Tackle the tough things first

[Dave A]

One of the best business leadership articles I've read this year. Or maybe I'm being prejudiced because I can seriously relate.

[daveob]

Thanks for the link Dave_A.

Very interesting article.

I may be weak ( as defined in the article ), but I prefer to look at my daily list of tasks to be done ( scheduled on Outlook, so I don't have to worry about them until the day they need to be done ) and I generally start with the simple, easy and quick tasks.

Why ? Because they generally require less brain power, can be ticked off the list quickly (usually within about 1 hour), and at the end I am left with only 1 complex / difficult / time consuming task that I can devote my full attention to, without any of the many minor tasks ( now completed ) nagging in the background.

Maybe that's why I am not running a big corporation ......

[Dave A]

I generally start with the simple, easy and quick tasks.

Not always applicable in all circumstances, but my tip there is to delegate them as much as possible.

I admit I have a "warm-up" routine of up to an hour where I do the ritual stuff I can't delegate (which includes going through TFSA and making some posts as necessary). But from there it's onto the priority list.

[tonyflanigan]

As I get tasks in I decide whether they can be done right away or not. I have three "assessment periods daily, when I look at what has been done, and what still needs to be done.

My 'job list' is then updated to suit. More complex and time consuming tasks I leave for evenings, or very early morning, as that is when I am most undisturbed by the world.

We do have a problem with family who are under the impression that 'working from home' means we're immediately available for whatever reason can be found.

[murdock]

We do have a problem with family who are under the impression that 'working from home' means we're immediately available for whatever reason can be found.

i can relate to this...when the wife walks in and finds you logged on to any forums she assumes you have nothing better do...so she makes a list of urgent repairs required

[daveob]

when the wife walks in and finds you logged on to any forums she assumes you have nothing better do...so she makes a list of urgent repairs required

You have the same problem I have. It must be in the "Annoying Wifery for Dummies" manual.

They just don't understand that a lot of our way of staying in touch with laws, methods and ideas is via the forum ( especially this one ).

quick - gotta duck - she's coming in the office for something.

[Dave A]

We do have a problem with family who are under the impression that 'working from home' means we're immediately available for whatever reason can be found.

I guess I was pretty tough on myself and my family. In my days working from home I still kept "working hours" and I had a room as my dedicated office. When I was in there I was "at work" - period. It took a little family training to establish the routine.

I suspect some of this is "Men are from Mars, women are from Venus" stuff. When I got my first cellphone, my wife thought this was a brilliant way to give me a shopping list of stuff to get on the way home
NOTE TO FEMALE READERS: Men don't enjoy detours, especially once they've started the journey on their mission. We sit in our cave to decide our goal, and when we come out... It's true - Men have one track minds

when the wife walks in and finds you logged on to any forums she assumes you have nothing better do...

This has taken a lot of "training."

[murdock]

it was first the pager...."please contact me urgently" finally after climbing down from a 15 metre water tower....pack up the tools...drive to the closest telephone 5 km away ask the owner if i can use the telephone..."sweety wont you get 2 litres of milk instead of one on your way home". problem is we had a security network for a group of us looking after each other...so you had to make the call...we eventually had a code number in case of emergency.

[Dave A]

I can't beat that one

You must be chuffed we live in a cellphone era nowadays then.