Eliminate the behaviors that waste your time. Never assume anything.

Today's TQ Challenge: Make Every Minute Matter.

1. Choose to be INDUSTRIOUS! Was everyone clear at the end of your last conversation? How do you know?

2. Choose to be DILIGENT! At the end of your next conversation, how will you know whether or not you understood each other?

3. Choose to be AMBITIOUS! Do you ever ask the other person for verification of what was just said?

There are only 1440 minutes in a day. These are the minutes you have to spend on everything you want to get done. There will never be more, no matter how great the desire or need. There can be less when some of these same minutes are wasted on things that produce nothing in return. Time doesn't care how it is used. It moves on regardless of how much progress you make from each passing minute. You can invest your time in important pursuits, achieving desirable personal rewards. Or you can squander the opportunity of a lifetime by wasting the time you have.

"Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it." ~ Lou Holtz

Read Today's TQ, and find out how to improve this aspect of your Optimize Color.

Dream big, and bring everyone else along with you.

Today's TQ Challenge: Dream Big -- Lead by Example & Inspire True Commitment.

1. Choose to be INSPIRING! Are the people around you working because they have to, or because they feel inspired to?

2. Choose to be CHARISMATIC! How can you make each person around you a co-visionary with you?

3. Choose to be ENCOURAGING! Who's the one person you need to talk to today to share your vision and your purpose?

To be an inspirational leader, you must first be inspired by and absolutely committed to an ideal dream. Whatever the cause, you'll never attract anyone else's interest if it doesn't inspire you first. To be an effective leader, you must learn how to share your vision with others in a way that helps them commit whole-heartedly to the same dream. Inspire others and there's nothing you can't do. Lead by example; share the dream; commit to the cost; and keep hope alive.

"Skill in the art of communication is crucial to a leader's success. He can accomplish nothing unless he can communicate effectively." ~ Norman Allen

Read Today's TQ, and find out how to improve this aspect of your Synergize Color.

Of course there are times when urgencies will need to be handled first. However, before you start, identify and then schedule the earliest time possible to complete your #1 priority.

Today's TQ Challenge: Focus on Top Priority -- First.

1. Choose to be FOCUSED! How far down your priority list are you so far today?

2. Choose to be PROACTIVE! What one thing will you get done today to advance your most important goal?

3. Choose to be DEDICATED! What priority deserves all of your attention next?

Nothing will increase your progress more than completing your most productive, most rewarding task of the day. Once you have prioritized your to-do list, focus on your Number One item first. Do it first or schedule it for a time that provides the best chance of its being completed correctly. When you perform your tasks by rank of importance, you spend time on those items you predict will be the most valuable -- well before giving away your limited time to less important tasks.

"The reality of life is that your perceptions -- right or wrong -- influence everything else you do. When you get a proper perspective of your perceptions, you may be surprised how many other things fall into place." ~ Roger Birkman

Read Today's TQ, and find out how to improve this aspect of your Prioritize Color.

Build your long-term game plan by scheduling your short and intermediate-term goals to build upon each other. This will minimize your effort and maximize your results.

Today's TQ Challenge: Calendar Major Milestones.

1. Choose to be METHODICAL! Every day is a building block. What can you accomplish today to get you where you want to be tomorrow?

2. Choose to be DELIBERATE! When can you take 10 quiet minutes this week to write down activities which will bring you closer to your dream?

3. Choose to be INTENTIONAL! What will you do today that will pay off with the accomplishment of a future goal?

A series of goals that build upon each other is far more productive than the same number of random goals. First, start by setting a highly compelling destination. Then, set all the intermediary goals that will lead you to this desired location. By setting a series of concrete objectives, you gain a long-term perspective, and a higher purpose for each daily goal. Once set, your enthusiasm, self-esteem and satisfaction will increase every time you achieve a milestone towards the final long-term goal.

"Without goals, and plans to reach them, you are like a ship that has set sail with no destination." ~ Fitzhugh Dodson

Read Today's TQ, and find out how to improve this aspect of your Set Goals Color.

Boost your energy periodically throughout the day by doing energy-enhancing activities. It's easier to move your energy from a "5" to a "7" than it is to start over from zero!

Today's TQ Challenge: Continuously Monitor Your Energy Level to Your Current Performance.

1. Choose to be LIVELY! On a scale of 1-10, what's your personal energy level right now?

2. Choose to be STEADY! When were you the least productive yesterday? How will you prevent it today?

3. Choose to be ENERGETIC! What high energy snacks can you keep close by?

Nothing is more critical to performance than your energy level since it directly impacts every aspect of your ability to produce results. Paying close attention to your personal energy and recognize the power it has over your performance. You can't do your best when you're not at your best. Just by being aware of how your body runs, you're better prepared to correct minor performance drains -- before they become major performance pains.

"I've always felt it was not up to anyone else to make me give my best." ~ Akeem Olajuwon

Read Today's TQ, and find out how to improve this aspect of your Energy Color.

Start on a huge task today by doing those parts of it that you find easiest or most appealing. Build your momentum to successfully carry you through to its completion.

Today's TQ Challenge: Stop Getting Ready to Get Ready. Find a Way to Get Started.

1. Choose to be RESOURCEFUL! What project can't you seem to get started on?

2. Choose to be CREATIVE! Which sections of a put-off task would be easiest to start?

3. Choose to be SELF-INITIATED! What can you do the next time you have a large task that you can't get started on?

There is no greater reward than accomplishing a difficult task. However, you can't complete a project if it never gets started. Procrastination can take a million clever forms -- but so can action. Instead of putting things off, find clever and imaginative ways to get started somewhere -- anywhere -- even for a few minutes. Take some action to get the ball rolling in the right direction.

"Money will come to you when you are doing the right thing." ~ Michael Phillips

Read Today's TQ, and find out how to improve this aspect of your Act Now Color.

To achieve your greatest aspirations, you must draw on that inner-reserve of power that comes from nurturing a positive self-image and can-do attitude—and dead-stop all that negative chatter that is going on between you and your future.

Read this article at ThinkTQ.com.

This week, we will expand on the theme, and tackle the "without limits" aspect of this discussion. Sometimes all you need is a change in perspective from what is, and is not possible, to get you moving in the direction of your dreams!

Read this article at ThinkTQ.com.