Comments on: How to figure out which tasks you can ignore http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/12/17/how-to-figure-out-which-tasks-you-can-ignore/ Advice at the intersection of work and life Fri, 19 Mar 2010 20:21:37 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Brady Bagwan http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/12/17/how-to-figure-out-which-tasks-you-can-ignore/comment-page-1/#comment-214724 Brady Bagwan Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:25:29 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/12/17/how-to-figure-out-which-tasks-you-can-ignore/#comment-214724 The issue with ignoring tasks that are relatively unimportant is that you can find yourself perpetually ignoring people and things indefinitely. Being unresponsive can be a big negative in managing perceptions. I've found that scheduling in a little bit of the lower priority items each day ensures that at least they get some attention eventually. A great alternative, however, is delegation. Using a <a href="http://www.delegatesource.com/personal-assistant-concierge.php" rel="nofollow">personal assistant</a> can be extremely beneficial in terms of productivity. I just started a company called <a href="http://www.delegatesource.com/" rel="nofollow">Delegate Source</a> based in Denver. While there are quite a few <a href="http://www.delegatesource.com/personal-assistant-concierge.php" rel="nofollow">concierge services</a> out there, there are very few who approach lifestyle and <a href="http://www.delegatesource.com/what-do-we-do.php" rel="nofollow">household management</a> broadly. It really is simple math. If a professional's hourly cost is more than the cost of outsourcing <a href="http://www.delegatesource.com/personal-assistant-concierge.php" rel="nofollow">personal services</a>, why not achieve a better <a href="http://www.delegatesource.com" rel="nofollow">work/life balance</a> by delegating <a href="http://www.delegatesource.com/errands.php" rel="nofollow">errands</a> and <a href="http://www.delegatesource.com/errands.php" rel="nofollow">tasks</a>? The issue with ignoring tasks that are relatively unimportant is that you can find yourself perpetually ignoring people and things indefinitely. Being unresponsive can be a big negative in managing perceptions. I've found that scheduling in a little bit of the lower priority items each day ensures that at least they get some attention eventually. A great alternative, however, is delegation. Using a personal assistant can be extremely beneficial in terms of productivity. I just started a company called Delegate Source based in Denver. While there are quite a few concierge services out there, there are very few who approach lifestyle and household management broadly. It really is simple math. If a professional's hourly cost is more than the cost of outsourcing personal services, why not achieve a better work/life balance by delegating errands and tasks?

]]> By: Russ http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/12/17/how-to-figure-out-which-tasks-you-can-ignore/comment-page-1/#comment-180227 Russ Fri, 30 Jan 2009 21:35:19 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/12/17/how-to-figure-out-which-tasks-you-can-ignore/#comment-180227 I feel like choosing which tasks to ignore is the most challenging part because you have to tell yourself it's okay and that you're not procrastinating. I feel like choosing which tasks to ignore is the most challenging part because you have to tell yourself it's okay and that you're not procrastinating.

]]> By: One thing. at Personal PR http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/12/17/how-to-figure-out-which-tasks-you-can-ignore/comment-page-1/#comment-178927 One thing. at Personal PR Wed, 07 Jan 2009 18:48:53 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/12/17/how-to-figure-out-which-tasks-you-can-ignore/#comment-178927 [...] worry. Everything else will keep coming. It always does, like it or [...] [...] worry. Everything else will keep coming. It always does, like it or [...]

]]> By: Employee Evolution - Career vs Love: Which Would You Pick? http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/12/17/how-to-figure-out-which-tasks-you-can-ignore/comment-page-1/#comment-131495 Employee Evolution - Career vs Love: Which Would You Pick? Thu, 27 Dec 2007 10:01:27 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/12/17/how-to-figure-out-which-tasks-you-can-ignore/#comment-131495 [...] browsing through Penelope Trunk’s blog, I came across an interesting post on how crazy her life became when she started writing two columns, a blog and started publicity for [...] [...] browsing through Penelope Trunk's blog, I came across an interesting post on how crazy her life became when she started writing two columns, a blog and started publicity for [...]

]]> By: Career vs Love: Which Would You Pick? « Babble On by Kelvin Lee http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/12/17/how-to-figure-out-which-tasks-you-can-ignore/comment-page-1/#comment-127890 Career vs Love: Which Would You Pick? « Babble On by Kelvin Lee Fri, 21 Dec 2007 07:50:04 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/12/17/how-to-figure-out-which-tasks-you-can-ignore/#comment-127890 [...] Career vs Love: Which Would You Pick? While browsing through Penelope Trunk’s blog, I came across this interesting post on how crazy her life became when she started writing 2 columns, a blog and started publicity for her .... [...] [...] Career vs Love: Which Would You Pick? While browsing through Penelope Trunk's blog, I came across this interesting post on how crazy her life became when she started writing 2 columns, a blog and started publicity for her …. [...]

]]> By: cindy*staged4more http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/12/17/how-to-figure-out-which-tasks-you-can-ignore/comment-page-1/#comment-126321 cindy*staged4more Wed, 19 Dec 2007 01:35:13 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/12/17/how-to-figure-out-which-tasks-you-can-ignore/#comment-126321 Awww I really like this post. It really is the life of a sole business person working for his/hers own company. It's like that story of stopping and sharpening the saw, sometimes you just have to take time to make sure you are okay, so your business will be too ;) Happy holidays, Cindy Awww I really like this post. It really is the life of a sole business person working for his/hers own company. It's like that story of stopping and sharpening the saw, sometimes you just have to take time to make sure you are okay, so your business will be too ;)

Happy holidays,
Cindy

]]> By: John http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/12/17/how-to-figure-out-which-tasks-you-can-ignore/comment-page-1/#comment-126127 John Tue, 18 Dec 2007 18:57:53 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/12/17/how-to-figure-out-which-tasks-you-can-ignore/#comment-126127 Excellent post. This not only applies to individuals but organizations as well. The worn out phrase "Because we've always done it this way" comes to mind. We should always be asking ourselves if what we're doing is the best use of our time and looking for ways to optimize our time. Excellent post. This not only applies to individuals but organizations as well. The worn out phrase "Because we've always done it this way" comes to mind. We should always be asking ourselves if what we're doing is the best use of our time and looking for ways to optimize our time.

]]> By: transparency, fundamentalist moral attitudes and shoulder pads | mad housewife http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/12/17/how-to-figure-out-which-tasks-you-can-ignore/comment-page-1/#comment-126050 transparency, fundamentalist moral attitudes and shoulder pads | mad housewife Tue, 18 Dec 2007 16:36:58 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/12/17/how-to-figure-out-which-tasks-you-can-ignore/#comment-126050 [...] fundamentalist self-harm can be a very arrogant thing to do. That’s why I’m following Penelope Trunk’s advice today by spending at least 3 seconds deciding which of my mammoth list of seasonal activities not to [...] [...] fundamentalist self-harm can be a very arrogant thing to do. That's why I'm following Penelope Trunk's advice today by spending at least 3 seconds deciding which of my mammoth list of seasonal activities not to [...]

]]> By: Dale http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/12/17/how-to-figure-out-which-tasks-you-can-ignore/comment-page-1/#comment-126009 Dale Tue, 18 Dec 2007 15:14:18 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/12/17/how-to-figure-out-which-tasks-you-can-ignore/#comment-126009 This post is insightful. Often though we must guard against the tendency to validate our decisions, after we have made them, simply to placate our egos. No one wants to see themselves as foolish or to think that they have made a mistake in an important life/work decision. So we "FIND" reasons to prove the validity of our occasionally incorrect decisions. This prevents us from making the headway we otherwise would. One way to avoid this is to establish performance measures for objective delivery, when making major decisions. I guess what I'm trying to say is be ready to dispassionately analyse any and all decisions you make, particularly about tasks you take on or discard. Don't be pig-headed and continue a course of action after it has failed to deliver the results you expected, in the reasonable timeframe that you expected it to be delivered. Depending upon your goals, some tasks may not or should not be ignored. Just my 2 cents worth:) P.S. Penny, is there any way that there could be spell check added to this posting mechanism. I feel so silly having to go back and forth to MS Word to spell check stuff. Just something on my Christmas wishlist, along with ripped abs and arms like tree trunks:) This post is insightful.

Often though we must guard against the tendency to validate our decisions, after we have made them, simply to placate our egos.

No one wants to see themselves as foolish or to think that they have made a mistake in an important life/work decision. So we "FIND" reasons to prove the validity of our occasionally incorrect decisions. This prevents us from making the headway we otherwise would.

One way to avoid this is to establish performance measures for objective delivery, when making major decisions.

I guess what I'm trying to say is be ready to dispassionately analyse any and all decisions you make, particularly about tasks you take on or discard. Don't be pig-headed and continue a course of action after it has failed to deliver the results you expected, in the reasonable timeframe that you expected it to be delivered.

Depending upon your goals, some tasks may not or should not be ignored.

Just my 2 cents worth:)

P.S. Penny, is there any way that there could be spell check added to this posting mechanism. I feel so silly having to go back and forth to MS Word to spell check stuff. Just something on my Christmas wishlist, along with ripped abs and arms like tree trunks:)

]]> By: Focus on What Matters Most » article » TimvanderWeide http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/12/17/how-to-figure-out-which-tasks-you-can-ignore/comment-page-1/#comment-125950 Focus on What Matters Most » article » TimvanderWeide Tue, 18 Dec 2007 13:14:14 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2007/12/17/how-to-figure-out-which-tasks-you-can-ignore/#comment-125950 [...] been following Penelope Trunk’s Brazen Careerist blog with much interest. Posts like yesterday’s about “How to figure out which tasks [...] [...] been following Penelope Trunk's Brazen Careerist blog with much interest. Posts like yesterday's about "How to figure out which tasks [...]

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