One Simple Habit for More Money & Family Time

In today’s hyper-connected over-worked world, people are working later into the evenings more than ever.  Email on your phone is modern technology’s preeminent double-edged sword…  Always know what’s happening, but interrupt any moment in your life with the Pavlovion BUZZZZZ of your smart phone.

Here’s a way to fight that urge & help you control your productivity.  Practice Five After 5.  Simply do FIVE impactful things at/right after 5pm.  These activities should help you focus on...

• Wrapping up your day
• Growing your business
• Teeing you up for a solid tomorrow

Here are prime examples:

1.      Call/Email prospects you’ve had a difficult time getting a hold of.  Chances are their “gatekeeper” is gone and they’re done with their daily meetings.  If you email, chances are good they’re checking their inbox at the end of a busy day and you’re now at the top of it.

2.      Reach out to a networking partner(s) that you haven’t talked to in a while.  Don’t call with any particular agenda, just see what’s been going on in their world and let them know what you’ve been doing.  If it makes sense, schedule an early coffee or happy hour drink in the near future.  Beforehand review each other’s LinkedIn and pick out some people you could introduce to one another.  

3.      Make your next day’s to-do list.  Who do you need to contact/call/email, what personal things do you need to address.  I find it best to make it on an actual piece of paper as opposed to on your phone.  That way you can draw a line through it & CROSS IT OFF!  

4.      Read or Write for 15 minutes.  This is a habit of life-long learners.  Pick up a sales/business book, newspaper, or read your favorite business blog.  Write down some ideas that will spark creativity.  There is nothing like getting your ideas out on paper to help spark that next big idea – INVEST IN YOURSELF. 

5.      Follow-up activities from today’s meetings.  You’re not sending those follow-up/proposal emails in the middle of the day are you?!  In professional sales, your 9-5 needs to be spent in front of or trying to get in front of prospects, not sending emails.  Send that meeting recap, write the thank you note, or finish that proposal after 5pm.   

Get into the healthy habit of Five after 5.  Let’s say you always decide to reach out to five prospects – 25 more touches per week, 1,300 more touches per year.  I promise you that will lead to more deals.  After you complete your five tasks, close your laptop, put your phone on the charger, and go spend time with your family uninterrupted.