Focus on Planning
Have you been frustrated with to-do-lists?
Do you find that you can’t complete them because you rely on others?
Do you want all your concentration on making and receiving money?
I would like to offer methods to overcome this.
One thing that I have never forgotten and find it very helpful when I got confused and
overwhelmed is these 4 points:
1. What is Important.
2. What shouldn’t be done.
3. What is desirable.
4. What is trivial.
We all have a plan - be it a plan for the day or a business plan with farseeing scope.
The basics are the same. Let me explain.
1. What is Important.
The overall view is the plan - everything else revolves around it and leads to its culmination.
In a simple example: Running a business, you have a list that involves the main functions and duties that must be done everyday i.e. Calling your customers, paying your bills, banking your money etc.
2. What shouldn’t be done.
In relation to the plan again - I have written my list of what I am doing to for the day but I have someone walk in and give me the mail; I see a bill that has been already paid and I think that this is going to waste my day and put it aside.
At this point you have deviated from your plan and not handled it in an appropriate manner.
I have seen this constantly and I suggest that you read it, get your facts together and never put it off as your time (or habit of doing the same thing 3 times adds up to lose your lunch time or late nights).
Remedy: When the letter comes in, answer it if you have all the information and move onto the next. This is only momentary stress and dissipates quickly rather than building long term stress.
3. What is desirable.
Back to the plan - desires are important and drive the business but doing desirable actions won’t actions won’t bring in the extra dollars or expand the business.
Remedy: Keep the plan clearly defined and never drift from it.
4. What is trivial.
Focus on your plan and doing anything other than expanding your business will cause your business to disappear.
Remedy: If your actions are not related to your goal - disregard it.
Note:
One way I found to relate this to is to the to-do-lists with plans is to ask this question:
“Is this going to lead me to greater profits at the end of the week or not.”
Keeping this in mind has relieved me of nervous tension and has given me a clearer vision of how to approach and expand my business that is in alignment with my true goal.
