Learn to prioritize your daily goals for maximum efficiency and achievement.
Every morning, I write down my three most important goals. Even though I have many more goals, it is critical to focus on what is most important now.
There are many reasons people fail to reach their goals. For starters, very few people set goals. This is like the difference between people who want more money (everyone) and those who are money-motivated (very few).
Those who set goals and write them down increase their ability to reach them, but many goal setters still fail to create the outcomes they are seeking. In last week's Sunday Newsletter, I provided a structure that started with:
- Areas: First, list areas of your life. Once you have identified your areas, you can...
- Goals: You may have one goal or many under each of your life areas. From there, you need projects.
- Projects: Each of your goals may have one or more projects. These projects will have a list of tasks.
- Tasks: Completing the tasks completes the project. Completing all the projects under a goal delivers the outcome of your goal.
The two biggest mistakes we make when setting and pursuing our goals are task-related. First is not putting the tasks on your calendar and second is being unwilling to act on tasks to reach your goal. If you looked at your calendar, you would see a couple of meetings or events, safe and secure, ensuring you won't fail to show up on time and ready for whatever you need to do. Some of us live by our calendars, while others are more free-spirited types who do what feels right now. Either way, you need a structured approach to ensure you complete the tasks and reach your goals.
Let the Calendar Guide Your Success
If you have read anything I have written about personal productivity, you may remember something about blocking three 90-minute blocks throughout your day. Ninety minutes is long enough to do good work on a task that will allow you to progress on a project.
After you complete a block, you can check your email or voicemail. Having made progress on a project, you can move on to the next task in a different project under another goal. Completing this task means you can move on to another task tied to another goal.
This is three 90-minute blocks. My first block is 150 minutes because I know I need more time for that task.
- Block 1: 4:00 AM - 6:30 AM: This is when I do most of my writing.
- Block 2: 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM: This is when I do client work.
- Block 3: 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM: This is when I do projects for my businesses.
Three 90-minute blocks total 4.5 hours, a little more than half of your day. If you work an 8-hour day, you have 3.5 hours remaining for whatever else you need to do. Never fear. By the time you reach that portion of your day, you have been more productive than most people you know.
To make this work, you need to identify what you will do with your three productivity blocks. Once you have identified your priorities, schedule the time in your calendar. Treat these calendar events as equal to a meeting with a client. Treat your goal the same as you would treat a client need. Show up and work on the outcome.
Commit to Doing the Work
One problem with how our universe works is that we know our tomorrow is just 24 hours away. Have you ever said to yourself, “I will do this tomorrow,” only to fail to do what you promised yourself you would do when tomorrow showed up? There is no reason you can’t reach your goals unless you fail to reverse the structure of setting goals.
- Tasks: This is the most fundamental level of commitment. You must complete tasks to advance your goals.
- Projects: Using one of your blocks a day on a project's tasks will eventually complete the project.
- Goals: Completing the tasks and projects under a goal will provide you with the outcome.
- Areas: Completing your goals will result in meaningful work in the areas of your life. Were you to ask me what you should prioritize in your personal life, I would suggest health, wealth, and relationships. You will have built a list for your work.
Any task can be completed simply by giving it your time and energy. The most complex project will also give way when you do what needs to be done. Those who cannot themselves do the work will not reach their goals. But the truth is, those without self-discipline will never create what they want from their one life, which is approximately 4,000 weeks in duration.
Mastering Sales Goals
For the last five years, we have scheduled a Goals Course. The reason I provided you with this content and the content of last week’s Sunday Newsletter is that I want you to have this information before the Goals Course, which will focus on hitting your targets and planning to attain your quota. Even though we have two hours, we’ll need this to do the work while we are together.
Join us for the one and only Goals Course we provide every year. It’s also one of our favorite courses to help prepare you for success in the new year. We’ll say goodbye to 2023 and get a couple of weeks’ head start on 2024.
Go here to explore the Goals Course: https://events.thesalesblog.com/goals-2024
