Time Management Fundamentals

   

Exercise

This exercise will help clear your mind of all your unresolved tasks. While you can complete this activity by yourself, itʼs
recommended that you work with a partner. This exercise will take approximately one hour to complete.

By Yourself—Read the first trigger item on the list aloud. Think about that trigger. If any unresolved task comes to
mind, write it down. If nothing comes to mind, move on to the next trigger, repeating this process until you have
completed the exercise.

With a Partner—Have your partner read the first trigger item on the list aloud. Think about that trigger. If any
unresolved task comes to mind, write it down. If nothing comes to mind, say “next.” Your partner should move on to the
next trigger, repeating this process until you have completed the exercise.
 

BUSINESS

Focus: Leadership Focus: Marketing

Company/department values, vision, mission Marketing projects, incomplete or new

Leadership training Documents for marketing or advertising
Time management Waiting for: something from marketing
Personal systems Company/office decor
Personal development Advertising campaigns
Skills to learn or improve Web site items
Books to read Online research
Important read & review Target market analysis
Decisions to tell employees Research: competitors
Networking Research: market/industry
Items to disengage from Strategic alliances or partnerships
Questions to ask & consider Professional wardrobe or uniforms
Items to discuss with coach Marketing systems
Exit or harvest strategy Marketing message ideas
Business ideas Ideas for advertising campaigns
Ideas for expansion
Focus: Customers
Focus: Personnel
Commitments/promises to customers
Meetings with co-workers Customer loyalty projects
Meetings with contractors Customer loyalty training
Organization chart Complaints to resolve
Hiring or firing Best customers—re-contact
Managerial training Best customers—gifts & perks
Events or Meetings to plan Customer loyalty systems
Employee loyalty projects Waiting for: customer reports/feedback
Commitments/promises to coworkers Waiting for: something for customers
Getting to know & serving coworkers Waiting for: something from customers
Coworkersʼ evaluations & reviews Ideas for customer loyalty
Waiting for: something from coworkers
Position descriptions
Responsibilities to delegate
Follow-up on delegated items
Managerial systems
Ideas for organizational change

course: Time Management Fundamentals

video: Clearing your mind using mental triggers
mentalTriggers.docx
page 1 of 3  
 Focus: Product/Services Focus: Administration

Fulfilling promises made by marketing Gathering points

Inventory Office organization/layout
Production equipment Building maintenance
Service representative training Utilities
Outsourced suppliers E-mail
Meeting with outside sales reps Faxes
Production systems CRM or contact software
Ideas for new products Other software
Ideas for new services Computers, monitors, printers
Cell phones or office phones
Internet & network
Focus: Sales Computer/IT unification
Computer backup
Follow-through: prospects Computer security (firewall, virus, etc)
Groups or associations to join Desks, chairs, furniture
Presentations Filing cabinets, folders, archives
Referrals Physical inboxes, outboxes
Sales forecasts Equipment to buy
Sales quantification/tracking/reports Supplies to buy
Sales training Travel-related items & tasks
Re-contact old customers Reference documents: personal
Sales systems Reference documents: company
Waiting for: prospect replies Safety & emergency protocols
Waiting for: sales reports/feedback Systems: operations manual
Ideas for new sales systems Systems: new training documents
Ideas for facilities changes
Focus: Business Finances

Meetings with financial professionals

Accounting & bookkeeping
Invoices & accounts payable
Waiting for: accounts receivable
Budgets
Financial reports (P/L, cash flow, balance)
Cash flow management & credit lines
Financial analysis/strategic planning
Waiting for: financial reports
Money security, checks & balances
Customer identity security
Petty cash
Reimbursements & requisitions
Financial systems
Ideas for money liabilities to lose
Ideas for money assets to purchase

course: Time Management Fundamentals

video: Clearing your mind using mental triggers
mentalTriggers.docx
   page 2 of 3
 PERSONAL

Focus: Self Focus: Personal Finances

Personal values, vision Financial vision, goals

Personal goals Budget & cash flow
Physical health: exercise Bills to pay
Physical health: nutrition Credit cards
Mental health Utilities
Spiritual health Tax-related items
Doctors, dentists, specialists Allowances
Waiting for: medical data Banks & other financial institutions
Personal trainers/coaches/mentors Mortgages & repayment plans
Books to read Loans & repayment plans
Education Accountant, lawyer, financial planner
Hobbies Real estate
Talents to develop Landlord
Stress management Investments
Commitments/promises to self Estate & retirement planning
Meditation Waiting for: rebates
Ideas for recreation Waiting for: financial information
Dreams Financial dreams

Focus: Family Focus: Home

Commitments/promises to family Filing & reference plan

Couple values, vision, goals etc. Gathering points
Important discussions: couple Areas to organize, clean
Important discussions: children Builders & contractors
Recurring dates/recreation with spouse Heating & air-conditioning
Recurring recreation with children Plumbing: fixtures, toilets, shower
Family events & recreation Electricity, light bulbs, wiring
Family projects Roofing
Birthdays, anniversaries, holidays Landscape & driveway
Weddings, graduation, significant events Garage & storage
Waiting for: something from family members Walls, floors, ceilings
Family meetings, planning, discussion Décor, furniture, accessories
Ideas for family recreation & travel Kitchen appliances
Other ideas for family Closets
Computers, printer, monitor
Focus: Friends & Community Software
E-mail
Commitments/promises to friends Computer backup
People to get to know Internet & home network
Community groups, clubs, to join TV, cable, satellite
Social events DVDs, CDs, digital media
RSVPs (waiting for or to send) Cameras, film, digital pictures
Sporting events Phones & voicemail
Community events Sports equipment
Community service projects Vehicle repair: external & internal
Waiting for: community info Vehicle maintenance: major & minor
School/Institution events Tools
Church/Spiritual service Luggage
Legal, crime, security issues Pets
Emergency preparedness Clothes
Homeowners association items Errands
Waiting for: items lent Ideas for home improvement
Borrowed items to return
Items to disengage from
Ideas for community service

course: Time Management Fundamentals

video: Clearing your mind using mental triggers
mentalTriggers.docx
   page 3 of 3