There are a lot of different factors that come into play when it comes to being successful. Today, let’s focus on two of them (being organised and being on time) that can make a huge difference in your day-to-day life.
Think back on some of the most successful people you’ve met in your own life. The chances are they were good at both of these – organised and being on time.
There’s a reason why both of these factors will make such a big difference when it comes to being successful.
Both being on time and organised can help you make the best possible use of your time and energy. When referring to energy, it includes both mental and physical energy.
We have a limited supply of both along with being restricted to 24 hours on a given day. In other words, both time and energy are limited resources. What being on time and staying organised helps with is making the most of those resources and focusing them on tasks and activities that help us reach the goals that define success.
There are two different ways in which being both on time and organised will help you succeed. Let’s look at both of them and then briefly discuss how to get better at them.
Being on Time, Being Organised and Productivity
How much time have you wasted this week looking for a misplaced item or file? How about your car keys?
How much time have you wasted because you didn’t show up on time for an appointment and ended up having to wait?
Making an effort to be on time and staying organised helps you save precious time and energy. Being on time is all about time management and awareness. Work will always stretch out into however much time you give it.
Becoming more aware and better at time management will help you work more efficiently. The same is true for being well organised.
Being Organised and On Time Helps You Look Professional
Showing up late for an appointment or interview makes you look bad. So does not being prepared or having to dig around for a few minutes to find something needed.
That is particularly true when it comes to first impressions. Work on getting better at both, so you get the chances you deserve, and people see you as the respected person or expert in your field that you are.
How to Get Better At Both
You now know why it’s important to work on getting organised and being on time. So, let’s look at how we can improve both those skills.
What it comes down to is getting into the habit of being conscious of time and staying on top of organisational tasks. Yes, if you’re exceptionally disorganised, it will take some up-front work to clear things up.
Once completed though, you have to make an effort day in and day out to put things back in their place and stay organised. That is true for physical items, digital items, and even thoughts and ideas.
The short answer then is to practice both being on time and staying organised on a daily basis until they become habits.
Are You Ready to Make the Tough Decisions Success Brings?
A big part of being successful and productive is being able to prioritise what you should be doing and what you shouldn’t be doing.
Those can be tough decisions to make, particularly when it involves other people or giving up on a project that you’ve put a lot of hard work and soul into already. It also isn’t always easy to see the right path forward and determine what the best call is. Here are a few tips to help you make the best decisions possible.
Keep the Big Picture In Mind
It’s easy to find yourself stuck in the details. We are working on one little part, and that’s all we can see. It’s hard to notice progress and make sure you’re on the right track in that frame of mind.
Keep your big goal or your unique definition of success front and center. Write it down and post it in front of your desk or on your bathroom mirror.
Not only will this keep you motivated, but it will also serve as a sort of compass that will keep you on the right path.
Stay Organised
It’s easy to get confused and be unable to make decisions when your surroundings and your mind are cluttered. Staying organised when it comes to what you’re working on is key.
Keep your files in order, so that it’s easy to find the information you need to make an important decision. Make sure you’re clear on your goals and the path to reach them.
Getting in the habit of getting and staying organised instead of functioning from a place of clutter will make it much easier to prioritise the important tasks and work efficiently.
Make the Time to Review
It’s not always easy to see what’s working and what isn’t when you’re in the middle of things. Set aside time each week to step back and analyse your progress.
Decide what’s working well and what isn’t. Correct your course as needed and decide if it’s time to change things up or pull the plug.
The more often you make those tough decisions, the easier it will become to make them. With time and experience, you’ll also get better at judging what the best choice is.
The road to success is full of learning opportunities. Don’t be afraid to fail or make the wrong decision. You’ll learn from every single one.
Failing fast and failing often can be the quickest way to success.
