“I have been using The 5 Choices learning to increase my productivity in the other roles I have in my life. I use weekly planning to achieve goals on each role. The most relevant thing I achieved is the ability to turn our dinners into a highly focused moment of dialog among my family; no TV or phones.”
5 Choices Participant, March 2012, Brazil
The FranklinCovey consultant did an incredible job of explaining the material in detail. The material was Off-The-Hood GREAT. I have implemented a lot of what he taught us and it has already made an impact on my business. I have been searching to find a way to keep all my stuff in one spot and not use the paper product. I feel I now have a fantastic foundation to build upon and I am utilizing Outlook 1000% more effectively than I had in the past. The Core 4, the Quadrants, the 30 Minute Weekly Planning and the 10 Minute Daily Planning, the review of the Notes section with the Goals I’m setting, etc., have all had a huge impact.
So, thanks for providing a great program and for pushing this material onto the students in a steady and well thought out format.
–Contributed by a 5 Choices participant
“The 5 Choices has been a great way to develop a steady habit of planning every day and every week for success. Everything from defining my roles to defining my purpose statements for those roles to ruling my technology has been extremely helpful in making sure I am only doing things that matter every hour of the day…and keep myself fired up at the same time.”
Contributed by a 5 Choices participant
“I did not feel confident in my time management skills as a new hire. The 5 Choices to Extraordinary Productivity work session went through everything that I had doubts in and explained the best process to deal with them. Good time management ideas, like weekly/daily planning and good note taking ideas. Very up-to-date with technology, using technology to increase productivity with Microsoft Outlook and iPhone Apps.”
Contributed by a 5 Choices participant
Working with my roles and my Q2 role statements really gave me some insight into my life. I saw that I wasn’t giving any time or energy to the roles that were most important to me. While I was fulfilling external obligations and doing well at work, I was not meeting my own needs, especially my need for a creative life.
Not only did I start writing again, but I implemented a shift in my health regimen. At the end of 5 weeks, I have 10 new blog posts, reworked a draft of a book, and lost 5 lbs. I look forward to the daily and weekly planning. I read my roles and my goals with pride because I have tangible proof that I am achieving them.
Thank you for these wonderful tools. They have led me to a richer life.
Laci, a The 5 Choices to Extraordinary Productivity participant
How much time do you spend worrying about what you should have already done? Procrastinating is a surefire way to increase your stress, lower your energy and obliterate your productivity.
If you are prone to procrastination, here are some tips for approaching “to-dos” differently.
Over the years, I have learned that nothing is ever as easy or as hard as I think it will be. Knowing this, makes it easier to start the things I am wary about. In the end, completion of anything is one of the best feelings in the world.
Contributed by Suzette Blakemore, Regional Productivity Practice Leader, FranklinCovey
I have been amazed at how two big ideas have shifted my paradigm around productivity and effectiveness.
The first is the concept of going for extraordinary. I have begun to name my key roles, using a “Superhero” moniker, because superheros embody the transition of simple, ordinary people into extraordinary human beings. For example, instead of being a Client Partner at FranklinCovey – I want to be “Greatness Guy”. It’s not meant to be silly or flip, nor do I plan on leaping between Chicago skyscrapers in red tights. But thinking about greatness as I look at my roles helps set a higher standard for me as I approach work.
The other big idea is around Q2 Weekly Planning. I have been able to significantly increase my Q2 activities, with great results and incredible changes in my personal energy.
I just shared some of the 5 Choices ideas with my college son. He is skeptical…but, so are a lot of folks when they first meet a superhero!
Submitted by Mark Berry, FranklinCovey, Client Parnter
A little over 2 weeks ago I attended the 5 Choices course. Since then I have reduced my stress considerably by scheduling my “Big Rocks”, and being able to view and review my day and week. My boss says she would like to take the next offering! I am feeling much more organized and confident of my goals, and moving forward at a faster pace than before.
Submitted by Gene Dahl, FranklinCovey Client
“No longer am I taking the first-in, first-out approach to getting work done. For the last five weeks on Sunday evening I plan out my week and schedule my Big Rocks for the upcoming week. Then every morning I take 30 minutes to review my daily schedule and adjust things as necessary to optimize my work day.”
5 Choices Participant, March 2012, USA