Unsuccessful organizations are often beehives of activity and hard work. People busy making lists and setting action plans, responding quickly to urgent new priorities pushed down. Many managers confuse 'busy-work' activity with results, missing the important work that contributes to long-term growth and development. People living in a constant state of crisis and anxiety, moving from yesterday's top priority to today's burning issue, produces little real progress and eventually this leads to burnout.

The list of dreams you could pursue is long and lengthy. You have to choose. Set achievable short-term goals and priorities (3 or 4). There are as many or more things that you've got to stop doing as there are actions you have to do. Without a clear vision of where you are going, you won't know what to choose.

You can't make your team into something you're not. Managers who are disorganized, have fuzzy goals, and poor time management skills can't lead their team forward. Establishing goals, setting priorities and time management begins with you.

Time is the most valuable and perishable asset we have. Each day we get only 24 hours. Once gone, it can never be recovered. Don't waste time on activities of no value. Some examples are:

• Meetings that start late or run overtime.
• Cluttered desks, credenzas and file cabinets.
• Double-booked and late/missed appointments.
• Misplaced notes or files.

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