One Day At A Time

I am so glad to be in January. Yes I know that the temps are cold, and going anywhere seems like a monumental task, but at least Christmas is over. It is time to resume the daily grind and I am happy to do so. Did you notice that the days are getting longer. Please do not look at any gardening books or seed catalogs, it will only make the winter and spring seem that much longer. Let's just take it a day at a time.

The new year is generally a time to resolve to do better, to be better, lose weight, and quit smoking or drinking. The list goes on. When I was a kid everyone always talked about how their life was going to change because of a New Years resolution; no one really does much of that any more. Perhaps we are all tired of breaking our vows after only a week or so of being good, and feeling like a failure. I don't like to break vows, but I am not sure that goal setting should become a thing of the past either. I would like to tell you a story.

Charles Schwab was the president of Bethlehem Steel, (I am pretty sure that there is no connection with the Christmas story). Ivy Lee was a consultant. Lee was given the task of formulating a plan that would help Schwab, "Show me a way to get more things done with my time." Schwab agreed to pay Lee "anything within reason" if the plan worked. Lee at a later date handed the president of Bethlehem Steel a sheet of paper with a plan to help get more things done with his time; the same amount of time given to all of us.

It went something like this. Write down the most important tasks that you have to do tomorrow. Number them in order of importance. When you arrive tomorrow begin at once your number 1 task and stay at it until it is accomplished. Re-check your priorities and begin with number 2 on your list, then move on to number 3, and so on until you have accomplished your goals for the day. Make this a habit for every working day.

The plan turned Bethlehem Steel into the largest independent steel producer in the world within five years. How much did Schwab pay his consultant? Several weeks after receiving the note Schwab sent Lee a check for $25,000, admitting that it was the most profitable lesson he had ever learned.

I know not every one works well from a list. Maybe you are a "planner" and not a "doer" but regardless of your type we need to live life one day at a time and really try to get as much living in as we can. Not just living for ourselves but doing what we can for others as well. You can do it.