Have you ever thought about how people are created equal? Did you know that there is one way and one way only that we are all exactly the same? That way is time. It doesn’t matter how much money you have, or what school you went to, or where you were raised… you only get 24 hours in a day.  That’s 86,400 seconds in each 24-hour period. 

The way to be most efficient and effective with your time and get the most out of your 24 hours is to follow these five simple steps.

Write. Everything you need or want to get done in a day, write it down.  You don’t have to overcomplicate this one.  Just get a simple legal pad of paper and write "Things To Do Monday" at the top. Then start your list. I do things to the ridiculous. 1. Wake up at 6 a.m. 2. Go to gym by 6:30. 3. E-mail Mike regarding marketing. 4. Call Mary about business cards. 5. Pick up dry cleaning. 6. Drop off bracelet at jeweler. 7. Buy stamps…etc. If you simply write down what needs to be done you will free up your mind and instantly be more focused and get more done.

Eliminate distractions. Distractions or interruptions are the primary cause for people to not be efficient and get what needs to be done, done. Here you have two options.  Option A - remove the distractor. If it’s the phone, turn it off.  If it’s e-mail, don’t even log into your account until your project is complete. If it’s television, don’t turn it on.  Option B. Remove yourself from the distractor.  If you work in an office where others are constantly being a distraction or interruptive, then you need to not be in that environment.  If possible work from home to complete a project.  Go to an available conference room or empty office and close the door.  If you are in a cubicle put up a sign that reads, Do NOT Disturb or Quiet time from 9-noon, no interruptions please.

Stay in the moment. Many times people do not use the present moment effectively because they are projecting in the future or dwelling on the past. The future is not here yet, so it is most efficient and effective to get the most you can out of this moment, right now.  By writing a things to do list you will be eliminating, or a least reducing stress and random thoughts. You will be more organized, together and know what you need to do and when you need to do it by.   If you are dwelling on the past, with all do respect you need to get over it and move on.  Here’s the thing, no matter how much you ponder and percolate on something that has already happened , it isn’t going to change what happened.  It is what it is.  Think about where you are now and what you can do in this present moment to make the best of any situation.

Set an alarm. If you need to get something done in a specific amount of time or if you need to dedicate minutes, hours, etc  to a project to complete it by the deadline, set an alarm. Use one on your computer, watch, cell phone, egg timer, or an actually alarm clock.  Until that alarm sounds, you stay focused and only work on that one project.  Allotting a specific amount of time will enable you to concentrate on just the matter at hand without concerning yourself with the clock or other things around you.

Have a reward. Nothing is better than having a little incentive when you are learning a new habit. The next time you are struggling with managing your time, give your self a reward.  Say when I have my entire things to do list complete every day for one week, I will give myself blank, as a treat.  Now you have a reason to stay focused, avoid distractions and get what needs done, done.

Those are the five basic steps for Time Management.  What are you waiting for??? Get to writing your things to do list today!

Are you looking for change in your life? Are you looking to go to the next level?  Are you stuck in a rut?  Do you have no idea what you want, or if you do know what you want, do you have no idea how to go about getting it?  If you answered yes to any of these questions then you need Average2Awesome Life coaching.  Go to Average2awesomelife.com to find out more.  Start now and create the life you want!

Sharmen Lane just became a columnist for the New York Examiner

If you are interested Entrepreneurial articles be sure to visit my new page on the examiner website.  If you are interested in the latest and greatest Entrepreneurial ideas then you need to check it out.  Everything you need from filing to fabulous will be covered in this column.

There are lots of other columns to choose from as well. Things like, arts and entertainment, schools, career, bars and restaurants, health, politics, shopping and much, much more. Here is a link to find the examiner near you. http://www.examiner.com

PS- My company SharSpeaks LLC is offering a free 15 minute consultation to help get you from where you are to where you want to be. Just visit sharspeaks.com and complete the quick and easy survey and someone will call or email you to set up an appointment.

By Success Expert and Inspirational Expert Sharmen Lane

Guest:Tony Mitchell and Michael Losier

This is new year and new times are to come. How would you like to create the year you want? Today we are going to show you how with our two experts. First is Tony Mitchell a Silva Method Expert who is going to tell us how to use the Silva Method to create the life you want. Then Michael Losier Best Selling Author of The Law of Attraction will share with us his tools to attract what we want and not what we don’t.

 

 Creating a Divine 09 [59:17m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 by Motivational Speaker and Success Expert Sharmen Lane

 

 Career Changers [59:58m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

by Motivational Speaker and Success Expert Sharmen Lane

Today we are going to answer some of the most commonly asked questions that have been asked y email or mail but have not been answered on the air.  We figured if one person is willing to write in about it, there are likely manymore of you that have the same question and just haven’t asked it for one reason or another.  So, sit back, relax and listen for the answer to your question.

 

 Q and A All The Way [50:22m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

By Motivational Speaker and Success Expert Sharmen Lane

Today we are going to have a lesson in CPR.  Choices and Personal Responsibility.  I think this time of year is great for looking over the past year, evaluating it and determining what we like and dislike about who, what, and where we are and how our choices got us there.  The best way to make a change is to take personal responsibility for where we are and how we got there. If you change your choices, you change your life.

 

 CPR~ Choices and Personal Responsibility [55:17m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

By Motivational Speaker and Success Expert Sharmen Lane

Guest:Ethan Ewing and Kim Kiyosaki

Topic:  Tough Times Create Tough People

 

 Tough Times Equal Tough People [55:17m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

By Success Expert Sharmen Lane 

 

 Get It Going [56:04m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

by Motivational Speaker and Author Sharmen Lane

This week we are going to be talking to Jessica Sabatini, a Results Coaching System Certified Life reDirection Expert.  She has designed The Prosper With Purpose System, a set of strategies based in neuroscience and metaphysics for bringing clarity to your life’s direction and purpose, laser blasting blocks that have been holding you back for years, tapping into your joy and flow of life, and making huge strides towards your beautifully ambitious life goals.  We will be showing you how to create a life of meaning, confidence, joy and success.

 

 Prosper with Purpose [55:19m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download