I was thrilled to receive an email this week from a friend that said, “Coffee this week?”  I find it’s so important to meet with friends just to be friends together and have lovely conversations.

 

One of the questions I ask my coaching clients, “Who are you having coffee with this week?” A coffee conversation in our world of direct sales is usually meeting a prospect who wants to hear more about your business opportunity, but sometimes, it’s great to meet a good friend for coffee, enjoy each other and many times referrals flow from great conversations over coffee.

 

One big struggle I discussed with my friend this week was “getting things done.”  We are in a book club together and we’ve both read the book by David Allen, “Getting things done.” She is a busy Interior Designer with a large company and when she described how she works with her clients, I realized we were both follow-through people.   

• She records her client appointments -   I write notes with every client session.

• She takes notes from the recordings – I write a recap from my notes to every client.

• She sends a monthly newsletter to her clients  - I send a weekly round up to my clients

• She follows through with clients projects  – I keep my coaching clients accountable.

 

You get the picture there is a LOT of every day activity!  And then there are the distractions! I think we both agreed we try hard to stay focused and not get distracted but if it’s not someone knocking on our office door, or a DING from an instant message or text, we would get more done, right?

 

We both agreed, this is the life of busy entrepreneurs and we need to ACCEPT it.  However, I do have a few hacks today to help you stay productive that are my tried and true rules.

  

1. Set goals at the beginning of the month!  It’s the first day of February!  Use your planner and WRITE down your goals. People in Direct Sales who write down their goals and review them regularly are the high achievers who win incentive awards, and have high commission checks.  So, if you’re asking yourself why don’t I win any incentives or why didn’t I win the trip incentive this year, start NOW – February 1st and set your goals.

 

2. Love your To-do List!  There are a number of places to write a to-do list. I use my   ONE-NOTEBOOK system. I also share with my clients a “Daily Plan of Action” pad.  You can write your to-do list in your planner, but a to-do list helps you be more organized.  When you write out tasks you want to achieve each day, you realistically know if you have enough time to get it all done in one day.  Of course, if I don’t get it done that day it gets put over to the next day and the next until it gets done! One other thing I like to check if my to-do list is in align with my goals!

3. Prioritize your day the night before!  This is one little hack that I found WORKS!  Before I leave my office every day, I take a  quick look at my calendar for tomorrow! I make sure my to-do list is synced with what needs to get done and I’m ready to enjoy my evening meal, read my favorite works and sleep well because at the back of my mind I feel organized with tomorrow’s schedule.

 

4. Use a Habit Tracker!  Jack Canfield says in his book, “The Success Principles,”  you should develop 4 new success habits every year. He says 90% of our behavior is habitual.  From the time we get up in the morning until the time we go to bed, there are hundreds of things we do the same every day.   He says good or bad habits always deliver results! Your habits determine your outcomes. I find the best way to stay on track with a new habit is to track it!  Again, I share a cute little habit tracker pad for all my coaching clients.

5. Get in the zone!  Getting in the zone to be more productive is simply being organized and having the right tools.  I try to clear my desk every day before I leave my office. That means everything's in its place.  I make sure I’ve prioritized my next day activities and my calendar is open alongside my ONE-NOTEBOOK which has my daily to-do list very visible next to my computer.  My phone sits in its cradle right next to me and my video tools are easily accessible. My coaching client files are within easy reach and my beloved stickers and colored pens are ready for work. This is what I call getting in the zone – it’s having my office ready so I can sit down every morning and be ready to get in the flow of work!

 

These are my 5 PRODUCTIVITY HACKS this week for you!  Make Sure you check out the blog this week as I have a great GOAL SETTING technique that may help you have your BEST February Ever!

 

It’s February – watch for next week’s ezine on how to be a LOVE MAGNET this month.  I was thrilled to hear from a NEW client this week who is ready to take her business to the next level.  Is that you? Hit reply to this email if you’re ready for coaching!

 

Love and Success,

 

 

 

 

 

Gale Bates,  Your “Make the Leap” Mentor