- Leave the most important task (or a representation of it) front and center on your desk. You want your highest priority to get your attention FIRST when you get to the office or other workspace. This may not be the first item in attendance, but you want to know that it is a big commitment to this day.
- Having a clean desk to work. This presumes that you follow some tips next week on how to end your day with a wise and good so waiting for them.
- If there are tasks that you must do to clear the deck for yourself, then do a fast and precise - no delaying tactics, however! If you need to quickly process your inbox to zero, for example, do that. If you need to check the command last night before you do anything else, then do it.
- Review your to-do list for the day. Make a reasonable ranking of what you # 1, # 2 and # 3 job.
- Review your appointments for the day. If there's anything you have not been confirmed, then make sure they (or better yet, have your assistant do it).
- Turn your cup warm. If you like to drink hot drinks, keep a cup of tea, coffee, or hot chocolate to help you stay warm at your desk instead of jumping to go warm up your drink.
- Check in with your assistants or other key employees within the first couple hours of work. Note: I feel the need to say at work because if you're like me, you start working much earlier than other people would appreciate a call.
- Proactively reconfigure the task tomorrow and promise, if you recognize, after reviewing your schedule, appointments, and tasks that today will slop over into tomorrow. Have your assistant help (s).
- Check your voice mail to see if there are incoming messages since your last in the office who need to attend. Add it to your daily task list or pass them along to your assistant.
- Turn off the ringtone on your phone. You have a voice message and it will fetch. You now have to focus on the tasks of your highest priorities - and answering the phone might not be in that category
More Money & Have a Great Day
As an entrepreneur, your day can begin at 2 am, 6 am, or noon, depending on your work and lifestyle. Regardless of the time, here are ten productive practice to get your day started both wise and good. Note: This is not always in order, so read them with the idea of thinking about getting them all handled in a reasonable amount of your morning window.