Rating: Summary: Not a cookbook but a philosophy Review: "You can ask me for anything but time," Napoleon is reputed to have once said. And I can certainly agree with that, well, maybe not 'anything.' I find it so easy to stay busy all the time, but getting anything done is yet another matter. This morning I reached a point where I had so many things to do that they kept running around in my head to the point where I wasn't getting anything done. Then I did just what Mr. Tracy suggests: I made a list of the things I had to do. Then I prioritized the list. I couldn't remember all the things, so throughout the day I kept adding things, and fitting them into the priority list. By this evening I'd scratched off the top few highest priority items. There's still a long list, but this is still Monday, I have four more days and I think I can make it.
I've got to say that some of his recommendations don't work well for me. For instance, starting the day early. We all have 24 hours a day, what difference if we start work at 5:30 in the morning, or if we work until 9 or ten at night. I find the evening hours free from the telephone, free from interruptions, and with no family and not liking television, I'd rather work later, read afterwards, sleep later work long hours and take many vacations.
Now for his comments on keeping your desk clean and filing stuff. He says that "as much as 30 percent of working time today is spent looking for misplaced items." "As much as," means between zero and 30%. My own experience is that the occasional looking for takes less time than constantly filing.
I do not think that Mr. Tracy would disagree completely. In his last chapter, which is a summation, he says that you need a philosophy of time management, and it's got to be yours, one that you can live with, enjoy and meet your own goals.
Rating: Summary: Best Time Management Book I've Read Review: Best time management Book I've read in over 40 years. This book summerizes the best of all of Brian Tracy's previous work, so this book is the Brian Tracy book to get. I wish I had this book 38 years ago book I was 14. In fact, I'm going to pay my daughter to read this book this summer.
Rating: Summary: Tracy's Best! Review: I highly recommend Time Power, by Brian Tracy, to anyone who wants to get more out of each day. This book contains a lot of different ideas and exercises that have helped me tremendously. Tracy explains the reasons why certain behaviors and habits are important to develop. Trust me, Time Power will make your life a whole lot easier!
Rating: Summary: Another winner by Tracy Review: I purchased Tracy's tape set on time management many years ago and that is what this book is based on. What a pleasure to have a hard copy printed version to easily access the gems of wisdom like only Tracy can deliver. You will easily add two hours to your day by following Brian Tracy's suggestions. The prgram works.
Rating: Summary: Much Better than Covey's "7 Habits" Review: I recently stumbled upon this book during a professional seminar earlier this week. Quite surprised at the quality of information and tips provided. I've found that many books on "time management" or "personal effectiveness" tend to be a little preachie. Many alternative books tend to focus too much attention on things like "personal values" instead of providing practically solutions. Fortunately, I'm happy to report that Brian Tracy's book stands in stark contrast to such books. Sure, he covers the importance of aligning personal values and an individual's goals and objectives; however, the majority of the book is focused (appropriately) on providing the practical skills and tools for which you purchased the book in the first place. I give this book an enthusiastic "thumbs way up." Overall grade: 5-stars.
Rating: Summary: Another winner by Tracy - increased effectiveness..... Review: I used to think that I didn't have time, now thanks to Brian Tracy's new book, I have discovered several hours per week that I was previously wasting. I get more done. I am more effective. And I have more free time.
Rating: Summary: Another winner by Tracy - increased effectiveness..... Review: I would give it 7.5 out of 10. In Time Power, Brian repeats same or similar ideas many times in different chapters. One new chapter is supposed to bring in a new idea not explained before, and not necessarily repeat previous chapters' ideas. For example, the following sentences are repeated plenty of times in the book, in several different chapters: - What's the best use of my time right now? - What can I, and only I do, that if done well will make a real difference? - Why am I on the payroll? In addition, when Brian explains about the same topic in a new chapter, he does it in a way so that as if the topic has not been explained before in a previous chapter; he treats the already explained topic as a new, fresh idea. Another drawback, Brian explains minor ideas, everyday-experiences or general techniques that I believe that everyone already knows too often. If this is not done, along with not repeating the same ideas in different chapters as mentioned above, the book's size can be reduced by 100 pages! Well, actually I'm a big fan of Brian Tracy. I read his articles and newsletters everyday. But it is obvious to me that reading his newsletters could be more interesting and not boring since the newsletters are not prolix and they contain the essence of ideas Brian wants to convey. I just finished reading the book this afternoon, and now I've got a 4-page summary (I wrote this during reading the book) containing important points I have not learned before, that would be very useful in developing my skill in time management and helping me do my jobs in new, improved ways. So the conclusion, In general, I would recommend Brian's Time Power for you. If you're new in time management, this book would be very useful - even a mandatory. If you already mastered time management at somewhat high degree, I would still recommend Time Power for your nice reference.
Rating: Summary: A stunningly bad collection of psycho-nonsense Review: In "The Witch Doctors", Micklethwait and Wooldridge explored
some of the rubbish to which folk in business today are exposed.
Well, they need to produce a new edition and add this book and,
based on its contents, Brian Tracy to their collection. If Tom
Peters has lost the plot, and Charles Handy is a twit, then this
guy is moving well into their territory.
Here's just one choice example from the endless series of
witless platitudes:
"Any command repeated again and again in a spirit of faith,
acceptance, and belief will eventually be accepted by your
subconscious mind."
Where did he get that from? What *is* a "spirit of faith"?
And do we care, if the command is one suggested by this
book?
Tracy labels his own ramblings as "Laws" - for example, the
"Law of Reversibility". A quick google search reveals that
apart from the well known principle in physical training,
the main mention of this "Law" is in a reference to another
of Tracy's books. And if his "Law of Belief" really were a
law, then by the time I was 5 I would have been able to fly
like superman.
The fundamental problem here is not necessarily that there is
nothing of value in the book (although I strongly suspect
there isn't), but that the whole thing is couched in so
*so* much psycho-babble, that no one with any respect for words
like "proven" (part of the book's sub-title), or "research"
(apparently the book is based on some) will be able to
get past the first few chapters without wanting to throw up.
If you want to learn some practical time-management techniques
read David Allen. For more general wisdom, try Drucker's
"The Effective Executive". And if you want some inspiration
to assist you in overcoming procrastination, or developing
self-discipline, read, I dunno, "Band of Brothers", or
"Everest the Hard Way", or even bloomin' "Lord of the Rings"
if that's what presses your button. But the best use for
this latest Tracy is in the smallest room in the house (and
I don't mean as reading material).
Consider - do you *really* think Gates, or Iaccoca, or even Vito
Corleone got to where they got by telling themselves, every
day, "I am always punctual for my appointments! I am always
punctual for my appointments!" ?
Rating: Summary: A must read *Power* book Review: Pros:
I read this book completely. It is one of the best books on personal development and emphasis the importance of three main topics such as goal setting, focus and action. This book has a bunch of easy to start with tips and guidance. I could simply start my plans with a small piece of paper without spending my money & time on some of the unpractical planners that are in the martket. This book constantly motivates.
As per my opinion, this book will definitely help one who is a hard worker, but unorganized, unfulfilled, un-motivated.
Cons:
Even though it might be true that there is a 25% more efficiency, but I think on several occations the book suggests to work harder. This might be confusing on first take, but I think the author tries to emphasis on reaching the goal quickly.
Rating: Summary: Take Control of Your Life! Review: This book has dramatically improved the way I live. Most of the ideas are very practical: Actions This Day List, Time planning, Long View and then backward regression to plan your current strategies, Feel Good psychology: eg: Please Yourself, live long and prosper, etc... Character building psychology eg: self-control, self discipline, self-mastery.
While I understand that Brian is trying to look at each aspect of the ideal life in isolation, there are recommendations in the book that may not be practical for your line of work becoz I am in Sales, and our time is almost equally spent on and off the presentation/negotiation table in dinners and drinks with not just prospects/customers but also co-workers and industry people. So Golden Hour, while is excellent for others may be difficult for us salespeople. Where else could we then find the rest required to recover from networking the night before?
However, I would still recommend Time Power to anyone who has trouble managing stress as a result of trying to do too much in too little time of our corporate lives.
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