I didn't expect to focus so much on time management today, but that's what has ended up being the topic du jour...so, I'll roll with it.
I wanted to add my simple tip for making the most of your day and being productive in the few hours that you have to make things happen. 
My strategy: Schedule a money making activity (sales call, follow-up, cold calling, whatever) at the very start of your day and then again at the very end of your day....
...this achieves two important things:
- It gets you off and running and focused on sales and revenue generation at the very start of your day - before you get bogged-down in e-mails, phone calls, unimportant meetings, etc. Start your day selling and it's easier to carry on with that go-get-em attitude the rest of the day.
- By scheduling something at the end of the day, it forces you to stay focused for the whole day...and, it stops you from giving into the temptation to call it a day early. Why? Because you know you have a call scheduled at the end of your day.
Try it...I've found it to work well for me. Sometimes I need some good old fashioned "forced discipline".
Dan,
There is brilliance in simplicity! Yes, start the day with a money making activity and end the day that way. I can't imagine what would happen if all sellers and biz owners did this. A sales person's job first and foremost is to create revenues and relationships. It's amazing how we can all bog ourselves down with paperwork, meetings, and low-value activities.
Posted by: Lori Richardson | February 27, 2006 12:23 AM | Permalink to Comment