Do you have a weekly process? A routine, a rhythm that you follow?

Or do you squeeze work in haphazardly around your other obligations, doing what you can, in the moments you can find on any given day? At the end of the week, you look back and wonder what happened.

You don’t have to be a slave to your process. But if you don’t even have one, it’s easy to find the week slipping by, and suddenly it’s Friday and you’ve got some unmet milestones.

There are as many ways to approach the week as there are individuals. Your lifestyle, demands on your time, and your other priorities will dictate how you schedule your work time, what goals you set, and when you focus on doing the work.

But we’d encourage you to create a plan, or at least an outline.

Here are a few suggestions for how to approach your weekly process:

Pick A Beginning

Many people look at week as starting on Monday. We’ve been conditioned by years of school and 9-5 jobs to embrace this format. With this schedule, many people choose Sunday night as their unofficial beginning to the week. This is the time to start preparing for what’s ahead, making plans, and setting objectives.

And maybe this works for you!

But maybe you work an irregular schedule, or your spouse has Tuesdays and Wednesdays off, or you know that Sundays are full of other obligations that don’t allow you time to stop and think.

So if Tuesday night or Thursday morning works best for you, that’s totally fine.  Whatever cycle you embrace, build in a prep period. A time each week - maybe 30 minutes - to look back on what worked and what didn’t, and to look forward at what your top priorities are in the week ahead.

Use Your Tools

Once you’ve committed to your prep time and reviewed your goals for the week ahead, use the tools that you’ve got!

Traktivity does the hard work of planning your contacts and conversations for you. All you need to do is set your desired number of reachouts, conversations, and validations - and Traktivity will give you the information you need to follow through.

What other tools do you use?

Do you use a free publishing service to schedule your social media posts? Something as simple as preparing and scheduling your social media posts at one time can be a HUGE time saver. And once they’re scheduled, it’s one less thing to think about. Less mental clutter equals more clarity and opportunity to focus on something new.

There are a ton of other free and paid tools out there to boost your productivity. But, don’t let the tools stand in for doing the work. You’ll still need to pick up the phone or sit down for the conversation if you want your business to grow.

What’s New Around Town?

Face it, we’re all creatures of habit. We like to go to the same coffeeshop, take the same yoga class, and visit the same shops. But new opportunities are around you all of the time. Are you seeking them out?

Adding to your network is absolutely critical for growing your business. Remember, only 1% of your prospects will convert to high performers. So as you plan your week, be sure you’re building in opportunities to explore new places, new communities, and make new contacts.

Even if you’re not a member, your local Chamber of Commerce is a great resource for events in your community. Seek out Young Professionals groups, interest groups, and look at your existing communities for expanded opportunities. Does your church have a book club? How about your trivia partner’s running group?

The more you ask, the more you’ll find new ways to fill your calendar, meet new people, and add to your list of contacts.

The more you know, the more you can grow.  So be sure your weekly process includes either a chance to meet someone new, or some research into what you’ve been missing - you can be sure those key upcoming events find their way into your busy schedule.

##nvest In Your Most Important Resource

(Psst --- that’s you.)

We focus a LOT of time and effort on actions. Connecting, engaging, discussing, and promoting your business requires a significant outbound focus.

So sometimes it’s easy to forget how important it is to invest in yourself.

What fuels you? Are you inspired by podcasts, a good business book, a meeting with a mentor or a coach?

Maybe you’re grounded by prayer or meditation. Non-negotiables might include a weekly mastermind phone call or strategy session with a power partner.

Whatever method is right, be sure you’re regularly creating opportunities to invest in yourself. Professional and personal development doesn’t stop just because you’re out of school.  This is one reason why we’re so focused on building the Traktivity Knowledge Center - because knowledge truly is power.

How do YOU plan your successful week? Leave a comment and share your best strategy for success!