Who Controls Your Daily Agenda?

Already today, I've had a barrage of "urgent" emails land abruptly in my inbox. I'd been logged in for an hour.

You too?

Some have even been marked "High Importance," to make sure they grab my attention.

I have a question: To whom are these emails "highly important?"

(Maybe NOT me)

Of course, your calendar is not at the top of someone else's priority list. They're focused on what's right in front of them and expect YOU to be there too.

Where is your focus?

Are you bouncing around all day between everyone else's requests, only to realize you didn't accomplish much of YOUR agenda for the day?

You're not the only one.

Your day can be hijacked if you're not protective and intentional about your time.

Here are three quick tips to bossing your personal "to-do" list:

1. Start The Night Before - Lay the major tasks out for your next day, the night before. Get ahead of the game. Many people find themselves several hours into their day before realizing they "don't have the time" to get done what was at the top of their list.
   
   
2. Cut YOUR List - Identify what's on YOUR list that doesn't need to be there. In other words, what things REQUIRE you to be directly involved, and what can you delegate? Even more, what on your list can be cut out completely? Be picky about what projects actually make the cut. Being BUSY doesn't always mean your time is being spent wisely.
   
   
3. Block Your Time - Organize your day by segments and work to identify the times of the day when you are most productive. Reserve THOSE times for what's at the top of YOUR agenda, and organize your list within those times. Use your other segments for the "busy work" that you know you'll have, but doesn't really need you at your best. (email, return phone calls, reports, etc.) 

The secret of your success can be found in your daily agenda.

Who controls yours?