Conserve Your Energy

Be careful how you expend your energy. Conserve it and protect your energy for the times you need it most. I tend to think about this more when I go through longer stretches of periods of hard work. Relax while in transit if you travel, take the train instead of the car and you will arrive relaxed and invigorated with more energy left for your appointments. There are moments you are dependent on your ability to release this energy of yours, during a presentation, like in a customer meeting. Conserve your energy for when you need it.

Pareto Principle Everything

The 80/20-Rule or the Pareto Principle is one of the most fundamental laws of life. Is says that 80% of a result comes from 20% of the activity involved. It is a great time management technique to always think 80/20 and focus single mindedly on the 20% that yield the greatest return on a daily basis. There is a book out now discussing the concept of a four hour work week taking this principle to its extreme. You don't need to go that far but remember to Pareto Principle everything you do!

Internal Prime Time

Everyone has an internal, biological body clock, a timer that sets levels of awake and awareness among other things. You can use this to your advantage. Schedule your more complicated tasks during your internal prime time when your energy level is at its highest. For most people this is in the morning but there are those who work better in the afternoon or in the evening. Heed to your internal rhythm. The body clock will also give you signals when it is time to go to bed.

It Is Not What Others Do

It is not what others do that ultimately decides what happen to you. It is what you do in reaction to what others do that determines the outcome of a situation. If you can stay calm and focused on your responses much is won. Self control is a key virtue here. The word responsibility means your ability to respond.

Invest Back Into Yourself

Invest at least 3% of your earnings back into yourself, your growth and your continuous learning. View this as your personal R&D budget and use it for books, training classes and subscriptions. If you develop the habit to read for thirty minutes to an hour every day you can become an expert in your chosen field within a few years. Buy stock in you and invest a portion of your earnings back into yourself.

Cultivate A Hobby

It is vital you develop interests outside your area of work. There are multiple reasons for this; hobbies expand your horizons and keep you well rounded, help you to grow a healthy personality and not becoming seriously one sided. As a recovery mechanism a hobby aids in alleviating stress. It gives you more than one leg to stand on and helps you to balance your identity. This is particularly important the day you retire or happen to loose your job. Make sure to cultivate a hobby.

Constructive Criticism

In a general atmosphere where learning is the name we give our mistakes it is easier to take criticism without being defensive about it. Always criticize in private and never in front of others, criticize the action not the person, be specific and avoid sweeping generalizations. Provide suggestions on how they can improve and invite the other person to join you in thinking of ways to do it. Be assertive in your criticism in an honest straightforward way, be personal about it and don't bring in other people's opinions into the discussion.