Kishore C.S. (November 2001)

If you have followed my articles related to time management, you would have understood by now that I like working in a planned manner. I don't like working in an ad-hoc, fire-fighting manner. It is not that I can't work in such situation if needed. I want to do  'quality work' every time. When I perform some task I want to leave my mark of 'quality' on the task. I realize that I can't perform a task to my own satisfaction, leave alone my boss or others satisfaction when I work under pressure. I like to plan well ahead of time and be ready when the scheduled event occurs. 

For example, though I will be adding this article to website on 15th November, I am writing this article on 10th November so that I don't have to do a last minute job. I am sure that if I write this article on 15th November, I will not be able to do same quality job. 

Over the years, I have learned to be proactive. My planner helps me in keeping track of deadlines and plan well ahead of time. During last week, I had a major achievement and I wanted to share my happiness in this regard.

I have to renew my passport in April 2002 because it will expire by that time. Recognizing that this is a very important task, I wanted to complete this task much in advance so that I don't have to do it in last month before expiry. Some people like crisis situations. They will wait till the last minute and when they experience a rush of blood and urgency they get motivated to do the task. They perform well under pressure. I don't like to experience such high adrenaline situations because the stress caused by such situation will impact my life.  

Towards this, I enquired with people who already renewed their passport. Gather necessary information about procedures. Last week I finally managed to go along with my friend to San Francisco consulate and get my passport renewed. I have been planning to complete this task in month of September itself. But somehow I could not get this done during September and October. By beginning of November I was very much determined to complete this task because I knew, if I ignore this, I will doing a last minute job again.

I termed this an achievement because I feel so happy completed this task much ahead of time.

I feel a positive energy about completing a task ahead of time. I feel proud in telling others that I managed to complete a task ahead of time. And not only that, since I feel so happy about that, doing things in a proactive manner becomes a habit for me.

I have learned to proactive in all important tasks

- Don't missing bill payments by paying them well in advance.
- Completing tasks on time
- Renewing memberships
- Filing tax returns on time

Summary:

If you have never experienced happiness of proactive action, experience it. Complete one task much ahead of its due time. Take a task which can wait till next month. See if you can complete that today. Observe your emotional experiences. If you experience positive energy and enthusiasm, you will know what I am talking about.  If you start doing things in a proactive manner, you will also find that you have more time than realize. Handling crisis situations reduces your efficiency and you will be doing less than what you want to do. If you are working every day in crisis situations, realize that you are not working at your best capacity. You are like a over-worked machine.

Remember as I stressed in my article "Writing down goals", that simple act can help you a lot in becoming proactive in your life.