5 days to Change for Success – Day 1: Clear the decks!

Written on February 21, 2010 by Ali Davies in Business Success Blog
8 Comments - Leave a comment!

In the previous post Is your Business a Vampire? we talked about how many small business owners feel that their business is sucking the life out of them and they aren’t getting the results or success they want, professionally or personally. In this five part series we are going to start taking actions to turn that around.

Clear the decks to create success

Why Clearing the Decks is essential for Success!

A builder wouldn’t build on top of the rubble that is already on the site. He clears it away first because building on top of what is already there won’t give the results he wants. The same is true for creating success. You need to clear the decks and put strong foundations in place to give you consistent and sustainable results.

How to Clear the Decks

There are numerous ways to clear the decks to create success but here are three essentials:

1. Zap your tolerations. Tolerations are all those things that drain your energy. They can be big or small things. For example, an ironing pile up to the ceiling, cluttered office, not making enough money, working too many hours and so on. Make a list of everything that is going on in your business and personal life that is draining your energy. Start eliminating your tolerations starting with the easy stuff. A few quick wins will make the world of difference.

2. Put in place an extreme self care programme. Include things such sleep, nutrition, exercise. Do activities that give you energy. Cut out the excesses and bad habits. Now, before you all think I have turned into the fun police, hear me out – people who have a good self care programme make better quality decisions and have higher levels of effectiveness.

3. Create space. If your weeks are already jam packed with no space, nothing is going to change. You MUST create regular space in your diary that is just for working on strategy, planning, creating change and success. Block the time out in your diary. Treat it as your highest paying client. Do not cancel it for any reason other than an emergency.

These three points will be impacting your effectiveness, decision making quality, progress and success. Ignoring them could be costing you big style.

In Day 2 of this series we will be looking at how to put strong foundations in place to achieve success.

Related posts:

1.Is your Business a Vampire?

2.Is working for yourself really the key to freedom?

3.Have work life and business become a disease?

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  • Ali,

    My first visit to your blog and what a great post to get into. Three straight forward and to the point steps to 'clearing the decks'. What could be easier?

    Thank you for sharing this. I'll catch up with the other steps during the next few days.

    Regards

    Paul
  • Hi Paul, thanks for your kind words about the post. Delighted you found it useful
  • I'm slow, Ali! I've been working on projects all week and buried so your picture feels like I feel. I did clear my immediate working area and I am trying to refile and it does give me a clearer head to think about just one project at a time. I like your ideas and I will try to catch up and read the rest of the series!

    I was told two years ago to schedule all of my day - blocking work time and putting the phone on hold. I tend to make me available 24 /7 which really can zap my productivity. Your suggestion might propel me into taking action.
  • Julie, funny you should mention that. I have literally just finished scheduling my diary and blocking time out for my important business development work for the next month. Whoever made that suggestion to you a couple of years ago was spot on.
    By the way the point of this 5 day series is to give people a framework to work with. You don't need to actually complete it all in five days. Do it over a time period that works for you.
  • These are great points, I am setting in place an extreme self care programme TODAY!
  • Thanks Lisa. Glad you found them useful. I am doing the same at the moment - putting in place a new kick ass self care programme. Only on day 4 but already the benefits personally and in my business significant. Would love to hear how you get on.
  • Oh this is good. I'm currently about to start working on some new businesses so this will be really helpful.

    3 really great steps for day one. I'm on them today!
  • Ben, sounds like you are on the case already. Would be interested to hear how you get on with this. Clearing the decks and particularly these three points are so important but so often overlooked. Have fun with it.
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