Tick Talk with Trapper Woods, Father Time™

Failsafe Gaol Getting

2008-01-04T16:44:00.000-08:00

2008 is once again another new beginning. For most people the start of a new year is received with positive anticipation. To use typical jargon it’s time to turn over a new leaf, make resolutions, get a fresh start, chart a new course, or in other words begin anew.

Unfortunately for many, dreams soon vaporize and resolutions die in the top dresser drawer. That won’t happen to you this year if you use my “power goal formula” technique.

The power goal formula is simple and can serve as success insurance. Simply have fun using these ten power tips.

Singularize it! Pick one single goal that will enrich your life.

Energizer it! Make sure it is connected to an important innermost value.

Write it! Describe your goal in one specific sentence.

Sub-divide it! Build a pathway of written action steps that will get you there.

Price it! Ask, “Am I willing to pay the price?” If you really are then proceed.

Access it! Constantly remind yourself of your goal by keeping it visually accessible on the refrigerator door, in your computer, in your wallet and posted in your work space.

Publish it! Share your goal with others who will support you and hold you accountable.

Visualize it! Create a mind picture of your success and visualize it when you get up in the morning and before you retire.

Affirm it! Make verbal success affirmations out loud each time you brush your teeth and several times during the day.

Celebrate it! When you get there, savor your success and have a party. Send us your story to share with and inspire others.

Send it to trapper@trapperwooods.com Perhaps we will put all success stories in a book called, “I Did It, and You Can Too!”

All of us at Trapper Woods International wish you the Best of Time for the New Year.

Trapper

Save Time With Skillfull Listening

2008-01-01T16:50:00.000-08:00

The skill of listening carefully is an essential time saver. Trying to listen to somebody while walking with them down the hallway, simultaneously slicing open your mail, permitting an interruption from a third party, listening on your cell phone in heavy traffic, or simply being preoccupied is risky. It is also impolite. Please take a moment to rate your listening skills.

√Stop! Do you stop all other activities when somebody is talking to you? If so, give yourself 2 points.

√ Look! Do you look directly into the eyes of the person speaking? If so, give yourself 2 points.

√ Listen! Do you listen not only with your face but observe non-verbal signals? If so, give yourself 2 points.

√ Record! Do you always have a paper journal to note key points, promises and deadlines? If so give yourself two points.

√ Replay it! Do you feed back what you think you’ve heard? If so, give yourself 2 points.

Add up your points.

Are you a ten when it comes to listening? If you are not, simply practice these five crucial skills and you’ll save time and have more respect.

A Work-Life Motto

2007-12-28T14:46:00.000-08:00

Have Faith, it will sustain you

Plan Carefully, it’s essential

Simplify Life, get rid of stuff

Lighten Your Load, toss mental baggage

Be Strong, because you are

Experience Nature, it’s God’s medicine

Befriend a Time Angel

2007-12-15T16:31:00.000-08:00

The more my eyes dim with age the more clearly I see what works in time and life. Something that does work is to team up with a mentor, someone with experience.

When starting anything significant, new and challenging solicit help from an expert. You are surrounded by “Time Angels”, people who can help you see clearly because they’ve been there before. Many are willing to give freely of their time because they care. Sometimes though, it makes sense to invest in a personal coach, which is really an investment in YOU.

Ruts, Routines, Rituals and Your Time

2007-09-27T11:59:00.003-07:00

These are the three R’s of time management.
Ruts are bad time management habits that should be eliminated. An example is preoccupation. Work to control these.

Routines are activities that need to be repeated on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. Systemize these by determining the best times, places and methods for getting them done. Then do them the same way every time. If you do you’ll be more efficient.

Rituals are personal techniques for putting yourself in the best state for accomplishing the tasks you are facing. An example is driving negative head talk out of your mind with positive affirmations. For example, “My presentation is going to go extremely well,” repeated over and over again.

Analyze your ruts, routines and rituals. Get out of the ruts, streamline your routines, and create some rituals. Your time will be more sublime.

Look Before You Leap

2007-09-27T11:59:00.001-07:00

A sensible swimmer always assesses the water before diving in. An astute time manager first pauses and looks at the sea of options before plunging into chaos.

Here then is an important time management technique. Before plunging, pause momentarily and ask the instant time management question. It is, “What is the best use of my time right now?” Decide what it is, then do that thing first. You can use this question many times during the day to keep from drowning in a sea of irrelevancy. Try, it you’ll like it.

You've Heard of The Six Minute Mile, But What About The Three Minute Hour?

2007-07-05T12:46:00.000-07:00

The three minute hour is fun fast and effective. You’ll love it! Here’s how it works. Set aside an hour in your office to not be interrupted. Get together every loose end you can think of that you can do in three minutes or less and do them.

Focus on such things as notes you’ve made on little pieces of paper, short calls where people are waiting for a quick answer. File loose papers, make dinner reservations and any other activities you can do in three minutes or less If it can’t be done in three minutes or less don’t do it.

At the end of the hour your loose ends will be done and you’ll feel a great sense of accomplishment.

Slow Down You Move Too Fast!

2007-07-05T12:45:00.000-07:00

One of the most enjoyable time management tips is to slow things up. People who are so rushed they think they don’t have time to take lunch or breaks should be given a warning rather than a badge of courage. It’s unhealthy!

An internal combustion engine is not efficient if it’s constantly running on full throttle and neither is a human being. Schedule time for a relaxed lunch and unrushed breaks. When you do, you’ll discover you will be operating more efficiently.

Electronic or Paper? Post Your Comments

2007-06-01T10:27:00.000-07:00

There are many problems inherent in the Blackberry. There is little or no planning. There is rarely a record of what was done, no record of what was covered in meetings, what so and so said and when he/she said something would be accomplished.

There surely must be very few Blackberry users who have included unifying principles, professional, business and personal goals that can be reviewed daily. I would also imagine that very few Blackberry users have a system for recording expenses and if they do, rarely print them out to have a monthly copy.

You can read your e-mails and respond to them while driving 85 miles an hour while looking ahead with one eye and looking to the rear for the trooper in his unmarked vehicle. So, big, hairy deal. So, no thank you, I am too anal to change. The Day-Timer system has served me well since the early 60s…probably 1961 or 1962 and I am not going to change.

Comment Sent: Bob Ferrill by email

What Do Root Canals and Time Management Have in Common?

2007-05-10T06:22:00.000-07:00

It’s likely you would keep your root canal appointment even though it’s something you hate to do. Each day most of us face a task we hate to do. Setting aside an appointed time to get it done and going after it with root-canal –like-discipline is a powerful time management habit. Usually the earlier in the day the better.

Like keeping a root canal appointment go to a place other than your office. And for sure, don’t permit interruptions and telephone calls during the appointed time. You wouldn’t do that in the dentist’s chair.

What is your root canal today? What time is your appointment? Feel the pain and do it anyway.

Three E-mail Etiquette Essentials

2007-05-07T13:04:00.000-07:00

First, when forwarding e-mail to others delete all of the e-mail addresses of the persons through whose computers the message has already traveled. This protects those e-mail addresses from being exposed all over the internet.

Second, clarify the purpose of your e-mail in the subject line.

Third, keep it simple. Limit e-mail points to one or two.

Time and Ethics

2007-05-06T17:31:00.000-07:00

There is a time management principle not often discussed. I call it time integrity. Time integrity is delivering for one’s employer maximum productivity per hour of time worked.

Where time integrity is practiced everyone benefits; the workforce, the company and the customer. When time integrity is not practiced Parkinson’s Law quickly takes over. Parkinson’s Law states, “Work expands to fill the time allotted.”

Signs that time integrity is lacking includes such things as finishing getting ready for work at work, surfing the net, stretching breaks and lunch and private cell phone calls on company time. Others include needless interruptions, over socializing and the list goes on and on.

Parkinson’s Law is quickly neutralized in organizations where two things happen.

First, an organization wide awareness of the importance of time and how it’s being used and measured is created and maintained.

Second, there is concentrated effort to hire and train people with a strong work ethic.

After all, time is a highly perishable crucial resource no organization can afford to squander. When one practices time integrity job security is reinforced and career path opportunities are enhanced.