THE ABILITY TO FOCUS
One of the single most important differentiators between high-performing entrepreneurs and those that deliver average results is their ability to focus. And when I onboard a new coaching client, one of the first things we do is assess where they’re spending their time.
I ask them to show me their calendar and commitments for a typical week.
And the same common mistakes tend to show up in 90% of business owners.
- They don’t evaluate which tasks should and should NOT go on their to-do list.
- They assume that every action item on their list carries the same weight, value, and importance.
- They don’t prioritize tasks based on the potential impact on their business.
- They don’t block time on their calendar to get the most important work done.
- They don’t set due dates or realistic deadlines.
- They don’t have an accountability system in place to drive consistent execution.
The ugly truth is that according to The Busy Person’s Guide to the Done List, by Janet Choi and Walter Chen of iDoneThis: 41% of to-do list items are never completed.
“Show me how you’re spending your time. And I can tell you the current state of your business. They are directly related. And one greatly influences the other.”
High-performers recognize time as their most scarce resource. And how they use it is going to determine their success or failure. As a result, they become masterful at balancing time, energy, and priorities (NOT tasks) to achieve their goals.
A DIFFERENT MINDSET & PRACTICE
I coach clients to delete their “to-do list” and instead adopt a different mindset and process that delivers exponentially better results and greater impact — in a fraction of the time.
The purpose is to move them away from tactical checklists and shift them toward a daily practice for maximum impact and goal achievement.
They leverage this 10-15 minute daily practice in two ways:
- Utilize it at the start of their day to set intentions and jump-start progress.
- Incorporate it as their shutdown ritual at the end of the day, to close out and evaluate their day.
It includes:
- Engaging in a mindset practice
- Getting clarity on their strategic focus
- Aligning high-impact goals
- Demonstrating effective Leader & CEO Behavior
- Completing an after-action review to build confidence & capability
If you start managing your time differently, you will see a tremendous shift in your business and results.
Regardless of your starting point, you can leverage this process to stay purposeful, focused, and on track to reach your goals.
READY FOR YOUR COPY OF THE DAILY PRACTICE?
If you would like a copy of the daily practice highlighted in this issue of the blog post, click this link to get on the waitlist for the CEO Power Pages. A suite of tools for the high-performance CEO who wants to operate in the top tier of their niche.
