Andy Raynor - Beyond the Brief

Andy Raynor's blog

A Life of Wasted Time?

Deep conversation this weekend made me aware of how little control we may exert over our lives.

You cannot control everything (and shouldn’t try to), but the question is – are you on the receiving end or are you doing the things that matter, and for a reason?

And whilst I decided then and there what mattered and what I am going to make happen......I forgot about the notepad I’d left by the computer in the office on Friday evening.

I looked at the list just now and thought again about that wisdom and how I could apply it. Let me try it out on you.

First up, choose what is true of you:

“I am surrounded by things I need to do”

“I am surrounded by things that need to be done”

Or is it neither, and the question you should be asking is whether these things need doing – at all.

Around a third of your time is spent doing things that just don’t matter and half the rest doing things that someone else could. No: someone else should .

Here are some questions to ask of your time this week and every week, this day and every day.....until you ask them every time you feel you have to do something:

1. How long is your list? Long lists never get done. Start crossing things off.

2. What are your real priorities? Most priorities are not priorities, they are stuff.

3. Why you? It isn't only your time you're wasting by not giving the work out.

And above all, remember a question once asked of me by a potential client. We were in a first meeting gained from a mailshot, never the best place. We had 35 minutes then he started to put on his coat. We speeded into the bit about how interesting we were and not the normal kind of accountants and we would leave him with a brochure and.....he held up a hand to halt the hyperventilating flow.

“The only thing I want to know” he said “Is what difference you make?”

He remembered what most of us forget.

Real priorities are ones that make a difference, everything else is less.

Tell me what you think at andy@andypraynor.com

And see what's been said before by looking in the archive:

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© Andy Raynor 2013

	Andy Raynor - Beyond the Brief

	Andy Raynor's blog A Life of Wasted Time? Deep conversation this weekend made me aware of how little control we may exert over our lives. You cannot control everything (and shouldn’t try to), but the question is – are you on the receiving end or are you doing the things that matter, and for a reason? And whilst I decided then and there what mattered and what I am going to make happen......I forgot about the notepad I’d left by the computer in the office on Friday evening. I looked at the list just now and thought again about that wisdom and how I could apply it. Let me try it out on you. First up, choose what is true of you: “I am surrounded by things I need to do” “I am surrounded by things that need to be done” *Or is it neither, and the question you should be asking is whether these things need doing – at all.* Around a third of your time is spent doing things that just don’t matter and half the rest doing things that someone else could. No: someone else should . Here are some questions to ask of your time this week and every week, this day and every day.....until you ask them every time you feel you have to do something: 1. How long is your list? Long lists never get done. Start crossing things off. 2. What are your real priorities? Most priorities are not priorities, they are stuff. 3. Why you? It isn't only your time you're wasting by not giving the work out. And above all, remember a question once asked of me by a potential client. We were in a first meeting gained from a mailshot, never the best place. We had 35 minutes then he started to put on his coat. We speeded into the bit about how interesting we were and not the normal kind of accountants and we would leave him with a brochure and.....he held up a hand to halt the hyperventilating flow. “The only thing I want to know” he said “Is what difference you make?” He remembered what most of us forget. Real priorities are ones that make a difference, everything else is less. Tell me what you think at andy@andypraynor.com And see what's been said before by looking in the archive:
	Home \| Why? \| Me \| You \| Advisers \| Blog \| Links \| Contact	© Andy Raynor 2013