How do you manage your time?
During the last year I have had the honour of working with hundreds of sales people. When I ask the question – Who writes down what they need to do each day – at least half the room admits they do not write down their activities. If you don’t write down your tasks, how do you know if you accomplish them? If you are not documenting your goals and activities; how will you know if you have accomplished them?

What is your mental and emotional goal for the day? If you are focused on “getting through” the day – then whatever happens is going to happen. Time is going to be a challenge all day. If your emotional and mental focus is on making a difference and accomplishing great things – then you will have the time you need to accomplish your tasks.
Time is like money – if you don’t believe you deserve money you don’t get much. If you don’t believe you have enough time, you won’t. Philosophers will tell you that your focus must be that you have all the time you need. This means that if you run around all day long saying out loud and to your self – I am busy I am too busy, how am I going to get all this work done, then chances are good that you will not accomplish what you want. However, if you have a focus on the issues that need to be managed and worked on today, then you will mange your activity and accomplish great things each day.

It also is important at times to do nothing. Go for a walk, reflect on what needs to be done next in the day, take an hour to meditate. If you are too busy all day long and don’t take time to just “be” you are missing the chance to regroup and determine what the most important thing is at that time in the day.

What is most important to you?
What is most important to you? It is really important to know the answer to this question. And it is important that you know the answer to this on a micro and macro level. At the start of your day what is most important. At any given moment in your day you can ask – What is most important at this moment? If you don’t know what is important, then what will you accomplish?

It is the end of another year and so it is time to start looking at what you need to do next year to be successful. It is a good time to be asking – What is most important to me next year? Did I accomplish what was important in 2007? What are my personal moments that are most important?
My great Aunt passed away this year, nine hours before her 103rd birthday. The celebration of her life was all about her life of making a difference in the lives of the people she touched. She always had the time to put a smile on the face of those people she came in contact with. She made time for the important things in her life and always made a difference in the things she did. On her 102nd birthday she was participating in a church fashion show she had begun when she was in her 70’s.

So my challenge to all of you is to take a look at where you are spending your time. Are you making a difference? Are you working on the things that are most important to you?

Sayers Says:
Are you writing your to do’s each day? What is your mental and emotional goal for the day? What is the most important thing for you at this moment? Do you have all the time in the world? Is it time to take a break and go for a walk, take a moment to reflect on what you need to work on next and decide what is the best use of your valuable time?

Author's Bio: 

Bill Sayers speaks, coaches, leads education sessions and provides management consulting services to a variety of companies. For the past five years Bill has run his own sales consulting practice. He has recently completed the writing of his new book – “Funnels and Forecasts – The Great Game of Sales”. He has been a professor at George Brown College teaching Personal Selling Skills to the Sports and Event Marketing Graduate Program, and is on the faculty of Canadian Professional Sales Association and Canadian Management Centre.
To receive our free “How are you Playing The Game” Scorecard and a 45 minute one-on-one session with Bill Sayers, email: info@TheSayersGroup.com or visit: www.TheSayersGroup.com.