You were probably first taught about outlining in early school years when they told you how to create a story by listing three events within the body of the work and then developing those. In high school you might have had to turn in your outline prior to a term paper. Later you created a thesis. The function of the outline was to clarify your thoughts, review sequencing, and then add supporting details.

If you were lucky enough to have taken a speed-reading course, the same ideas were presented to glean the main ideas from the passages quickly. You would have learned to look at the subject, sub-titles, first sentence of each paragraph, and the conclusion.

Unfortunately, some of what you were taught has probably been put aside because you can wind up being too involved with the daily urgent details that bombard you constantly. You may find there is no longer any priority in a day as you simply go with the flow at that moment. Yet at then end of the week, you end up wondering what happened and what you actually achieved.

Skim through the following outline to see how quickly and easily you get the points versus having to read full paragraphs.

Effectiveness of Outlining

1. Early uses in school
   1. creating papers

   2. studying tables of contents

   3. skimming headings and subtitles

   4. setting up projects

1. Current-day problems
   1. overload
      1. excessive reading

      2. increased workdays

      3. too many commitments

   2. lack of focus
      1. constant interruptions

      2. no personal time

      3. multitasking requirements

   3. ineffectiveness
      1. no tie-in with goals

      2. urgent before important

   4. stress
      1. inability to do it all

      2. overlooked deadlines

      3. fear of missing something

      4. irritability

      5. illness

1. Solutions
   1. setting goals
      1. main goals

      2. sub- or short-term goals

      3. steps needed

1. prioritizing daily work
   1. top level--most important for work & growth
      1. steps listed

      2. times scheduled
         Truck Drivers and the Technology of the Road
         Working on the road can be a very difficult task. Office jobs offer employees many advantages that most of the time are taken for granted: internet access, phone lines, copy machines, faxes, paper, pens, even the desk!!! After a few days away from home, you find out how difficult the job conditions are over the road and you start to notice those small details. All Truck Drivers and especially Long Haul Truck Drivers face this fact everyday. Fortunately, today the world is growing smaller and technology
         to clarify your thoughts, review sequencing, and then add supporting details.

         If you were lucky enough to have taken a speed-reading course, the same ideas were presented to glean the main ideas from the passages quickly. You would have learned to look at the subject, sub-titles, first sentence of each paragraph, and the conclusion.

         Unfortunately, some of what you were taught has probably been put aside because you can wind up being too involved with the daily urgent details that bombard you constantly. You may find there is no longer any priority in a day as you simply go with the flow at that moment. Yet at then end of the week, you end up wondering what happened and what you actually achieved.

         Skim through the following outline to see how quickly and easily you get the points versus having to read full paragraphs.

         Effectiveness of Outlining

         1. Early uses in school
            1. creating papers

            2. studying tables of contents

            3. skimming headings and subtitles

            4. setting up projects

         1. Current-day problems
            1. overload
               1. excessive reading

               2. increased workdays

               3. too many commitments

            2. lack of focus
               1. constant interruptions

               2. no personal time

               3. multitasking requirements

            3. ineffectiveness
               1. no tie-in with goals

               2. urgent before important

            4. stress
               1. inability to do it all

               2. overlooked deadlines

               3. fear of missing something

               4. irritability

               5. illness

         1. Solutions
            1. setting goals
               1. main goals

               2. sub- or short-term goals

               3. steps needed

         1. prioritizing daily work
            1. top level--most important for work & growth
               1. steps listed

               2. times schedule
                  RMDs
                  Most of my practice is spent helping clients design and implement mortgage plans in concert with their overall financial plans to accumulate wealth. Many of these people are focused on saving for important life events including retirement.It is equally important to have a plan for the way we'll be taking the money out of these plans. Four thousand people a day are turning 701/2, and an increasing amount of people will be faced with the distribution side of their plans, so it is important to highlig
                  o longer any priority in a day as you simply go with the flow at that moment. Yet at then end of the week, you end up wondering what happened and what you actually achieved.

                  Skim through the following outline to see how quickly and easily you get the points versus having to read full paragraphs.

                  Effectiveness of Outlining

                  1. Early uses in school
                     1. creating papers

                     2. studying tables of contents

                     3. skimming headings and subtitles

                     4. setting up projects

                  1. Current-day problems
                     1. overload
                        1. excessive reading

                        2. increased workdays

                        3. too many commitments

                     2. lack of focus
                        1. constant interruptions

                        2. no personal time

                        3. multitasking requirements

                     3. ineffectiveness
                        1. no tie-in with goals

                        2. urgent before important

                     4. stress
                        1. inability to do it all

                        2. overlooked deadlines

                        3. fear of missing something

                        4. irritability

                        5. illness

                  1. Solutions
                     1. setting goals
                        1. main goals

                        2. sub- or short-term goals

                        3. steps needed

                  1. prioritizing daily work
                     1. top level--most important for work & growth
                        1. steps listed

                        2. times schedule
                           Pick the Best Limousine Service for Your Special Event
                           If you want to make a special event in your life to be perfect, you have to make sure that every detail is well-organized and planned, one of which is the transportation. Transportation is one of the factors that you have to consider.In booking for limousine service, you have to do it months before in order for you to have the chance to choose the best limousine for your special event. Another reason is that you want to make your special event runs smoothly, so booking early is better.To mak
                           >
                        1. Current-day problems
                           1. overload
                              1. excessive reading

                              2. increased workdays

                              3. too many commitments

                           2. lack of focus
                              1. constant interruptions

                              2. no personal time

                              3. multitasking requirements

                           3. ineffectiveness
                              1. no tie-in with goals

                              2. urgent before important

                           4. stress
                              1. inability to do it all

                              2. overlooked deadlines

                              3. fear of missing something

                              4. irritability

                              5. illness

                        1. Solutions
                           1. setting goals
                              1. main goals

                              2. sub- or short-term goals

                              3. steps needed

                        1. prioritizing daily work
                           1. top level--most important for work & growth
                              1. steps listed

                              2. times schedule
                                 Pros and Cons of Limited Liability Corporations
                                 A limited liability company or LLC is a business organization that is a hybrid between partnership or sole proprietorship and corporation. Limited liability corporations are known to allow the most flexible management agreements. They also give a lot of freedom regarding allocation of income. This means that the members are allowed to distribute the income in any way they wish, as agreed upon by all of them, without the need for additional filings.Similar to the owners of partnerships or sole propr

                              3. overlooked deadlines

                              4. fear of missing something

                              5. irritability

                              6. illness

                        1. Solutions
                           1. setting goals
                              1. main goals

                              2. sub- or short-term goals

                              3. steps needed

                        1. prioritizing daily work
                           1. top level--most important for work & growth
                              1. steps listed

                              2. times scheduled

                           2. mid level--should get done

                           3. low level--when you have a chance

                        1. finding life balance
                           1. valued areas
                              1. family

                              2. community

                              3. spiritual

                              4. personal/health

                           2. time
                              1. scheduled blocks

                              2. selected activities

                        1. Results
                           1. satisfaction

                           2. calmness

                           3. business achievement

                           4. personal growth

                           5. enhanced relationships

                        1. Evaluation
                           1. Able to skim through and get the points quickly?

                           2. Recognize advantage of outline for your own events?

                        Since your life’s pace often provides you with no more than a couple of minutes to linger on a subject, outlining is a good technique to add to your arsenal of tools for coping with the speed in modern day living. Practice creating outlines as you plan projects and events, starting with your long-term goals and then working down to daily routines.

                        ©2006, Key Organization Systems, Inc.