When Charles Schwab was president of Bethlehem Steel, he confronted Ivy Lee, a management consultant, with an unusual challenge. “Show me a way to get more things done,” he demanded. “If it works, I’ll pay you anything within reason.” Lee handed Schwab a piece of paper. “Write down the things you have to do tomorrow.” When Schwab had completed the list, Lee said, “Now number these items in the order of their real importance.” Schwab did, and Lee said, “The first thing tomorrow morning, start working on number one and stay with it until it’s completed. Then take number two and don’t go any further until it’s finished or until you’ve done as much with it as you can. Then proceed to number three, and so on. If you can’t complete everything on schedule, don’t worry. At least you will have taken care of the most important things before getting distracted by items of less importance. “The secret is to do this daily. Evaluate the relative importance of the things you have to get done, establish priorities, record your plan of action, and stick to it. Do this every working day. After you have convinced yourself that this system has value, have your people try it. Test it as long as you like, and then send me a check for whatever you think the idea is worth.” In a few weeks, Schwab mailed Lee a check for $25,000. He later said this was the most profitable lesson he’d learned in his entire business career.

A part of setting good time goals involves thinking out our priorities. To “line up your ducks” some use the “A-B-C-D” system for daily tasks. First write down everything you want to accomplish this day/week/ month/year, then put a letter by each using this code:

• A – something that must be done;
• B – something that should be done;
• C – something that can be put off but must be done sometime;
• D – something I want to do but will not matter if I never do.

If you don’t establish time priorities, others will. Driftwood moves with the tide; a ship crosses the ocean. The difference: a sail and a rudder. People and circumstances (tide) will take your day from you a little at the time if you do not know where you are going (sail/rudder).

What Should Be On My "Priority List"?

Time for God.

True time management starts with “seeking God first” (Matthew 6:33) and setting our affections on things above (Colossians 3:1,2). The average person spends 48 minutes a week in a religious or spiritual activity.¹ Seven minutes a day is not enough! Just attending the four weekly public church services would average thirty-four minutes a day. We should never be too busy, pressured, or tired to give God His due. God manages the whole world, and He’s never too busy for us² (cf. Matthew 13:22; Luke 10:40,41; Philippians 4:6). Since “…the LORD is in his holy temple,” we should “keep silence before him” (Habakkuk 2:20). He commanded, “Be still, and know that I am God…” (Psalm 46:10). Mark Littleton asked, “Are all the activities that scream for my time really essential? Am I missing the burning bush for trying to keep the lawn cut?”³ We cannot do everything we want to do, but we can do the important things that God expects us to do. We can make time to read the Bible and pray; we can make time to teach our families God’s Word; we can make time to praise God for His goodness; we can make time to teach sinners the way of salvation and to help those in need.

Time for family.

Peter Lynch, former manager of the Magellan Fund, left his job in 1990 to devote time to his family and his favorite Boston charities. He was 46, the age his father was when he died. At the time, Lynch said, “Nobody on his deathbed ever said: ‘I wish I’d spent more time at the office.’”⁴ It is possible to “heap up riches,” and know “not who shall gather them” (Psalm 39:6; cf. Luke 12:20,21). Our time with our mates “is short” (1 Corinthians 7:29), even if we reach the golden anniversary. It is even shorter with our children as they’ll likely have their own children by the time we get firmly established in our careers. It takes time to dwell with a spouse “according to knowledge” (1 Peter 3:7) and to nurture and admonish children (Ephesians 6:4). One survey found that an average father spends twenty-eight minutes a week in conversation or teaching his child. Four minutes a day is hardly enough to say a bedtime prayer—much less teach them about God and how to live in His world. It takes time to care for aging parents and to attend family events (1 Timothy 5:16; cf. John 2), but let’s make time today, and avoid regrets tomorrow.

Time for personal development/revitalization.

Isaac took time by himself to meditate in a field (Genesis 24:63). David learned to use a sling, a harp, and a bow on those lonely hillsides watching his father’s ewes. Jesus developed in wisdom, stature, favor with God, and favor with man (Luke 2:52). He tried to keep a low profile at times (Mark 1:45) and at least once attempted to give the crowd a slip in order to have some time to Himself (John 6:1) (though they caught up to Him, 6:2). Jesus encouraged His disciples, “Come ye…apart into a desert place, and rest a while …” (Mark 6:31) because people were making too many demands on them (“…many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat”). He must have noticed them “browning” on the way to burning out. If it takes putting your personal time on your calendar to make time for it, then do so. You can tell others that you “have an appointment” at 7:00 p.m. (or whatever time).

During your personal time, pursue your hobby. Read a novel or a favorite magazine. Go to the gym or tennis court with a friend. Share an afternoon at a museum with your child. Watch a movie with your wife. Go for a run at the track, a walk in the woods, a ride in a boat, or to a sports event. Plant something in your garden or build something in your workshop. Mow your grass, trim your shrubs, or wash your car. Do something that is the opposite of work for you. (Provided it is wholesome, others do not have to understand or approve.) Find something that relieves tension and/or makes you a more complete person. Depending on your personality, this may seem like “wasting time.” If not kept within specified limits, it would be, but no one can work all waking hours for an extended period without negative results. One study found that executives who did not fill every single time block—took time for themselves—were more productive. So pace yourself. Life is a twenty-six mile marathon, not a hundred-yard dash. Have an “on/off switch.” When you work, work. When you relax, relax. Focus completely on one task at a time. Don’t try to work while you relax. You’ll likely do neither.

Time for career/education.

Students often do less than their best because they focus on “EC” (extra curricular) the first twenty-four weeks of a semester and “LMC” (last-minute cramming) the last two. By setting a time goal of studying an hour or two a day, they could have had plenty of time for social functions, made better grades, and been far better prepared for life “AC” (after college). Most also have career-related ambitions. We want to make a larger salary to better support our family or do more good for God. We want to master a craft or develop new skills. We want to own our own business or manage another’s company. By visualizing where we want to be, praying for God’s will to be done, and budgeting time daily to take the steps to get there, it may be within our ten or twenty year reach.

“Time is so powerful it is given to us only in small doses”—use today’s portion wisely.

Endnotes:

1 Time Management, Marc Mancini, p. 116.

2 Sadie and Bessie Delany, Christian Reader, Vol. 33, no. 2.

3 Leadership, Vol. 4, no. 4.

4 Money, March 1993