Set Time Aside to Think and Plan Weekly

If you're like most people you fill your day with meetings, phone calls, research, and countless other activities. This is because managing a business is a time-consuming practice that requires juggling skills, fire fighting expertise, and good dose of business knowledge. Nevertheless if we want to improve and grow from year to year, it is absolutely essential to set time aside for thinking and planning.

Regularly taking the time to think about your practice allows the creative juices to flow and is one of the keys to moving beyond where you are now. While "thinking" about their practice, some advisors experience what I call "Mojo Moments" when they move from kinetic behavior (just keeping up with what they're doing now) to planning the future. It's as if a switch is turned "on" allowing ideas to come forward - ideas that were hidden before.

Alternately, this is another reason why it's important to let the mind rest. On the weekends, don't bring work home and don't think about your business. The mind needs two days of rest in order to clear out the clutter, form new pathways, and allow fresh ideas to percolate to the surface. 

I know you – you are just like me. In the evenings and on the weekend you go for a walk and all you can think about is your business. But you have to force yourself to NOT think about work. Learning to be really "present" and enjoy the moment is one of life's immense pleasures. We only have NOW. If you are thinking about the past or the future you are not living NOW. The key is to give your full attention to what you are doing at the time. When you are working, really WORK. When you are walking in nature, notice the things around you. Notice the trees, the leaves, the way the sun is bouncing off the clouds.

I'm working with a few superstar clients right now. Some are superstars despite not setting time aside weekly to plan out the growth of their business. Yet, they all realize that in order to create the practice of their dreams, they will need to overcome their existing work habits.  One way to do this is to block time on your calendar once per week to THINK DEEPLY ABOUT YOUR PRACTICE. 

*What needs to change?

*What are your Big Picture Goals?

*What do you need to focus on?

When you take the time to plan the future, you can then take the steps to make your dreams come true.  Do it now. I know you can.

Suzanne Muusers

Business Coach for Financial Advisors