Customer Reviews

If You Haven't Got the Time to Do It Right, When Will You Find the Time to Do It

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The truth is that many of the quick fix techiniques and tips that are given to the many unorganized people as I used to be don't work well for long. I was on a quest to find out how to become organized my self and be part of the select few who seem to be born that way. By following what this books says I have been able to do it. See, many of the things that are believed to help aren't very effective, such as writing down things to do on an agenda that has times written down--doesn't work because its easy to be interrupted and not finish something on the alotted time etc. etc, but these are the foundations of personal organization. I have observed that these also happen to be the things that real organized people actually do. Now they might seem simple, but these book truly brings all the aspects of personal organization together--the three pillars as i like to call them, which with one missing, the other two fall in despair and chaos once again. Master List, Master filing system, and a clean work area--sound simple, it is, but trust me, read the book. Easy read, and well worth your time if you're disorganized--true testimonial form me, I can't stress it enough. My word.

Unfortunately, I later handed it off to a coworker who was struggling with organization. It's definitely a "read it once" type of book. My disorganized boss continuously comments on my organizational skills, so I've decided to pick up a copy for her as well as another coworker and replace my own.

Occasionally a book comes along that is short, a pleasure to read and truly helpful. If You Haven't Got the Time to Do It Right, When Will You Find the Time To Do It Over is such a book. Mayer has spent much of his career as a time management consultant and he has written a basic primer for those interested in organizing their lives to a greater degree.

Most of us are being required to do more work with fewer people. How to get this increased workload accomplished is a common problem. Mayer asks, "But are we really increasing our productivity, or just the number of hours we work?" He then offers a solution. The key to getting work done is not simply to work harder and longer but smarter! Better organization is a solution. This book is centered on the principle of "save time by wasting less of it!" The author uses his vast experience to offer ideas, techniques, and concepts to save time and use it more effectively.

If You Haven't Got the Time to Do It Right, When Will You Find the Time To Do It Over provides common sense ideas that really work if we are willing to apply them. Being creatures of habit we tend to do things because that is the way they have typically been done. Mayer has boldly stepped out of the habitual routine to find ways to overcome daily obstacles to time and productivity. He attempts to show how time can be saved in "small pieces" rather than in large blocks. He ponders, "Save thirty seconds every five minutes, and by the end of the day, you've saved an hour." The book is divided into two parts. The first part shows you how to organize your workspace including your office, files management and desk. The second part shows you how to streamline your entire business to become more productive and organized.

This is a useful and rewarding book. If it helps you to change only one routine in your life due to its beneficial ideas it will have served a valuable purpose. Easy to read and understand from cover to cover!

This book was a good tool to get you started toward an organized office. There are many tips to help anyone manage their files (I like the idea of a master file closest to your desk) and to keep on track with projects (using the Master List). I was disappointed that this book was published in 1991 and hasn't been updated. There are tons of computer tools that make the chapters on calendars, appointments, even the hand-written Master List obsolete. I do appreciate the ideas this book presented and will use them with the tools on my computer.

Keep your desk clean, make a to-do list. I just saved you the money, time and energy needed to read this book.

The David Rix review really summarizes this book well. Its small size makes it very readable and very useful--a long, detailed time management book really defeats the purpose. The strength of this books isn't so much in the common sense advice; it is the the fact that it gives you a starting place, and a clear strategy for managing your time. By just spending less time trying to find lost files/information, holding more efficient meetings, and by reigning in your phone time and lost "chit-chat" time at work, you can really gain more control over your day. Having control over your day can really help you to get up in the morning, and not lose so much sleep over the endless problems that crop up during your work day. This book is a good first start toward that end.

I must admit, I only got so far into the book and what I had learned saved my desktop. Just the first couple of chapters helped. I gave my copy away to a needy co-worker, so I'm getting another here!

This book can be read very quickly. The suggestions are straight forward and easy to implement. You can pick and choose sections to read without feeling like something was missed. I would recommend this product.

If you are looking for a simple system that doesn't require you to copy lists, type everything into your computer or become a slave to your PDA, then this book is certainly for you. I'm amazed that more people aren't familiar with this work and I'm lucky to have found it years ago. This book has helped me turn my paper mountains into organized and prioritized accomplishments. It helped me throw out the junk, keep the best items, and develop a system that keeps me organized and accomplishing more. This is a must read for anyone who wants to avoid the fancy books on time management.

This book is the best book on Time Management and priority setting ever written. I read this book about 12 years ago it helped me organize my day and set priorities on the important versus the urgent.
For example - you put a "1" next to all the items on your to do list that equal the important to your career/success/well-being/etc. The you put a "2" or "3" on the others that are less important. Then you go back over all the "1's" and put a 1,2 or 3 based upon the time it takes to do it. For example - something that should take a short time a "3"; a long time to do - a "1" . Then your "to do" list looks like "1-1" long time to do very important; a "1-3" is a short time to do, but very important; And you do all the 1-1's and 1-2's and 1-3's first before the 2-1's and 2-2's ... get it? Like if pick up laundry would be a "3-1" - it is not important but takes a long time to do (if you are working) and therefore not going to make it to the head of the list. It forces you to think and prioritize and DO THE THINGS THAT COUNT. And you keep a MASTER LIST where write everything .... UNBELIEVABLE!! A SHORT BOOK - and it tells you volumes!!! and it works!!