“Make a list of everything you need to do. Figure out your highest value activity. Throw the rest of the list away.” – Warren Buffett
Life gets hectic.
The urgent gets in the way of the important.
We miss opportunities to do our best work.
Daily fires burn up our chances to create an impact.
It’s time to push back.
It’s time to punch our TO DO list in the face.
How?
PRIORITIZE & EXECUTE.
Average sales people check off items on their TO DO list.
This gives them a false sense of accomplishment.
Elite sales performers:
- Allocate their time to their highest VALUE activities.
- Create IMPACT by focusing on what matters.
- IGNORE distractions.
Most people have life happen to them.
It’s time to start happening to life.
Last week’s Vibe discussed the value of putting everything on paper.
This week we turn our TO DO list into a strategic game plan.
“Prioritize and Execute” is a core principle in Jocko Willink’s book “Extreme Ownership: How US Navy SEALS Lead & Win“.
It goes like this…
You have to be RUTHLESS to the things that don’t matter.
You have to learn to DISAPPOINT the right people.
How to Prioritize & Execute:
- Write out your TO DO List
- Prioritize your list in order of importance.
- Create 2 lists:
- Your Top 3 TO DO items becomes List #1
- Anything on your list from #4 down becomes List #2
- Title List #1: Game Plan
- Title List #2: Do NOT DO List
You just decided where you’re going to focus your TIME & ENERGY.
You also just decided who you’re going to disappoint.
Never fun, but necessary.
Focus and attack #1 on your GAME PLAN list.
Be relentless.
Decline, delegate, or delete everything on your Do NOT DO List.
This is simple, but not easy.
It takes courage to say “No”.
But hold the line.
You will be trading a few uncomfortable conversations for long term impact.
We dive head first into AVERAGE when we try to be all things to everyone.
You’re not here to be AVERAGE.
Someone is counting on you to be REMARKABLE.
Go…
-Joe Ciccarone
The Vibe 