What Really Matters is an important quarterly review to make sure you focus on what really matters to you. Family Income, children, business growth, cashflow or anything in between.
On a recent business trip in Barbados, I went snorkelling (NOT pictured above :-)) in the beautiful turquoise ocean. I was having a really good time, in crystal-clear waters. Life wasn’t as plentiful as I have experienced in the Maldives or even the Red Sea, but it was great fun.
When I took my head out of the water, after what seemed like five minutes, I realised I had drifted a long way from shore…
Clearly the current was pushing me out, and as I was on my own, I realised I should be making my way back.
The five minutes, had in fact been 75 minutes!
Fortunately, I got back to write this blog…(Phew)!
And it got me thinking…
Business is often a reflection of my smoking trip!
Habits – Good, Bad or Indifferent?
We are creatures of habit…and we drift into them.
I realised, many years ago, on a training I was on, how much of a creature of habit we all are…
And that’s a good thing…
Imagine having to work out how to get dressed every day…
Or how to brush our teeth…
Or even drive the kids to school… Or our regular journey to the local supermarket.
So habits are a good thing.
However, they can also work against us, in our businesses (and in our personal lives).
We form habits, often unconsciously and without purpose.
How we use our smart phones can be a really good example for many of us. Many of us will check our phones over a hundred times a day…
…Even when it isn’t ringing or pinging!
It just becomes a habit.
Our daily routines… Become a collection of these habits…
Some good…Some not so good.
Some useful… Some not so useful.
Using the 80/20 principle, (also known as the Pareto principle) we know that we achieve 80% of our results in 20% of the time. (Or 70% of our results in 30% of our time… Or similar).
Take Back Control
So we need to bring focus and purpose back to what’s important in our working lives (and in our personal lives).
In our Profit Propeller Programme (our systemised business coaching program), we incorporate a periodic spring clean – the WRM (What Really Matters) review – into the process.
You can get a copy of our checklist and mind map here.
Today, I just completed my own business WRM review, with my first coffee, at 6 AM this morning.
Spring clean your habits based on What Really Matters.
Here are the points we look at when working with clients…
- Raise the bar.
- Be emotional.
- Be objective.
- Be systematic.
- Be committed.
When I finished my WRM project, which took all of 30 minutes, I ended with a quick summary…
I made a list of what I decided really matters, for my daily review…
And a list of what really does not…
My Big WRM insight this time?
The item of note for me, that I can share with you, is that a new process of interacting with clients and my market more generally, is an important aspect I need to focus on more.
(For some of you it may be family time, money to move home or more quality holidays or a new car…)
Being more regular, and committed to sharing more of our philosophy and methodology to business owners like you, so you can benefit, without business coaching, if necessary…
So I dictated this blog, as a start in the process, and I am committed to doing an article like this at least once a week.
Those of you who prefer listening or watching, I will also be doing a video, and the downloadable audio file.
I finished off by scheduling a review date of 30 days from now, to make sure my new habit is taking hold…
… And I scheduled my next WRM session for three months time.
If you would like to do a WRM review, and would like a copy of the mind map and the checklist, click here.
All change!
Things, possibilities and circumstances change…
Our WRM Review is our way of taking control of these changes, and making them purposeful.
That is a key part of business coaching and business.
What really matters to you right now?
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