First, it was time management. Then, it was organization. Now it’s efficiency.

Good Time Management + Good Organization = Efficient

Do you ever feel like you don’t have enough time to do everything you want to? Who doesn’t? We’ve spent the past two weeks learning to be more effective in getting things done. Two weeks ago, we discussed time management and how we all manage our daily routines to ensure we are as productive as possible. Last week, we built on that to talk about how we are organized and how being organized helps us get things done (GTD). We then defined several common words and terms in ways we may not have considered. If you take time to ponder these terms and consider how you manage them, there may be some unexpected opportunities. Let’s stop and look at some of the words I just used: Effective, time management, routine, productive, GTD, organized. Where am I going with this? Last week, we defined a few common words in ways that were not so common, at least to me, and I learned from that exercise. I now want to introduce a word you probably already know into this discussion. This week, our third week on this important topic, we will build on time management and organization and discuss efficiency.

What does an efficient kitchen look like? Are there parallels to our daily lives?

Many of you may know I have loved to cook for over 35 years. I am very close to publishing a cookbook, Everyday Cooking for Everyday People Like Us. This book has over 300 family favorite recipes and is a collection from family, friends, and tasty dishes I’ve developed over the years for our family to enjoy. Many recipes are designed for family-style cooking and to provide leftovers during the week. The book will soon be available at my website, absuccesspartners.com, or from Amazon.com. Don’t worry, I’ll let you know when it’s out! Besides delicious recipes for you and your family, many with stories about them, the book makes a great gift!

If you think this post is a shameless plug for my cookbook, it’s not, although I do know you and your family or those you cook for or give it to will enjoy the many dishes in it if you buy it. And, of course, there are the interesting stories! Instead, for today’s purpose, I mention the cookbook to make a point. Throughout the cookbook, I discuss being efficient in the kitchen. As I mentioned, the cookbook's theme is family-style cooking, and often cooking in quantities that provide leftovers for later in the week or to freeze for later. This means that when we cook, we have set up our kitchen (assuming you can) so that appliances, the sink, pantry, cabinets, trashcan, tools, and drawers are placed to limit unnecessary movement (a LEAN term called muda, or waste in Japanese). Everything you need to cook is close at hand so that our cooking efficiently uses our time, effort, and energy, such as electricity or gas. When you purchase ingredients, you have an eye toward using extra quantities to extend your food budget and not waste money, energy, time, or food. You see, LEAN and Six Sigma also have a place in the home! As much as I love cooking, I never wanted to cook during the week when I was working, as I was too busy! I want my time in the kitchen to be efficient. Why? So I have time during the week to do other essential things. For you, this may be children’s activities or a chance to rest after a hard day.

Parkinson’s Law explained

There is an enemy of efficient use of our resources (resources are any assets that can be drawn on by a person or organization to function effectively. Note 1) that I want to make you aware of, and it has a name. That name is Parkinson’s Law (Note 2) and is described in detail, in a tongue-in-cheek sort of way, in C. Northcote Parkinson’s book, Parkinson’s Law, originally published in 1957 and is defined as:

Work expands to fill the time available for its completion

Let’s dig into this for a minute and see if any of us have an opportunity to consider if we can function in more productive, effective, and efficient ways. Whoa! Wait! What? Why? Are you talking to me? Yes, and the reason is so we don’t have to say, “I don’t have time to develop or implement my long-term goals so I can achieve my dreams and live my best life. I’m just too busy!” That’s a bit of sarcasm to make the point that we all have the same 24 hours each day, and those who get and do what they want find ways to make the best use of the same 24 hours that people who don’t get to do what they want because they are too busy or unorganized (That is a crucial point, did you get it?). Let’s consider a few examples you likely deal with daily:

Have you ever heard the saying, “If you want something done, ask a busy person?” This quote is often attributed to Benjamin Franklin, and you probably know it to be true.
On the other end of the spectrum are people who can’t seem to get anything done, no matter how much time they seem to have. Ponder this point and venture to guess why it is that way. Is there any action needed?
Then there are the students, perhaps employees, or others who wait until the night before a term paper, test, or other assignment is due to complete it. Others will complete the assignment just as soon as possible to get it done so they can move on. Again, why is this, and is there any needed action?
Regarding Mr. Parkinson’s book, his theme is that government bureaucracy takes as much time and people as is allocated with no regard for efficiency. This may or may not be accurate, but we all lean toward believing it. If you are following politics and President Trump in early 2025, you are getting a large dose of this discussion.

Here is what I get out of all of this, and it drives the point home that I am trying to make. Busy people are very efficient in using their time and, as a result, accomplish much. They likely have efficient systems and processes that allow them to get what they need done and still allow them time to focus on things important to them besides the mundane, routine tasks we all have.

Learning from those who came before us

That said, here is the best news: We don’t need to figure it out on our own! I’ve stated that at Afterburner Success Partners, there is little new material; how we put it together is different. It’s the same with time management, organization, and Parkinson’s Law. Many resources and materials are out there, just waiting for us to call upon them. I’ve mentioned some of those in previous posts, and now it’s time to mention the third book I want to reference to you, which I have been talking about and is one of those resources. The book is titled Ultimate Hindsight by Jim Stovall (Note 3). In this wonderful book, Mr. Stovall, over many years, interviews 100 people he calls super achievers. Many of these people are household names and have achieved much throughout their lives, making them wealthy (notice I said wealthy, not rich) and famous. The book is full of valuable lessons for each of us and is put together in an effortless way to read.

You see, if we desire to do more, have more, and be more, the answers are at our fingertips, and we need to decide we want to take that step, be disciplined, and do it! Assuming none of us had any of the medical conditions I mentioned last week, the only person preventing us from taking these steps stares at us in the mirror each day. Yes, I know change can be scary, and I’ve had to be very honest with myself as I pondered my organizational system and concluded that it was not as good as it could be. Now, I must decide to jump in and do it. I know! It’s simple, just not easy…

In summary, if you find yourself unable to do all the things in life you want to do, to achieve your dreams, and live your best life, it may be because of Parkinson’s Law. It may be because your time management is inefficient. It may be because your organizational system is not efficient. For me, even though I’m generally efficient and complete the things I want to do, I still recognize that I could be more efficient and effective. I’m guessing, if we all are honest, that I’m not the only one in this boat. Let’s do this! That’s all for this week!

What’s in it for Me

Over the past three weeks, we’ve covered a lot of information about how we manage our time and organize our lives. Operating at peak efficiency and effectiveness helps us be successful, which in turn helps us achieve our dreams and live our best lives. Are you operating efficiently and effectively? Why or why not? How do you know?

Call to Action

Sign up for the course in any of the available methods today. Answer the three questions in the above paragraph. If necessary, review this and the previous two posts. If you need to make some changes (and you probably do), then admit it and get on the path to doing it. If you need some help, then reach out. We are not trying to reinvent the wheel here; we assess our performance and take corrective action.

Recommended Resources

Purchase and read Ultimate Hindsight by Jim Stovall (Note 3). Pay particular attention to the comments from the 100 successful people Mr. Stovall interviews. Ask yourself, “What can I learn from these successful people?” Take action as needed. Secondly, if you want a somewhat quirky read but one that is more fact than fiction, read Parkinson’s Law by C. Northcote Parkinson. This book is surprisingly expensive, but you may be able to buy a used copy if you would like.

Up Next

The Top 1% Club

Notes

Please note that as an Amazon Affiliate, I may earn a small commission on the sale of any of these recommended resources.

Oxford Languages https://languages.oup.com/google-dictionary-en/
Parkinson’s Law by C. Northcote Parkinson https://www.amazon.com/Parkinsons-Law-C-Northcote-Parkinson/dp/1568490151
Ultimate Hindsight by Jim Stovall https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Hindsight-Wisdom-Super-Achievers/dp/0768409616

Parkinson’s Law