How to Have a 48 Hour Day
Presented by
Don Aslett
Reported by Sharon Young Dixon, MT USA
From: LEAVEN, Vol. 35 No. 6, December 1999-January 2000, p. 132
(The following is a report
on a 1999 LLLI Conference session.)
Ever wished you could have
more hours in your day? Don Aslett, in his fast-paced, entertaining
presentation shared his philosophy and insights into the wise use of
time. Mr. Aslett's career began when he spent six years cleaning as
a college student, and he has been in the cleaning business since 1963.
He and his wife have six children, born in a period of seven years.
He has written thirty books, one of which, Is There Life After Housework,?
has sold a million copies. His seminars now draw 40% men.
Mr. Aslett's philosophy starts
with the premise that "you don't manage time---you use time and
then it's gone." He stated that women out-manage men two to one.
His presentation centered around two lists: the "Toss Outs,"
activities and attitudes we need to eliminate or avoid in our lives,
and the “Do Mores," healthy habits to increase personal productivity.
First the "Toss Outs”
- The word "try."
Eliminate the word "try" from your vocabulary - it's non-committal.
Either do it or don't do it!
- TV. The average American
watches six hours of television per day. Mr. Aslett recommends watching
the new channel: OFF!
- Spectatoring: reading
the news versus making the news.
- Grudge carrying. Carrying
a grudge takes 30% of your emotional time and space. Are you carrying
a grudge? Let it go! Clear your mind and heart. Your efficiency will
improve .
- Over playment. Play is
a lot of work.
- Stimulants/drugs-in all
their forms.
- Analyzing/projecting.
Establish priorities and concentrate on them.
- Glamour/image building.
Work from the inside out. The average American spends five years of
his life in the bathroom!
- Waiting. Another five
years of our lives goes to waiting.
- Gadgets. Be careful with
gadgets: they can consume your time.
Now the "Do Mores”
- Volunteer-say Yes! By
being available, you'll learn.
- Dejunk yourself. The average
person handles over 300 sheets of paper per day. How you clean is
how you live.
- Move fast! Hustle while
you wait!
- Make your path public.
Tell people what you're doing. Share your plans and goals. It will
give you added motivation to follow through on your commitment.
- Run with winners. Ask
someone to show you how to do what they do well.
- Use time fragments. You
have 100 free ones daily. Take a project with you.
- Heap on the health. Be
vibrant all 24 hours. Attention to proper diet and regular exercise
pays big dividends.
- Carry a note pad. Keep
those fine thoughts--write them down!
- More time on job.
- Be early for everything.
Not just on time-early! Being late conveys a message: "I'm out
of control." Being early sends the opposite message: "I'm
in control."
Mr. Aslett challenged his
listeners to discard the traditional life profile which includes twenty
years spent growing up, thirty years working and raising a family, and
twenty years in retirement, for one that involves growing spiritually,
emotionally, and intellectually throughout life. By eliminating the
"Toss Outs" and increasing the "Do Mores," you too
can have a 48-hour day!
Page last edited Sun Oct 14 09:31:28 UTC 2007.
