11/1/2023-Calendar Planning

You’re already on the clock for 2024. So, get your calendar organized to avoid stress and chaos in the next couple of months.

It’s the 305th day of the year, which means the year is kinda done!

With all the holidays, parties, and intentional exhaling between now and ’24, how many productive workdays do you have in you for the remainder of the year? …30? …35?

To get the most out of however many days left in your year, consider the scheduling (tactic) and planning (strategy) that require your attention. Both will help you finish this year strong and, more importantly, get you a big lead for January and Q1.

Open your calendar and your ’24 strategic account planners…it’s time to plot important ’24 work.

You can focus on finishing this year strong and plan for ‘Q1 by earmarking your "All-In" days. All-Ins are those requiring a full day’s worth of work. (If there’s anything left in ’23, you’ll only get some by planning your All-Ins.)

After determining what’s left in ’23, open your ’24 strategic account plans, review them, and scheme what needs to happen in the 30-or-so days you’re working this calendar year.

No wrong answers exist – you’re simply strategizing your Q1 by earmarking your ’23 All-Ins and focusing on your priorities.

There’s a wonderful cadence to the year that provides comforting repetition and guidance, too.

Each calendar season evokes as many feelings as business quarters yield actions and behaviors. Spring is a natural elixir because of warming weather and blooming flowers; summer is filled with lots of fun, etc., etc. And, of course, each quarter brings its own rhythms driven by quota focus.

But the last two months are the trickiest because, face it, the tank is a bit empty, and the distractions are broad. Whether you were up this year or missed your number, you’re tired just the same. The sales life is a slog measured by deadlines, milestones, and pressure.

If you are organized and able to look months down the line – and plot your calendar accordingly – you’ll be more successful than someone who struggles to see past next week.

Like anything in sales, the trick is merely to create habits and structure for your work. And because November and December are two of the more frenetic months, the rhythm of the calendar can disrupt you and drag you down. This wouldn’t be such a problem if January and February didn’t follow November and December. But a new year comes fast…and it’s pretty much here now.

You’re already on the clock for 2024. So, organize your calendar to avoid stress and chaos in the next few months. And so you can get off to a great New Year’s start.

Tap into Nir Eyal’s mind in this 3-minute promotional video for his master class on focus. Nir is the author of two bestsellers, including "Indestructible: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life."

Interestingly, you’ll hear Nir argue against using To Do lists that plan your work. Nir states, "If you measure your life by how many cute little boxes you checked off your To Do list, you’ve made a cardinal mistake."

Hmmm…that’s a novel concept, even for those who successfully use To Do lists.

Whether it’s To Do lists – or wherever else works for you – maybe Nir can help you strategically plan your calendar.