Kick off fourth quarter with CONSISTENT ACTION. 🔥
Waymaker spends a lot of time helping teams and entrepreneurs create incredibly detailed business visions … but what happens when the visioning process is over?
Well if you are a Master of Planning, then hats off to you. But if you find yourself setting lofty goals but never find the time to reach them, join the club. (Seriously, we started a super affordable membership for business owners who know they need to plan but keep avoiding it. You can LITERALLY join the club.)
If you need a place to start, we’ve got you covered.
Linsey created this printable last year for herself in the throws of COVID woes. Think of it as triage planning. It’s job is to keep you focused on high impact work during the work week, which is why it’s on paper and not on a screen full of distractions. When your brain tries to squirrel - look at the sheet. When you get overwhelmed - ask the sheet what is next.
Download the sheet and follow along!
Step #1: Start at the End of Your Week
The end of your workweek is the PERFECT time to plan next week because you know what needs to happen and where you missed the mark this week. Before you let your brain rest take 10 minutes to:
Set your top priorities for next week
Setup to track the habits that will ensure your success
Plan high level daily tasks to reach your goals
Color code your priorities and tasks
Step #2: Set Your Top Priorities for Next Week
Your three Top Priorities for This Week are major themes or projects that will create momentum in your business. There are a million tasks on your plate but not all of them are important. If you have an important project that must be completed this week, make it a priority.
In our example image, we are prioritizing the ActionPlanner Launch, BrandPlanner Groups, and releasing this Quick Sheet.
What are the check boxes for?
Recommit to your priorities by reading it out loud and checking the box for that day.
Step #3: Track Habits That Ensure Success
There are tons of articles reviewing the science of habit tracking. We’re not going to try to win you over here. Here’s the bottom line: Entrepreneurship is a long game. It takes resilience, fortitude, and consistency to be successful. Recommended Reading: Atomic Habits by James Clear.
Powerful habits are unlikely to change from week to week. Our sheet accommodates habits that require a check mark, a yes/no answer, or a rating scale. You may consider tracking:
Routines
Inbox and desk clearing
Anti-multitasking methods
Sales and lead generation habits
Content creation and writing
Emotional regulation and mindfulness
Think about what you need to do consistently to be successful in your business. In our example, we are tracking:
LinkedIn Posts
LinkedIn DM replies
Facebook Posts
Workday Startup Routine
Workday Shutdown Routine
Lunchtime Meditation
If you are new to habit tracking, keep it super simple and just get started. Remember: our brains crave validation and every checkbox is an opportunity to win. As you continue to track your habits, you will refine what is important to you and what is powerful to your business. Your habits will evolve with you.
Step #4: Outline Daily Tasks
Now it’s time to plan out your most important tasks of each day. Ask yourself:
What will it take to achieve your priorities for the week?
What can you delegate?
Map out the tasks that must be done to complete your priorities for the week. If you need to delegate, be sure to do it right after this planning session or make it the first thing you do when you start your week.
Tip: Keep a running list of tasks separate from the Quicksheet. When you achieve your priority tasks for the day and still have more time to work, slash tasks on your running list.
Step #5: Color Code Priorities and Tasks (Optional)
This step adds a visual layer of accountability. Assign a color to each priority and then color code your tasks accordingly. In our example you can see we used blue, green, and yellow highlighters. Blue is for the ActionPlanner launch, green is for the BrandPlanner launch, and yellow is for the release of this Quicksheet.
Color-coding let's us see right away what we’re planning to spend our time on so that we can gut check our decisions about our priorities and tasks.
Use This Sheet Everyday
You’re all set to have a killer week. Review this sheet at the beginning of your day to recommit to your priorities for the week and review the tasks for the day.
Recommit to your priorities by reading it out loud and checking the box for that day.
Track your habits throughout the day.
Slay your priority tasks first.
Throughout this process you’ll get to ask yourself some important questions …
Do I prioritize the right things?
Do I spend my time on my priorities?
Am I realistic about what I can accomplish in a week?
Do I need to ask for help?
When To Ask For Help
Business owners have grit and tenacity. We are resourceful and creative.
We’re also stubborn and independent to a fault. 😱
If you find that you do not make time to plan your week or you regularly miss your weekly priorities, then it’s time to ask for help. This is not a weakness. It’s LEADERSHIP.
Join our weekly planning and accountability group for entrepreneurs. It is designed to create momentum with consistent action. Every Friday we gather virtually to reflect on the week and plan for the next.
It’s structured and efficient. Each week we take 45 min to …
>>> Reflect on how the week went
>>> Dig into why you did or did not make progress
>>> Outline your priorities for next week
>>> Pinpoint the behaviors that will ensure your success
If you find yourself setting lofty goals but never find the time to reach them, join the club.