T I M E M A N A G E M E N T
your behalf.” For all our subsequent research on the working of
the brain, that remains a perceptive description.
You can get that subconscious stranger working for you on any
job you have to perform.
The night before the job, settle in your mind exactly what you
want to accomplish the following day. You’re not issuing orders
here. You’re not telling the subconscious how you intend to do the
job. That’s part of the conscious planning stage.
You’re simply planting the idea, giving that larger mind that
exists outside of conscious thought time to mull and sift, combin-
ing images and ideas, amassing energy and positive attitude.
Instead of letting the subconscious disaster tapes play, visual-
ize yourself performing exactly as you wish. This is particularly
helpful if you’re going to speak to a group or otherwise put your-
self before an audience.
This isn’t a matter of “wishing will make it so.” Positive visualiza-
tion won’t cast a magic spell over your audiences. But it will affect your
behavior, helping you call forth your best effort by concentrating ener-
gies and consciousness. This preparation will give your mind an oppor-
tunity to rehearse an event before the fact, and to call forth “memories”
when it actually takes place, rather than react with surprise.
For some great athletes, this ability seems to be a natural gift,
no less than speed, strength, and coordination. They talk about a
strange kind of prescience during which they seem to see them-
selves hitting the home run, intercepting the pass, or returning the
backhand baseline volley before they actually make the play.
What comes to some as a gift you can develop as a tool.
2. prepare physically
An obvious step is to have your physical tools assembled and
accessible before you begin the job. If possible, stake out a spe-
cific place for the work, where you can keep everything you need
within easy reach and not have to stow it between work sessions.