Time management, make to-do lists, use a daily planner, learn to say no to people when you’re busy. These are all items that you’ll read when learning the ins and outs of time management; but what does it really take?

Finish what you start! That may seem easy, but let me tell a little personal story. I was sales rep for a very large territory, I knew my product, I was good with people, and figured I’d be very successful. What I didn’t expect was with this big territory came a lot of phone calls, quotes, and inquiries. Something I wasn’t used to or prepared for I guess.

So I found myself with more work then I was used to. I was starting a quote getting another phone call moving onto something else. Basically putting out fires as they arose. As time went on I found I was always busy but nothing seemed to get done. I was always on the road the phone was ringing off the hook, but I wasn’t closing any deals, and worse I wasn’t making any money. So what did I do?

Simple I started finishing the task I started. When I stated a quote I’d finish it before moving onto the next one. I’d answer the phone if it rang, but I wouldn’t stop and start checking my email, or move onto another quote, or get up from my desk and tour around the office. I’d finish that quote then move on.

So why is this such an important point in regards to time management? Think about your own office life, or personal life. Do you find you’re involved in lots of things but none of them are coming to completion? Or you’ve got lots of stuff on the go but nothing finishing up? We can be busy but accomplishing nothing, and that can be worse then doing nothing at all. Moral of the story, we can make all the lists, plans and prioritizing we want, but finishing what we start is the first step towards accomplishing as much as we can with the time we have.

Etching is the method of engraving using acid on a metal surface. It is also a printmaking method wherein the image is carved into a surface of a metal plate with the use of an acid. This acid bores into the metal surface, and leaves behind rough areas or lines if the surface is too narrow.

Etching is a process which is believed to have started in Augsburg, Germany, by Daniel Hopfer who used the technology in armor making. Later on, the method was applied to printmaking.

The metal plate used in etching is usually copper or zinc, which has a thin coating of resin that is resistant to acid. This coating can also be made of some waxy material. The metal plates are usually smoked so that the engravings and lines become clearly visible through the resin. A sharp tool then scratches the metal and exposes it without actually penetrating it.

As the etching design is completed, the plate is immersed in an acidic solution that attacks the exposed metal parts. During this process, called a bath, the plate is immersed, but frequently removed until the lines are etched to their satisfactory depth.

A coating varnish is then applied to stop the acid from attacking the metal surface further. In this process, the lines which were exposed to the acids longer get the darker prints. Other etchers also apply the acids directly on the plate’s surface.

In printmaking; however, the varnish is removed, and the plate is coated with ink after being warmed or heated. The ink is then wiped carefully so that enough amounts remain the etched depressions. A soft, moist paper is then used to cover the plate, and ran through an etching press.

There is a wide range of modifications in etching techniques. Some etchers modify their products by removing undesired lines. They do this by burnishing or by modifying the original state of the plate after their trial print.

Prints appear differently in various stages, and only a few first prints can be made out of a single plate. Etchers also destroy these plates after making a number of prints.