First Things First Don't know where to start? Six ways to set priorities.

It's tempting to give all your tasks top-priority orlow-priority status, but how do you decide what actually is orisn't important? Setting realistic priorities serves manypurposes, including helping you stay focused and productive. Usethe following criteria to determine your top priorities.

• Know the difference between important and urgent. Importantmeans something needs to be done; urgent means something must bedone immediately.

• What's the worse thing that would happen if you didn'tcomplete the task today? Would you lose your business? You maythink everything has to be done today, no questions asked. Berealistic--admit you can't do everything.

• Will postponing one task affect other projects you'reworking on? Tasks and projects can have a domino effect. If you doone task, but fail to do another, you may have wasted effort on thefirst task. For example, if you set up a meeting with a client outof town and schedule your flight, but wait until the last minute tobook your hotel, your whole trip could fall apart if there's noroom at the inn..

• Is it a task that helps you achieve your goals? If youhaven't yet set both personal and business goals, put asidetime to do so as soon as possible. Remember the adage, "If youdon't know where you're going, how will you know when youget there?" By not setting clear goals, you may beaccomplishing tasks with short-term benefits.

• Focus on quality, not quantity. You may feel a sense ofaccomplishment after crossing several tasks off your list; however,the tasks you accomplished may be of little benefit to you. In themeantime, your important tasks remain on your list,uncompleted.

• Which task will increase your sales? Will writing a proposal bemore profitable than dropping off product samples or talking to aclient? If the task only serves to keep you busy, it's not atop priority. Think in terms of how the task improves yourproductivity, performance and income.