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EXCELLENCE IS RESULT OF HARD WORK
by Dr. Steven Ervin, former Salado I.S.D. Superintendent
Success does not simply
happen. Excellence, whether perfected in professional or
personal achievement, is the result of hard work,
planning and preparation. People who succeed have
learned to apply themselves, their time, talent and
resources to achieve goals.
The time to begin applying yourself and efficiently and
effectively focusing your efforts is today. Like the
longest journey, the path towards any established goal
begins with a single step. The process for efficient
application of one's effort is simple; beginning is the
most difficult task of all.
1. Define your goal in writing. Putting your goal on
paper reflect a bit of formality, a "contract" you are
establishing with yourself. Include in the definition of
the goal what you hope to gain by accomplishing this
goal. 2. Set a
realistic date for accomplishing the goal.
3. What tasks will you need to accomplish in order to
meet the goal? 4.
Prioritize the tasks you will need to accomplish to
achieve the goals. Make a list of tasks beginning the
list with those that need to be accomplished first and
continuing the list in sequential order.
5. Large tasks should be broken down into achievable
smaller steps. 6.
Assign monthly, weekly and daily deadlines to each of
the sub-tasks that will lead to the accomplishment of
the goal. 7.
Record your progress in the attainment of subgoals.
8. Reward yourself for the attainment of goals. Balance
hard work with activities meant solely for your
pleasure. In
pursuit of your goals, don't underestimate the value of
most important things in life: your family, friends and
associates. Try to become more aware of how you utilize
your time. While charting a week of your daily time
utilization may be cumbersome, through such methods you
may find it possible to reduce time used inefficiently
or on activities you do not value and increase the time
used constructively towards achievement of goals which
reflect your values.
Make a list each evening of things you want to
accomplish the next day. Cross off tasks as they are
completed. If there are tasks remaining at the end of
the day, place them at the top of the list for the next
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