Father Time

Riding “Father Time” – undoubtedly, the biggest trait is separating the good from the great in most fields. I read a few pieces on time management over the past month, and my mind wandered to how I have seen my own evolution in dealing with it/ him.

Not prescriptive in any way but somewhat counter intuitive for me: some learnt from reading, some from experience (apart from the usual of prioritizing, not wasting and keeping track).

1. Staying in the moment, not multi-task – Growing up, multi-tasking was the big mantra. But now, I realize that when you do so, especially at the same moment, you end up doing none of the (multi) tasks. Better to stay fully immersed in the task at hand and get it done faster.
2. Counting backwards – Growing up, I used to think, “I’ve spent this much time doing this”, and derived urgency from the thought. Have evolved to think, “I’ve this much time left to complete doing this.” Generally, pushes me more.
3. Spending more time on what’s important – The most obvious thing to do. But I have realized that the more I spend on it, the less I spend on the unimportant. And there is no limit to the more; the more, the better for the important. Makes one look, sound and feel machine-like, human-less in dealing with the unimportant – but efficient nevertheless.
4. Go back to writing – I have tried apps/ gadgets/ tools to manage time, but the old-fashioned way of keeping handwritten notes in the ubiquitous diary still works best.
5. “I am busy” or “I don’t have time” – One of the toughest things to start saying if you haven’t already. But the highest efficiency builder at the cost of feeling bad/ getting unpopular.

The key point is that each one will develop his own methods of riding Father Time, as long as one is conscious of riding it/ him.

Read more from CEO speaks Column:-
– Team vs. Self
– Flipping Fate (A departure from my earlier posts)