"Tom Gardner" wrote in message
...
I think I hit a new record of being a full year late on a project....a
YEAR
---snip---

My secret to success is so simple that most people laugh it off, or it
simply goes in one ear and out the other, even if they are paying $125 an
hour for my lecturing them on how to improve their bottom line.

First, you must have a clear vision of what you want to have within a year,
two and three. You must believe this to be possible.

Second - you look at the panorama, the overall landscape of your project and
list clearly identifiable problems. If there is a river you must cross, then
a bridge must be built. If you are to work in Mexico, then Spanish must be
learned. You make these obstacles IMPORTANT on your activities list.

Third, you list everything that must be done, followed by when it can start
but most importantly when it MUST be completed. (The bridge can start
anytime, but it must be completed Oct 10 because that is when the final
assembly is to be delivered and you need to cross the river with that
wheelbarrow).
You put this information into a Gantt chart, a simple line by line time map
for you to use as a reference, reminder and communication tool with those
you work with be they employees, suppliers, customers, friends, kids....

You carry in your shirt pocket a couple of pieces of paper. This month's
calendar with meetings and stuff on the front, and the back with phone
numbers to your principal players. Another blank page upon which you make
notes of things to do, ideas, and reminders, and notes on problems that keep
popping up. These popping up problems will be reviewed when you do potty on
Saturday morning and a Pareto analysis made on the flay - Which two problems
are causing most other problems and what can you do to extinguish them?

Every morning you look at your lists and think of the plan and list the six
most important things that must be accomplished that day for it all to come
together. Learn to delegate the URGENT stuff which are phone calls,
interruptions and stuff that is important to them, but not important to your
plan. This is a crucial test of character which few people can master since
most of us like being good-guys and since everybody knows that if you want
something done really quick, ask a busy person. Lose this!

Whenever you have time, go to http://home.att.net/~empresario/Index.htm and
read it bit by bit.

Projects are the spice of life if you learn to master them and not be a
slave to them.

Wayne http://www.calmexnet.org/partners/wayne.htm