I’m often asked to coach and facilitate around the topics of time mastery and productivity.
It seems there’s always a need to get more done in less time. Our never-ending task lists and busy schedules can make it difficult to stay productive and feel like we’re actually moving in the right direction.
One of the first questions I ask when coaching someone around this topic is:
What are your Top Three?
Meaning, what are the three actions you take in your business that generate the most momentum and create the most value?
Obviously, I understand you do more than three things during the course of your days and weeks.
But I want you to really distill it down and identify your three highest-value tasks.
These are the things that truly move the needle and allow you to create the most leverage with your talents, skills, and abilities.
When you consistently engage in these tasks, time seems to sail by effortlessly and you often feel energized at the end of the day.
Conversely, when you get bogged down in low-value tasks, the sticky stuff, knee-deep in the weeds, time seems to grind to a halt.
These are the days when you feel like you’re on a never-ending treadmill to nowhere. You work long hours and stay incredibly busy, but when the day is over, you’re stressed, exhausted, and wondering what you actually accomplished.
So today, it’s about identifying the things that create energy and momentum and truly build value.
I’ll give you an example.
My Top Three are:
Creating
Connecting
Coaching
Let’s start with Creating
Creating new content and material is always energizing for me.
When I start the day with a hot cup of coffee and sit down to create something new, it generates tremendous value for me and my brand.
When I create, I usually learn. And learning something new almost always sparks new ideas and thoughts that help me engage with my clients in a more powerful and meaningful way.
Connecting
Once I’ve created something new, I’m usually inspired to engage in my second highest-value task: Connecting.
One of my most important jobs as a small business owner is to constantly connect with people.
I do that by reaching out to potential new clients while also staying connected with the people and organizations I already have relationships with.
And I’m not talking about simply connecting on the surface.
Creating deeper relationships generates energy and momentum in my business and makes me want to do even more to support and serve the people I come into contact with.
Coaching
Finally, my third highest-value task is Coaching.
I love to coach people.
Whether it’s a large conference I’ve been invited to speak at, a smaller facilitation or workshop, or working with one of my one-on-one coaching clients, coaching is my true passion.
And I almost always leave those conversations and events more energized than when I started.
These are my highest-value tasks.
When I engage in all three during the course of a day or week, I know I’m moving in the right direction.
Clearly, there are days when my actions don’t support these high-value behaviors.
But here’s the good news.
When I fall off track, I know exactly what to do to get myself back on track.
Create. Connect. Coach.
What Are Your Top Three?
What are the three activities that create the most value in your role?
What are the things that move the needle?
What activities actually give you energy instead of draining it?
And most importantly:
Are you spending enough of your time doing them?
Quarter Turn Action Step
Identify your Top Three.
Then take a look at your calendar for the next week.
Do your Top Three actually show up there?
Because identifying your highest-value activities doesn’t mean much if you never create the time to do them.
Figure out what they are.
Build time for them.
And when you inevitably get pulled off track, use your Top Three to help you find your way back.
Cheers to you and your Top Three.
One Quarter Turn at a Time.
Thoughts for the week
You don’t get paid for the hour. You get paid for the value you bring to the hour. -Jim Rohn
The secret to success is… it’s no secret. It’s called work your ass off and find a way to add more value to people’s lives than anyone else does! – Tony Robbins
Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing about. – Ben Franklin
It’s not enough to be busy… The question is what are we busy about? – Henry David Thoreau
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