T I M E M A N A G E M E N T
How Many Jobs Do You Have?
Your list of extra commitments may not be complete. You also
need to figure in jobs you’ve taken on that rightfully belong to
someone else—not some generic “other person” who could take
over as committee chair if you stepped down, but the specific per-
son whose job you’ve shouldered.
Connie hates to write up the required sales reports at the end of
each day. She’d much rather be out in the field making more sales.
You really don’t mind the paperwork, and actually, you seem to
have a flair for it. Yes, it’s an extra hour or so at the office, but you
really don’t mind.
Everyone is supposed to take a turn making the coffee at the
office, but... Jeff makes it too strong. Sylvia never washes out the
pot when it’s empty. Nora leaves the machine on overnight. Gloria
forgets when it’s her turn. It’s easier if you just go ahead and make
the damned coffee!
a qUaLiTaTiVe meThOD FOr COmpUTing The COST OF Y OUr
COmmiTmenTS
Got your list finished? (Don’t worry. You can always add items as
you think of them.) Now it’s time to figure out what all that activity
really costs you.
You probably have a good idea how much money you give to
charitable causes. Many of us come up with a fairly precise num-
ber to report to the IRS every April 15th. This calculation enables
you to make adjustments in next year’s giving, bringing the level
up or down to where you think it ought to be and redistributing
funds according to your shifting awareness and priorities.
But most of us aren’t nearly as conscious of how much time
we’re donating. This lack of awareness makes it much harder to
change your level of involvement or redistribute your energies.