October 16, 2007

5 Tips To Achieve More... In Less Time, With Less Stress

In This Issue:

Feature Article: "5 Tips To Achieve More... In Less Time, With Less Stress"

Quick Tips: "How You Handle This Could Make Or Break Your Business"

Fast Facts: "What Is 'Privileged' Information?"

* FEATURE ARTICLE *

“5 Tips To Achieve More... In Less Time With Less Stress”

As mentioned in last week's newsletter, my No. 1 tip for reducing work stress is to DE-PERSONALIZE your work.

This week are some PRACTICAL tips for achieving more at the office... in less time, with less stress.

1. Push Back (reclaim control over what you do)

Don't let others control your schedule.

Presumably, you have the ability to organize your time and prioritize your tasks. As such, don't simply jump when others demand your attention. Just because someone else says something is urgent... it doesn't mean it is... or that you should drop everything to attend to it.

Sure, let them explain what they want you to do, but don't just agree to do it OR to a timetable for doing it... UNTIL you sort out where it fits in terms of YOUR priorities.

Which leads us to...

2. Prioritize

In Stephen Covey's classic book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Covey explains that there are essentially four kinds of task. Tasks that are:

1. Important and urgent
2. Important but not urgent
3. Not important and urgent
4. Not important and not urgent

Basically, you'll increase your productivity and lower your stress level, if you spend most of your time doing #2 tasks. Doing so not only reduces the number of #1 tasks that are likely to arise, but also frees you up to deal with them when they do arise.

Meanwhile, you should avoid spending any time on #3 tasks - which give you stress but no real value - and minimal time on #4 tasks. (Spending a little time joking around and socializing with colleagues can lighten your day so don't eliminate #4 "tasks" completely!)

Once you've organized your priorities you can...

3. Prepare a To-Do List

One way to regain control of your day, and push-back on others' demands, is to be clear about what you need to do each day.

Preparing a to-do list first thing in the morning (BEFORE you check your email or voice mail, answer phone calls, or attend to others!) OR last thing before you finish work for the day, allows you to get that clarity.

4. Avoid Multi-Tasking

Want to be really productive? Don't multi-task! You're more likely to do something better and sooner if you focus entirely on that task, rather than split your attention trying to do several things at once (like checking emails while you're on the phone!)

The fact is, we humans really do have limited attention spans. Our ability to truly process, let alone retain, information is limited. When we multi-task we make it even harder on ourselves - we don't allow ourselves to completely process and retain the information flowing from any given source.

On top of that, multi-tasking trains your brain to constantly be "on alert" - which is actually NOT good in the sense that your brain, like your body, needs to completely rest and rejuvenate in order to work at its peak.

5. Take "Perspective" Breaks

While focusing your attention on a task is crucial, so too is taking a break - to gather your thoughts, let your mind think of new ideas, and get "perspective" on the matter at hand.

Whether it's taking a walk, working on something else for a while, or having a quick chat with a colleague, a "perspective break" allows you to re-focus with renewed energy, and get through those particularly challenging tasks.

And that's it! Apply these 5 tips and let me know how they work for you.

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* HIGHLY RECOMMENDED *

“How To Manage Investment Information Overload”

If you read, listen to, or watch the financial media, you'll be used to a daily onslaught of news and advice about the latest "hot new investments"... "stocks to buy"... "stocks to avoid"... "where to invest now"... and the like.

Given this daily barrage of information, you could be forgiven for feeling a little overwhelmed... if not flat-out worried that if you don't jump on one of these latest investment opportunities, you'll miss out on your chance to strike it rich, or be doomed to the poorhouse forever!

Well, I have one word for you: relax.

If you're clear about your investment goals and have developed a sound strategy for achieving them, you needn't be thrown off course by bold, often unsubstantiated, claims.

HOWEVER...

There ARE 3 types of information you DO need to pay attention to in order to manage your investments. In the latest issue of Investment Success Formula I explain what these are, and how and why they're CRITICAL to your wealth-building strategy.

Download your copy of Investment Success Formula here:

==> Investment Success Formula

* QUICK TIPS *

“How You Handle This Could Make Or Break Your Business”

As mentioned last week, not responding to prospect or customer
enquiries could literally lose you business.

But even if you do respond in a timely fashion, merely answering a phone call or email is never enough. How you respond is critical to whether you turn a prospect into a customer... or an unhappy customer into a loyal customer... and whether you enjoy any positive word of mouth as a result.

Whether or not it's you who responds, a customer service representative, or someone else in your team, it's imperative that the response provides an adequate answer to the issue or problem in question.

Nothing annoys people more than receiving one-line emails that tell them to refer to the FAQ, or refer their enquiry to someone else, or answer a question they didn't ask!

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* HIGHLY RECOMMENDED *

“The Secret of Successful Failing”

Gina Mollicone-Long's book The Secret of Successful Failing takes a fresh perspective on failure. In the book, Gina shows why failure is actually good and how you can leverage it to move toward your objectives.

If you grab a copy of The Secret of Successful Failing TODAY you'll also receive ver 60 FREE bonus gifts from best-selling authors and success experts.

==> Click here to get the book and claim your bonuses.

* FAST FACTS *

“What Is "Privileged" Information?”

If you've watched enough legal dramas on TV... or been involved in litigation...

you'll have heard of "attorney-client privilege" (the term used in the United States) or "legal privilege" / "legal professional privilege" (used in the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and other
common law countries).

Essentially, information subject to attorney-client privilege or legal professional privilege is confidential between a lawyer and their client.

Unlike other forms of information that may be protected by a non- disclosure agreement or the like legally privileged information is typically safe from disclosure to government bodies, other litigants in a legal proceeding, and from the courts.

(Some exceptions or variations to this principle may apply in a given jurisidiction).

What kind of information is protected? Depending on the country, legal privilege attaches to oral and written communications made for the dominant purpose of:

• seeking or providing legal advice;
• obtaining, at the client's request, advice from a third party
  to assist a lawyer provide legal advice; and
• used in existing or anticipated legal proceedings.

The "privilege" belongs to the client, and only arises where the lawyer acts in their professional legal capacity. (Of course, this isn't legal advice and you should always consult your own legal adviser!)

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