15 Secrets Successful People Know About Time Management

Fifteen Top Time-Management Tips

In a series of revealing interviews, seven billionaires, 13 Olympians, 29 star students and 239 entrepreneurs explained their 15 most useful time-management secrets:

1. “Time Is Your Most Valuable and Scarcest Resource”

As a CEO irked by constant interruptions, author Kevin Kruse posted a large sign reading, “1440.” He discovered that viewing his day as 1,440 minutes of potential success helped him focus on essential tasks. His employees began emulating his 1,440-minute mind-set, thus increasing productivity throughout his company. Kruse’s interviews and surveys with top achievers confirm that they share this point of view. They recognize time as their most valuable asset. The loss of money, even the failure of a business, still leaves future opportunities to regain ground, but lost time is irreplaceable.

2. “Identify Your Most Important Task” and Do It First

Successful people focus on their top priority, long-term goals and identify meaningful, specific short-term goals they must accomplish first. Breaking short-term goals down into measurable steps guides high achievers to their “most important tasks” (MIT). ...