SuperCompetent: The Six Keys to Perform at Your Productive Best

Chapter 6. You Want It WHEN?

SUPERCOMPETENT Hero Thinking:	I refuse requests when appropriate; I know how to say no graciously.
SIMPLY COMPETENT Zero Thinking:	I want to please everyone, so I agree to all requests.

Have you ever found yourself trying to make plans with a friend, play with the kids, or do something fun for yourself— only to find your planner so full that "maybe next month" is the best you can do? If so, you probably have that old Ado Annie syndrome: you're just a girl (or guy) who can't say no. We all want to feel like great parents, accomplished workers, and helpful members of the community. Saying, "Yes" is a good thing—in moderation. It's human nature to want to succeed and please others. But how much is too much?

Productivity doesn't mean filling every moment of every day with tasks that further some agenda. Prepare yourself for upcoming burnout if your schedule is so full there isn't time for family, friends, and, yes, you. You're good at what you do, so people will always ask for your help and your input. They want you to join another board, sew the costumes for the school play, or write the homeowner's association newsletter. Just because your calendar has a blank time slot doesn't mean you have to acquiesce to someone's request to fill it.

No Isn't a Four-Letter Word

Time management isn't about magically finding more hours in the day; it's about making the most of the ones you have. So stop hunting for spare minutes and start refusing to fill your calendar in the ...