Who doesn't want more time? It's interesting that Americans have more gadgets, appliances and services to save time, but what are we doing with all this extra time?

Just for the heck of it, make a list of the products you use in the morning that are supposed to save time: the coffee pot programmed to have a fresh brew when you wake up, the microwave that cooks your instant oatmeal in 2½ minutes, the electric shaver, the 1,800-watt hairdryer that dries your hair in minutes. These must save you at least 30 minutes every morning.

On a visit with Div. Officer Chris DeChant, Glendale (Ariz.) Fire Department, he told me about a favorite book that has helped him deal with e-mails and organize his immediate to long-range tasks and goals.The book is Total Workday Control Using Microsoft Outlook — The Eight Best Practices of Task and E-Mail Management by Michael Linenberger, a.k.a. "The Efficiency Guru."

A frequent FIRE CHIEF contributor, DeChant is a bright, out-front young guy who I think will be around for a long time. He also has a lot on his plate, so any technology he's using to be more efficient has my attention because I'm a sucker for trying to squeeze more into a day.

The thought of not lugging around notebooks of lists and scraps of paper sounded very appealing, so I bought the book and am working my way through it. Initially, it takes a bit to adapt your e-mail program to do what you want it to do, but I can see how it could be effective. I just need to find time to enter my lists of notes and start using the system.

In the Oct. 16 issue of Fortune magazine, Starbucks CEO Joe Donald writes about how he tracks his time by using a graphic charting program. His assistant catalogs his schedule and gives him a pie chart. "My ideal is 40% to 45% travel, 20% to 25% time with staff, about 8% walking around and sticking my head into meetings, 8% talking with other CEOs and business partners," Donald writes. He uses the system in response to his direct reports who kept asking where he was.

Other suggestions from Donald in "A double shot of productivity" is that he starts his day at 6 a.m. because it's the perfect time to reach out to people. He returns calls at dawn and signs personal thank-you notes and individual birthday cards for his 3,500 employees. He also limits meetings to 45 minutes, leaving 15 minutes to download ideas and check messages. He also visits as many Starbucks stores as he can to talk to his partners and customers.

As we approach the traditionally busiest time of the year and with the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday next week, ask yourself, "If I had more time, what would I do with it?"

Then, even if it's just for one day, do it.

Janet Wilmoth, Editorial Director
janet@firechief.com