4. Prioritize It. Your To Do list will have crucial and not crucial items on it. Despite fact most people want to be productive, when given choice between crucial and not crucial items, we will most often end up doing not crucial items. They are generally easier and quicker than crucial items. Prioritize your To Do list each night. Put #1 next to most important item on your list. Place #2 next to second most important item on your list, etc. Then tackle items on your list in order of their importance. You may not get everything done on your list, but you will get most important things done. This is working smarter, not harder, and getting more done in less time.

5. Control Procrastination. The most effective planning in world does not substitute for doing what needs to be done. We procrastinate and put off important things because we don't sense enough pain for not doing it or enough pleasure to do it. To get going on something you have been putting off, create in your mind enough pain for not doing it or enough pleasure to do it. I prefer pleasure approach. Take a procrastinated project and turn it into to a game. Work with one thing in front of you at a time so other things won't distract you. ("Out of sight, out of mind.") Break it down to little bite-sized, manageable pieces. Get it started, take first step and you will likely continue it to completion.

Dr. Donald E. Wetmore, a full-time Professional Speaker, is one of foremost experts on Time Management and author of "Beat Clock" and "Organizing Your Life". If you would like to receive a free copy of his humorous article, "Poor John", who wastes hours in his days, email your request now for "John" to: mailto:ctsem@msn.com

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There's an old story about a speaker who walked up to podium and said "SEX" in a loud voice. After a long pause, he continued, "Now that I have your attention, let's get on with annual budget report." While this approach will probably wake an audience up, it does nothing to get them ready for rest of speech. In fact, doing this kind of thing will probably turn important part of your talk into one big letdown.