“We must use time as a tool, not as a crutch.” JFK

Time, as measured in seconds, hours, days, or even years, is the same for everyone. How time is perceived is much different. friend or foe? Time, a faithful companion of consistency, can serve as a loyal ally or clever adversary. Time can both sneak up and blindside you, or act as a guide as you navigate from one task to another. Time is everyone’s most valuable resource. How it’s used and managed can often determine success or failure.

“What may be done at any time will be done at no time.” Scottish Proverb

Effective backwards planning is a time management technique that provides the structure and organization needed to successfully complete tasks. A simple concept, often overlooked by most, is to start at the end, determine dates, times, critical concerns and create an action task list which uses shifting priorities as the highlighting feature. Shifting priorities is a system that insures the highest-level tasks are done first.

A shifting priorities system is based on two key factors; time sensitivity and critical to project completion order. The realization of certain sub-tasks needing to be completed in order to accomplish the job is normally the part of project management that stumps normal folks. Strictly adhering to a shifting priorities action list recovers many hours of simply deciding what to do next, when to do it and how long you should spend executing the various sub-tasks.

Ultimately, time is the coach that maintains your focus and discipline. It prepares you for a target goal. Time constraints should not be intimidating show stoppers. Deadlines are no more than end lines in a successful and well orchestrated backwards plan.

The time needed to complete a task is minimized when backwards thinking is employed. In other words, going from point Z to point A is more efficient than A to Z. By backtracking from task completion, you will understand what key steps are necessary to complete your final objective. The line is much straighter when you plan from Z to A. When the absence of backwards planning is evident, the culprit most often tends to be shortsighted missteps when moving to point C or impulsive excursions to D or F. These notions can be avoided by effectively using backwards planning. A backwards-planning map will keep you streamlined and focused against time and mission lapses.

Backwards planning should also be used for longer-term goals or projects. Where do you want to be financially or career wise five years from now? How do you get there? What is your current 90-day plan? Backwards planning keeps you on track. Sub tasks and checklists demand self-assessment. You should periodically ask yourself, if I’m not where I should be at predetermined check point, what can I do to get there? Effective time management motivates goal attainment. Planning ignorance fosters complacency which is a place where time and achievement move at different speeds