We all have times in life when we are so busy that the “Sink or Swim” scenario becomes real. During this time, it is so important to keep your head straight, multitask, and make it happen. My dad always said, “The difference between successful people and those who aren’t is simply the ability to get things done.”
You heard the saying: “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” But this isn’t as easy as it sounds. Many people just want to throw in the towel and give up. Others fly off the handle. Either way, you’re not accomplishing what you aim to, and you’re ultimately sacrificing what you want out of life because of your inability to keep your head straight.
I know that I can do and handle an incredible amount more than most. I don’t believe it’s because I was born like this; it’s more my method to keep things straight. I see so many people doing less than half of what I do on a daily basis and they are ready to explode! Let me share with you the methods in which I operate.
Plan and Execute
Every meeting, call, and controllable project or encounter should be put on a calendar and followed very closely. When your busy, there are many uncontrollable variables that are unpredictable, such as:
“John called in sick.”
“The carpet for the building project is backordered. Reschedule all inspectors and contractors to push everyone back a day. Now, we have to push back the open date.”
I’m sure you get the point. So plan everything that you can, and stick to the plan. When things come up, do you best to readjust and keep pushing forward.
Next. Execute the plan. Don’t push things off or say, “I’ll do it tomorrow.” No matter how big or small, take the project head on and get it done. You’ll even sleep better that night knowing you don’t have to do it tomorrow.
Keep Your Mind Sharp
I can store a lot of data upstairs, and I say that proudly because there was a time in my life when I couldn’t tell you what I ate for breakfast.
It was bad.
Now, I remember conversations well, and because I can store a lot of data in my brain, you won’t get much passed me and certainly won’t tell me I said something I didn’t, or that I gave improper directions, etc.
The way I do this is by getting proper sleep. You must give your brain down time. This is typically the firs thing to go when people are busy. Get proper sleep to keep your head straight!!!
Make sure your diet is on point. Eat low carb, moderate protein, lots of quality fats, and take your healthy fat supplements. I use our NeuroBoost supplement, which is loaded with omega 3, 6, 9 and DHA. To learn more about supporting your brain, listen to Excel Radio Episode 10 where I talk about the essentials for brain power.
Dump Data
I stated I am proud of how much data I can handle in my brain, but let’s not be unreasonable. There are only so many appointments, calls, ideas, etc. that one can handle before even a sharp mind turns into a cluster. This is why it’s important to dump dates, times, numbers, locations, names, and appointments onto a calendar.
It is also important to write down ideas, concepts, creative thoughts, and random things on a notepad or type it up in the notes section of your smartphone or computer. That way, you can re-visit anything you cannot handle getting into at that moment.
Don’t Become an Emotional Baby
Some people get really busy and turn into emotional babies. They start making bad business decisions based on emotions, and burn bridges with friends, family members, and other relationships. Their emotions turn their life into a nightmare. You must keep your composure at all times. You must remain in control. If your emotions get the best of you, you may wind up bankrupt with no friends.
Let’s be honest: this can be tough at times, really tough. The only way you learn to get a grip on emotions is by making a conscious effort to work on it. Using a biofeedback device (like this Inner Balance Sensor by Heartmath) will allow you to get real-time data so that you can learn how to be put in tough situations and walk out in control. It took me quite some time to master this, but after using biofeedback, journaling for two minutes in the morning and two minutes at night, I do a dang good job at keeping my emotions right, even in the toughest of situations.
Know When to Say No
Warren Buffet says, “The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say no to almost everything.”
“Can you meet me here?”
“Want to go out to eat?”
“Can I come over?”
The answer…NO!
We have tons of distractions in life, and there are a lot more fun things you could be doing. Right now, it’s crunch time and you just have to say no! In college, my friends would call me “no man” based off the silly movie “Yes Man” with Jim Carrey. They invite me to go goof around all the time and you can probably guess my answer…I said no.
Be Conscious of Your Time
Everyone is busy to different degrees, so when I plan on meeting someone or taking a call, I preface the conversation with something like this:
“I only have five minutes until my next appointment. Let’s get this done.”
“I only have 20 minutes for this meeting. Give me a high level overview.”
Some people will talk your ear off. I simply don’t have time for that, so that is why I create an exit strategy as I go in, so they are aware of the time frame I have for our conversation. It’s easier to keep your head straight when you ruthlessly prioritize your time.
Pencil In Downtime
Just like sleep is important, downtime is important. Make time to regroup, love on your family and/or pets, go for a walk, and do the things you enjoy. Steve Jobs was known to do this by walking. He walked miles daily. You need to regroup and unwind to keep your head straight. Whatever it is for you that helps you do this, don’t forget to schedule it into your day/week, even when things get crazy busy.
What’s your strategy to keep your head straight? Share in the comments below.