Shocking Revelation about Time Management and Your Self-Esteem

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POOR time management can cost you big time. This is stating the obvious. I am still ruing from an experience. Sometime in 2013, I was to meet up with some clients in Greenwich, London. These clients were eager to set up some cultural infrastructure in Nigeria, and were looking for partners. I was interested and a meeting was fixed. For some inexplicable reasons, I was slow to prepare for this appointment. Infact I behaved like I had all the time in the world. When I eventually set out for that meeting, there was an unexpected traffic caused by what, till today, I still can’t tell. Bottom line, I was late for the meeting, missed the appointment, and indeed missed the opportunity. I still feel sad when I remember that experience, but lessons have been learnt I must admit. So what is time management? Let’s cut out all the technicalities. 

Time management refers to the way you organize and plan how long you will spend on specific activities. You can also say that time management is determining what is the best action to take right now, and what is the best way to do it. This involves priority clarification and action to back up the priority.

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You are what your time management mindset is, hard but true. One of the greatest secrets of personal and business success is your ability to optimize your use of time. Time management is a mindset. By this I mean that time management mindset is the value you place to your time. Some scholars argue that time management is indeed a self-esteem issue; if you see your life as valuable and meaningful, then you will value your time as well. Time management on your part speaks volume about your attitude and disposition to an issue at stake, and invariably your life and values. 

Think about this. If you come late to a meeting or gathering, you are invariably saying that you care less about those you are meeting with. If you are late to an interview or religious service, then you can imagine what you are saying, though inadvertently. Is there any wonder why the world’s most progressive nations have very high regards, near worship of time keeping and management? Place this side by side to the "African Time" syndrome, a phenomenon that indirectly suggests a people without regards to self, others and society.  You also see why any progressively-looking individual is adverse to that "African Time" talk, it is insulting to say the least.

How do you improve your time management? There are a lot of ways but allow me to focus on just 5.

First, learn about time management. Reading this post is one of the ways. You should also learn how to shift your focus from activities to results; being busy is not the same as being effective. Make a list of the tasks you want to accomplish starting from your major priorities and do all you can to achieve them. Learn to delegate tasks. There is a major problem with your time management when it is you that must execute all the tasks on a plate. And finally, set deadlines when any agreed task must be done, and make sure that that task is done excellently.

I would like to hear from you. What has you experience been like with time management or any issues we have talked about on The Next Level with Chukwuemeka. Please share with us.

In your success journey, what insights have you acquired or tips you would like to share? Please share with us. I would like to hear from you. Your feedback is valued.

Also kindly encourage your friends to visit this blog www.iamchukwuemeka.blogspot.com for motivational and inspirational pieces. You may never know how it can benefit them.

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