Wow …only two more weeks until Christmas! 

Are you getting ready for the holidays? 

Do you have any big plans to celebrate Christmas and the New Year? 

Are you traveling anywhere …or is everyone coming to see you? 

As for me, this is my year to host the holiday get-togethers and festivities …so I will be entertaining family and friends for about 15 days.

From December 20th to January 5th, we’re going to be having a good time in Orlando!  🙂

Getting everything organized for everyone’s visit reminded me of a couple of things that I would like to share with you.

First, being able to spend quality time like this with friends and family is a great example of what you can do with the financial independence and freedom that comes from having a successful online business.

The ability to do whatever you want …whenever you want …with whoever you want …now that’s how to enjoy life.

Living the true internet lifestyle is really something you need to experience!

Of course, it hasn’t always been like this for me.

When I first got started online, I had the typical dreams that come along with an internet business.  You know the ones  –  building your business on your laptop while traveling …spending your days at the pool or on the beach …or in your favorite coffee shops.  I even purchased a membership that gave me access to several hundred business centers and airport lounges around the world.

I was ready to quit my job and be free!

Then, slowly, without realizing it, I found myself coming home from work and being online every night for 5-6 hours and double that on the weekends …no pools …no beaches …no travel.

Instead of replacing my job, I had actually added another full time one …and was working 80-90 hours a week.

Doesn’t sound like freedom to me!

I think what happens is that when you are in the building stages of your business, you “rationalize” spending this kind of time …because of the common “belief” that it’s what is necessary to get a business started. 

Well, I’m here to tell you that you don’t have to spend your life on the computer to be successful.

Yes, there might be times when you are working on a project that you’re really excited about, and you may put in some long hours …but you don’t want to be doing it every day.

That’s not how to live the life of your dreams. 

Obviously, you can’t be spending hours on the computer while having house guests for the holidays.

So, how can you continue building your business over the next few weeks without taking time away from being able to celebrate?

The answer is that you need to maximize your time.

Planning and coordinating the activities for my guests reminded me of the Jim Rohn training that helped me years ago to finally get my business under control …

One of the best Jim Rohn quotes on time management is “don’t start your day until you have it finished on paper”.

He believed that if you want to become successful in life, then you must learn how to make your days matter.

And to make your days matter, you need to set daily goals

…a list of the actions you need to take today that will move you closer to your success

…and, then, check each item off as you accomplish it.

The best way to plan for success is to plan your day …before it begins  (and you get caught up in other things).

By focusing on your daily goals, you will be able to achieve more of the things that really matter.

It’s really common sense, right?

When you determine the things you want to get done in a day, write them down, then actually go ahead and do them, you’ll get a whole lot more done.

And that’s just how simple it is.  Here’s how to

Finish Your Day Before You Start It

   1.  The night before, determine the things you really want to achieve with your day.

   2.  Get a book, a note pad, or even better, a daily planner, and write those things down.

   3.  Put a check mark next to the things on your list as you get them done, or an X mark if you can’t get to them.

   4.  At the end of the day, transfer the items with an X mark to the list for the next day …unless you’ve decided that they don’t need to be done anymore.

   5.  And finally, start TONIGHT! 

Plan your day before starting it, and you’ll accomplish a whole lot more than you would’ve had you not planned it.

It works every time!

Having your daily “to do” list will remind you of the important things that need to be done.

Once you have planned your day, you’ll find yourself more focused on the tasks at hand.

Also, as you check off items throughout the day, it’s visual “proof” that you are taking action to accomplish your goals.

Make it a point to not start your day until you have it finished for the next 30 days and you’ll find that not only will you be maximizing your time more efficiently, you’ll also be better at planning your days …and achieving the success you desire!

   – Doug

P.S.   If you would like to learn more on how to be successful in life using goal setting and the law of attraction, check out “The 11 Forgotten Laws”.