Finding Time For Success: Important Vs Urgent


If you have a choice each day in the tasks that you face, a choice between doing what is urgent and doing what is important, which do you choose?

Many of us, I fall into this trap at times still myself, find we're spinning our wheels, or chasing rabbits, or putting out fires, or whatever your favorite metaphor is for being too busy and can never seem to get the time to do the things that we know we should be, could be doing.

Listen.

No one ever got ahead in life, or became successful, by just doing the urgent things.

No one.

It just doesn't happen.

The people who get ahead in life, the people who realize their goals, and achieve the things they want in their life, all have this trait in common.

They do what is important.

They do what is important even though it means putting off at least some of the things that are urgent, or seem urgent.

First it's important to realize what are the things in your life, work, relationships, that are truly urgent, and the difference between them and those things that make a lot of noise, or that we choose to worry about, and place too much urgency on getting them done.

Sometimes those things are just life, just living, doing our daily routines.

Not too long ago I set aside one day.

I decided that I would do nothing 'urgent.'

Nothing.

It wasn't really easy, let me tell you.

There were those emails, those little life things that kept creeping in, trying to distract me.

But I just kept thinking.

"Today is an important day."

Wow, what a day I had.

I accomplished more in that day than I had done in several days prior, nothing fell apart because I didn't do it that day, and I felt great about my day and myself.

Now I set aside time to do the important things.

Another thing I do is create an urgency for doing them.

This has a major, multiplying effect as well.

You'll see that less and less of the so-called urgent things are popping up.

By doing the important things, many of what used to be urgent things are no longer issues. Why? Because I'm ahead of the game.

Take the time to do what you know is key to your success, development, and growth.

Try it.

Pick one day, or part of a day if that's too much for you at first.

And have an "important day."

Allen Williams is a professional educator, speaker and writer. Get a free subscription to the PowerMeUp Newsletter and Goal Setting and Getting Course with a bonus book for a limited time at: http://www.PowerMeUp.com Personal and Professional Growth

MORE RESOURCES:
RELATED ARTICLES
Ten, Humourous, Power Attitudes
The ability to achieve our enormous untapped potential is directly related to the attitudes we possess. Positive attitudes empower us to achieve while negative attitudes tend to keep us rooted where we are.
Do You Know Whats The #1 Success Secret Is?
How many people do you hear complaining about their job, where they live, how little money they have, or how they can never take a vacation?How many times have you heard those same people, when they hear about someone else who made a lot of money from an idea, say,"I could have done that!" But yet, they didn't.And they continue to complain about where they are in life.
The 7 Ultimate Laws Of Success
There are certain laws that when obeyed will bring great success to the people who practice them. These are the 7 Ultimate Laws Of Success.
Smith Could "C" the Future
Frederick W. Smith attended Yale University and wrote a paper on the concept of overnight package delivery.
How Two Powerful Words Can Guarantee You Success
I see it happen all too often on the internet including the programs I am involved with. It's a disease called quit-itis.
Step Up To Success
Sometimes it is better to just get on with doing something rather than thinking and planning for too long.Philip Humbert makes an interesting evaluation of the race for the South Pole by the Norwegian Roald Amundsen and Robert Scott (Scott of the Antartic).
Do You Fear Your Own Success?
Noted author and self-worth teacher Eric Butterworth* says, "Poverty is a way of living and thinking, and not just a lack of money or things." When you couple his philosophy with the Eastern mysticism of "what you believe will become your reality" it becomes clear that obstacles to financial and personal success are largely self-created.
What is Success and How Do We Achieve It?
To be clear about what success is must be the first step to achieving success.So far, the best definition I have come across is: "Success is the completion of anything intended.
Five Steps To Success!
If you are looking for a surefire strategy to ensure you are moving towards your goals as fast as is possible then it might well be worth your while to take a few minutes and read this article.Many people have vague notions of succeeding, say they want to be (and do) better, and make all the right noises.
Are You Learning?
Whether you are self-employed, whether you are an employee, whether you are parent, whether you are a student we all need to be learning. To stand still, to learn no more, or worse than that to think we know all there is to know, is a major mistake.
Success - Your Are What You Think About
You have complete control over your thoughts. Thought patterns develop over a lifetime; a result of the influences of schooling, parents, friends, relatives, TV, movies, etc.
Success is a 6 Letter Word
Let me ask you a question? What must happen for you to feel successful? Do you need to be admired by the people that you care most about? Do you need to have financial abundance? And if so how would you know what financial abundance is? 1 million dollars, 2, 100, a billion?What is success anyway? Think about it for a moment, is success what you really want or is it the emotions the feelings that you connect to being successful? I mean, if you imagine yourself to be a success, how does it feel? Do it, just for a moment, imagine you to be a total success. What do you see, what do you hear and how does it feel.
Its Your World--Own It
Hello,You are reading this article because you are one of those rare people who really want the best life possible for yourself and those you care about.A Generalization About SuccessNow, you might feel it unfair for me to describe you as "rare" when it comes to wanting the very best that life offers.
Success Involves Ignoring Critics
Critics can destroy or inspire you. Your own self critic is often the most deadly critic of all.
Like It or Not, In This Life... The Name of the Game is Change
Most of us fear change, because - as we've all experienced - most change seems to be imposed upon us, originating outside of ourselves.The only thing that each of us can really change is OURSELVES.
Insinct Is Your Life-blood - Says Author
Fourteen thousand civilised people died when the tsunami hit Andaman Islands - five percent of the population - meanwhile a cannibal tribe, inhabiting the same island, hardly lost a life. And do you know what saved them - the earliest early-warning system known to man.
Whos Up For A Challenge?
Depending on the person, challenges can either make or break a person. On one hand, challenges possess the power to increase one's skills and knowledge, their motivation, faith and character.
More and More and More and More
About six years ago I began to study tai chi. When I began, I had already been studying karate for several years, but my instructor encouraged me to add tai chi to enhance my martial arts abilities even further.
Success Formula--Why You Want To Think Like A Fighter Pilot!
Fighter pilots have an awesome responsibility. It takes a unique person to become one.
How to Succeed for the Rest of Your Life
I spoke recently with the owner of a large clothing store who had poured years of effort into his business. He had achieved his dream and built a successful career.