“It’s no wonder that truth is stranger than fiction. Fiction has to make sense.” Mark Twain
Harvey Mackay, Contributing Writer May 11, 2014, 5:16am MST
On his deathbed Alexander the Great summoned his generals and told them his three ultimate wishes:
- The best doctors should carry his coffin.
- The wealth he had accumulated (money, gold, precious stones) should be scattered along the way to his burial.
- His hands should be left hanging outside the coffin for all to see.
Surprised by these unusual requests, one of his generals askedAlexander to explain. Here is what he said: “I want the best doctors to carry my coffin to demonstrate that in the face of death, even the best doctors in the world have no power to heal. I want the road to be covered with my treasure so that everybody sees that the wealth acquired on earth, stays on earth. I want my hands to swing in the wind so that people understand that we come to this world empty-handed and we leave empty-handed after the most precious treasure of all is exhausted — time.”
SEE ALSO: Business lessons from John Calipari’s playbook
Time is our most precious treasure because it is limited. We can produce more wealth, but we cannot produce more time. The ultimate mystery: None of us knows how much time we really have.
When we give someone our time, we actually give a portion of our life that we will never get back. Our time is our life!
Time is money, or so the saying goes. In your work life, how you spend your time often determines your success.
Make the most of every minute with these useful ideas:
1. Set aside a block of time to return phone calls and answer emails
Of course, urgent messages and phone calls should be returned in a timely manner. But plan a few minutes on a regular schedule on the phone or responding, saving or deleting messages so important emails don’t get lost in the electronic clutter.
2. When talking on the phone or in face-to-face conversations, give the other person your full attention
Don’t check your email or fill out your daily planner when you’re talking to someone. Make sure that your communication is clear and focused, which will reduce the need for clarification and other time-wasters in the future.
3. Do your most important tasks first
Identify your priorities (and those of your boss) so you know what’s critical and what’s trivial. Then take care of your top priorities first thing in the morning. The rest of your day will flow more easily once you’ve got the important stuff under control.
4. Identify quick tasks
Make a list of routine items you can do in five minutes or less. Tackle these when you’ve got a little spare time — between meetings, or waiting for a long document to print. That way they won’t distract you when you need to concentrate, or waste your time when you should be working on more important things.
5. Determine whether you really are necessary to meetings
Find out what the meeting is intended to accomplish. Ask yourself, “Do I get anything out of the meeting?” and “Do I contribute anything to the meeting?” If your answers are “no,” ask meeting organizers if your attendance is really necessary or if you can attend only part of the meeting.
6. Take good notes
When you’ve got an idea, or realize you need to do something later, write it down. Review your notes regularly so nothing slips away.
7. Just say no
Avoid tasks and projects that don’t directly contribute to your primary objectives. Use your list of priorities to identify work that you need to do. Turn down (politely) requests to take on irrelevant work, or negotiate for a deadline that allows you to focus on your key tasks.
8. End each day with a plan for the next day
Make a to-do list with reminders about phone calls, meetings and appointments so that you can hit the ground running. When you make and prioritize your to-do list, leave yourself some flexibility to handle interruptions and unplanned tasks that are bound to come up during the day.
Using your time well will become a habit. And it will lead to some shocking revelations, such as getting more done doesn’t always mean doing more things. Sometimes it’s about doing less. Don’t try to schedule every minute of every day. Because that’s when you discover that time can be your enemy as well as your friend.
Mackay’s Moral: Taking your time can sometimes be the best use of your time.
Harvey Mackay is the author of New York Times No. 1 bestsellers “Swim With The Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive” and “Beware the Naked Man Who Offers You His Shirt.” Both books are among the top 15 inspirational business books of all time, according to The New York Times. In total, Mackay’s books have sold 10 million copies worldwide, been translated into 37 languages, and sold in 80 countries. He has been chairman of MackayMitchell Envelope Co. since 1959.
A little about me and my expertise – video
commercial / investment real estate / Arizona land specialist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPs3kpKR4nY
I go to great heights to sell or purchase your land
http://walter-unger.com/?p=10118
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Phoenix,_Arizona_history
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Facts of Arizona – year 1848 to 2013
http://walter-unger.com/?p=9507
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Walter Unger CCIM, CCSS, CCLS
I am a successful Commercial Investment Real Estate Broker in Arizona now for 20 years and I worked with banks and their commercial REO properties for 3 years. I am also a commercial landspecialist in Phoenix and a Landspecialist in Arizona.
WHETHER YOU LEASE OR OWN
NOW IS THE TIME FOR YOU TO EXPAND, UPGRADE OR INVEST.
we are at on the a rise of the cycle in Commercial Real Estate. so there is only one way and it’s called we are going up and now is the time for you to expand, upgrade or invest in Commercial Properties in Phoenix. The prices on deals I may get you will not be around forever.
WAITING TO SELL YOUR LAND ? TIMES CHANGE / IT’S TIME
We barely could give land away the last few years, but times are changing. Even in those meager years, I sold more land across the state than most other brokers. Before the real estate crash I was a land specialist in Arizona with millions of dollars of transactions, but then I had to change and also sell other commercial investment properties, which was fun, but I am a Commercial Landspecialist in Arizonal, a Commercial Land Specialist in Phoenix and love to sell land, one acre to thousands of acres.
If you have any questions about Commercial Investment Properties in Phoenix or Commercial Investment Properties in Arizona, I will gladly sit down with you and share my expertise and my professional opinion in Commercial Properties in Phoenix or Commercial Properties in Arizona with you.Obviously I am also in this to make money, but it could be a win-win situation for all of us.
Please reply by e-mail walterunger@ccim.net or call me on my cell 520-975-5207 or Office:480-948-5554
PLEASE NOTE, I CHANGED BROKERAGES BUT CELL PHONE AND E-MAIL STAY THE SAME.
Thank You
Walter
Walter Unger CCIM
Associate Broker, West USA Commercial Real Estate Advisers
7077 E. Marilyn Road, Bldg 4, Suite 130
Scottsdale, AZ 85254
Cell: 520-975-5207
Office : 480-948-5554
Fax: (480-658-1172
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a little about me and my expertise – video
commercial-investment real estate adviser-land specialist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPs3kpKR4nY
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