Prosper News: April 2006
Dear Student,
We appreciate the trust you have given us at Prosper, Inc. We understand that we are not just dealing with a name on a screen or a voice on the phone. We understand that we are dealing with lives - your life. We have committed to work by your side to help you achieve success. We love to watch story after story come in from individuals whose lives have been changed. And they will keep on changing, because that's what Prosper, Inc thrives on.
Some of our best coaches have carefully selected some great success stories, tips and featured products for the month. Each month they choose stories, tips, and products that they feel will best benefit you at the time. We invite you to explore your area(s) of study, but also take a moment to learn more about our other areas, as well.
Best Regards,
Your Friends at Prosper, Inc.
Tackle the To-Do List
Prioritize and Make Things Happen
Most of us have a To-Do List full of tasks we need to accomplish. Some lists have just a few entries and are very detailed. Others are long with each large task broken down in to manageable pieces. In fact, To-Do Lists are as unique as the people that create them. However, one thing they all have in common is the fact that sometimes they become overwhelming.
As the weeks and months pass it seems that we keep adding to our lists and too many of us never seem to be able to cross tasks off nearly as fast as we add them. Sometimes tasks are deleted just because we know we will never get to them. It seems as if, the harder we work, the more we add to our list and the less we are able to take off.
Much of the time it seems as though we are just able to keep our heads above water. We spend all of our time putting out the fires that come up during the course of a day and forget about our list. Despite good intentions, lists are forgotten and we struggle to keep up with the demands the new day places on us.
We often we find ourselves controlled by our To-Do Lists. We find ourselves cringing each time we look at the growing list. It is time to take control. By understanding what is really happening, we gain a new outlook and can better effect change in our lives. Below are some steps to improve your ability to get things done.
Categorize Your Tasks
Most of your tasks, whether at work or at home, can easily be divided into four basic categories. These categories are:- Important and Urgent
- Important but Not Urgent
- Urgent but Not Important
- Not Urgent and Not Important
These categories are necessary to remember. By classifying the tasks ahead of you, it becomes easy to see what needs to be done and when it needs to be done.
Prioritize
Once you have placed each task in one of the appropriate categories, order your task list accordingly. According to the Pareto Principle, 80 percent of the value of your work is contained in 20 percent of the work that you do. Simply put, the first two categories will likely only compromise a couple of hours each day at work or at home, but the rewards for completing these two categories are phenomenal.As the "fires" arise during the day, take a minute to classify them and determine if they are Urgent and Important. Make sure that the 20 percent of your work that yields 80 percent of the return does not get put on hold to take care of urgent but not important tasks.
Plan Your Day
Plan your important tasks. Start with the Urgent and Important tasks that will take the most time and work through your list. Next start on the Important but Not Urgent tasks. You will find that the Urgent but Not Important task will usually be resolved without your attention. You will be amazed how quickly your To-Do List shrinks to a manageable load. Your To-Do List will become a powerful tool in your arsenal.
Perhaps the most important thing to remember is that your To-Do-List is a tool you have to help you accomplish more. The key is to take control of your day and get things done. Hopefully these ideas will help you work a little smarter, maybe with a little more direction and allow you to tackle your tasks.
