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Stop the Time Suck! The Power of “Not-to-Do” Lists

ceo mindset time management Nov 17, 2023

How many times have you heard someone say “I’ll add it to my list of things to do.” We all talk about the infamous “To Do List,” but we rarely address the things that are a complete time suck—things that should be included on a “Not To Do” list. It’s actually just as important to create a “Not To Do List” so we don’t get overwhelmed and lose sight of what truly matters. In this blog post, we'll explore the power of not-to-do lists and how they can help you make the most of your time.

 

WHAT IS A NOT-TO-DO LIST?

A not-to-do list consists of tasks, activities, or habits that you consciously decide to avoid or eliminate from your routine. It's a strategic tool that helps you to prioritize and stay focused. Identifying and eliminating non-essential or low-value activities that can be distractions will actually help you be more effective. This proactive approach to time management allows you to create boundaries...

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Unleash Your CEO Productivity: Expert Tips for Optimal Leadership Efficiency

Leading a financial planning firm as a CEO/Lead Advisor is a rewarding but ultra demanding role that requires exceptional time management, decision-making skills, and the ability to balance numerous responsibilities. You set the tone for your organization's productivity, and adopting effective strategies can make a substantial difference. In this short article, we'll dive into some of the best productivity tips tailored specifically for advisors, helping you navigate your busy schedules while driving your companies toward success.

 **Set Clear Goals and Priorities**

Begin by defining clear and strategic goals for your company. Once your overarching objectives are in place, break them down into smaller, actionable steps. This helps you focus on high-priority tasks and ensures that your efforts align with your company's vision. Check out podcast #56 of The Efficient Advisor Podcast to hear more about how I built my dream business 10 minutes at a time!

 

 **Master...

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To the Advisor Mama with Little Ones

The struggle is real… or rather… the juggle is real. I see you and here’s how I survived. 

Right now you’re worried about dividend percentages AND how many ounces your little one is drinking. 

Sometimes you think more about your breastmilk reserves than your clients’ cash reserves. And that’s okay. 

The amount of sleep you get, when charted, looks like a very volatile stock market indeed. Purchase really good under eye concealer. 

And good Lord if you’re pumping–cleaning out those obnoxious little pieces in the sink in your break room. (Medela if you’re reading… Please find a solution that doesn’t involve 3,000 tiny parts that need to be cleaned no less than 2,341 times a day. Thank you.)

Embrace and enjoy this time. Lean into the crazy. 

Some days showing up at the office with the same color shoes on is a huge win. I definitely had an impromptu “black and navy day” once…...

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Meet the Content Monster

by Olivia Luper, Content Marketing Expert 

Marketing can be brutal—especially in this content-driven world.

It feels like we are constantly feeding the content monster to get ahead.

How much is enough?

Will it ever be satisfied?

You spend hours:

  • Crafting the perfect email
  • Filming the greatest video on Fed rate hikes known to man
  • Writing blogs Hemingway himself would be proud of

 

But even with your greatest efforts…it is hard to keep up! 

And let’s be honest…even if you are doing these things, they’re likely not at the top of your “OMG I can’t wait to go do this” list. A cold brew on a deck somewhere in the sunshine probably sounds a lot more appealing.

The truth is this (and trust me, some days I DO NOT like it any more than you do).
 

The content monster is NEVER satisfied. To stay top of mind, you’ve got to be:

  • Posting multiple times per week on social media 
  • Commenting, sharing, and liking 5x as...
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Warren Buffett's “2-List Strategy” to Prioritize Focus In Business & Life

One of Buffett’s most famous pieces of advice is commonly referred to as the “2-List Strategy” or the “25:5 List Strategy”. It’s simple, but effective. In fact, he uses this exercise to help his employees determine their priorities… thus, determining their actions. Given that his company Berkshire Hathaway is worth about $530 billion dollars, I’d say this strategy must be pretty effective. 

As an advisor, I always had no less than what felt like a zillion irons in the fire. I was making money, I was bringing in lots of assets…. AND, I was exhausted. 

I finally realized (and having kids will do this to you) that I need to focus on just doing FEW things really really well. Enter: Warren Buffet’s 2-List Strategy.

Here’s how it works: 

Step One: List the top 25 goals you would like to accomplish in your lifetime. 

Take all the time you need to compile a long list of goals. Many of them...

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How Smart Financial Advisors Land New Clients and Keep Them For Life

By: Mary Schmid, Author/Speaker/Coach

You have done the marketing, created efficient processes and systems, developed your expertise and love the work you do! 

That is the starting line.  if you want to have the most efficient conversation, you must begin with having the most effective conversation with your prospective and current clients.  

By understanding what the goes on in our brains in conversations (neuroscience of conversations) you can translate theory into practical actions you can take immediately to lead conversations that quickly and ethically build trust… efficient, effective, and enjoyable.

There is invisible brain activity going on in every conversation you have with clients and team.  It is like an invisible, private conversation going on in their head that you do not have access to.  It influences whether they will open up and connect with you or will close down in protection.  The impacts how the meeting will go, and the...

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8 Productivity Hacks to Get More Done in Less Time

Have you ever had a day that you were SO BUSY, but at the end of the day looked back and realized that you didn’t actually do or complete any of the major things you needed to?

I know most Financial Advisors want to work less, and know they need to manage themselves to get more done (in addition to having a killer, effective team & good systems!).

Here are the questions we are going to answer today:

1. How do you ACTUALLY get things done in your time blocks without getting distracted?

2. How do you manage your time when random tasks and crap just pop up in your business that you have to deal with?

3. How do you not get sucked into the vortex that is random to dos, being all over the place, and juggling all the balls?

4. How do you manage your energy so you can get the “big, more time-consuming” things done?

I am sharing 8 tips & tricks I uncovered over my near 2 decades in the business that worked for me when it came to actually getting done what I was...

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Why You Need a 'Word of the Year'... Even if it feels cheesy!

Does it feel a little cliche to pick out a “Word of the Year?” Yes. It does. But, I’m doing it anyway and you should too…. here’s why.

As an Advisor it is SO easy to get distracted by all the shiny, interesting things. You know what I’m talking about. You’ve laid out your perfect, well-crafted business plan… and then it happens. You hear a speaker drop some amazing knowledge at a conference and you get back to the office and add this idea to your business. Or maybe you jump on a mastermind call with some peers and an advisor friend shares a marketing strategy that has worked for her… and then you get back to work and add this idea to your business too. You essentially abandon that perfect, well-thought-out business plan because you get distracted by new and interesting ideas! 

Does that feel familiar? Or maybe even more familiar… these ideas just get half fleshed out,  added to a “to do list” and...

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My Favorite Tip For Immediate Action

I know what it's like to be STUCK. 

Analysis paralysis. Shiny object syndrome. No time.

These are all reasons that financial advisors leave their best ideas–the ones that would make their business great–on the back burner. There is just so much going on ALL the time in your business that you know you want to do some important things… but there always seems to be something more pressing that needs your attention. 

Here’s a few common phrases I hear when I’m coaching Advisors:

“My website is garbage and I KNOW it needs to be updated… but I’ve been saying that for 3 years.”

“I’m finally making really good money and I know I need to put systems in place so I can maybe work a little smarter and not so hard… but finding the time to create the thing is next to impossible.”

Or, my personal favorite: “I blocked off an entire day to work on that… but I had to get a whole bunch of other...

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