Comments on: Unusual Time Saving Tips (5 of 5)

By: will

will — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 19:56:56 +0000

to elaborate on Russell’s point - assess how much time you spend daily and weekly on such optional tasks as blogging, blog surfing, twittering, social networking and the like - now create a “techno-budget.” only allow yourself a specific amount of time per day and week for each task and schedule it in where possible. when the minutes are gone, so are your techno-hobbies.

it is amazing how many blog and twitteraddicts have viewed and commented on this post. 21 people times two hours blooging, blog surfing and twittering per day (that’s conservative) yields 42 man hours daily spent.

is that for waste or for profit? you will have to answer that!

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 05:43:32 +0000

its illegal to talk while driving in Australia

By: Terrace Crawford

Terrace Crawford — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 18:25:02 +0000

Craig, You are hardcore bro. Handing off your cell phone? Wow. You must get a lot of calls. Great tip… and I also return calls on the road - very productive.

By: Russell

Russell — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 17:27:16 +0000

I like the idea of handing off your phone, but I would take it even further. It is a good idea to set aside a certain time of day for COMMUNICATION, not just calls. Take calls, handle email, faxes then put those things away and simply concentrate on productivity. In fact, you can even tell people what time of day this is for you, so if they want to speak to you directly they know when to call.

By: Jason Kimbrow

Jason Kimbrow — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 15:03:06 +0000

These are great! I love saving time and these are really helpful. I’m always trying to figure out the fastest route to and from restaurants!

By: Jody Earley

Jody Earley — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 06:14:17 +0000

Pastor Craig. I just wanted to say thank you for your message on IT this weekend at lifechurch. It’s a long storyand maybe I’ll have a chance to tell you one day, but that message was very meaningful and personal to my wife and I. Thank you for obeying God and making the necessary sacrifices to fulfill God’s purpose. (even if it’s on accident) We are very thankful to have you as a Pastor.

By: Ashley Jensen

Ashley Jensen — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 02:45:58 +0000

I usually will answer calls in the office or on my cell as they come on certain days… usually days that are interuptive with a lot of meetings, then there are more creative ‘design days’ that I shut it all down so I can produce, I usually don’t answer any calls except from my wife or my pastor, who may have something he needs from me asap. I employ the same strategy of calling people back on my way home too… I do it so much I know the exact spot when the call is going to drop!

By: Ashley Jensen

Ashley Jensen — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 02:36:09 +0000

I have certain days when I answer calls in the office or on my cell, usually extremely administrative days, my ‘design days’ I shut everything down so I can produce… but I use the same strategy of calling people back while in the car… I do it so much I even know the exact spot my cell will drop the call on the way home! LOL!

By: Rose Steiner

Rose Steiner — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 22:53:30 +0000

It is not illegal to use the cell on the road here yet, but hey, let’s be responsible, right? I am a road warrior (on the road more than at home, I think!). I use a blue tooth headset, and voice dial. Don’t touch a thing, and get a TON done for my work. Then when I do get home, I am a free lady to just be me!

By: Joshua Jones

Joshua Jones — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 00:49:25 +0000

Craig, do you also read the newspaper while driving?

J/K, but here in Japan it is illegal to use your cell on the road. I think with good reason too. I agree on the time savings, but with the attention it takes off the road, it’s not worth it.

By: brad Huebert

brad Huebert — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 15:17:01 +0000

I started using my car as a mobile office, doing my calls then… and felt like I’d just invented sliced bread. Never mind that I shouldn’t be doing it… Dang.

By: Brad Martin

Brad Martin — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 03:12:18 +0000

I just bought your new book. I LOVE IT! Thanks for being real.

By: DuAnne Seeley

DuAnne Seeley — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 20:37:49 +0000

One more thing that has been saving me tons of time. I love reading your blog and others but I have been cutting way back. I am all about growing and learning from others but it is too easy to link from blog to blog when before I know it an hour has passed by. Now if I really want to read I put in one half hour a week for fun.

By: DuAnne Seeley

DuAnne Seeley — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 20:27:44 +0000

This is so basic but I prefer to return my phone calls in a block of time vs. as they come in during my office time. Also if I return the call I can bring closure when the caller has what they need.

By: jason

jason — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 19:12:37 +0000

You saved the best for last. Great tip Craig!
So you are the guy in the fast lane trying to do 3 things at once!

Enjoy the big weekend!

By: Larry

Larry — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 19:06:01 +0000

One of the things that helped me is to turn off my phone when I’m home. When people call and get my voicemail immediately they know that my phone is off. If it’s urgent and can’t wait, they’ll call me at home. If it’s not important they’re much less likely to call me at home.

By: Tom Dillingham

Tom Dillingham — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 18:53:44 +0000

How do you balance your time with a growing church and a bunch of kids?

By: Craig Groeschel

Craig Groeschel — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:58:45 +0000

I forgot that talking on the phone is illegal in some states. (Is it illegal in other countries?)

Kenyon, I occasionally text while driving too… probably shouldn’t.

By: Kenyon

Kenyon — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:35:36 +0000

That’s a great idea (I’ll admit that I text and drive at the same time a little). All these suggestions have been interesting if not great. But for the hardest part is just changing my habits. I am currently trying to make myself more productive simply by actually keeping office hours. Rather than just this nebulous Monday through Friday from whenever to whenever I am posting my actual office hours and my wife is holding me to it. It forces me to concentrate and stay on task so when it is time to go home I go home.

Thanks for sharing these.

By: Dale Schaeffer

Dale Schaeffer — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:27:47 +0000

Returning calls while driving! I can’t believe you’d do something so irresponsible. ;0