Organizing Your Work Day – Ways to be More Productive at WorkCreate Success through Organization and Meaningful Goals
“First comes thought; then organization of that thought, into ideas and plans; then transformation of those plans into reality. The beginning, as you will observe, is in your imagination.” Napoleon HillHow often have you wondered where the day went? You worked all day and it seems like you got nothing done. Your “To Do Post It Note” is still on your desk with very few completed tasks.
Have you ever wondered how to get it all done and manage your business so that it fits into your lifestyle rather than your life fitting into your business? What would it mean for you if you could take Friday afternoons off each week because you have mastered your schedule?
If you were to track your time, you may be surprised to learn how inefficient your current schedule is. How often have you gone off on a tangent only to realize you’ve just spent an hour on something you didn’t need to do right away?
I can directly attribute a major part of my business success to the way I organize my day. A few years back I began a daily Success Book. Each day I write in my notebook using a separate page. I list my meaningful goals for the month and the year. This reinforces where I am and where I need to go. I also list tasks I need to accomplish that day and people I need to call. My system includes being at my desk by 7:30 a.m. when I list everything I need to do that day.
The first step in creating your own success through organization is to purchase a one-subject notebook and label it Success Book. You will create a system that works for you and your lifestyle and you will use it to accomplish everything you need to create the life you want.
1 Create Meaningful Goals
2 Determine your Rewards
3 Write your goals every day on a page in your Success Book
4 List your “Things to do” and “Calls to Make and Return”1 Create Meaningful Goals
List your sales and income goals for the coming year. Include lifestyle goals. Your goals should be SMART: (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely). They must be Specific so that you can calculate exactly what you want to accomplish. They must be Measurable so that you can easily evaluate your performance. You should be able to reach the goal, so they should be Attainable and Realistic. If your revenue was $75,000 in 2006, and your goal for 2007 is $200,000, this would be considered unrealistic. A goal should also have a timeframe (Timely). Unless you add a target date to a goal, it is just a wish. When are you going to achieve the goal? Create goals that are meaningful to you and list them every day in your Success Book.
Sample goals:
• Income this year $100,000
• Obtain 2 new clients per month
• Hire office assistant by May
• 4 appointments per week every week
• Work out 30 minutes daily2 Rewards
Don’t forget to assign rewards for each goal you reach. It’s important to reward ourselves for major milestones. For example, I reward myself upon reaching monthly goals by eating at upscale restaurants or scheduling a spa service. For significant goals, I reward myself with more expensive purchases such as cars and vacations.
3 Write your Goals everyday in your Success Book
Sample Goals:
Today’s Date: Day of the Week: Income I want this year Actual Year to Date Sales this year Income I want for this month Actual Month to date income for this month Number of new clients I want this month Number of appointments with NEW prospects I will make each week
Modify your list of goals so that it is meaningful for you and your business.
The act of writing your goals each day creates a subconscious shift and tells your mind what you really want. Imagine knowing exactly what you need to bring in this month to meet your goals? Think about how having meaningful goals will propel you towards achieving a more successful business.4 List your “Things to do” and “Calls to Make and Return”
Have you ever been deep at work when the phone interrupted your train of thought? Upon getting back to your task you can’t remember where you left off? Interruptions are the major cause of disorganization. You may find it is more beneficial to turn off your phone and block time on your schedule to get work done.
Ask yourself daily:
What is the best use of my time?
Is this task a priority for me to do today?
What is the most difficult call for me to make?When should you make and return calls? Analyze when you have the highest energy level. Is it early morning, late morning, or early afternoon? Save your high-energy time for activities like working with clients, designing programs, writing, and marketing. Return phone calls and emails during low energy time. If you have difficult calls to make, however, vow to do them first.
Tips
• Cross off activities as they are completed during the day. Carry activities over to the next day if they were not completed.
• Make sure that tasks you are taking on are those that only you can do. Are there tasks that you can delegate to others?
• Be honest with yourself. Are you spending time on tasks that you could pay others to complete so that you could free up time to do what you do best?
• Identify your time stealers. Do you really need to go to every client meeting in person? Teleconference calls are very efficient and can save commute time, not to mention gas and traffic frustrations.
• Are relatives, friends, and colleagues calling you during your high-energy time? If so, make a request that they call you at the appropriate time.
• Learn to say “No” to requests unless they directly relate to your goals.In conclusion
Vow to organize your business so that it works for you and your lifestyle. Think about the ways you can be more productive. Through better organization, you may be able to take Friday afternoons off. In time, you could take Fridays off. Just think how it would add to your life to have more time to do the things you really want to do outside work.
Next: Hire Suzanne as your Business Coach
Have you considered working with a Business Coach to help you strategize and plan your success?
Suzanne Muusers is an ICF-Member Business Coach who has worked with hundreds of successful entrepreneurs and independent financial advisors since 2004. She helps clients develop their Value Proposition, Ideal Client Profile, and Marketing Strategy so that they stand out from the crowd and attract only clients they want to work with.Suzanne has created exercises and programs that help her clients get straight to the point and avoid mistakes other entrepreneurs tend to make. Her clients save time getting to the next level due to her extensive knowledge and experience in the business growth services field.
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About the author
Suzanne Muusers is a Business Coach and Business Expert based in Scottsdale, Arizona. She has owned or managed a business every year for the past 25 years. She is a member of the International Coach Federation and works exclusively with entrepreneurs and financial advisors who want to leave behind their lives as business workers to become business owners earning six figures and above annually.
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