Achievements

In December 1988 my then employer sent me on a three day course called 'Essential Management Skills'. It was as inspiring as yesterday's cold mashed potato that is apart from one brief session on time management. In those days this was quite a new subject to the UK business world and I was hooked.

The tutor told us to list everything we needed to do the next day then pick ten items and prioritise them one to ten. I started making this my last task every day. It was great to come in the next morning with a work plan.

One day some months later I was at coffee break when the chief came and sat on my table. He liked to do this because he was a pebble thrower. This is someone who throws something into the conversation then stands back to watch the ripples and gain information.

He glanced down at my notepad which contained that day's To Do List. "What's that" he asked. Feeling very virtuous I explained what I had learned on the course and how I used this time management technique every day.

"That's fine" he said, "but have you considered sitting down at the end of the day and making a list of what you've actually achieved?"

"Bastard" I thought and from that day stopped making my lists. He was a sarcastic individual who liked to be seen on top so the comment was truly barbed. Yet all these years later I still remember it and think there is much sense in what he said.

What can be better than making a list of what you've done, achieved, succeeded at? Some people even keep a success log. You might think you don't have much to put down but there will always be something even it it's just getting out of bed alive and well.

Yes you should plan your days and set your goals but spend some time enjoying your successes. You deserve it.