law of Cause and Effect. We reap what we sow. Okay, let’s get started... What is time? American Heritage Dictionary defines it as a non-spatial continuum in which events occur in apparently irreversible succession, which isn’t very helpful. One mentor of mine called it event control. I prefer Ben Franklin’s simple description, Time is the stuff of which life is made. In my mind, the saddest phrase in the English language is IF ONLY I HAD... It’s the pain of regret. It’s not being true to yourself, your goals, objectives, and the reason you are here on earth. It’s living life with sadness and beating yourself up because of past sins of omission and commission. Blame and regret, regret and blame. It’s Marlon Brando in the 1954 Best Picture, On the Waterfront. Charlie: Look, kid, I—how much you weigh, son? When you weighed one hundred and sixty-eight pounds you were beautiful. You coulda been another Billy Conn, and that skunk we got you for a manager, he brought you along too fast. 2 Inspirational Dissatisfaction! Terry: It wasn't him, Charley, it was you. Remember that night in the Garden you came down to my dressing room and you said, Kid, this ain't your night. We're going for the price on Wilson. You remember that? This ain't your night! My night! I coulda taken Wilson apart! So what happens? He gets the title shot outdoors on the ballpark and what do I get? A one-way ticket to Palookaville! You was my brother, Charley; you shoulda looked out for me a little bit. You shoulda taken care of me just a little bit so I wouldn't have to take them dives for the short-end money. Charlie: Oh I had some bets down for you. You saw some money. Terry: You don't understand. I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I coulda been somebody instead of a bum, which is what I am; let's face it. It was you, Charley. This book is about living your life with no regret. It is about eliminating the IF ONLY I HAD’s in your life. If you follow the suggestions, you will live a full and rich life and accomplish twice as much in half the time. You will have realized that vast potential within you. We have all the time there is. No one has any more or less of it: 24 hours in a day, 1,440 minutes, 86,400 seconds. Ever hear someone say Do you have a second? That usually means an hour. Why don’t we say no? The truth is we don’t manage time very well. We are not mindful. We manage activities in relation to the sands of time, dropping through our own personal hourglass. 3 It’s About TIME No time? That’s a myth. Here are some other myths about time. I call them Rational Lies. See if you are guilty of using one or more of these excuses. I know I have. 1. I am waiting until I have more time. 2. It (planning) doesn’t work for me. 3. I always lose my list. 4. I already took a time management course (or read the book). 5. You just can’t get organized around here. 6. But there is nothing I can do. 7. People keep interrupting me. 8. Time Management is boring. 9. Isn’t there a danger you will get so organized you can’t get anything done? 10. I need someone to motivate me. Is it time to be honest? Are you operating on a small fraction of your potential? Would you like to learn how to get twice as much done in half the time? If you answered yes, read on..