Some days I leave the office and ask, "What did I do today?" The day starts early–usually around 6:00 am and continues until around 5:00pm. Most days, time goes by very fast – sometimes so fast it’s a blur. And at times when I try and replay the day it is difficult to say I did this or that.
I know there are a few things that I try and accomplish every day. I try and move the business forward. Try to see if anyone needs help. If anyone needs a set of eyes to review some tables, if anyone needs some assistance preparing a proposal, if anyone is too busy doing whatever and needs help making a client deadline. I am not suggesting that I am the person to help but I am saying that I can find someone to help.
Also I try and stay in touch with our clients and prospects. During this year I have made more of an effort to see and reach out to our clients.
I also try and look at things differently. Is there a better way to do this or that? Is there a more efficient way to accomplish something? This person appears to have some available time. How can they help another department?
In addition to those things, I also watch the bottom line. How are we doing financially? Where do we have wasted spending? Can we accomplish the same thing for less?
So when I review my day it looks something like this:
- Try and find ways to help the staff
- Stay in touch with our clients and prospects
- Try and find ways to do something better
- Watch the bottom line
That’s what I try and do every day.
What about you?
Melanie says:
There are a few things that I try to do every day. Some are purely work focused and the others can take place anywhere.
1. Say something really complimentary and unexpected to someone. This is so easy to do, but so easy to overlook. It can make such a difference in someone’s day. I know it makes a difference in mine when it happens to me.
2. Stay in touch with clients and prospects. I know you already said this one, Merrill, but it’s an important part of my job and I have to say it, too.
3. Walk out of my office and down the hall to just chat with my team. I don’t want to get distant, and I often learn more in these informal chats than I do during meetings.
4. Read something that inspires me. Even if it’s just a quote from a quote book, a single page from a book, or a longer article, I try and find one thing that stimulates my thinking.
There are a couple of other things that are faith and family-oriented that are also on my list. But I do have things I try and do every day because the give me purpose and focus.