Popular and applied business literature related to self-improvement is reviewed in this working paper, one of eight which provide background information for the staff of the Skills Essential to Learning Television Project (a multi-level series of video and print resources for classroom use). A review of theories of time management in section I describes individual, task, and combined approaches and offers recommendations for improving output and avoiding time-wasting. An overview of the operations analysis approach to decision making is provided in section II, and specific techniques for reaching decisions are described. In the third section, methods for improving and increasing memory are reviewed, and simple ways in which memory skills can be applied to vocabulary, reading, and mathematics are listed. The final section considers purposeful mental exercises for clear thinking and improved reasoning. Twenty-four references are listed. (LMM)