Billy Arcement – “Bring laser beam focus to achievements you want to accomplish and they can become a reality.”
Billy Arcement is a businessman who brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to his audiences. For over 33 years, Billy has promoted and taught results-oriented leadership for association meetings, government agencies, corporations, and school districts. Through his speaking and consulting services, Billy helps organizations develop cultural changes that enhance teamwork, productivity, and profits.
1. Why does efficient time management make sense?
Arcement: “The capacity we have is to manage how we use our time. Time itself cannot be managed. It is in perpetual movement. When we become effective managing our activities, this allows one the opportunity to prioritize activities. By working on those activities that provide the biggest benefit, we get the biggest return on our efforts. All we have is 24 hours per day and, what we do with those 24 hours dictates how successful we will ultimately be.
By becoming efficient with the use of our time, we are not only more productive but we become better prepared for the challenges life places in front of us. And, any process that raises efficiency also brings us effectiveness. In combination, efficiency and effectiveness make a powerful package.”
2. What is the biggest mistake impeding efficient time management?
Arcement: “The biggest mistake impeding efficient time use is a lack of focus of where we want our life to take us. Without focus we are like the wandering Nomad that is aimlessly moving through the desert. Every successful enterprise, large or small, has focus. Likewise, life’s failures typically occur because there is no focus. One cannot have goals when focus is absent. Thus, the lack of goals clouds our vision making activities a hit or miss effort. Bring laser beam focus to achievements you want to accomplish and they can become a reality. Without focus, we are blind to the opportunities life offers every one of us.”
3. Where should I begin, if I want to keep my appointments better?
Arcement: “It’s most important that a daily schedule be created and organized in prioritized order. Having such a schedule improves efficiency because you are always working on the most important activities that must be done. At the end of the day, develop your plan for the next day. Include a detailed plan of action with estimated time each task will take and how you intend to accomplish each task. At the start of the day, review your plan and make sure you are doing, in prioritized order, activities with the biggest payoff for you. Throw in a touch of discipline and you’ve added a dimension of success few master.
With technology today, we have the option to set up electronic reminders for important appointments. Also, for appointments, take the time to create the desired outcome and a plan to achieve it. In the end, we must start with a plan and the necessary action steps to bring your activities to a successful conclusion.”
4. What are the basics for meeting all my deadlines?
Arcement: “In simple terms, we must have the right action steps in place to assure we meet our deadlines. This commitment can be strengthened with personal will power and discipline. Few like the pressure of a deadline. But most pressure from a deadline comes from not taking the time to create a step-by-step chronology of tactics intended to help one complete the activity in the required timeframe. The hit or miss approach to completing a project within the required timeframe, is a recipe for failure. Again, the more focused you become, the more efficient you become and the better you become at meeting your deadlines.
Lastly, be comfortable that deadlines are accurately set. Sometimes, we under estimate the time required to get something done. This “trap” can be avoided by making sure anyone helping with the project understands their part of the project and by making sure you are willing to hold yourself and others accountable and responsible for getting everything needed in place by the timeframe agreed upon. ”
5. How can I strengthen my willpower to follow my plans?
Arcement: “Willpower can be strengthened by heightening your level of commitment to complete an activity. The greater our desire to achieve something, the greater the odds are that you will create sufficient willpower to follow your plans. A commitment means one will allocate whatever time is necessary to see a project to completion. Also, if we are not energized by our plans, we will have a tendency to slack off a bit opening the door for not completing your plans thus losing willpower. I also believe that prayer helps create sustaining commitment to anything important in life.
Like any accomplishment, one must be ready, willing and able to put together the effort needed to not only follow but complete the accomplishment.”
6. What can I do if others complicate my own time management?
Arcement: “One must be willing to let people know you respect your time by not letting them waste your time. A simple “no” or “I’m sorry but I cannot undertake this project right now.”
If people see you wasting time, they are more prone to intrude on your time use. When everyone around you sees that you are very serious about utilization of your time, they will not be apt to do things that waste it. But the courage to say “No” can be the greatest asset you have to keep yourself maximizing your time use.”
7. Which examples provide orientation for efficient time management?
Arcement: “My thoughts are that one must have an orientation of wanting to accomplish all that their capabilities dictate. With this outlook, one will be focused and determined to use time wisely. Like previous points I’ve made, having a very focused direction (vision) of what you want life to be and making the commitment to do what one must, then efficient time use is a natural outcome.”
8. What is the difference between time management in private life and in professional life?
Arcement: “I don’t see a difference between good time use on or off the job. It’s all a matter of what your priorities are in each dimension and how successful you are to keep the necessary discipline and commitment in place to effectively use your time. Proper time use is a habit that should never be minimized if we are to get the most out of our work and personal life activities.
In both settings, it is the critical that one has a clear vision of what are the desired outcomes in both sector.”
9. What personal price do I have to pay for more efficiency?
Arcement: “In actuality, the price is paid only if you do not use your time efficiency. We need never forget that life does not offer us a free lunch. We are charged with putting together the necessary effort, in proportion to the desired outcome, to make the desire become reality. For such an accomplishment, there is no personal price because the rewards dramatically outweigh the cost factors.
The only inefficiency one experiences is when time use is not focused on the right priorities. That produces a price and a loss of efficiency.
I would caution your readers to not get too absorbed with success while ignoring the price on your life. For me it’s always about keeping my decision priorities on God, Family and Career, in that order of importance. It’s been a great and successful formula to bring peace of mind and accomplishments important to me.”
10. What success does a better time management yield?
Arcement: “You will rarely find a successful person that does not respect their time use and works on a prioritized list of desired outcomes. By proper utilization of time and a focus on what is truly important, one can reach greater heights on the success ladder.”
Further information:
Schedulemailer helps you focus your time use.