Tag: self-improvement

The importance of systems

FabrizioLeave a comment

If you are late and cannot find your trousers in the mess you have made of your wardrobe, most likely you will be even more late.

If your pipeline dried up and you need a few more deals to close the year, most likely you will close the year short.

If you have many employees leaving because your culture is toxic, most likely a couple of new benefits will not reverse the trend.

The point is, when shit hits the fan, it’s late to make changes. Not “too late”, because you can still organize your wardrobe before the next appointment, or start building pipeline for the next year. But still late for whatever it is you want to achieve now.

That’s why systems are so important. They support you (and others around you) when things don’t go according to plans.

And things rarely go according to plans.

Important to whom

FabrizioLeave a comment

When you want to do things that matter, things that change the status quo, things that make an impact, a great place to start is to own your own schedule.

Even if you are in an entry-level role, if you keep bouncing from one task that is important to your senior colleague to the next task that is important to the manager, you will never get to what is important to you.

And that, in the long term, matters more than anything else.

Silence is not weakness

Fabrizio1 Comment

A problem needs a solution.

A hunch needs clarity.

An idea needs execution.

An opinion needs an audience.

The point is, you can’t treat them all in the same way. If you share a hunch with an audience, most people will find it pointless and fail to understand. If you try to execute on a opinion, most of the times you’ll end up going alone. If you give your audience a problem, they will look at you for a solution.

If you are unsure what you are about to express, it’s ok to take some time to think it through.

Silence is not a sign of weakness.

Drifting

FabrizioLeave a comment

For any recipe you have found that has worked, there are at least other ten that go in the exact opposite direction. And still work.

That’s why it is so important to find a way that matches who you are and what you stand for. A way you are absolutely and completely comfortable with. A way you would use even if no one would be watching.

In any other cases, you are just drifting.

One per day

FabrizioLeave a comment

Aim at finishing the week (on Fridays) setting a clear list of priorities for the following week.

I do one key item per weekday, one thing only that I absolutely want to get done. Then I add a few reminders or secondary tasks (e.g., call this, email that, talk to them, send newsletter, etc.).

The few times I fail to do this, my weekend is not as relaxing as when I do it. And my weeks are not as productive.