In December it gets way too dark, way too early (at least in the northern hemisphere). Here in Chicago, the sun sets around 5:00 and then it's a long, cold night. And the days themselves can be pretty grey. It's not very motivating. Then you add in the busyness and distractions of the holiday season, and it can be hard to focus and find motivation. Especially when you get to the week between Christmas and New Year's Day. Too often, I see people just bounce around like an aimless pinball during that week. They're half-in and half-out of business mode, half-in and half-out of relaxation mode, and 100% not-engaged in anything. So … [Read more...]
Create Massive Leverage with the Last Week of 2017: 12 Experts Show You How to Master 2018 Now
Early in my career, I had a mentor that shared one of the secrets of happiness as a business owner: "When you're working, work. When you're not working, don't work." That might sound obvious, but the week between the holidays is an easy opportunity to not live by that credo. It can be challenging to approach the last week of December the same way you approach the rest of the year, but that doesn't mean it has to be wasted. I collected ideas from some of the top experts out there on how you can use this week to skyrocket your 2018, even before it happens. Escape the Black Hole between Christmas and New Year's It can be tempting to … [Read more...]
Create Massive Leverage with the Last Week of 2016: 15 Experts Show You How to Master 2017 Now
Because I’ve been in sales and entrepreneurship my entire career, I have a slightly skewed view of the last days of the year. While my friends and family were often taking days off to calmly wind down the year, I’d usually be neck-deep in spreadsheets and napkins full of sales projections. Of course, that is if I wasn’t desperately trying to find a prospect who was in their office so I could hit my year-end numbers or get a head start on my goals for the next quarter. You've probably had some similar experiences. As I continue to work with sales professionals, business owners, and entrepreneurs, I’ve found just how important this … [Read more...]
Monday Morning Mash-Up – Calling an Audible
It might be a little early in the year to use a football metaphor, but I used this phrase a few days ago and I think it's worth sharing. Let me explain. Like most people, I have a number of goals that I'm working towards at any given time, personally and professionally. For example, I'm usually working on making better food choices to improve my health. I will often remove something completely from my diet for a month or two to give myself a definitive line of what I will and won't eat. Having set "rules" makes it easier to make decisions about what I should choose for dinner. These guides help, but I've learned that you can't be … [Read more...]
Act Like You Control Your Time
This article isn't going to solve all of your time-management agonies. It's not full of lists on how to maximize your time, minimize your email inbox, or how to set your priorities the right way. There are other blogs, books, and online courses that will make you a time-management wizard. I am going to ask you a question that will put you on the right path. It's the first step to making the most of the time you have. Most people think that the reason they don't get everything done is because they haven't stumbled upon that right tip, tool, or lifehack. (Oh, I can separate an egg yolk with an empty plastic bottle, now my life is going … [Read more...]
And We’re Back at the Beginning
In the closing days of 2014, are you looking back at the year that passed or are you looking forward into the next? I've found that most people do one or the other. They rehash the previous year, the good or the bad. And they rate themselves on how it went. Or they plan out the upcoming year, with goals, resolutions, and dreams. Sometimes, in a fit of introspective intensity, they do both! Which is better? I'm sitting at my desk, thinking about what I want 2015 to look like and the goals of 2014 that I hit (wrote a book) and missed (did not learn Spanish fluently). And I realized that the analysis of the past and the dreaming of … [Read more...]
The 7-Minute Personal Business Plan for Next Year
With the end of the year here, everyone is putting the finishing touches on (or scrambling to start) their plans for 2013. Whether it's for yourself, your family, or your company, putting some thought into what you want to accomplish in the new year is an incredibly useful exercise. Most of us, though, struggle to find the time to take a time-out and plan. It can be especially difficult to find time for our personal goals (because, let's face it, if no one is expecting it from us, it's easy to push it off). So here's a way to create a useful business plan to help guide your career next year. It ill only take you 7 minutes to complete … [Read more...]