No matter how different we are from others in our backgrounds, personalities and situation, there is one common resource we share with everybody. God has been socialistic in granting everyone 24 hours in a day. From the time we are born till we ride in a hearse, life is all about time and contact management. We are all the time in contact with self, another person, a thing or a task. Quality of time and contact, decides our progress. It is important to audit how our time is spent. Following eight could be big times wasters.

1. Wrong Company

Whom was I with, how long, why and how did it help are important queries. Good company adds value, enhances peace, knowledge, thinking, solution and performance. It instils goodness in the self and companion. Two good men can make the world better. Wrong company is definite waste of time.

2. Wrong Place

Many good opportunities in life are lost by being at the wrong place. Every successful man, if re-examines his life would find one most significant turning point where he was at the right place at right time and that changed the course of his life.

3. Wrong Subject

Think of an employee who has joined the organization anew, has great character and is always in high spirits to learn and deliver. Assuming his problem is product knowledge and skill set, it would be unwise for the boss to keep discussing benefits of enthusiasm and not impart necessary training on product and function.

4. Bad mood

One unpleasant exchange during meeting or otherwise with a team member could spoil the mood. Discussion shifts from the core subject to fixing the other or defending self. It is best to defer sensitive discussions to post meeting strolls in the open, in quietude, one to one.

5. Wrong thing

Research tells that an average American watches more than 30 hours of television per week. In addition we all are busy with computers and smart phones. Lot of such time spent is wasted in life.

6. Wrong technique

“You can practice shooting eight hours a day, but if your technique is wrong, then all you become is very good at shooting the wrong way”, said Michael Jordan. It is important to be first time right. Redoing it again costs time, energy and opportunity.

7. Wrong direction

It does not matter how long you travelled if the direction is wrong. Getting into wrong business and dismantling it later is painful. It is best to do adequate research before pursuing a project.

8. Wrong pace

Too slow, you lose the race. Too rash, you could make expensive mistakes. Choose the right pace.