The Goal of Time Management

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10/29/2026

The Goal of Time Management

Source: Bill Farquharson, October 26, 2026

Good morning!

Well, I’ve done it! I finally got completely caught up…said no one, ever!

If you are thinking you'll be able to say that for real one day, think again. And if you are making that your goal at the start of a workday, re-evaluate your goals.

In his book, Eat That Frog, author Brian Tracy starts off by saying, “You will never catch up. Ever.”

I agree. So, when you are planning your day, make sure you are shooting for productivity and efficiency. Not closure. There is a Don Quixote-like quality to those who are constantly trying to check everything off the list.

Here's how I do it:

Have a “one thing, first thing”—this is a task I dread, so I get it out of the way immediately;
Establish two to three priorities—These are the tasks I will get to hopefully before the squirrels start running across my desk;
Identify one “If I get nothing else done today, I will do this” task;
At several points during the day I ask myself this question: “What is the best use of my time right now?” and then do it;
Consider a day productive and efficient when you have completed the most important tasks on your list. Then...
Rinse and repeat for the next day.

One last point: While productivity is possible, it is not permanent. There are many factors influencing your time management, including your mood, energy level, and even how well you slept last night. The best you can do is to be prepared for the day, stick to the priorities you’ve identified, and get back on track when—SQUIRREL—a shiny object catches your eye.

Watch Bill present this week's sales tip

The Sales Vault, created by Bill Farquharson, is a subscription-based resource and sales community featuring a calendar packed with live workshops, on-demand sales courses, peer-to-peer discussion groups, and 35+ years of sales training content all searchable by sales challenge. Think of it as a sales conference where the seminars and workshops, full of instantly applicable ideas, are ongoing and more programs are added constantly.

The Sales Vault is available on a monthly subscription basis, normally at a no-brainer monthly price of $45/participant, but… GMA members can take advantage of an exclusive offer: FREE membership for 30 days followed by a discounted monthly subscription price of just $40/participant.

Bill has been a friend of GMA for many years and is, no doubt, known to our members as a top sales trainer and content creator for the graphic arts.

Other Vault resources:

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