It’s a known fact that the fastest shortcut to success is to model others who have already made it. Did you also know that success is about patterns and habits? Your daily, weekly, monthly, and even yearly patterns are a roadmap of clues to why you are making it (or why you might not be.) Uncovering your patterns can provide valuable insights into what is working and what isn’t. It can also provide the foundation for some very simply changes that can have profound results. Let’s take a closer look at three ways you can discover your unique patterns and what you can do with that goldmine of knowledge.
#1 Keep a Time Diary or Journal …
I know, you just groaned audibly at this idea, but it works. It is a lot like asking someone on a diet to keep a food journal (been there, did that and boy did I discover a lot!) We operate in only a state of semi-consciousness most of the time and don’t pay absolute attention to where all of our time and energies are going. The fastest way to get a real handle on your time management is to document for at least a week, where your time is being spent. No fudging here, you’ve got to be honest. If you are spending 2 hours on email first thing and then another hour at lunch on social networking but none of that is profitable activity, it is time to either delegate it or eliminate it.
You’ll be able to rapidly identify your time robbers and energy vampires and take appropriate action. Oh and before you say that you can’t afford to delegate, I urge you to a) put a real value on your time and b) find out what a VA (virtual assistant) costs. In my experience you can find VA’s from $6/hour to $75+/hour. Aren’t you worth at least twice that?
#2 List All Your Marketing Tools …
Then sit down and write out the plan or strategy you have in place. Aha! I thought so, you have a whole arsenal of tools, but no plan or strategy. Well trust me this is one of the fastest ways to stall out and nosedive into failure (or at least non-profit status when you file as a profit based business.) Tools won’t get you there. I don’t care how many you have, how beautiful they are, how state of the art, without a plan, without winning strategy, without clear goals, without measuring and monitoring, you are just a very busy (but not very productive or profitable) person.
Please, get a plan together. When you can’t do this alone, then turn to a trusted mentor (yes, I do this all the time in my own business which is what allows me to do this for others in theirs.) I have created systems and formulas for success so have many others. We each created these the long hard way from months and years of painful profitless experience. We have shortcuts, will you explore them?
#3 Discover Your Peak Productive Times . . .
And exploit them! I am an avowed Early Bird, at least in the winter months, summer sometimes I’ll shift to being a bit of a Night Owl. Generally my most productive time is first thing in the morning until about 10 or 11am when I need a break till 2 or so and then can go back at it until dark. Dark makes me shut down. How about you? You have patterns that you can leverage. Create your schedule to take advantage of your peak productivity and allow yourself down time when you aren’t as productive.
Don’t be afraid to indulge in power naps if that works for you. Many top executives, CEO’s and legendary entrepreneurs find this practice astoundingly effective and can literally reclaim an extra hour or two with just 20-40 minutes of shut eye midafternoon. The key is to find what works for you. Everyone’s biorhythms are different and they will differ seasonally and with age (wisdom). Find yours and you can literally map your success.
– – – – –
For more great ways to roadmap your success, head over to www.superchargesuccess.com and claim your free secrets to marketing that feels good and gets great results. And when you are ready for your very own customized success blueprint, find Melissa Galt at www.melissagalt.com.
Melissa,
Thanks for the great article! You bring up a lot of great points… I recognize a few areas where i can do a self-correct. I am going to put pen to paper and start mapping out my plan while discovering my peak performance time…. and then I will take a power nap so I can be ready to do some more!
Thanks again!
Debby
Well said Debby!
Those power naps are real creativity juicers.
Hugs, Melissa
Hey Melissa,
Since you recognize your pattern to fall of on the third day I believe that you should take that third day to renew and recharge, and plan accordingly. We all need to take a day each week to ourselves to reflect, and review, as well as recharge. A day to take care of you, rest is essential to your productivity :-D.
Regards,
Jana
Jana,
That is a lovely idea but the world doesn’t allow it! Perhaps I just need to redesign mine, lol.
Hugs, Melissa
Hi Melissa,
I think this may be horses for courses! I am a Night Owl when it comes to IM. Having said that I have huge bursts of activity (19hr+) – and of being in the Zone! My average day is 12-13hours. I vary from power naps to having a massive 13hr recovery sleep. Variety is the spice of life! Still not everyone’s lifestyle gives them that flexibility which may mean they have to operate to a stricter schedule. Horses for courses!
Loved your ‘Fruit’ analogy!
Kind Regards
Jeannette
Thanks Jeannette!
Wow, 19 hours, I yearn for the day . . . used to be like that when I first began in design some 20 years ago. In process of rekindling my fire and finding my spark. I’ll get there again.
Hugs, Melissa
Love this post — great reminder that it’s o.k. to go to the beat of your own drum, and your own biorythms!
Absolutely Ashley,
Different strokes for different folks applies. Always best to honor what lies within us than fight to conform to what lies without.
Hugs, Melissa
Beautiful post Melissa. I think my favorite part is that tools are just tools until you use them in a meaningful strategy. I also think you are spot on about being clear on where our time goes.
Thanks for taking the time to mentor and uplift. You are very much vaklued and appreciated.
Margo
Thanks Margo,
Appreciate your generous words always!
Hugs, Melissa
http://meclizinex.com/
meclizine