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It’s easy to become overwhelmed when every item on your to-do list is urgent! Create an Achieve List to proactively…

Prioritize Your Priorities!

I recommend eliminating the 20-30 item to-do list from your daily activities and replacing it with an Achieve List. Large to-do lists become de-motivating and frankly ineffective most of the time.

At the end of each day, create an Achieve List for the next day. Your Achieve List includes only the most important items you need to achieve. Use the rule of 1+4+5. Here’s how:

1. Identify your #1 priority for the day
2. After you accomplish #1, identify your
   next 4 priorities for the day
3. After you accomplish the above, identify your
   next 5 priorities for the day

Once you achieve them all, then you can add more items to your Achieve List by using the same formula! This approach promotes laser-like focus. You will feel a greater a sense of accomplishment and control. In addition, by having a focused and clear plan for the day, you will experience increased energy and decreased stress!

I’ve been teaching block time management for over 20 years. To this day, people say it’s one of their favorite and most successful concepts. Block time management is when you block out (or schedule) concrete time to accomplish your top priorities. Concrete means you do not allow anything to pull you off track from executing these activities. It takes a tremendous amount of discipline to stick to your plan, but you can do it!

8am- 9am Priority #1

1pm- 2pm Priority #2

4pm- 5pm Priority #3

I know it seems difficult to not answer a client call during your concrete time. But, if you stay focused and call them back as soon as possible, you will be much more productive. Interruptions kill your productivity. During your concrete time, record a voicemail message indicating when you will return calls. Many times your clients won’t mind waiting. They just want to know when you will get back to them. In addition, you will provide better service if you are focused on their need vs. the priority you had scheduled during that time. Another way to look at block time management is consider it scheduling an appointment with yourself ~ making you and your goals a priority!

I don’t know about you, but it’s very easy to accumulate many forms of a to-do list. Sometimes you find your notes on post its, note paper, note pads, day timer lists, etc. Create a Filler List to act as a catcher system to hold important tasks. The items on this list will transfer to your Achieve List as they move up the priority ladder. The combination of your Achieve List and Filler List will help you keep all that you have on your plate organized!

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