60 Minutes

"One hour of uninterrupted time is worth three hours
of time that is constantly interrupted."
-Steve Chandler

60 Minutes I was challenged recently to close my office door, eliminate all distractions and concentrate on a particular project for one hour. It just didn't make sense to me, because I was already overwhelmed with one thing after another and didn't want to waste any more precious time. Because I was desperate, I decided to try it. The first twenty minutes were the worst. I scanned my desk which was covered with unfinished tasks; people to call, memos to be forwarded, etc. I had to force myself to keep my eyes off the activity on the security monitors as well as resist the relenting desire to check e-mail. Eventually, I was able to settle down, concentrate on the project and complete it. The hour of uninterrupted time was well worth the effort. When I opened my office door and headed for the reception area, I felt as though I had already done a day's work. I had a genuine sense of accomplishment plus a renewed sense of energy. Do you find yourself working hard from morning until night but at the end of the day asking, "What have I really accomplished today?" Schedule an hour. Apply slow, steady, concentrated effort to your project and keep that appointment (with yourself) like you would with your doctor. You will discover that you will be able to look at the big picture and create solutions to big picture projects.