Review: Very Beneficial
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 1, 2014
I love books like this.  I grew up reading things like this.  It is refreshing to read a new one every now and then to make sure you haven't slumped back into old habits.  Some of the things this book pointed out was how to set goals.  Not just any goals but SMART goals.  As a teacher I am familiar with these.  Learning to prioritize your tasks is also very important.  Some of the things that I do ALL the time that the author pointed out in his book, and that I agree with 100% are:  Make a list.  My family teases me about being the queen of lists.  I've done this for years.  I always have a to-do list.  Then I go back over it and order it.  I also keep a calendar that I can read on any of my devices as well as a hard copy.  This way if I have upcoming deadlines I can build that in.  I have a planner that I keep a to-do list, my goals and action plan in.  I review it at the end of each day so that I can plan for the next day or figure out what did or didn't work well so I can adjust my plans.  All of these are things mentioned in the book.  I find it interesting the number of middle school students who come with some of these skills.  When I ask them where they learned them they can usually tell me of a book their parents made them read.  They find they are more productive, get more done in less time and usually have time for down-time.I do need to tell you that one thing the book pointed out as do many is that you must find time for yourself.  I have always had trouble building that into my schedule. It is something I consciously have to do because if I don't I would work through lunch and never stop.  Having learned some of these skills it is important to constantly practice them.  They were most beneficial when I began reviewing books.  It is the only way I can keep them straight.  Since I teach, write books, and review books, it is important that I am able to keep my schedule straight.  By setting time constraints I know if I have time or how much time I have for a project.  The hardest part for me and something stressed in this book is when to say NO! It has only been in the last couple of years that I have actually learned to say no.  For all of the reasons listed above and so many more I would highly recommend this book.  Want to become more effective at what you do? This is a quick and simple guide for you.