Growing up hasn’t been exactly as I thought it would be when I knew everything. That would have been about age 19.
I’ve discovered some interesting lessons, often with difficulty, as I’ve grown up. I now have my very own Book of Adulthood Secrets tucked away. You might have yours, too.
One of the chapters in my Secrets book is this…work is procrastination.
Yep, I have noticed that we adults spend a lot of our days doing irresistibly enticing unimportant things that enable us to avoid doing the really important, non-enticing things. You know…those things that create customers and produce revenue. I think those are called results.
Our email is answered, our phone calls are returned, the bills are paid, papers are filed away. Check, check, check and check.
Great day’s work but nothing really happened.
Sales calls made, speaking gigs booked, yearly planning started, monthly actual versus plan reviewed…nope.
Yes, we have all been wildly productive, but nothing of real importance and value was accomplished. I think that’s where someone got that 80/20 rule from (80% of efforts produce squat. Okay produce 20% of your revenue).
While it’s important to be straight up with yourself about what is work and what is productive work, the better way to keep you doing the right stuff is to have a plan. Create a plan, work the plan, review the plan. Produce results that actually matter. Results you can in fact put in your bank account as opposed to a file drawer. Imagine that.
I know that creating a plan can be as much fun as waiting in the airport security line behind a family with 5 children wearing tie shoes. What if Chris and I could make it easy? Maybe even fun??
Mark your calendars because we’re going to do just that. November 12, 14 and 19. Join us for three sessions to get your 2013 Plan created so you’re working on the right stuff that creates results that bring in customers that put money in your bank account that puts a smile on your face that enables you to take that vacation that refreshes you to come back and do it all again.
This is your scheduling heads up.
Go forth and do great things,
Martha Hanlon and Chris Williams
P.S. As you begin to wrap your head around the fact that you actually are going to create a plan for 2013, here’s something juicy to get your thoughts started.