How to Double Your Productivity
Get Up Early. Believe it or not, this gives you a mental edge. The early bird does not only get the worm, he makes the deals. Use the extra time to prepare for the day. Make a list of things you want to accomplish during the day. Read a motivational passage from a favorite book. It can be as short as a couple of pages – the point is that it will set the tone for the day.
Listen to an audio program on the way to work. This is a terrific way to stay sharp. Listen to your favorite speaker or teacher while you drive (or ride the subway or bus) to work. Remember one thing from what you heard and write it down when you get to work. Put the paper where you made your note in your jacket pocket. It will be great inspiration when you find it later.
Teach someone something. Each day you should teach someone something new that you learned. Teach your coworkers the new tip you heard on your audio program. Teach your client a new technique (for using your product) that you just discovered. Every time you teach, you learn. In fact, teaching burns the learning into your brain. Teach something that is fresh learning for you, to someone else.
Do something alone. Take a long walk. Go for a run. Site and meditate. While performing this solo activity, make it a point to spend some time reflecting on who you are and what you are contributing to the world. Have you had a positive impact? What more can you do? How far can you push yourself? Who can you help?
Write something. It doesn’t matter what you write. Start a blog. Keep a journal in a notebook. Where you write and what you write is not important. How you write is. The way you right is the way you think. Every so often read what you have written. Are your thoughts coherent? Do they follow a logical pattern? Are they succinct? How can you improve your thinking/writing?
If you do these five things every day for a month you will notice a dramatic improvement in your sales productivity. You’ll be amazed at how focused your thoughts become. You will be astonished at how much meaning each activity has throughout your day.
You must make these five activities habits. They have to become part of your daily routine. They will help ground you.
I have taught these five tips to everyone I have coached over the years. Something magical happens when people implement these five simple activities in their lives. Around day fifteen you’ll begin to feel better. You’ll have more energy. You will begin to attract people to you like a magnet. You’ll feel more confident and your days will fly by.
Start today. Turn off the television. Quit surfing the net. Get going.
David Lorenzo has more than 20 years of business experience as a successful corporate executive, entrepreneur, strategist, author, and speaker. He has worked with and mentored some of the world’s most successful businesspeople while helping lead many large organizations to unprecedented success. His latest book is titled: Career Intensity: Business Strategy for Workplace Warriors and Entrepreneurs.
Mr. Lorenzo’s experience in starting new business enterprises and repositioning under-performing business units, along with his ability to implement innovative performance improvement solutions, makes him one of today’s most sought-after trusted advisors.
Mr. Lorenzo is a participant in the Wharton Fellows Program at the University of Pennsylvania, a management think tank that meets regularly to analyze and address timely business issues. He received his MBA from the Lubin School of Business at Pace University, and he received a Masters of Science in Strategic Communications from Columbia University in New York City.
Dave’s blog is dlorenzo.com/blog dlorenzo.com/blog
