7 Tips from the VIPs: Skyrocket your Time Management Skills Today

Time, distinctively known as the fourth dimension alongside height, width, and depth, stands out for its intangible nature.

Yet, it remains quantifiable.

Embracing the notion that mastering time equates to mastering everything, pursuing effective time-management tools transcends mere triviality.

But what does time management truly entail?

Despite the uniform distribution of 1440 minutes to everyone daily, only a select few are celebrated for transforming these minutes into monumental achievements.

Cutting straight to the point, the managers and businesspeople who have consistently proven their success over time are those best equipped to impart wisdom on mastering time management.

Your ability to manage time effectively can dramatically improve by following their guidance.

Recognize your limits

When it feels like there aren't enough hours in the day, the temptation to cut into our leisure time can lead to a critical error.

Successful individuals understand the necessity of pacing themselves to maintain productivity. Studies on work efficiency have shown a significant drop in productivity when the workweek surpasses 50 hours.

Specifically, working 70 hours does not yield more output than working 55 hours.

Kevin Systrom, co-founder of Instagram, advocates for the importance of accumulating life experiences for career advancement. However, he emphasizes that embracing failure and acknowledging human error are pivotal to success.

Similarly, Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba, reveals that in Chinese culture, the concept of 'success' is often sidestepped in favor of precise, long-term planning. Aiming for achievements that span a century, they are reminded of their temporal limitations and the potential for their creations to endure beyond their lifetime, encouraging a humble approach to time management and legacy building.

Strive for integrity

Marketing represents the way you showcase yourself, while branding reflects how you are perceived by others in reality.

The discrepancy between self-promotion and actual perception is minimal for individuals adept at managing their time.

Aligning the image you project with the reality of how you're received ensures harmony with your surroundings, facilitating effortless progress and the timely achievement of impressive results.

Warren Buffett, celebrated for his remarkable success, has acknowledged that embodying qualities such as honesty and integrity lay the strongest foundation for success.

Mary Wells, who became a leading figure in the international advertising industry during the 1960s, suggested that success requires "doubling yourself."

This involves broadening your perspectives through travel, unlocking personal potential by connecting with new people, and cultivating your talents through consistent effort and dedication.

Focus

Multitasking is a myth: Canadian psychologists proved it in a series of experiments and concluded that our brain actually switches between two different tasks when we are dealing with them.

You can train yourself to make it switch faster but still not to the point when you will be able to do two things simultaneously.

Don Valentine, often called the ‘godfather’ of Silicon Valley, advises to listen more than speak and never lose focus on financial metrics.

Diverting your attention from the core goals of your business might result in losing the track of time and falling behind. As he says:

All companies that go out of business do so for the same reason – they run out of money.

Prioritize (extra tip: with software, you can do it better)

Not to be crippled by short-term results versus long-term goals, you need to chunk your workflow and categorize it.

Sometimes, people let their tasks pile up, unsystematic or on hold, and they feel overwhelmed by the overloaded schedule.

To avoid it, you need to adjust your habit of prioritizing. It will help you evaluate your tasks by their importance.

People nowadays are metrics-driven, as quantifying brings clarity. It also makes remembering important things easy and keeps your priorities visualized.

It would be strange if Bill Gates did not apply technologies to facilitate his business. The tech giant shares that he uses an Outlook Calendar and SharePoint for arranging ideas, articles, and projects to have immediate access across his entire company.

Wake up early

Benjamin Franklin put famously: “Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise”.

But now, there is no shortage of great followers whose life philosophy seems to be based on this useful habit.

A tech mogul, Tim Cook, is known for getting up as early as 3:45 am. He does e-mail for an hour to catch up with those who are time zones ahead, then hits the gym, then goes to Starbucks, and then works.

Jack Dorsey, the co-founder of Twitter, also revealed that he wakes up at 5:30 am to meditate and jog.

Control your expenditure

Interestingly, numerous individuals with substantial financial means often choose to live well below their potential spending power.

For example, Walmart's founder, Sam Walton, famously opted for a modest mode of transportation, driving an old Ford pickup truck despite his wealth.

Warren Buffett, despite being a billionaire capable of affording virtually anything, chooses to allocate his funds towards philanthropy rather than personal luxuries.

Known as the world's most successful investor, Buffett resides in the same modest home he purchased for $31,500 years ago, steering clear of lavish spending habits.

This approach highlights a crucial lesson: the importance of planning. Without a plan, it's easy to squander money.

However, one can seamlessly cut down on unnecessary expenses by managing time effectively. This not only alleviates financial strain but also lays the foundation for executing long-term strategies successfully.

Work for yourself

While many top performers excel within the corporate world, it's widely recognized that pursuing self-employment can be a quicker path to success.

Working for a company provides a stable environment to achieve professional ambitions. Yet, it may cap your earning potential compared to what you could achieve as an independent entrepreneur managing your time.

Without creating your personal roadmap, you risk following a path laid out by someone else, possibly ending up far from where you intended.

Embracing self-employment ensures that your efforts are devoted to what you genuinely love.

Echoing this sentiment, Gary Vaynerchuk, a self-made millionaire known for his ambitious projects and early predictions on the popularity of social media, once remarked, "You have a lot more time than you think." This suggests the vast opportunities available when you steer your own course..

To wrap it up

It's impossible to achieve every single dream within a single lifetime. The vast array of aspirations we hold can't all be realized. However, what's within our power is maximizing the use of the time we are given.