T I m e m a n a g e m e n t

W H AT I S T H E M O S T
important and valuable work that you
do, in any field or profession? It’s thinking ! Your ability to
think clearly about what you do and how you do it will have
a greater impact on your future results than any other single
action you take.
There are some areas of your work where “slow thinking”
is absolutely essential for you to perform at your best. 
Take thirty minutes or more each day to review your
goals, your plans, and your progress. The best time to do this
review is first thing in the morning. Take time to think, plan,
dream, and create. All exceptional executives and highly
effective men and women set aside this time each day to
carefully consider what they are going to do before they
American Management Association / www.amanet.org

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begin. You should read, review, reflect, and think about what
you are doing before you take action. 
Over the years, I have read hundreds of biographies and
autobiographies of successful men and women in every field.
One common thread in these biographies that I discovered
was that true greatness only emerges with introspection,
retrospection, solitude, and contemplation. You will only
achieve the greatness you are capable of when you begin to
take time regularly to think about who you are, what you
want, and the very best way to achieve it.
Take the time to evaluate your life and your activities in a
larger context. Think of where you are today and where you
want to be in five years. Look at the activities that you are
engaged in today and determine which of them can have the
greatest impact on your future. This way of thinking will
allow you to manage your time much better than you can
even imagine at this moment. Sometimes, just one good
idea gained in a period of solitude or contemplation can
save you months and even years of hard work.