We have all been in the meeting that won’t end.

(Or the interview from eternity…)

So, when things just keep going, how do you know when to stop?

How do you end the meeting that won’t end?

Why Are We Still Here?

If you work in a corporate environment, then you have probably been in too many meetings.

Most companies suffer from meeting-itis. Long and never-ending meetings.

But, do you really want to keep your highly skilled, highly paid team locked in a conference room while people debate the outcome of the latest reality TV episode?

Or some other trivial topic?

“The boss may feel that everyone in the meeting wants to hear about his expensive fishing trip…

But, many of his team are thinking about how they are going to finish their work…

And pick up their kids on time… make it to that date tonight… or just get home at a reasonable hour.”

When the meeting is over… it needs to be over.

How to End The Meeting

Ending meetings is easier said that done.

Some companies have a culture where anyone can call a meeting (very dangerous!) and every meeting is considered mandatory.

Meetings should: Have a purpose… be on the calendar with adequate notice… and be prepared for in advance.

And of course, they should end on time.

Here are 10 Ways to End the Meeting:

1. Time is Up – Set expectations up front that the meeting will end at the designated time. No exceptions. If the time is exceeded, schedule a follow-up. Work fits the time allowed,  and you will be amazed how much more productive a meeting can be if there is a set end point.
2. Use a Visible Timer – Some groups have a meeting timer that is visible to all. This may sound a bit extreme, but it really keeps meetings moving! People will be more likely to stay on topic, and it becomes very apparent if someone is “running down the clock.”
3. Stop When the Work is Done – I have seen hour-long meetings where the task at hand took only 9 minutes to complete. What happened next? The team spent the 51 minutes chatting about nothing just to fill the time. When the work is done, so should be the meeting.
4. Allow People To Leave - Productive companies allow teammembers to leave when they need to. By setting this expectation in advance, individuals can excuse themselves with impunity.
5. Ring the Bell - We use them in sports and school. If you must, set an alarm. When the bell rings, the meeting is over. Maybe our office buildings should have chimes that ring ten minutes before each hour. Hmm, doesn’t seem like such a bad idea…
6. Work the Agenda – The vast majority of corporate meetings have no agenda. That’s like setting off on a trip without any idea where you are going. Set an agenda in advance or wait to meet until you have one.
7. Use a Moderator – Very few companies use this method. However, an impartial moderator can keep things on track. Ironically, executive teams are one of the groups that can benefit the most from this suggestion.
8. Regroup at a Later Time – Avoid letting the meeting run over and interrupt other obligations. If there is more work to be done, set a follow-up meeting. Most projects can benefit from a meeting break to allow teammembers time to take action on tasks.
9. Stand Up for Overtime – When the time is up, all participants must stand for any overtime conversations. If you want faster meetings in general, try a “standing meeting.” People tend not to waste time when they are standing.
10. Excuse Yourself – One of the best ways to end a meeting? Excuse yourself. (See #4) “I have another meeting” is a magical phrase. If you leave just because you don’t want to waste your time, then people get offended. But, if you have a another meeting…that is OK!

It’s Time To Go

When the meeting is over, it’s time to go.

Hold meetings to the allotted period.

Ensure that they end on time.

These simple actions will increase your meeting productivity dramatically.

Don’t stick around for the never-ending meeting.

When the meeting is over, the meeting needs to be over.

Question: How do you make sure that your meetings end on time? Are never-ending meetings a problem at your company?

Time Management Ninja

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Just like your productivity is contagious, so is your attitude.

Are you a source of positive energy to those around you?

Or are you a downer…? Bringing all those around you down to your level of unenthusiasm?

A positive attitude can be many things.

What does a positive attitude mean to you?

Positive Attitude: Do You Have One?

I used to work with a manager who always had a positive attitude.

He had a trademark answer to the passing question, “How are you?”

No matter what was going on that day, he would enthusiastically reply, “Excellent! How are you?”

It was always sincere, never fake. No matter the circumstances, he chose to be excellent.

“You don’t know the power of a positive attitude…

Until you have seen it change a bad situation to a good one through a simple kind act…

Or even a smile.”

You too can choose to have a positive attitude.

In fact, having a positive attitude is easier than you think.

It can mean many things…

21 Ways to Define a Positive Attitude

1. It is looking adversity in the eye… and laughing.
2. Getting what you get, and not pitching a fit.
3. Enjoying the unexpected, even when it’s not what you wanted originally.
4. Motivating those around you with a positive word.
5. Using the power of a smile to reverse the tone of a situation.
6. Being friendly to those you don’t know.
7. It’s getting back up when you fall down. (No matter how many times you fall down.)
8. Being a source of energy that lifts those around you.
9. Understanding that relationships are more important than material things.
10. Being happy even when you have little.
11. Having a good time even when you are losing.
12. Being happy for someone else’s success.
13. Having a positive future vision, no matter how bad your current circumstances.
14. Smiling.
15. Paying a compliment, even to a total stranger.
16. Tell someone you know that they did a great job. (And mean it.)
17. Making someone’s day. (Not just a child’s… adult’s like to have their day be special, too!)
18. It’s not complaining no matter how unfair things appear to be. (It is a waste of time… instead do something!)
19. Not letting other people’s negativity bring you down.
20. Giving more than you expect to get in return.
21. Being true to yourself… always.

The Power of Positivity

Your attitude determines most of what you experience each day.

Yet, it is something that is easy to neglect.

Be someone who others want to be with, because you lift their energy, attitude, and spirit.

Be someone who you would want to be around.

Choose to have a positive attitude.

Today, choose to be excellent!

Question: What does a positive attitude mean to you?

Time Management Ninja

You forgot that thing you were supposed to do for your boss.

And that favor your were going to do for a friend.

Or even to pay that bill that was due.

Is “forgetting” one of the main reasons you don’t get things done?

How good are you at remembering what you need to do?

Don’t Say You Forgot

The second worst time management excuse, behind “I don’t have time,” is…

“I was going to do it… But, I forgot.”

Are you guilty of saying that you are going to do something and then don’t because you forgot?

Forgetting is not an excuse, it is a root cause of your productivity issues.

Whether it is todos, appointments, obligations, or bills… forgotten tasks often cause more work down the road.

10 Ways to Stop Forgetting

We all want to stay on top of our tasks and obligations.

What we need are good habits and strategies to remember what we need to do.

Here are 10 Ways to Stop Forgetting & Get More Done:

1. Set an Alarm – We all have alarm clocks on our phones, yet few of us use them. Setting an alarm is the simplest way to remind yourself. Need to call that customer back by end of day? Set your alarm for 5PM. A simple alarm is the down and dirty way to jog your memory.
2. Put it On Your Calendar – Calendars are often underutilized. Don’t just make appointments for meetings, but also for tasks that you need to do. This not only reminds you, but has the added benefit of allotting time to get the work done.
3. Write it Down (on Your Todo List) - What do you put on your todo list? Many people only write down the big things. Ironically, the big things are usually pretty easy to remember. It is the small ones that you need to write down. Put it on your list… that is what it is for.
4. Set a Reminder – Alarms are great for one-offs. However, for regular or repeating tasks go ahead and set a reminder. For example, I have a reminder on my iPhone that goes off every Wednesday at 7AM to tell me to put the trash out. 9 times out of 10, I have already put it out. But, the few times I hadn’t… it worked like a charm. (BTW, Siri makes it very easy to do this.)
5. Do It Now, So You Don’t Have to Remember Later – This one sounds like cheating, but the best way to avoid forgetting a task is to do it immediately. When appropriate, do small tasks right then and there. If it is only going to take a few seconds or minutes… Just Do It Now.
6. Have Someone Else Remind You – A little accountability goes a long way. Have a family member, friend, or even co-worker hold you to performing a certain task. (BTW, kids are very good at this… my 8-year old son reminds me of things I “said I was going to do” all the time…)
7. Put It On Automatic – One of my favorite ways to avoid forgetting tasks is to put them on automatic. Set and forget. This works great with AutoPay for bills. Get creative, you will be surprised how many things you can automate. For example, every six months Amazon automatically sends me a new water filter for my fridge. I don’t have to remember or even go out and get one.
8. Don’t Say Yes In The First Place – Want to avoid forgetting that favor that you promised? Or that extra task you agreed to take on? One of the best methods is to say “No” in the first place. If you are overloaded with your own work, don’t agree to take on more. You are just setting yourself up to disappoint others.
9. Have Someone Else Do It – If you can’t do it, delegate appropriate tasks. However, just remember that when you delegate, you still have to remember to follow-up. After all, you can delegate the doing of the task, but not the accountability.
10. Use Your List! – Your todo list should be your best friend. It should remember so that you don’t have to. If you are following rule #3, then your list will have your back. When your list reminds you of something you forgot, you know it’s working.

Remember Your Work

Don’t let your memory be an excuse for not getting things done.

With discipline and a few strategies, nothing will slip by you.

In fact, you’ll start to scare people with how on top of things you are.

Now excuse me, I have to go look at my todo list…

Question: How do you remember your important tasks?

Time Management Ninja

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I Do Articles

One of the most fruitful undertakings for an internet marketer is to become more efficient and gain more time. Most people in business on the net do not even begin to think about this until they are stretched as thin as they can go. So you need to ensure that you’re on the right track and always work to be improving your time management skills. It’s really not as complicated as people make it out to be. If you need to do something, then you can begin right here in this article on managing your time.

You should regularly invest your money in things that just work.  That is why selecting a impeccable web host like Hostgator is the first thing you should do.

Keep track of your time so that you know where it is being spent. You can do this by carrying a record of all your activities and thoughts. You’ll know precisely how much of your time is spent on productivity. This allows you to improve your time management skills as you progress. So shooting in the dark should not be an option for you when you’re trying to manage your time. The more effort you put into knowing your own habits and understanding your own approach, things will be blurry.

Even just this one step will help you make your time management skills better. You maybe already know that so many things that we do as web marketers is not the most exciting stuff in the world. What you do each day will depend on your marketing method, so you will do what is required of you. If you can outsource, then that is a good idea but the catch is to have the money for it. What is usually the deciding criteria for outsourcing has to do with losing money per hour doing the mundane things. The clear path to taking your business to higher levels is getting into money and hiring others to help you.

The first half an hour of your day should be set aside for planning. If you want to stay ahead of yourself then this step is important. You can really help yourself by spending that time planning out your day’s activities. You will know in which direction you’re moving, which will help you re-design your activities if needed. So, overall, your goal needs to be making sure that you getting as much work done as possible in as little time as possible. As long as you persevere, managing your time as an Internet Marketer isn’t all that difficult.

Finding success when you are an Internet marketer is all about building a really strong foundation before you do anything else. To do that properly, you need to know how and where your time is getting spent. If you want to get the most from your online business, you need to make sure that you are good at time management. There is a lot more that you can achieve from your Internet marketing business if you simply get this right. Your mind should be focused on enhancing your productivity and skills, while you progress. So what are you waiting for? Go ahead and apply the above time management tips to get better results from your IM business.

Self-Improvement Index

Are you bored?

Or more specifically, is your life boring?

We all get into routines.

We settle into our comfort zones.

It seems we do the same things every day.

Today, let’s bust out of our comfortable lives.

Going Through The Motions

Does your life seem like you are living in the movie Groundhog Day?

You get up and do the same things each day.

Following the same routines can save us time.

And staying in our comfort zone is, well, comfortable.

But, it doesn’t spark our imagination or stoke our productivity.

Sometimes, we get trapped in the status quo.

“If you let it, life will take you where it wants.

Instead, take your life where you want.” 

Is your life the same each day?

Let’s Not Be Boring

Doing new things sparks productivity in everything you do.

It is why having a hobby can make you more productive.

Today, let’s do something new and different.

Let’s keep life exciting and escape the boredom.

Here are “50 Ways to Outrun a Boring Life…”

1. Have goals, pursue them with passion.
2. Do something differently than you normally do.
3. Go for a 3 mile run.
4. Take a chance.
5. Take a different route to work.
6. Learn something new.
7. Read a book for pleasure.
8. Write a book. (What is that idea you have had for years?)
9. Ask out the person that you have been afraid to approach.
10. Finish something you started.
11. Choose the road less travelled.
12. Do a favor for someone.
13. Build something small.
14. Make something big.
15. Tell someone that you care about them.
16. Do something you have never done.
17. Do something that you haven’t done in years. (What do you miss doing?)
18. Eat something you have never tried before.
19. Order off the menu.
20. Write a fiction story. (How old were you when you last did that?)
21. Have a journal.
22. Send a picture and a note to a friend.
23. Take the dog for a walk.
24. Do something that scares you. (What do you need to overcome?)
25. Help someone selflessly.
26. Don’t follow the crowd.
27. Ask for that raise or promotion. (No one else is going to ask for you…)
28. Write a letter to that long lost friend.
29. Talk to someone you have been meaning to get to know. (Who is that person at work?)
30. Cook something from a magazine.
31. Sing when no one is watching.
32. Dance with someone you love.
33. Write down 5 things that you want to accomplish in the next year.
34. Write a letter to your future self. (See FutureMe.org)
35. Write a letter for your kids to read when they are older.
36. Stand up for yourself and what you believe in.
37. Stand up for someone else.
38. Volunteer your time.
39. As Steve Jobs said, be one of The Crazy Ones.
40. Go for a walk in the woods.
41. Play a competitive sport. (For fun!)
42. Go to a museum or aquarium.
43. Don’t take yourself so seriously.
44. Laugh at work.
45. Spend time with your kids. (For kids, L-O-V-E is spelled T-I-M-E.)
46. Make a date with your spouse or significant other.
47. Kiss someone you love.
48. Give a hug to someone who needs it.
49. Dare to be different.
50. Be yourself, no matter what others think.

A Life Less Ordinary

We all get into our comfort zones.

Some stay there… indefinitely.

Instead, let’s do something outside of the routine.

Today, live a life that is a little less ordinary.

What would you add to the list?

Time Management Ninja

Here is a trick question, “When do you show up for the 9 o’clock meeting?”

If you said 9AM, you are late.

The 9 o’clock meeting starts at 9AM.

You need to be there a few minutes early.

To be ready. To get settled. And to be prepared.

The 9:10 Meeting

I used to work for a company that had a daily 9AM status meeting.

The thing was, it never started at 9AM.

Why? Because people were always late.

Shuffling in at 9:03. Hustling in at 9:05 with a cup of coffee. Apologizing at 9:10 for being late and re-starting the meeting.

In fact, the meeting was eventually nicknamed the “9:10 Meeting” because it never started on time. 

9:10 was a more accurate description.

Does this sound like your workplace?

9 Ways to Start That Meeting On Time

Are your meetings guilty of starting late? Want to get started on time?

Here are 9 tips to help you start that meeting on time:

1. Start Regardless of Who is There - Start the meeting on time. It doesn’t matter if the senior most person isn’t present. I have seen an 11 person meeting begin with 2 people in attendance. Hint: It is very easy to make decisions with 2 people.
2. Make It Clear When the Meeting Starts - Set expectations with your team. Make it clear that you expect to start the meeting at the appointed time. If you implement #1, it will very quickly become apparent to attendees that the 9AM meeting is not the 910 meeting.
3. Don’t Give “Just a Couple More Minutes” – Ever heard that one? “We’ll give just a few more minutes for those that are running late.” Don’t. (See #1 and #2)
4. Pick a Good Meeting Time – If you meeting is always starting late, maybe you need to pick a better time. Be aware of your team’s schedule and other obligations. If you have them running from one meeting to the next, they will be late. Also, be cognizant of their work schedule. If your crew is arriving at 9AM, then don’t set a meeting at 9 sharp. Make it 930. The same goes for after lunch.
5. Make It a Short Meeting – Most meetings are allocated too much time. Very few topics need an hour-long meeting. Instead, schedule it for 30 (or 15) minutes. It is easy to be 5 (or 10) minutes late to an hour-long event. People will be less likely to miss 10 minutes of a 15 minute meeting.
6. Reward Those That Are On Time – Let the early bird get the worm. It can be as simple as bringing refreshments. Or perhaps, those that are on time get first dibs on new projects.
7. Don’t Let Latecomers Join - This one is tough. However, have you ever been to a meeting that restarts 3 times to “catch up” those who are late? Don’t let this happen. Instead, do not let people join who are late. They can “catch up” on their own time. Some may think this is harsh, but it is about respecting those who were on time and ready to work.
8. Set a Consequence For Last to Arrive - One company had a rule that the last to arrive was responsible for taking meeting notes. Another required that last person to clean up the meeting room when all was said and done.
9. Invite Only Those Who Need to Be There – Want to set yourself up for success? Don’t invite extra cast members. It is much easier to get 3-4 people to a meeting on time than 8-10.

Meet on Time

When meetings start on time, they are more likely to finish on time.

They are also usually more productive.

Defend your meeting time and respect your attendees’ time, as well.

Make sure the 9AM meeting actually starts at 9AM.

What are your best tips for getting meetings started on time?

Time Management Ninja

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What do you need to do?

I know what’s on your todo list.

Are you looking for solutions instead of talk?

Today, I am announcing TMN’s first time management short course.

It is entitled, “31 Days, 31 Ways: Daily Tips for Time Management Mastery.”

31 Days to Change Your Life

Most of us know what we need to do.

We know where we are not getting things done.

Many people talk…

- I don’t have enough time

- I need to be more organized.

- I need to get more done.

My question to you is…

What action are you taking TODAY?

This short course presents 31 daily bite-sized lessons.

Each lesson contains a hands-on exercise to do that very day.

Each topic concludes with a “Ninja Tip” to help you take your productivity to the next level.

31 Ways to Take Action

Too many people talk about being more productive.

Philosophy. Zen. Water stories.

I have always preferred an action-oriented time management.

It’s not what you talk about doing. It’s about what you actually do.

It’s not about yesterday or even tomorrow.

What defines you is what you DO today.

With my course, in just 31 days you will have taken 31 definitive actions to improve your time management.

You will have accomplished 31 steps forward in getting your life organized and increasing your productivity.

31 Days, 31 Ways to Improve Your Time Management

I challenge you to download my time management course today.

I’m confident that the lessons in this e-workbook will enable you to reclaim your time and take control of your life. I am offering a money-back guarantee if you are not satisfied or feel your productivity has not increased.

There are several bonuses for those that take action now, including an upcoming LIVE webinar and access to the private TMN community site.

(See the course details by clicking the book below.)

So, what are you waiting for?

Take action today. And take control of your life and time management.

What are your biggest time management challenges?

Time Management Ninja