There is an old saying that goes something like this ... "He couldn't manage his way out of a paper bag." In other words, the person referred to has a pretty confused life pattern. Of course, the first thing you have to do to manage a way out of any paper bag is to realize that you are in it! Many people go through their lives oblivious to the challenges faced. There is a great deal of motion with few results.

Whether you are the boss, stay at home, or work on the production line, all of us are called on daily to "manage" portions of our lives. Over the years, I have developed some thoughts on managing more effectively, and I would like to share them with you. These steps could even apply to raising children¬as great a challenge as can be imagined in today's times. Actually, there are five steps to effective management.

First, you have to recognize that something needs to be managed¬that you are in some form of "paper bag." Not everyone stops to assess where they are and that something needs to be done. Failure to recognize your true set of circumstances makes the rest of this academic.

Second, it is essential to know where you want to be after getting out of the "paper bag." In other words, what is the objective of any action to be taken? It is impossible to go to step three without identifying where you are going.

Third, it helps to have a plan of action. Laying out that plan of action is critical. Depending on the nature of your challenge, it doesn't hurt to write out the exact plan in detail with a time sequence attached to each element. The written plan can be a reminder of what needs to be done. There are times when I will leave the action plan on my desk so that it doesn't escape my attention.

Fourth, and the area in which most plans break down, is the execution. Recognizing the problem, determining an objective and developing a plan are all great. However, if you do not implement, and implement effectively, it all won't come together. Most people fail at the implementation stage. They have great plans, but fail to execute. That failure occurs for many reasons. Some people are too rigid in execution and do not adjust plans for changing circumstances as implementation takes place. If you can't go through or over a wall, go around it. Another reason for the failure to execute is that we are not all implementers. Knowing when to ask for help is as important as any aspect of planning and execution. And knowing who to ask for help is equally important.

Finally, there is the audit. If you do not take a look at what you have done at the end, you are likely to make the same mistakes again. It is also possible that you will overlook the positives which have enabled you to manage effectively. Always keep in mind that there are never problems in life, just a series of identified opportunities in need of your management. And, it is a lot easier to write about managing than to do it successfully. Just ask me.