As professional writers, we often encounter days that we don't feel like writing. But if we surrender to that feeling, we risk missing deadlines, which can erode our client relationships and, eventually, our cash-flow.
We write, even when we don't want to, because we must. It is our commitment to our clients. That why we are professional writers, not hobbyists. So, how do we make sure each day is as productive as possible, no matter what emotions may afflict us?
Below are questions I use every morning to help me get into the right frame of mind to seize the day. I record my answers in daily entries in Evernote (which is one of the best productivity tools I've encountered all year!) so that I have a goldmine of all the ideas I'm generating. Perhaps these questions can be useful to you, as well.
1. What am I thankful for today?
No matter what challenges you're experiencing that may discourage you, this question helps put your mind in a positive, resourceful state.
2. How did I do yesterday -- and how can I improve?
This question could be worth thousands of dollars to you. How? Your answers could lead you to the one idea that, if you follow through on it, would take your writing business to the next level.
3. What is my single highest leverage task today? (In other words, what will I absolutely commit to getting done today that would make the greatest positive impact on my business?)
This keeps you from getting bogged down by urgent, but not necessarily important work, ensuring you're laser-beam focused on the activities that will benefit your business the most.
4. WHY do I believe I can achieve [insert income goal] per month?
When you're discouraged, you can come up with myriad reasons why you CAN'T do something, essentially selling yourself on your deficiencies. Turn the tables on that thinking! Sell yourself on your assets and abilities. This is your personal pep talk time!
5. Where can I find incremental (0.5% to 1.0%) improvement in my time/ production today?
You don't have to make huge changes to significantly boost productivity. Look for small ways each day to make better use of your time. Some of the things I've come up with over the past few weeks include: cutting down on TV time, scheduling time to return calls/ emails (instead of doing those tasks immediately, which may distract me during a project), and honing my writing processes to keep me focused.
How do you get focused?
About the Author: Sean M. Lyden is a nationally recognized feature writer and columnist on sales, marketing, automotive and technology topics. As a ghostwriter and copywriter, Sean has served clients such as General Motors, SunTrust Service Corporation, Morgan Stanley, Embedded Linux Consortium and Shaw Industries. He’s also co-author of the book How to Succeed and Make Money on Your First Rental House (Wiley, 2003). Follow Sean on Twitter.
© Sean M. Lyden, 2011, All Rights Reserved
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