Immediate vs. Important.
Many people live in (and many companies operate in) "crisis mode". That is because we become so distracted by the tyranny of the immediate, that we completely loose sight of the important. Do that long enough and soon our days are dictated by the urgent. In other words, we are in "crisis mode".

Let's look at health as an example.
When Hippocrates was defining the medical profession in the fifth century BC, he insisted that maintaining health was more important than repairing injury or disease. Ask most people what doctors are for and they will tell you they are to fix you when sick. Few think of their physician as health guide, but their sick fixer. In other words we ignore what is important until it becomes an immediate crisis.
Some issues are both immediate and important, such as a serious illness. These tend to get the most attention. Others are immediate but not so important, such as, "I'm hungry now." Still others are important, but not immediate, "I want to eat healthy meals and exercise daily."
Most people tend to prioritize their life and their time like this.

Immediate and Important
"I think I'm having a heart attack"

Immediate but not Important
"It's lunchtime. I'm hungry. I'll just go buy get some fast food."

Important
"I should get up earlier so I can exercise and fix a healthy meal to take with me for lunch."

The point is that while those issues that are immediate and important must be taken care of first, placing more emphasis on those issues that are important but not yet immediate will help prevent us from being driven by crisis.
How does this look in business?
- If an account executive doesn't take the time to do the proper follow up with a client, he will soon be in "crisis mode" trying to save the account or replace a lost account with a new one.
- If a manager doesn't take to time to notice and reward good performance, he will soon be in "crisis mode" having to hire and train new employees.
- If a technician doesn't take the time to study and stay current with the newest technologies, he will soon be in "crisis mode" having to find a new job.

Don't just be efficient with your time; be effective with your time.

Ed Wills
WFA Franchise Consultants