I should start paying my clients. Steve The CEO, for instance, deserves a very nice fruit basket from me because he’s the one who turned me on to a planner I actually use. And because I use it (and it’s designed so well), my usually productive self has become a super productive self.
Steve mentioned Michael Hyatt’s Full Focus Planner a couple of times in our coaching sessions. I’ll admit it, I was slightly jaded because I’ve heard so much about so many “productivity tools” which often cost a lot and end up sitting somewhere, unused and gathering dust.
One more mention from Steve, though, and I broke down. I ordered a copy from Amazon.com (when I realized I could save on shipping because: Prime). It sat around a few days after it arrived because I didn’t want to seem too eager. And it was a little daunting, what with all that empty space to fill.
It’s designed to help you manage your stuff on a quarter-by-quarter basis, so you’ll need four books for the entire year. I started with one quarter and now have my second book – clearly it’s working for me.
The genius in this planner is simple – make goals, keep goals top of mind, regularly review progress toward goals, revise goals, keep them top of mind, review, revise, keep going.
There’s a place at the front of the book to make annual goals with the ever-so-important focus on the real motivations for choosing those particular goals. Consistently breaking those big goals down into manageable and actionable steps is another helpful discipline.
The meat of the thing is a daily agenda highlighting my three most important tasks – the Daily Big 3 – and a daily agenda down the side of the page, which helps me see when I wake up and what my morning ritual looks like. The Daily Big 3 make it possible to feel as though I’m making progress because they are things I can check off when completed.
And there is nothing so satisfying as checking something off, am I right?
Each week, the book is formatted to help you take a look at your progress, what worked, what didn’t, what’s coming at you next week and then to set priorities based on all of that.
I’ve used the notes side of the page to work through budgets, and accounts receivable, and ideas for new coaching approaches. I have been known to doodle there, too.
Do I fill in every single thing box on every single page? No, I do not. I have adapted to my own way of being. Plus, I have a tiny rebellious streak which you may or may not be aware of.
And the result? In the three months I’ve been using this planner nothing has slipped through the cracks. Not one thing. I’ve been more productive than ever and I have more free time than ever, too.
I am amazed.
You know I’m the person who created The Personal Planning Tool and the new 10-Year Tool, so I know all about planning.
All I can tell you is that Michael Hyatt and his team have created something really special here and it’s become integral to the way I’m organizing myself.
Thanks, Steve. Your lovely thank you gift will be in the mail shortly.
