January To-Do List

Today marks the first full week of work after the Holiday break. This is the time to get to all those things you put off until, well, now. You know that report, the proposal, the meeting, that call, those emails, and all that stuff you pushed forward in December? Those are on your plate right now.

There seems to be a lull between December 15th and January 15th where things wind down and wind back up but while you are sifting through your do it in the New Year pile, how can you get a jump on this ahead of everyone?

Less is way more

One way is to take a few moments today and carefully look at every item. Then determine which can be completely eliminated from your life. The ones that won’t make a single difference if you do them or not can deleted before you dive in.

They may have been important items at the end of last year but with some time, you may discover they aren't anymore. Check with who you need to check with and encourage everyone on the team to do the same. The results may surprise you.

It will make the January to-do list less daunting. 
__________________________________________________________________
Kneale Mann | People + Priority = Profit

rockonphilly

It Can Wait 'Til January

I hope you had some time off over the Holidays for friends, family, and fun! For many, today seems to be the first day of work for 2013. Let’s review a few of the things we may have promised last month just so we’re on track.

Let's talk when we get back from the break
You will need to begin that journey you once referred to as ‘later’.

Table that for January
Why do we push things off to some fictitious time in the future?

I’ll give you an answer after the Holidays
Vague promises server no one.

Can we deal with this in the New Year?
This means some time within a period of 365 days.

Let’s get right on that in January
"Right on that" means today, not some vague unscheduled non-event.

The best ways to improve your company’s performance are through strong internal customer service and strong leadership at all levels. If you want your team to bring forward ideas and feel a part of the process, then tell them when you are going to act and when you are simply not ready to take on new ideas.

We mean well at the time but may not heed the cumulative damage we create through vague promises to each other and to our customers.

It’s January. Let’s get to work.

Kneale Mann

cartelagency

Procrastination: The Business Strategy

I posted this list last year. Christmas is a month away.
Do any of these sound familiar?

• We want to make some changes, but we’ll talk about it after Christmas.

• Let’s reconvene after the Holidays.

• There’s no way we can get to that until the New Year.

• I doubt we’ll have time to give that much thought until January

• There are too many distractions this time of year.

• That is a great idea. Let’s table it for the first quarter.

• Let’s wait. It’s crazy right now and the Holidays are coming up.

• There’s no time to deal with that at this time of year.

• We don’t look at any new business in December.

• We're too busy for that now.

• How about we wait until we can have a good look at this after the break.

• Nothing happens this time of year.

• We can’t handle new business opportunities until after Christmas.

Is there an opportunity for you to get to it now?

Kneale Mann

image credit: simplyzesty | original: dec 2010

Can It Wait Until January?

This is a interesting time of year. The parties are starting to happen, people are distracted by shopping lists and family commitments. And yes, there is more to life than work. But it's almost as if some have decided to let the clock run out on 2010.


It's that time of year when you hear some familiar phrases...

• We want to make some changes, but we’ll talk about it after Christmas.

• Let’s reconvene after the Holidays.

• There’s no way we can get to that until the New Year.

• I doubt we’ll have time to give that much thought until January

• There are too many distractions this time of year.

• That is a great idea. Let’s table it for the first quarter.

• Let’s wait. It’s crazy right now and the Holidays are coming up.

• There’s no time to deal with that right now.

• We don’t look at any new business in December.

• How about we wait until we can have a good look at this after the break.

• Nothing happens this time of year.

• We can’t handle new business opportunities until after Christmas.

Is there an opportunity for you to get to it now?

knealemann | email


image credit: upstart

Let’s Talk in January

Most will be shuffling off to their work places tomorrow morning for the first time in a while. I hope you got some time away from the silliness and enjoyed yourself a bit. Had enough carbs?

Talk to me when we get back from the break
That fateful day is almost here when you will need to begin that journey known as ‘later’.

Table that for our first meeting in January
Why do we push things off to some fictitious time in the future?
Do we mean it when we say we will deal with it then?
Really? REALLY?

I’ll give you an answer after the Holidays
If you are a get it done now person - no exceptions ever - please contact me immediately.

I won’t have a chance to look at that until January
One of the best business conversations during the last week of December was with a colleague who sent me back an email that said: Let’s meet at 10am on January 9th at this location. It’s booked. Love that!

Can we deal with this after the Holidays?
Warning: The more humans required in completing a task is directly proportionate to the amount of delays you will experience.

Let’s get right on that in January
I think it’s safe to say that the last few months made us all feel like bumpers in an old-fashioned pinball machine. Perhaps we should avoid any unnecessary turbulence caused by inaction.

And "right on that" means Monday, January 5th at the beginning of the day - while we're being specific. Anything else is some vague unscheduled non-event.

We can reconvene after the Holidays
If we are willing to work together for solutions together and integrate together, I like our chances.

Break’s over – it’s January.

km