Make Every Second Count by Robert W. Bly, Review

Introduction: Make Every Second Count by Robert W. Bly Book Review

You must be thinking, “Not another time management book.” Yes, I know how you feel.
 Make Every Second Count: Time Management Tips and Techniques for More Success With Less Stress

A few years ago I received an email asking for permission to send me a copy of Make Every Second Count: Time Management Tips and Techniques for More Success With Less Stress by Robert W. Bly.

I said, “Sure” and gave my mailing address. But did not pay any attention to who the author was. I shortly received the book and placed it in my stack of books to read when I noticed that it was written by Robert W. Bly (Bob Bly). I know Bob Bly as a copywriter.

What is Make Every Second Count by Robert W. Bly About?

So what does Bob have to say in Make Every Second Count: Time Management Tips and Techniques for More Success With Less Stress ? A lot actually. More that what you would expect in a time management book.

Continuous learning is a part of life. If you’re not a reader, you can find a synopsis of many books from Readitforme that you can listen to. Click the link to join. This is a great way to learn the latest thinking on many topics. And it is a great way to learn which books to buy and devour.

Have you read?

How to Write and Sell Simple Information for Fun and Profit by Robert W Bly, Book Review

Want Presentations that Rock? Joey Asher’s 15 Minutes Including Q&A Delivers

One of the things I’ve noticed with Bob Bly is that he structures his books, at least the ones I have read, in such a way that you can start at any point, and this book has 14 clearly titled chapters.

• 1: Work Habits That Speed You Up
• 2: Do You Really Want to Be Productive
• 3: Goal-Setting
• 4: Save Time and Money When You Travel
• 5: The 10% Solution for Increased Personal Efficiency
• 6: Networking Online
• 7: Using Technology to Save Time
•  8: Going Mobile
• 9: Delegation and Outsourcing
• 10: Getting Organized
• 11: Planning Systems and Software to Increase Your Productivity
• 12: Maximizing Your Personal Energy
• 13: Managing Information Overload
• 14: Saving Time at Home

There were times while I was reading that I had adverse reactions to what Bly was saying. And had to take a step back, and remind myself that that’s okay. My responsibility as a reader is to take in information, evaluate it, then decide if the information makes sense for me. And that’s something that I recommend. I also have a responsibility to my readers to be honest in my feedback.

I’m sure that there are things that you will not like about the book. But the beauty is that because Bly has done such a great job in laying out the information. You can quickly find what you need.

What I liked about Make Every Second Count.

Bly uses a system where he has three to-do lists:

1. Daily to-do
2. Projects to-do
3. Long-term to-do

This could be some personal projects that are important to you. But do not have a definite end date, so allocate a few hours a week working on them), which I think would be very helpful. And allow you to carve out the time to do things that are meaningful to you. But will not necessarily earn money in the short-term.

Have you read?

The Bullet Journal Method by Ryder Carroll, Book Review

I found chapters 4, 5, 6, 7, 10 and 11 most useful. For instance, in Chapter 6, which is Networking Online there is a Networking Grid. This would be a welcome to a social media strategy because it allows you to structure the actions you take. There are some helpful tips in the book on how to increase personal efficiency. And I was delighted to see a section on how to think faster, which uses the creativity model that we have discussed on this blog many times. It's very timely and are great tips to deal with email overload.

He offered an example of setting up your folders on your computer, and though some may think that information is basic, I’m glad it was included because so much time can be wasted searching for files on a computer.

There is also a very detailed chart, which includes productivity software so you can compare them and determine which is best suitable for your needs.

And for those who love to travel, Chapter 4 has some great tips. I discovered that in addition to Kayak.com, SideStep.com (appears like Kayak now owns this site) allows you to search multiple websites for deals on hotel, airline and car rental packages. CleverDude.com provides tips on how to get free airline upgrades.

If you need help and would like a program that’s already set-up to help you read more books, Join MoreReads: Blueprint to Change the World, click the link to buy.

Final Thoughts: Make Every Second Count by Robert W. Bly

Though I couldn’t figure out why some historical information on mobile technology, and others were included, I recommend Make Every Second Count: Time Management Tips and Techniques for More Success With Less Stress. But I suggest that you read only the chapters that would be useful to you.

Despite my adverse reaction (I think that some of the time-saving tips for home are a bit extreme, and takes out some of the joy out of life for people) to some of the content. I'm happy that I read Make Every Second Count because I picked up some tips that will increase my personal efficiency.

If you want to focus and manage your time more effectively, there are some practical tips in Make Every Second Count.

UPDATE: First Published March 2011. This article contains Amazon affiliate links, which means if you click on a link and buy any of the books from Amazon, the company will pay me a small commission.

Robert Bly Books

 The Copywriter's Handbook How to Write and Sell Simple Information for Fun and Profit The Words You Should Know to Sound Smart Bob Bly's Guide to Freelance Writing Success Secrets of a Freelance Writer: How to Make $100,000 a Year or More The Encyclopedia of Business Letters, Faxes, and Emails Elements of Business Writing How to Create Irresistible Offers