Getting Results For Dummies by Mark H. McCormack

Getting Results For Dummies Get Organized, Stay Focused, and Get Things Done! by Mark H. McCormack

This is a very straightforward book. It is about how to organize your life and get results using simple, straightforward principles.

Mark H. McCormack uses a legal pad, a pen, and a plan to organize his life. He carries his legal pads wherever he goes. The book tells you to find a simple place to write things down which you can always have with you. Technology does not always work.

Using the example of Arnold Palmer, he tells you that being organized is not uptight nor does it create a deficit to creativity. Leonardo Da Vinci was quite organized.

Once you have your notebook, you have to write everything down which you plan to do, prioritize by number, then approximate the time it takes to do what needs to be done. Give yourself extra time to finish what you are supposed to do. "A schedule is a list with an established time frame."

Having a priority list is not enough for a week, you need to plan for a month, a year, five years. This leads to long term objectives. According to Mark H. McCormack, writing everything down and managing your time is part of the philosophy of Management by Objective (MBO). I personally find this idea rather appealing. Management by objective is an accepted business practice.

The chapters in this book go over many other subjects in addition to schedules and objectives. He describes how to declutter, organize your finances, store your goods, manage email and phones, organize your money, and plan.

There are numerous tips throughout the book: A pile on a desk is a sign of disorganization, write everything down don't rely on memory, television is a waste of time, and don't be afraid to say no.

The style of this book is rather interesting; examples come from various sports figures; Tiger Woods, Arnold Palmer, Se Ri Pak, Martina Navratilova, and Michael Jordan are described as being very results driven. Mark H. McCormack runs International Management Group, the worlds largest sports marketing organization. The author understands what it takes to win. He also wrote the bestselling book, What They Don't Teach You at Harvard Business School: Notes From A Street Smart Executive.