BY JP MARONEY
Exceptional people are avid writers. They are constantly writing down their thoughts, ideas, observations and plans.
If you ask for a business card from one of these people they have a hard time finding one that doesn’t have something written on the back. They have little scraps of paper tucked here and there, little notes typed in documents on their computer, or things written in their day planner.
Why? Because exceptional people know that writing crystallizes thought, and thought motivates action. By investing time to write down their thoughts and ideas, they are able to sort through their many viewpoints and formulate creative solutions to their greatest challenges.
A side benefit of writing is that it creates a permanent record. That record, especially of conversations can come in handing when other people develop selective memory. You can go back to your notes and remind them about the specifics of the conversation.
Exceptional people write two important things - They write what kind of person they are going to be, and they write what things they are going to do.
The kind of person they are going to be includes their values, the things that are important to them. They write the kind of spouse they want to be, the kind of parent, the kind of professional. They know who they are, and how they want to be remembered when they are gone.
Exceptional people also write the things they are going to do. This includes their dreams, visions, goals and objectives. They regularly invest time into making a list, in fact usually several lists, of the tasks they need to accomplish.
They have project lists, a list of errands, a list of professional goals, and a list of projects. They drive everyone crazy with their lists. Yet, they know and live by the irrefutable law that people who make lists get more done than those who do not.
In fact, studies have revealed that a person with a list on average gets five times more done that a person without a list. That insight alone should be enough motivation for you to begin putting this routine into action.
These lists don’t even have to be part of a sophisticated system. They can be a list created one or more sheets of paper, or in a more elaborate system like a computer software program.
One of the greatest productivity enhancing exercises we recommend is to take the first fifteen minutes of each day to make a list of all the things you plan to accomplish that day. Or, you may prefer to make this list each evening before you go to bed.
Some people find it even more helpful to identify five or six items on that list as the most important tasks that absolutely, positively will get done that day. This ensures that they will end each day having accomplished at least their highest priorities.
Many exceptional people find it helpful to keep a journal. They invest time regularly to keep a record of what they’ve done, how it turned out, and what they could do differently next time.
Your journal can be kept in many different forms, including a bound book, a 3-ring binder, in word processing documents on your computer, or even on the note pages in your day planner. Find what works for you, and make a habit of journaling.
Writing can also be a great decision-making tool. Take a piece of paper and draw a line down the center. On one side write down all the positive things that could happen if you made a particular decision or chose a particular solution to a problem.
On the other side, write down all the negative things that could happen as a result of your decision or action. Use the information you write down to analyze the possibilities and then make the best decision based on the facts.
You can also use writing to solve your greatest challenges. Doctor Robert Schuller often used a list of ten to solve his problems. For example, if he was trying to raise a million dollars to complete a building project, he might make a list of ten possibilities. Ten different ways to get the money.
Becoming an avid writer is a master key to success. Make a habit of consistently and regularly writing the kind of person you’re going to be and the things you’re going to do.
Use it to make decisions and solve problems. Use it to analyze your experiences and plan for improvements. Adopt this practice of writing and you will have implemented a key quality of exceptional people.
###
JP Maroney a.k.a. “The Pitbull of Business” is a business growth strategist, best-selling author and award-winning speaker. Receive his FREE book, “5 Ways to Double or Triple Your Business” by visiting www.JPMaroney.com
——————————
Interested in publishing this article in your magazine, newsletter, blog, website or article directory? Send an email to info at jpmaroney dot com or call 1-800-304-5758.
Share This
(required)
