style="FONT-SIZE: 18pt; COLOR: #336699; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">The Law of
Prioritiesstyle="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">
By Brian
Tracystyle="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">

The
very worst use of your time is to do well what need not be done at all. The
Pareto Principle says that 20% of your activities will account for 80% of the
value of your activities. This means that, if you have a list of ten items to
accomplish, two of those items will be worth more than the other eight items
altogether. 

To achieve great things, you must always be
concentrating on the small number of activities that contribute the greatest
value to your life and your work. 

style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: #336699">Determine the
Consequences 
The value of anything in your order of
priorities can be measured by assessing the potential consequences of doing it
or not doing it. Something that is important has significant consequences to
your life and your career. Something that is unimportant has few or no
consequences of significance to your life or career. The mark of the superior
thinker is your ability to consider possible consequences before you
begin. 

style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; COLOR: #336699; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Ask
the Key Question style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial">
Continually ask yourself, “What is the most
valuable use of my time, right now?” And whatever it is, work on that. Your
ability to discipline yourself to work on those few tasks that can make the
greatest difference in your life is the key quality that makes everything else
possible for you.
 
style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; COLOR: #336699">Action
Exercises
Here is how you can apply this law
immediately: 

First, make a list of everything that you do as a part
of your job. Now, analyze the list and select the three to five things that are
more important than everything else put together. 

Second, imagine
that you are going to receive a $100,000 bonus at the end of the month if you
can work on your highest priority items every minute of the day. How would that
change your behavior? What would you do differently?

A Grateful Heart by Nicole
Papasidero

When yesterday was said and done, I sat down to reflect on what
I thought was a tough day at the office. I wanted to say those two very simple
but powerful words, 'Thank You', and I thought I would have to dig pretty deep
to find something I was grateful for...It turns out it wasn't that difficult
after all.

So I want to say thank you for fellow teachers who chose to
smile at me as they walked by or even managed to take the time to ask how I was
doing.

For all the students who challenged me and made me wonder what I
could have said and done differently.

For those kids in the back row who knew how to push all the
right buttons, and made me think twice about teaching that way
again.

For the quiet ones in the corner who did all the right things
and then shyly said goodbye as they left the room, and made me smile.

For the struggling student who finally 'got it' - And
let the whole class know about it.

For the diligent students who handed in a masterpiece (and
reminded me that some of them do actually listen to instructions).

For the co-workers who lent an ear or a shoulder, until I once
again came up with my own reasons why I have chosen this challenging path (and
perhaps why it keeps drawing me back).

For the books that messed up my desk as I tried to find new and
interesting ways to teach the same thing (knowing that somewhere in the world a
teacher would love to have that as a problem).

For the endless stream of fresh water, coffee, tea, milk and
sugar and morning teas served up right here in the staff-room.

For classrooms fitted out with every possible teaching aid and
the latest pieces of technology (even if I don't really know how to use any of
them very well).

And thank you for the eager, smiling faces of those students who
say good morning to me as I rush by each day and actually seem pleased that I am
back to do it all over again!

Maybe I can teach them facts and figures, or how to string a
sentence together in a foreign language...and maybe they will never remember any
of it, who knows?

I do know that every day I come here as a teacher, knowing very
well that I am the one who is here to learn...and that I indeed have a lot to be
thankful for.