The first five days of the month

There’s no denying that the days can become packed with an unlimited number of to dos. How, as a lean team, do we make time for all of the obligations? We don’t. Make peace right now with the fact that as a small business owner you will never be able to “get ahead” of the myriad of obligations. There will never be a point when your to-do list is empty.

Instead, the focus should be on what do I need to do to advance my top three business priorities.

Keep a laser-like focus on those activities. During the first five days of the month, commit to what matters most to achieving your monthly goals. If you haven’t set monthly goals, focus on what matters most to achieving your year-end goals. Be relentless for those first five days in ignoring and setting aside everything else.

If you have a goal of closing a new deal by month-end, direct your time and attention to those activities necessary to accomplish that goal. Set the meetings. Follow-up. Answer the questions. Delay the other activities for the first five days of the month. Slowly add them back in, in order of priority and importance to your business priorities.

Why 5 days? The first five days of the month set the tone for the remainder of the month. Use the time in a focused and purposeful way so that the rest of the month can build on the foundation you have set.

Here’s to most business birthday!