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One of the biggest mistakes people make is spending too much time looking for the big opportunity or the perfect timing to do something. The over-used axiom “Patience is a virtue” is irrefutable. But it is equally true that “he who hesitates is lost”. Seize the opportunity.

Patience and procrastination are cousins that look a whole lot alike and when people get them confused valuable time and opportunities are lost.

Patience is taking a well-calculated risk. Procrastination is avoiding risk.

Patience is learning what to do. Procrastination is learning what to do and not using what you learned.

Patience says, “This will be done by_____.” Procrastination says, “Eh…sooner or later.”

There are dozens of tips and techniques for overcoming procrastination and seizing opportunities. Here are three:

1. Take full advantage of momentum.

Building momentum is a lot easier when you first think of an idea or start on a task. Create some small steps that you can take immediately. These steps will help you measure your progress.

2. Create sense of last minute urgency.

Most people tend to finish a task at the very last minute. Haven’t you ever noticed that? Why does this happen? It happens because a task will expand to the time allotted for it.

A person can have two months to do something and finish it in two days. Of course it’s the last two days before it’s due! Last minute urgency creates an incredible amount of energy and drive.

3. Worry Less.

In the “Fog of Worry”, Earl Nightingale provided a good breakdown of what worries most people:

*40% of the things you worry about will never happen.

*8% of your worries are about real and legitimate concerns.

In other words, 92% of your worrying is a complete waste of time.

In closing, here’s one last thing to keep in mind:

Keep in mind that opportunities don’t disappear they simply move on to next recipient. An opportunity that comes your way is probably an opportunity that someone else procrastinated or passed on. If you pass up on a good opportunity someone else will capitalize on it.

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Andy Dufresne, a character from the movie, The Shawshank Redemption, says, “Either get busy living or get busy dying.”

Today, let’s dissect this one little quote so that you can get an understanding of its magnitude and see how it can change the course of your future! We’re sure you can think of a dozen quotes that communicate the viewpoint of this concept as well, but we like this one.

“I can’t. I’m busy.” Are these familiar to you? Do you use them as an excuse not to get started on a new opportunity? The first question that you should ask yourself is, “What am I busy doing?” Do you know the difference between being active and being productive? A-HA! Had you thought of that before? It’s absolutely clear that this question is the single most critical one in our journey. Sure, you’ve been “busy” in your life or career but now you can look back and decide if you’ve been busy or productive. If you’ve been “busy,” you have a chance now to become productive instead.

Most people give these terms, “busy” and “productive,” a similar meaning - to them, it translates as, “getting things done.” However, there is a difference and it’s found in what we are getting done. Being “productive” means getting things done that NEED to be done in order to move forward. Being “busy” is simply getting things done with no regard to priority or importance.

Life contains polar opposites. Without them, we wouldn’t know what anything was. Things expand or shrink, moves forwards or backwards, in or out. If you aren’t moving your life forward; expanding, growing, progressing, then you’re dying.

The difference between “busy” and “productive” lays the groundwork of understanding the quote above. Either you are moving your life forward or you’re not … either you are busy living or busy dying!

Have you kept yourself busy with relatively unimportant work so as not to have to get dirty with the seemingly enormous tasks that would have the most impact on your life? Learn to differentiate between actions that keep you “busy” and those that make you “productive.” Don’t justify your decision by saying, “These things have to be done too”, or “I will just get this stuff out of the way first.”

Often it is the things we don’t do that ultimately have the largest impact on our businesses, careers or families. You will delay the achievements of the things you claim to be important to you by not getting your productive tasks completed first. If you took an honest look, would you say this has been true for you?

There came a point when we chose to make a different decision. We decided that each action required the question, “Does doing this keep us busy or productive?” We learned through this process that we were making conscious decisions. We were thoughtful about what we were putting our time into, and let us tell you, it’s had a HUGE impact on our lives. Who knew it could be so simple?

What do you want to do? Write a book? Submit an invention? Pursue a new career? You know what it is that would have an impact on your life and move it forward. If you don’t know, take a moment to consider the answer.

Have you thought about it over and over? What held you back? Why did you choose inaction over action? Were you too busy? Too scared of the unknown? Today is a new day. What is your decision today? Take a look at what you want; what are you going to do now? It’s just that simple. Make a decision.

When you decide to do, then everything becomes focused on the outcome. There is no busy work or excuses that you’ll allow to stand in your way. There’s no time to waste. When it’s a commitment to your life, nothing stands in the way of following through. Be empowered. You are productive and best of all, you are moving forward with your LIFE! You are busy living!

YOU NEVER GET TODAY AGAIN! Anything short of spending productive time on your life is time being wasted. You will never get it back. “Busy work” is “busy dying.” You have a choice and you can’t do both.

The only time to LIVE is right NOW! There is only one time that exists and that is NOW! This very instant you have a choice to “be productive” and live or to “be busy” and lose this time in your life forever.

Were you aware that it’s a choice? It is! It is yours and yours alone to make, but rest assured you can choose whatever it is you want. As our friend Mary Morrissey always says, “It is your life, make it a great one.”

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Do you want to assume control of your time? Or do you think that it is impossible? You are correct if you think no-one controls time. But you definitely can control the activities you do with the time you have. Consequently if you are searching for solutions to get more time for yourself or discover ways to use your time and energy more economically you may enjoy these ten suggestions.

1 Produce a Daily List of your most important activities

Number your list and select what thing is the most crucial to try and do first. Work on that item until complete and then check it off your list and go to the next object on your list.

2 Generate a Regular Plan of action

Simply by forming a course of action you will conserve time and have an easy route to follow thus you do not have to waste time determining what step to take next.

3 Schedule Your Most important Assignments First

Furthermore you wish to plan your most important task first but you also want to schedule the items which you have the most control over first. Consequently if you have a couple of equally important jobs decide to do the one you have the most control over first.

4 Understand that you may not have time to do everything

Becoming realistic about life and unanticipated activities you will recognize that you simply might not be able to do everything you want to accomplish. With that in mind set aside as much of your time as feasible on the activities that you genuinely feel are in line with your beliefs and goals.

5 Plan less Things

For those who have a big list of things to do such as taking the children to school, having the auto worked on, having lunch with a friend, reading through some beneficial info, shopping for dinner, visiting a sick person and paying bills you might feel too rushed and likely not have a good day - thus see if you can schedule fewer things and boost the joy in your life.

6 Be Prepared for the Unforeseen

Allow time for unusual events. Therefore it you think it will take you ten minutes to get to an appointment, schedule 15 or 20 minutes just in case you encounter some unforeseen delay. Leave some of your day unscheduled then you will be in position to manage unexpected activities and not feel frustrated.

7 Employ Travel Time

If you have to travel every day or any time you travel in your car or vehicle you should utilize that period to listen to audio tapes or the news. If you are on a bus or train you can use that period to read or even meditate upon positive affirmations.

8 Get the most annoying job out of the way at the earliest opportunity

If you dread undertaking something, then by getting it completed and taken care of you will feel far better about the rest of the day. After this you will not be stuck with stressing or agonizing over doing an unpleasant job all day.

9 Become versatile Be Flexible

Be willing to change and willing to adjust to fresh situations and problems as they might arise. Attempt to keep a balanced view and be ready to experiment and search for brand new ideas. You might find being flexible is especially important if you are in business.

10 Search for synergistic Connections

Spend a portion of each day putting your own thoughts on paper. Then examine the ideas to see if you can use them to synergistically improve the efficiency and quality of your personal and business interactions.

For those who have a business it is helpful to review ways you can outsource, delegate, automate or partner with another person to save money and time.

By regularly utilizing your time and assets more efficiently you are guaranteed a greater measure of wealth, wellness and satisfaction.

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