Customer Reviews

The Personal Efficiency Program: How to Get Organized to Do More Work in Less Time

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The Personal Efficiency Program is exactly that, a program to help you get organized and stay organized so that you can get more done in less time. The overriding theme is to do things now and don't put them off. The book covers all the bases for organization from developing a routine, planning processes, following through, managing and maintaining. The area that it does not cover is the psychological factors in getting things done. For example, one of the books that I read noted that one of the problems with a "to-do" type list is that we tend to look at it and do the easiest or most fun things first. So, as a result our reward for completing one of the items on our "to-do" list is that we get a less desireable and more difficult task to do next. Rearranging the "to-do" list so that you do the most difficult and least fun things first you set yourself up for success because as a reward for doing the difficult item you get a less difficult item or more fun item to do. I know it is just playing games, but it does affect how well people get their "to-do" list completed. I wish that he had included research like that in the book in addition to all of the good ideas for organizing and keeping track of things.

This book is designed solely for the work environment and getting things organized and done at work. Still many of the items can be applied at home too. It is a good book and a good read with a program that works if you implement and practice it.

This is a fantastic book - the best of its type I have read. Gleeson writes in a sane, sensible way about how to organise yourself to get more done. His solution? Do It Now. Before you say: "That's obvious" how many of you do it consistently? Not many, and the reason, from my experience, is that we are rarely organised to do it other than later!! Gleeson fills in the gaps by showing you how to physically organise yourself and your workspace so that you can put the Do It Now principle into regular and continuing operation. Trust me - this book is a lifesaver!!

This book really inspired me to clean up my act at work. I always say that I have better things to think about than where is the proper place to put a particular item...but I followed the instructions in this book and got everything in order and it has definitely made me more efficient, as well as improving my professional image. I've been following the other advice and in just the first week of putting it into practice I have received a lot of compliments from the people I work with/for, which has inspired me to work even more on improving my personal efficiency through this program!

This is the best time management book I 've ever read. I have read over 10 books on time management. This book is the last, and probably the very last I need to buy to improve my personal efficiency. "Do it Now" is a bloody work, but it works! I have put a big big label on my desk diary to remind myself to do it now.

Author Kerry Gleeson, a specialist in white collar efficiency and productivity, describes a do-it-now program for becoming more organized and effective. As might be expected, this is a well-organized book. Gleeson outlines some familiar approaches to getting organized, such as setting up an office system that deals with paperwork effectively. The book becomes more informative when it discusses some less familiar organizational techniques, such as planning chunks of time to deal with similar tasks, using technology and establishing routines for maintaining your organizational system. The book's major strength is the detail it offers about setting up files and systems, and following through on organizational initiatives. We enjoyed Gleeson's case histories of reorganizing various offices. She uses many of her basic principles in common sense ways - and the messes she repairs will make you feel like the top of your desk may not be hopeless after all.

Kerry Gleeson's Personal Efficiency Program is the famed system for multiplying productivity that has already revolutionised the work lives of over 300,000 people around the globe. In this book Gleeson offers an updated and expanded edition of his classic guide to working faster and smarter, giving you all the tools you need to get control of your workload-and your career.

This second edition also includes expanded information on conquering information overload, using the Internet to save time and energy, and managing today's faster-paced and multi-located work environments. Whether your goal is to be more productive, build a more rewarding career, or just leave the office on time, The Personal Efficiency Program can help you achieve it.

Kerry Gleeson is creator of the Personal Efficiency Program, whose clients include executives from world class companies. His work as today's premier expert on personal productivity has been featured in leading business publications.

Boy, I've only had the book a few weeks and I've already noticed an amazing improvement in my ability to get things done at work. What's funny is that I always thought I was organized; I didn't realize, though, that most of what I'd organize in the past would have internal cohesion -- but it would rarely be organized to help me do my work!

If you do any kind of office work, this book may help make you a whole lot more productive and make your work more enjoyable (more productive --> less stress --> more enjoyable, right?).

Just a few years after I have started my strategy consulting business (as well as my own book-store) in the early 90's, I spotted a review of this book, 'The Personal Efficiency System (PEP)', in Success Magazine. I bought it immediately & have reread it many times. A few years later, came the second book, The 'High-Tech Personal Efficiency System' by the same author. I bought it immediately too & have read - & refered to - it several times.

From the standpoint of self-management & work productivity, I consider them to be the best in the genre.

In essence, the High Tech PEP book is a further extension of the earlier PEP book. Basically, it shows the reader how to exploit technology (email, groupware, internet, cell phones, etc.) as a personal information management tool & how to apply the low-tech principles of PEP in a high-tech environment.

What I like about both books is the smorgasbord of concrete suggestions & useful checklists from the author. Also, I like the author's superb presentation of his brilliant work as embodied in the two books: each chapter comes with a preview & ends with follow-up action points. Bravo! as these aids make reading a breeze!

In a nut shell, these are the relevant chapters, respectively:

PEP:

Introduction: Personal Efficiency Program - The Missing Link;
Do It Now!
Organize It Now!
Do It Routinely;
Plan It Now!;
Follow-Up & Follow-Through;
Do It Right, Now!;
Do It Now! - From Whereever You Are!
Be a Do It Now Manager;
Organizing the Team to Act Now!;
Maintain It Now;
Epilogue: Just One New Habit;

High-Tech PEP:

Introduction;
Principles at Work;
Organizing Your Workspace;
Organizing Your Computer;
Organizing Yourself with a Computer: Time & Money;
Road Warrior Wisdom;
The Internet & World Wide Web;
Groupware;

Whether you are a desk-bound strategist or road warrior, these two books will undoubtedly equip you with all the proven strategies & practical tools to be a better manager of your projects...your people...your time... & most importantly, yourself!

To end my review, let me recap this wonderful passage from the PEP book:

"The best education doesn't teach you how to work. No matter how well you know your field, you won't be your most effective until you exercise good work habits - until you are able to get things done, on time, & with the most effective use of your resources."

I am now enjoying "do it now" benefits, but plan on reading the book again several times, and would like to purchase spanish copies (my home language). The copy I have red is in Portuguese. I also plan on having my employees, and colleagues reading it thouroughly. I would also like to buy it as a gift to some relatives, including my brother in law, who is Vice-Town Major and is constantly complaining about being covered in paperwork. Congratulations to Mr. Gleeson for a very helpful book.

I read the first edition of this book from the library and loved it. Very simple, easy to understand pictures even. Covers just about everything you'd want to cover on getting organized at work. This new edition is especially good with getting your electronic files organized and discussing how to deal with e-mail. Do It Now! as the author says.