Episode 124: Align, Connect, & Prosper in the New Normal

In Episode 124 of the Wandering But Not Lost Podcast, cohosts, Jan O’Brien and Matt Emerson spend some time talking about the world and what’s going on and then dive into 3 tips that, if you implement consistently, will allow you to be better equipped to align, connect, and prosper in the new normal.

Align, Connect, and Prosper in the New Normal

In his article, “The Magic of Doing One Thing at A Time“

from March 14, 2012, author Tony Schwartz is spot on summing up the reality of today’s world of instant communication and gratification where we never seem to stop, unplug, or slow down.

Couple that truth with our world turned upside down amid a global pandemic with unprecedented health and economic crisis levels and we find ourselves pushed to the limits mentally and physically.

I found the following three recommendations from that article to be incredibly useful and ones that I have integrated into my daily routine – especially now! Frankly, number 1 is always a work in progress for me. I am happy to report that committing to items 2 and 3 has enhanced my overall productivity and created more balance with work and life.

There is one common principle in each of these three suggested behaviors…

BE PRESENT!

When you’re engaged at work, fully engage, for defined periods of time. When you are renewing and taking well-deserved time off, then be fully in the moment wherever that happens to be and ENJOY!

Do the most important thing first in the morning.

Always start your day with your morning routine or ritual to get you in the right mindset! Discover what works best for you – meditation, yoga, walking, reading, workout – just do something.

Next – get to the ONE thing that if you did it consistently on a daily basis would be the most impactful for your business.

If possible, work in a private space preferably without interruption, for 60 to 90 minutes, with a clear start and stop time. Resist every impulse to distraction, knowing that you have a designated stopping point. This means no social media, TV, Internet, or other distractors in your working area! The more absorbed you can get, the more productive you’ll be. When you’re done, take at least a few minutes to renew.

Brian Tracy states in the excellent short book, Eat That Frog: “You can get control of your time and your life only by changing the way you think, work, and deal with the never-ending river of responsibilities that flow over your every day.”

Your “frog” is your biggest, most important task, the one you are most likely to procrastinate on. It is also the one task that will give you the greatest positive impact on your life, business, and results at the moment. The key to achieving high levels of performance productivity is to develop the lifelong habit of tackling your major task first thing each morning.

And for Real Estate and all small businesses…. you know the answer….LEAD GENERATION (Attracting New Business).

Establish regular, scheduled times to think more long term, creatively, or strategically. If you don’t, you’ll constantly be overwhelmed with the litany of “urgent” things to do on your never-ending list! Also, find a different environment in which to do this activity — preferably one that’s relaxed and conducive to open-ended thinking.

Have you created a sacred space in your home? A place set aside for meditation, yoga, reading, or just being creative?

Also, schedule time to work ON your business. This means focused time to implement those essential business systems that will increase your efficiency and productivity.

Take real and regular vacations. Real means that when you’re off, you’re truly disconnecting from work. Regular means several times a year if possible, even if some are only two or three days added to a weekend. The research strongly suggests that you’ll be far healthier if you take all of your vacation time, and more productive overall.

Here are some ideas to be creative and safe during COVID-19:

Discover local places in your city or state to explore
Day trips
National and state parks – check the official websites for restrictions and requirements
Check this recent Wandering But Not Lost Post
http://wanderingbutnotlost.com/project/finding-wellness-in-nature/

If you are looking for some travel insights and inspiration for that next vacation…. Check out Matt’s website at www.WanderingButNotLost.com.