It’s December and as a business owner you’re probably in a state of distraction. Those distractions can be fun such as your vacations and holiday parties. They can also be work related as you try to close deals before the end of the year, set goals for next year, and run end of the year processes. The pressure is on and it’s there not just for you, but for your employees and customers as well. All of this while trying to run the day to day business operations that already occupy at least 40 hours of your week.
Yes, December is a trying month for most business owners, but what can you do about it? You start with taking ten minutes each day to focus.
- Five Minutes Before You Leave for the Day: Those last moments at the office should be about preparing for tomorrow. Take five minutes and write down your top three priorities for tomorrow. The three things you MUST get done. Limit it to three. This forces you to prioritize and forces you to be realistic about how much you can truly do in one day.
- Five Minutes after Lunch: Regroup. The morning has probably flown by and things may or may not have gone as you expected them to go. Celebrate what you got done. Re-prioritize the list based on what happened in the morning. Set your actions for the afternoon. And most important, approach the afternoon with a sense of control and focus.
Ten minutes of focus can make a difference in your day. It won’t solve all of your problems, but it will help you remain focused when there are so many things fighting for your attention. The simple key to making this work for you: try it today. Don't wait for tomorrow or until things slow down. Start today.
