By Helder Beça [email protected]
Helder Beça is a Senior Manager of Moneris Group, with offices in Almancil and Albufeira.
If possible read the following article while listening to ‘Time’ by Pink Floyd. . .
What a great expression to be used in 2012 … or in any other year for that matter.
2011 was a dreadful year and according to TV commentators and the Mayan Prophecy 2012 will be the end of the world… or at least the end of the Portuguese “world”.
The economy is expected to contract further throughout the year due to necessary fiscal consolidation, deleveraging and a marked slowdown in external demand.
Unemployment is set to rise further, while higher indirect taxes will push up prices.
Can it get any worse?
If on one hand, the Mayans don’t mention 2013 in their prophecy, on the other the TV commentators say … maybe.
In 2013, a mainly export-led return to growth is expected to gather pace, as and if (and this is a big ‘if’) global conditions improve.
Private domestic demand should also start growing again and the current account deficit is expected to narrow substantially.
Simultaneously, the world spins faster today….
“Every year is getting shorter, never seem to find the time…” and going faster as we also know requires more attention from the drivers (that are all of us) because the risk of having an accident increases.
So with less time and with the end of the world near (or not), one thing is sure: we will always want to get the most out of life and for that I recommend you to bear in mind the fantastic expression Walk the Talk as these three little words represent:
• Focus on your goal and set aside other issues on a secondary level. Stop worrying and being distracted. Most of those things you cannot control at all.
• Take action on what you have established for yourself and really believe in.
• Get satisfaction, on what you can accomplish by yourself or in team work.
And then put those into real life assignments such as:
1. Work backwards from goals to tasks by establishing “increase company turnover to €1 million” at the top of your to-do list and break it down into smaller tasks.
2. Stop multi-tasking. Moving around from task to task quickly does not work. Changing tasks more than 10 times in a day makes you dumber. (Now they tell us this!)
3. Schedule your sms, e-mail and phone. If you have to look at your iPhone, Blackberry or PC every hour you have an obsession issue. Set them to offline mode, or even turn off your internet connection. Go to a quiet area and focus on completing one task.
4. Make your own agenda. Take control of your life. You will always have the right to choose what is important, urgent or none of that.
Thank you for reading this article. I wish you, your family, friends and co-workers a Merry Christmas and a Happy, really Happy, New Year!
Article written by Helder Beça, Senior Manager of Moneris Group [email protected].
