Top Time Tip #126
Don't Do That One Last Thing!
8th September 2009
A brickbat and a bouquet!
First the brickbat - to Yellow [ex Yellow Pages] 
I try not to complain too much about things - it's usually a waste of energy - but Yellow NZ deserve a brickbat in what they've done to our previously really useful Directory Service. (I nearly threw the brick at Telecom but apparently they sold to Yellow two years ago. They're sharing the PR backlash, however!)
Mike and I had a family weekend in Wellington recently. With a few spare hours on the Sunday morning we decided to visit the 'Lord of the Rings'  studios (and the birthplace of many other great movies). It's now being advertised as a tourist activity in Wellington. I thought the name was something like Weka or Weta Studios - but as so often happens, wasn't quite sure. And I wanted to check they were open on a Sunday.
 So, I dialled 018. A well-spoken non-European voice took my call. Nothing unusual in that - we have lots of immigrants in New Zealand. But it all went downhill from there. I won't bore you with the frustrating 6 minutes that followed, but it became clear within a few seconds that this person was not located in New Zealand, had no idea who Peter Jackson or Richard Taylor were and clearly had no idea what 'Lord of the Rings' was. None of the name variations I came up with drew any results. Eventually I hung up - frustrated and none the wiser. (If you do a Google on "New Zealand Yellow Directory Services" you will find plenty of examples of similar experiences).
And then I found a quote from Bruce Cotterill, new CEO at Yellow:
"The reality is that 018 call volumes and revenues are gradually falling so we need to find the most economic way of providing the current service as well as building new services. As a New Zealand-operated service the financial model would have meant substantial prices increases, which is not favourable to New Zealanders"
Really, Bruce? What use is a useless service? If Yellow want a sure way to stop people using the service, carry on!
What do you think? Add your comment to the blog.
 And now the bouquet - to Peter Jackson and his crew at Weta Cave:
With no help from the aforementioned useless service, I finally tracked down 'Weta Cave' in Weka Street, Miramar, Wellington. http://www.wetanz.com/cave. A small studio/museum and a shop are available to the public.
A really informative DVD gave us a behind-the-scenes look at Weta and interviews with Weta co-founders Peter Jackson, Richard Taylor, Tania Rodger and Jamie Selkirk. We sat there inspired and motivated. What a great example of determination, creativity and Kiwi ingenuity.
And - most unusually in this day and age - NO CHARGE!
Cheers,
Lead Article: Don't Do That One Last Thing!
We fit broadly into one of two styles when it comes to processing time - we're either in-time or through-time.
 The in-timers, bless their socks, are great at being fully present, totally in the moment (which is why this style is called in-time, not because they're punctual!), but challenged at getting places or completing tasks on time. For them, it seems efficient to fit in 'one more thing' - to get somewhere early is to waste time. You'd wonder why the stress they suffer doesn't change their behaviour - but no. They seem to suffer permanent memory loss on the topic. And most of it is caused because of that 'one more thing' they squeezed in!
 Through-timers, on the other hand, are more objective; able to detach, to see themselves outside of the events they're involved in. They seem to be effortlessly punctual. Their ability to easily see 'through' or along a time continuum makes it automatic for them to estimate how long they'll need for any activity.
For each style, their strength is also their weakness. And opposites often attract - driving each other nuts until they learn to play to their strengths and support the other's weakness.
The in-timer's skill is at being fully present and focused on what they're doing. Their downside is that it's hard to extract themselves and forward plan. It can be done - I'm one, but I can never completely relax on it. Punctuality doesn't come naturally to me. (I reward myself for good behaviour now and then by reverting to type when it doesn't matter!)
The through-timer's strength is their ability to detach, keep focused on the 'main' thing, to be aware of the passage of time and its consequences. On the other hand, this same skill can cause them to be seen as abrupt and distant. They have to work harder to ensure that they're not perceived as disinterested. And through-timers can suffer just as much stress as their in-time buddies - because of the pressure they start to apply, on themselves as well as everyone around, when they perceive that it's time to start moving.
For the in-timers, here are four useful strategies.
 1. As the title of this article suggests - don't do the 'one last thing'. Have you ever noticed that this is the task that will make you late?
2. Another useful technique is to start with the end in mind. Count back approximately how many minutes you need for each step of the way, until you arrive at the beginning. Typically you'll go, 'That's ridiculously early. I'll be sitting around waiting!' You won't, you know. You'll just be less stressed. But always take a useful task to do on arrival, just in case.
3. At the beginning of the day get ready first for everything you'll be doing that day - and then do the 'other' things.
4. Once you're on the road, get to your destination before you stop for breaks. Find the place you're heading to, and then have the coffee or do the little fill-in tasks.
As I mentioned above, I am naturally an in-timer. And even in my early days of being a time management specialist I still sometimes tripped over myself.
I was booked to run an after-school programme for the staff of a city school, in a suburb I didn't know very well. I set out in plenty of time, crossed the harbour bridge, and thinking I was only five minutes away from the school, parked beside the harbour to enjoy the spare 15 minutes I thought I had. Then, relaxed and rested, I headed off. The sense of peace and tranquillity didn't last long! Imagine my dismay as I crawled through an unfamiliar long skinny suburb to the far end, hampered by the afternoon discharge of dawdling chattering children from five other schools, and every mother and child in the city slowly meandering their way to the major shopping centre just along the road.
Red faced, stressed out and acutely embarrassed, I arrived at my destination - to find a roomful of teachers waiting for me.
It's not a real good look to be late for your own time management course!
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