Determine and ACT on important priorities

This is the third post of the "Daily Dozen", a series inspired by John Maxwell’s book Today Matters, on how I’ve applied the “Daily Dozen” to my daily routine.

 “Priorities: Determine and ACT on important priorities daily.”

I’m a fanatic GTD’er, and I have fallen off the wagon almost as often as I have gotten back on. This chapter completely reinforces the concepts my favorite productivity experts Stephen Covey, David Allen and, Sally McGhee.

During my weekly review, I place my “BIG ROCKS” on my calendar, limiting myself to only a few per day. “BIG ROCKS” are the major things you want to get done this week. Every morning I review what’s on my plate for the day, looking at my calendar, then my task list. Some days my eyes are bigger than my stomach, days I list twenty things that I need to accomplish for the day – setting myself up for failure. It’s sad that it took me a while to realize this! We cannot do everything.

Related Books:

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Choosing Your Attitude Daily

This is the second post of the "Daily Dozen", a series inspired by John Maxwell’s book Today Matters, on how I’ve applied the “Daily Dozen” to my daily routine.

“Attitude: Choose and display the right attitude daily.”

I completely agree that this should be 1^st on the list! Too many times I have started the day off, on the wrong foot. Remember it’s a CHOICE, you ultimately decide – you’ll be contagious either way!

I have also incorporated suggestions from Tom Rath’s & Donald O. Clifton’s book How Full Is Your Bucket into this section. The authors state, “Everyone has an invisible bucket. We are at our best when our buckets are overflowing - and at worst when they are empty.” With this in mind, I try to have positive attitude, and avoid the vampires/dippers!

Five Strategies found in How Full Is Your Bucket for developing a better attitude.

1. Prevent bucket dipping - ask yourself whether you are adding to or taking from another bucket.

2. Shine a light on what is right - don't focus on the negative, spend time, energy and attention of what is right.

3. Make best friends - great relationships lead to increased satisfaction

4. Give unexpectedly - the gifts can be material, trust or respect, but given unexpectedly increases their bucket filling power

5. Reverse the Golden rule - "Do unto others as they would have you do unto them".

What whould you add to the list, to help one maintain a positive attitude?

Related links:

http://www.bucketbook.com/

Daily Dozen Intro

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Daily Dozen Intro

I recently finished reading John Maxwell's Today Matters. I had very high expectations for this book! John referenced this book a couple of times in his other books, and I waited in anticipation while it was being shipped by Amazon. Currently, I have skimmed the entire book and I’m working back through each chapter. So far the book has been solid, but I was disappointed with 10^th chapter “Today's Faith Gives Me Peace”. With John’s background I expected a stellar chapter. Personally I am looking to grow spiritually and was hoping he would provide an outline on how to develop a plan. Other than this, Today Matters is a solid book and I would recommend reading.

After reading Today Matters, I have applied many of John’s “Daily Dozen” into my Weekly Review. Also, I review the “daily dozen” first thing in the morning – this is a great way to start the day.

This is the start of my Daily Dozen post, where I will be showing how I've applied these concepts into my life.

Here is a look at the upcoming "Daily Dozen" post:

1. “Attitude: Choose and display the right attitude daily."
2. “Priorities: Determine and act on important priorities daily.”
3. “Health: Know and follow healthy guidelines daily.”
4. “Family: Communicate with care for my family daily.”
5. “Thinking: Practice and develop good thinking daily.”
6. “Commitment: Make and keep proper commitments daily.”
7. “Finances: Make and properly manage dollars daily.”
8. “Faith: Deepen and live out my faith daily.”
9. “Relationships: Initiate and invest in solid relationships daily.”
10. “Generosity: Plan for the model generosity daily.”
11. “Values: Embrace and practice good values.”
12. “Growth: Seek and experience improvements daily.”

Related John Maxwell's Links:

http://www.injoy.com/

http://www.johnmaxwell.com/

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