Page 171 - How to Create a Winning Organization
P. 171
10
MAKE EACH DAY YOUR
MASTERPIECE
“Activity—to produce real results—must be organized and
executed meticulously. Otherwise, it’s no different from children
running around the playground at recess.”
n a competitive environment, there is never enough time.
I As such, a leader must be skillful—a master—in using time
productively and teaching others to do the same. Your skill in
doing this directly impacts on the ability of your organization to
compete—even survive.
Time, used correctly, is among your most potent assets. For
many leaders, however, it seems otherwise. The months, weeks,
and minutes are ill defined and almost intangible in their minds,
evaporating without leaving a trace of achievement behind.
In the mind of those leaders whose organizations get things
done, time is tangible, a commodity as touchable as gold. They also
understand that unlike gold, time cannot be recovered once lost or
squandered. A good leader understands that without time you are
left with virtually nothing.
My own understanding and appreciation of this fact goes back
to one of my father’s favorite refrains: “Make each day your mas-
terpiece.” This axiom was his way of reminding me to always use
time prudently—each day, each hour, each minute.
153
Copyright © 2005 by John Wooden and Steve Jamison. Click here for terms of use.