The Time Trap by Alec Mackenzie

The Time Trap - The Classic Book on Time Management

This book is an in depth study into the reasons why time management is really a myth. You can't create more time, you can only adjust your life around the time that is available. It does put some things into perspective. I guess overall it fits into one of my core beliefs that, you are where you are today because of the choices you have made, as great or crappy as they may have been.

Part One - Time Management in the year 2000 and Beyond.

The underlying theme here is that time management is a myth. It is just as much a problem today as it was a century ago and we all know it, we have created technology to fix it and yet still fall into the same problems. Time management is fully self inflicted. Your choices will affect how your time is used and abused.

-Out with old habits in with new and better ones

-Time management is self management

-Time management does not take a lot of time, it does not take away from your freedom.

-Balance between work and personal life

-Less stress through time control

-Success through achieving goals rather than just thinking about achieving never with enough time to do it.

Part Two - The twenty biggest time wasters and how to cure them

1. Management by crisis

2. Telephone interruptions

3. Inadequate Planning

4. Attempting too much

5. Drop-in visitors

6. Ineffective Delegation

7. Personal Disorganization

8. Lack of Self-Discipline

9. Inability to say no

10. Procrastination

11. Meetings

12. Paperwork

13. Leaving Tasks Unfinished

14. Inadequate Staff

15. Socializing

16. Confused Responsibility or Authority

17. Poor Communication

18. Inadequate Controls and Progress Reports

19. Incomplete Information

20. Travel

Part Three - Using Time to Live and Work Better

This is a collection of stories of people using time management to their benefit.

To make the change:

-Choose a time waster

- Find a relative cause

- What solution goes with that cause

- Brainstorm possible action steps, even silly ones.

- Select the most workable ones and write them down.

Will you read this book again? Not likely. I think this book could be a good reference if you are working on identifying specific items to work on with your time management and is worth a read, but I don't think I would pick it up again unless I needed a refresher on some time management ideas.

Would you suggest this book be added to a personal library? No

Reviewed By Mike W - Twin Cities, MN