How do you start your work day?
I don’t know about you, but I don’t begin any work until I’ve spent a few minutes planning my day, clarifying where my focus needs to be.
For me, this pre-work planning time organises me mentally for the day ahead. I don’t want to ‘do’ a bunch of stuff. I want to ‘achieve’ meaningful results by close of business. I’d wager you do, too.
That’s why my favourite part of my morning process involves a few powerful questions.
The questions act like lasers to zoom in on what is truly important. They help define what will make the day productive and successful, and they highlight the actions necessary to make it happen.
If you’re feeling disheartened by your daily achievements, these questions may prove helpful.
Give them a try.
Here are 3 powerful questions to start your day:
1. What did I achieve today that moved the needle?
That’s right, answer this first question as if you’re already at the close of your business day. Visualise shutting down and reflecting on your results.
What did you do today that made all the difference? Which top task got your attention over anything else on the list? Maybe it was the big meaty proposal you finally finished, or 2,000 more words you added to your book. Perhaps it was the handful of calls made or emails sent that landed you new business.
Ask yourself what a productive, successful day would look like at close of business. Let that serve as your beacon to determine the actions you’ll take. Reaching success is clearer when you’ve defined the parameters in advance.
2. What is the single most important thing I can do today?
In answering the first question, you’ll likely have shortlisted a few desired outcomes, say five or six tasks. It’s important to be realistic about the time you have available and the feasibility of completing those things. Calculate the time estimates for each, and scale back if it’s not realistic. Then take into account the potential obstacles, interruptions and distractions that may arise during the day.
If the day unravels, and you’re not able to action everything, which of those five or six shortlisted tasks is the most crucial to the success of your day. Which action would leave you thinking, “Well, at least I got XYZ accomplished!”?
Imagine where you’d be in six months, a year or even five year’s time if you achieved your most important task daily, without fail.
3. What’s stopping me from starting my most important task now?
Great! You’ve clarified your targets for a successful day and specified your top task of greatest importance. This question helps prompt immediate action.
It may be tempting to put off that most important task until later in the day. But as the day goes on, we run the risk of not getting to it after all, and the task gets shuffled yet again to another day.
I like this question because the answer is simple and there’s nowhere to hide: There’s usually nothing stopping us from starting our most important task …except of course, ourselves. You may argue there are emails to check, social media to do, and any host of other things. But are those things really worth doing before your most important priority?
Unless you have a non-negotiable commitment, or the task is tied to a time frame, I argue there’s really no excuse. Start now.
These aren’t the only questions to ask, but they get to heart of what warrants your focus and attention, especially if you’re aiming to close your day on a triumphant note.
And who doesn’t want that?
Make questions a part of your morning planning routine.
Use the ones above if they resonate with you, or determine your own that will inspire the action needed to be your best, most productive self today and every day.
What other questions would you add?
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