With all of the horrific images of Hurricane Katrina over the past week or so, it has been difficult for some of us to maintain a focus on the work-at-hand. On the one hand it is important for us, as citizens and human beings, to be empathetic to the desperate plight of the unfortunate. On the other hand, we all have jobs to do...and at some point we have an obligation to our clients to do them.
For what it's worth, here are some thoughts on how we can stay focused...in the midst of the chaotic hub-bub of our daily lives.
1. Time Management. Bill Clinton maintains that the best advice he ever received on time management was the book, "How to Get Control of Your Time and Your Life" by Alan Lakein "here's the link" Among Mr. Lakein's suggestions: Start each morning with a plan...Keep you desk cleared for action...You can't read it all, skim...Eat a light lunch...Always ask, "What is the best use of my time right now?"
2. Setting Daily Goals.Goals serve as prods...to spur you onwards and upwards. Goals are invaluable as guides along the pathway to success. However, to be truly valuable, goals must have a time limit. The other warning with goals is that they should not be set so high that they border on the impossible to achieve. Take a lesson from Olympic high jumpers..they gradually inch up the bar when they find that they can clear the lower settings. When you find that you are reaching your goals, simply make an adjustment and raise your sights.
3. Do this first. One very successful advisor has a simple "trick." The moment he gets into the office...before grabbing a cup of coffee, before chit-chatting with colleagues, before reading the Journal...he calls 5 clients or prospects (from a list that he made the prior night). He maintains that these calls set the tone for the day, and give him the confidence and energy to plunge through the thicket of quotidian tasks that can drag him down.
Hope this helps. That's all for now. Ciao!
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