Advantages of Paper Based Planner - 2

Advantage #3: Never Forget a promise or commitment

Lot of times in our work life or personal life we make promises or commitments to others that we will do so and so.

e.g. On Friday at office a tech support person called me and asked me to send some test data for the product I was working on. I said I will send him and it was a commitment. And I all forgot about it after the phone call.

And yesterday (Saturday) I was going through my Friday task list and was trying to find out tasks I didn't complete and which I completed. As I mentioned in my previous tip, I always spend a few minutes at home going through my planner. When I was trying to recollect all the things that happened in office on Friday, suddenly I recollected the phone call and the promise I made.

Since I have my planner with me, I immediately opened my planner and wrote the task for Monday that I should send the test data. It is a task that will take me less than 5 minutes.

Once I go to office on Monday, I will be able to keep promise.

Assume that I didn't do this and again forgot this task till I get a reminder on next Tuesday that I didn't send test data, what would I do?

Will I give an excuse that I forgot?  - Then I will be considered as a forgetful person and cannot be relied
Will I give an excuse that I was busy?- Am I really so busy that I don't have 5 minutes for a small but important task?

There were many such similar promises which I was able to fulfill because of this practice. Without relying on my memory or without other persons having to remind me again about my commitment.

This has many advantages:

• If you are interacting with customers and gave this promise to a customer, you will able to keep your promise and keep your customers happy and help your company keep customers happy
• If you gave this promise to your boss, you will be considered reliable by your boss and your boss will be happy
• If you gave this promise to a friend, you will really be 'a friend in need'
• If you gave this promise to a family member, you will make your family happy and enjoy your social life.

Such small things in make a big difference. Be organized and become a happy person.

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