When you have a purpose-oriented time-management approach, you are truly managing your life. You show that you know what is most important to you, and you make choices that are aligned with this purpose. You make it a priority to devote your energies to your highest priority items. You concentrate on balancing spontaneity and planning to achieve optimum results. You analyze the way your time is being spent so you can measure whether it is aligned to your purpose. In so doing, you are able to eliminate things that are not adding value, thus creating additional time for other things that matter most.

When you’ve established your priorities, every job, meeting, phone call or e-mail becomes a goal-driven exercise.