What if you pretended that it was already Dec 31, 2025? What if you were already planning strategy for 2026? What would you want to have accomplished in 2025 to make 2026 a great year?
I’ve noticed that when I plan ahead like that, I complete so many of the small foreseeable steps, that I really do have time for the big picture adjustments that may be required to finish strong.
Am I saying get better organized? Yes, I am and more. Suppose you have a clear big picture – the vision, the mission and the main strategies. Then, you have laid out what has to happen for you to achieve them. Got that? Then get granular and lay out the steps. And, start them sooner than you think.
Turn off notifications, stop your constant pinging of slack or teams or whatever for an hour each day and work on YOUR projects. Private work time should be required in all organizations. Why is it that leaders tell me they have to wait until late in the evening after everyone else has stopped working to finally get their work done? Excuse me, who is running the organization? I have a picture of someone in a telegram uniform running around waiving a paper that says “urgent”. Your focus time is as important as your most important customer. When you have a meeting with that important customer, do you silence your texts? Then this constant barrage of messages can wait an hour.
We have all this great technology, why do we allow it to make our lives more stressful and miserable? We are the operators. We are in charge! This week take charge of your time. Use it to get your ducks in order, so you can command the field.
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