Time management, make to-do lists, use a daily planner, learn to say no to people when you’re busy. These are all items that you’ll read when learning the ins and outs of time management; but what does it really take?

Finish what you start! That may seem easy, but let me tell a little personal story. I was sales rep for a very large territory, I knew my product, I was good with people, and figured I’d be very successful. What I didn’t expect was with this big territory came a lot of phone calls, quotes, and inquiries. Something I wasn’t used to or prepared for I guess.

So I found myself with more work then I was used to. I was starting a quote getting another phone call moving onto something else. Basically putting out fires as they arose. As time went on I found I was always busy but nothing seemed to get done. I was always on the road the phone was ringing off the hook, but I wasn’t closing any deals, and worse I wasn’t making any money. So what did I do?

Simple I started finishing the task I started. When I stated a quote I’d finish it before moving onto the next one. I’d answer the phone if it rang, but I wouldn’t stop and start checking my email, or move onto another quote, or get up from my desk and tour around the office. I’d finish that quote then move on.

So why is this such an important point in regards to time management? Think about your own office life, or personal life. Do you find you’re involved in lots of things but none of them are coming to completion? Or you’ve got lots of stuff on the go but nothing finishing up? We can be busy but accomplishing nothing, and that can be worse then doing nothing at all. Moral of the story, we can make all the lists, plans and prioritizing we want, but finishing what we start is the first step towards accomplishing as much as we can with the time we have.