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Seizing Your Summer
Schedule:
Are You Doing Things Right--or Are You Doing the Right
Things?
When it comes to managing your life, you get to choose your problems,
but you don't get to choose to be problem-free.
I’m a huge advocate of a “priorities-first” approach
to life. However, I must confess that a “priorities-first”
approach to life is FILLED with problems.
For example, because I do my best to invest my time in what I believe
are God's values and priorities for this season of my life, my desk is
often cluttered (it is even now as I type), my email inbox is often full
(I started the day with 137 emails needing a response), and I'm horribly
slow at returning phone calls (the phone just rang and I kept on typing--the
answering machine got it--I'll get it later).
If I were a traditional time management man, I would be ashamed to speak
so honestly with you like this. But I think the focus of traditional time
management is way wrong for the busy age in which we live.
Traditional time management is about doing things right. Clean desks.
Zero emails in your inbox. No dandelions in your yard. No phone calls
left unreturned. No sentences left un….
 But are
those things REALLY the most important things in your life? I think not.
You could get all of those things right and miss life!
Instead of doing things right, I'd rather do the right things. Don’t
get me wrong. I'm not against doing things right... if I have the time.
But who does? So—with my limited time—I choose to focus on
doing the right things.
There's a difference between doing things right and doing the right things.
Think about it. The implications are astounding.
What I love about a priorities-first approach to life is that I'm usually
able to eat three meals a day with my family at least five times a week.
I usually jog three miles with my wife and son about four times a week.
I'm usually able to read to my kids about four or five mornings and evenings
a week. I honestly don't remember the last time I missed my weekly date
with my wife. I usually enjoy a fairly healthy relationship with God--because
He's my first priority in life. Don't get me wrong. I'm no Billy Graham
or Leave-It-to-Beaver father. And you can ask my wife about my perfection
as a husband. But for the most part, because I have a sense of God's priorities
for my life at this season, that which is most important is getting my
time, energy, and attention.
 However,
it's a trade off. My yard is full of dandelions. I'll get them some day—but
not now at the expense of God's most important priorities for this season
of my life. So I'm learning to live with the tension of a cluttered desk,
a full inbox, and a long phone log--just to name a few.
But think about it: What's worse than a cluttered desk, not answering
email, and letting the answering machine take all your calls? In my opinion,
being busy cleaning your desk, emailing, and talking on the phone while
God's most important priorities in your life get neglected.
 A cluttered
desk (or a house with toys strewn all over) is not necessarily a sign
that a person is a poor manager of time.
It could be a sign of a person who understands the difference between
doing things right and doing the right things.
Think about it.
Are you spending your short life doing things right or are you doing
the right things for this season of your life?
There's a tension either way. Which tension are you currently choosing?
When it comes to managing your life, you don't get to choose to be problem-free.
You only get to choose what problems you'll have. Be sure to choose the
right problems for your current season of life.
To share this edition of Cadre Connection with
others:
 Tell
your friends about this issue!
Three Time Tools You Can
Use NOW!
For practical and biblical help in doing the right things
(as opposed to doing things right), check out:
Secret #17 Have the Right Priorities
OK... so you get 724,972 channels... but is that what your
life is really all about?
There's an important difference between having clear priorities and having
the right priorities.
Just a thought.
BA
http://amazingtimemanagementsecrets.blogspot.com
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