To-Do Lists

I love to-do lists!  They are a way to organize priorities, stay focused and on task, remember everything and hold yourself accountable to get things done.

We all have our strengths, and we all have our weaknesses.  The challenge is to acknowledge both and come up with strategies to deal with the weaknesses.  For me personally, I hate (maybe that’s a little too strong of a word) networking events.  To walk into a room of 50 plus people and not know anyone, and we are supposed to garner the courage to go and meet these people?  It’s not even a cocktail event so you don’t get the benefit of a glass of wine to calm the nerves!

Way back in the day when educators weren’t as PC, my report cards would come in the mail and under the comments section would be something like “Debbie is a wonderful student, diligent, conscientious and on and on and then came the but….she’s shy and I’d love to see her participate more in class.”  As if I didn’t know that was one of my weaknesses and that raising my hand in class caused my heart to race.  So, 35 years that same feeling of the heart racing, and the palms sweating comes back to me when it comes to networking.  It is so much easier to say no to that BNI or Chamber of Commerce Event.

My New Year’s resolution for work is to “pound the pavement” and network more than I have in the past, whether face-to-face or reaching out through social media.  How? By setting goals.  ShipShape is holding our team accountable for certain tasks:  we have developed a call log sheet and each of us is required to reach out to 5 new people a week.  We’ll document our calls and then be able to follow-up on a consistent basis.

I personally am keeping a sheet front and center on my desk with my marketing goals.  To-do lists let us remember, prioritize and hold us accountable.  Blog once every week (check thanks to this one); Send a thank you note to all new clients from the past month (check); drop off brochures at realtors offices, independent living communities and apartment buildings every month (will be a check tomorrow); Reach out to 5 people on LinkedIn every week (hmm…gotta get to that one); and here’s the hard one….research what’s going on and walk into a networking meeting once a month (soon to be a check).  In summary, we are trying to live the Nike motto of “Just Do It’ and I admit it is not easy.

Many of our clients struggle with being overwhelmed by clutter: whether paper or household items. Dealing with paperwork or organizing a bedroom is not top of their to-do list, but recognizing that it is one of those tasks that they don’t like to tackle, we advise them to set realistic goals – maybe mix a little oomph in – and set up a way be held accountable.  Sometimes, it is just having someone that comes to your home on a regular scheduled basis and helps keep you on task.  We all need help in one way or another whether it be someone to clean our house, mow our lawn, help us with our exercise goals, or “ a professional organizer who supports evaluation, decision-making, and action around objects, and space; helping clients achieve desired outcomes regarding function, order, and clarity.”  Together, we can just get it done!