April 5, 2006
From Crazy Busy to Crazy Focused
I was in a book store the other day and found another book I wished I had written. It’s bright yellow cover jumped out at me and it’s title Crazy Busy is very timely. It explains that Crazy Busy is a modern phenomenon of brain overload which is becoming a national epidemic.The author, Hallowell states, “we’ve plunged ourselves into a mad rush of activity, expecting our brains to keep track of more than they comfortably or effectively can” and concludes with “it all adds up to a state of constant frenzy that is sapping us of creativity, humanity, mental well-being, and the ability to focus on what truly matters.”
I’m convinced the secret to properly managing one’s time is about the choices one makes with their time. Usually when we are running in frantic mode, we haven’t taken the time to really understand where our time is going and plan what we want to do with that time.
Okay, well…..um…. back to prospecting? Siince it’s the beginning of the month, take time to plan, think and be strategic about your plan of attack so when you get to quarter-end you won’t be as frantic. 
The planning phase includes researching target accounts, verticals, key decision-makers and determining your approach. Take the time to do some pre-call planning prior to dialing. Whenever I coach a team member, I ask them who are you calling? what are you going to say? what do you want to get out of this call?
Patsi Krakoff on April 6, 2006 @ 8:39 am
I just bought that book…have been too crazy busy to open it just yet, but could be that Hallowell has a hit on his hands with this book. His previous books focused on clinically diagnosed cases of attention deficit and obsessiveness. But as more of us biz people are suffering silently to the stress and overload of too much info, this will become more of a vocalized issue. Thankfully, there are solutions that don’t succumb to the medical industry’s penchant for prescription drugs. These only create more side-effects that can be worse than the actual condition they treat. Learning how to focus on what really matters, and being able to shut out distractions is important. I no longer use my cell phone for incoming calls, for example. I hate being distracted when out of the office so that I can use that time to creatively ponder and think! Calls can wait. Creative thinking is more important. Best ideas come to me while sitting in traffic anyway…that and the shower and in dreams. Ever wonder why idea are plenty at those times? No distractions!
Josh Lenn on April 12, 2006 @ 2:32 pm
I find myself wanting to try and pursue new areas for business, but I am lacking the time and energy needed to be creative and think out of the box. I make sure I hit all my marks in regards to cold calls and tasks and stuff like that which is micromanaged, and that does not leave a whole lot of time to prospect creatively. I guess I should take some time when the calling is not hot and think.