You're in the groove, hopefully, and in full stride in the midst of a productive workday. And the phone rings. (It might do that a lot in your workplace.) The caller asks, "do you have a minute?" You may start to feel your momentum shifting, or slipping, and you want to stay on task. The first step, therefore, is to realize that this is a very important question that begs a very precise answer in this very moment.

Your answer will sound like this: "Actually, I have 3 minutes and 29 seconds." This unusual use of language will stimulate both you and the caller to stay awake and focused for the time you have agreed upon. So, set a timer for 2.5 minutes and talk, and when the timer sounds tell your caller: "we have one minute more, how can we wrap it up?" Make another quick agreement and then work quickly to a close. You have taken direct responsibility for the management of your time and more importantly succeeded in keeping hold of your very valuable momentum. Now, here's the next step: take another minute (set a timer), mildly pat yourself on the back and direct kind words of praise in your general direction. When the timer goes off don't linger... get back to work.

It's a much-touted notion in the business world that productivity equals success and success therefore is measured by the money we extract from the bottom line. It is the principle that propels us to prosper from our daily vocations.

Somedays are better than others, though, as we all know. Somedays we slay the dragon, other days the dragon wins. Or so it may seem. On those "losing" days when we feel the heat of the scaly beast lighting a fire under our proverbial chairs, it may serve us to remember that there is productivity even when we seem to be going down in flames.

Today, for example, you might be saying to yourself: I'm distracted by too many phone calls, too many people coming and going, concerned about the unfinished details of an art exhibition I want to take my wife to see, too hungry to focus... Today my mind has lead me down a slippery slope, and I've taken it by the hand and let it carry me away.

I forgot for a moment about the toolbox I carry to work with me. Inside I have an ample supply of positive solutions to my mind's negations. On days like this I say to the dragon, "Time Out" and back to his lair he goes. Out of my toolbox I take pen and paper, set a timer for three minutes and write down everything I've done from waking up to this very moment. In this simple action I have affirmed the truth that I have been productive today.

So, next time you're face to face with your own dragon, open the toolbox. Use the tools.

Sometimes you just need to forget the clock and ask yourself, "how shall I live with integrity today and how can I continue to serve as an inspiration to others?"

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