It's amazing how good best practices are, and it's sadly too easy to get away from them. I planned Day 33 the night before:
1. Plan Mongolia logistics
2. Shopify
3. Review goals
4. Do weekly review, set tasks for next M-F
5. Blog post
6. Gym
7. Reading
Note it was only 7 objectives, and only 3 of them were "hard" or otherwise not automatic. That works much better -- trying to go overboard on too many things often leads to none of them getting done. Here's how the day went --
Awake: 10:15AM (8 hours)
1:15PM: Set all travel plans for Mongolia, bought flights, figured out train timetables, etc. (180 travel-planning)
5:05PM: Mix of decent and distraction. (70 semi-productive, 180 distraction)
5:50PM: Hmm, another 50 minutes? (50 distraction)
7:10PM: Good reading, some work, dinner. (30 reading, 30 productive, 20 relaxing)
8PM: Shopify points complete. (50 productive)
9:15PM: Quick good phonecall. Wasn't going to go the gym because feeling lazy, but went and feel awesome. Duh. (15 productive, 60 fitness)
11:15PM: Reading, planning, and phonecalls. (30 reading, 20 planning, 70 phone)
11:40PM: ALL DAY'S OBJECTIVES COMPLETE. (25 planning)
Great day.
I went and planned out M-F, I'm going to Mongolia tomorrow (Wednesday) so it's not a normal week.
Monday:
*Mid-morning: Make a list of top 10 to 30 people I'd like to meet in Mongolia.
*Afternoon: Brief nap
*Project discussions at noon, 7PM, and 9PM
*Expansionary business stuff from 2PM to 6PM
*Can I get a nap in somehow?
*Do a sales module?
*Busy day… move fast, eh?
Tuesday:*Much more open.
*Try to grab lunch or breakfast with Abe if haven't yet.
*Put affairs in order
*Expansion in afternoon/evening
*Definitely get a nap
Wednesday
*Work in morning
*Then transit
Thursday
*Arrive UB
*Lay groundwork for people to meet rapidly
*Catch up with Ternes and Sivers
*Keep DS client work, sales, and marketing going
Friday
*Wake early, and try to set appointments for early next week with people I want to meet
*Spend most of the day doing that
Similarly, D34 objectives --
1. Make a list of top 10 to 30 people I'd like to meet in Mongolia.
2. Prepare for 7PM discussion
3. Prep for 9PM discussion
4. Sales module
5. Reading
6. See where I'm at 30 days in on the goals (already started today)
7. Get on track with MN's project in evening.--
Wake, shower, groom, Embassy.
Call Officer Bulgan, let her know I'm going.Will have 2-3 previous free hours in the mid/late morning.
Scott and maybe Chris in early afternoon.
A free chunk. Try to nap?
Expansionary business. MN project.
7PM and 9PM calls.
If no other client work, read and relax.
And results --
Awake: 7:30AM (8 hours)
10AM: Got dressed, went with Stepan to Embassy for his visa, now at breakfast.
11AM: Breakfast finished with reading.
Noon: At Regus. (60… mixed transit and distraction?)
1:30PM: (90 minutes on phone)
2PM: (30 transit)
4:20PM: Onto the high production stuff.
5:50PM: Good work.
Today: Go over Buying Motives quickly, finish document 1, finish document 2, discuss MN,
---> Add for later, Sales Scripts and
7PM: Half good work, half got into a conversation that was a mix of good and distracting. (40 productive, 30 half-social/half-distraction)
8:30PM: (90 produtive)
9PM: (30 relaxing)
10PM: (60 productive)
12:25AM: (25 social, 120 productive)
4AM: Very solid work session. 35 minute break. Finished 26 page marketing/sales document for new product.
So yes -- work from lists, have a limited set of top objectives, plan the next day the night before, and you'll do a heck of a lot more.
Of course, you already knew that -- but are you doing it? It really is darn-near magical.