It Takes An Egg Timer: A Guide To Creating The Time For Your Life [Paperback] [2012] (Author) Joanne Tombrakos

by Joanne Tombrakos

One of the biggest excuses for not creating the change we want is that we are convinced we just don’t have the time. We’re already on overload. How can we possibly fit one more thing in? We’re convinced we have not a moment to do those things we have to do, much less what we yearn most to.It Takes An Egg Timer, a Guide to Creating the Time for Your Life intends to prove that excuse wrong. You do have enough time-for everything you have to do and want to, and then some. It’s just a question of what you are letting get in the way.This is not your typical book on time management. It is part guide and part manifesto. It offers uncomplicated solutions that start with a very simple tool, the egg timer. It is written not just for the self-employed and entrepreneurs struggling to keep themselves on task, productive and happy but also for those who simply dream about making a change in their life, big or small, and are convinced that what is stopping them is not enough time.Informative and entertaining, It Takes An Egg Timer will inspire and motivate you to examine how you use and misuse your time. At the end you will no longer ask yourself whether you have the time to do what you want, but what you will do with it now that you’ve found it.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Personal Development, Business

Paperback

First published May 1, 2012

About the author

Joanne Tombrakos has been calling herself a Storyteller before it was the trendy thing to do. A Digital-First Marketing and Business Strategist, Assistant Professor of Marketing at NYU, and above all a writer she is considered a SME in personal branding, pitch-perfecting, content marketing, and social media. She is the author of four books, including the newly released Crafting Your Pitch, A Storytelling Framework, and the host of the podcast - Marketing, Mindfulness and Martinis.

In a previous life, Joanne held senior management positions in media advertising and marketing at CBS Radio, Time Warner Cable, and NY1 News. While she currently resides on the other side of the Hudson she is and always will consider herself a New Yorker. You can follow Joanne on most social networks @joannetombrakos or visit her website, joannetombrakos.com

Reviews

[Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Won this book in a Goodreads give-away.
An interesting read, who would have thought an egg timer could be such a great motivation tool.
And the author gives practical rules to use along with the egg timer. This book would be great for those who have trouble staying on task. I'll be giving the book to my teenage grandkids. Some good advise. Thanks to Joanne for sharing.

[Edi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shopping now for the perfect egg timer. They come in many colors and shapes and price ranges. An alarm clock isn't quite the same thing. A stopwatch can be set to track time, but most are "silent," and that defeats one of the purposes - to know when your task time is up!

[Marc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Encouraging!

A good read. Well written, not too much fluff.
I do recommend purchasing an egg-timer if you don't have one!
An egg-timer and a copy of this book would be a nice gift....

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I should have finished reading this when I was working from home!

[Anna Marie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Homigosh, this was horrible.

First, it's not really about an egg timer. That's the the woman's vehicle to fame. For when she wrote about an egg timer on-line, the article was featured on BlogHer, and apparently she thought, hey! If an article about an egg timer earns me attention on-line, then just think what attention I can get with an eBook about an egg timer !

MOST of what the book is about is avoiding social media (and while we're at it, pretty much anything electronic) so that you can accomplish something with your life. It's not about an egg timer, it's about paying attention. Which... any fool can tell you what's wrong with the Western world. Einstein already did, and he's DEAD.

She didn't teach me anything common sense already has. All I found out is that the author is shallow, spends too much time trying to get attention on-line, can't seem to unplug, and really isn't all that amazing or inspiring a person.

I wish she wrote more about the egg timer and less about herself.

[Greg · Rating 3 out of 5]

It Takes An Egg Timer is a short and simple book of ideas for more productive time management. I learned nothing new, but someone younger, who hasn't read other books about time and performance management would likely find it useful. It is a quick read, with a simple and easily understood writing style. I do think that most of the ideas are better developed in articles I have read about the Pomodoro Technique, and other such sources.

There are any number of useful ideas about time management, but I believe the much more important question is not how to get more done in the time you have, but rather, how to get the right things done in the time available. We all have the same amount of time, and once you reach a decent level of efficiency, there isn't too much more to gain in that way. Far better to gain a clear vision of what is most important to you, and focus on reducing or eliminating irrelevancies. For that, I recommend Cover's book First Things First.

[Gloria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is geared for entrepreneurs, business owners, or just anyone who thinks they do not have time for the things they want to do.

The suggested course of action is to use an egg timer set in intervals of twenty minutes or an hour to focus on the task you want to get accomplished. The author gives several reasons for using the egg timer instead of a timer on one's phone.

This includes limiting time on social media (including Goodreads) to twenty minute intervals in order to maximize the possibilities of networking and following business leads - not just futzing around, but using it for your business.

[Mighty Rasing · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been a fan of the pomodoro technique. Not that I've followed it religiously. But it has helped me structure my days around work sprints and breaks.

It takes an egg timer isn't just about the egg timer or the pomodoro technique. It's like a manifesto about choosing the tasks to pursue, spending time to rest, and having discipline.

I just didn't like the structure of the book. It's like a personal story/memoir with the time management bits interspersed. But I still picked up several reminders for maximizing time for the things that really matter.

[Colette Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clear, practical advice for the writer, freelancer, or anyone who spends a great deal of their work day alone. I would call this a manifesto -- bigger than an article, but shorter than your typical book. Tombrakos calls of her personal experience and applies it in a very practical way. It's an easy read, amusing at times, and easily applicable. I just wish it came with the egg timer!

[Darlene Hull · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great little book. Incredibly practical, no fluff, immensely readable and engaging. While not wholly original (based loosely on the pomodoro technique) she has some really great little practical tips about what to schedule, how to schedule, and what to do about interruptions. I took a few good notes, and will definitely be putting this into my daily routine!

[Iva · Rating 2 out of 5]

I understand what the author was trying to do and she did give sound advice in trying to do it. I just wish she would have organized her book in such a way that it would have read more fluidly. I believe her points could have been fleshed out to create a meatier read. As I said - all the points were there. There could have been more. There should have been more.

[Trish · Rating 2 out of 5]

Decent advice, although it's nothing that hasn't been said before. The writing is a bit choppy and lots of personal stories thrown in. Basically, challenge yourself to work on something for twenty minutes. Don't waste time on social media. Set goals. Make lists.

Still, some good reminders

[Diana Flegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very motivating for my kind of personality. I need this and am going out to buy myself a really cool funky egg timer. Why? Because I live in Asheville NC and we like funky. :-)

[Gail Gauthier · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you haven't read much on time management, this book will have a lot to offer. It's a better choice for people new to the subject.

[Paullette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Breezy, quick & helpful!

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple ideas, but everyone needs a reminder, including me. I am going to get an egg timer and try it out.

[Thomasin Propson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not bad, though basic. Set a timer, focus, get things done. Good advice!

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good advice!

Reclaim your focus and time with Joanne's practical timely tips. This is quick to read, so you can get into using your timer sooner.

[Su · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is essentially a life hack, and as such the author does a good job of keeping it succinct. Short, easy read, with some recommended outside resources. Nothing earthshattering.