If you know me at all, you know I’m all about having a plan. As an agent I had to work by a schedule or I would find myself (potentially) wasting days upon days because I didn’t have a routine or Daily Work Plan. Below is an idea I would like to pass on to you in hopes that it might help you as it helped me.
Work a plan today! Make this a daily work plan. You probably won’t be able to follow exactly; there will be interruptions. The unexpected will happen, but try and follow this as closely as you can. Make adjustments for changes and don’t let changes ruin your day. As adjustments come, try to get back on track as quickly as possible. Keep your eye on your objective and your mind and actions on the work plan for achieving your goals; buying that new house, your children’s education, a new car or whatever your objective may be. Here is a suggested starter plan. It is 100% better than no plan at all.
Your plan needs to be for YOU, and YOUR FAMILY. You and your spouse need to plan around family activities – it is as impor- tant as a pre-need appointment. If you do not share in taking children to ball games, school, family events or just relaxing into your plan – when will you do it? Almost everything that you have or need to do can be planned ahead.
EXAMPLE WORK PLAN:
9:00 – Noon Prospect, deliver obituaries, make presentations, return calls promised from the day before. (Remember: retired and older families are usually home during morning hours.)
Noon – 1:00 Lunch
1:00 – 2:00 Practice, study, read, complete daily reports, listen to sales or self-development CDs and tapes.
2:00 – 5:30 Rest, relaxation, recreation, pick up children, play golf, run errands, etc.
5:30 – 6:00 Dinner (Or where I’m from we call it supper)
6:00 – 6:30 Re-map evening appointments.
6:30 – 9:00 Best hours for presentations, delivering obits, sales, setting appointments, and catching all ages at home.
Total: 8 HOURS WORK TIME
This is just a sample work sheet. You will have to work your own time frame around your other obligations. Just remember that work time pays the bills and allows your family to have what they need. If you can work evenings every other day it is better than not working evenings at all. If you take off a day during the week, work half a day Saturday. Saturday morning is a great day to catch people at home and find families that you can visit the next week and set an appointment with them.
Self-discipline must be developed and maintained if a person wants to succeed. Time management and self-discipline are the key ingredients to successful planning. Time can work for you or against you. Which would you have it do for you? Develop the planning habit.
