In order to be successful, it is essential to make progress against your top priorities before responding to other people’s requests.
This means starting each day in proactive mode — doing the work that is most important to you before turning your attention to the ‘urgent’ needs of others.
I recommend protecting the first hour of each work day — what I refer to as ‘Mine O’Clock’ — and attack it on your own terms.
Taking this hour, every morning, to make progress against your short- and long-term goals will add up to big wins over time.
On the flip side, if you don’t guard the first hour of your day — and instead spend it responding to email or rushing off to meetings — your most meaningful work will get crowded out. The day will quickly be eaten up, and your energy drained, before you even get started on our own projects.
Take the following steps to make Mine O’Clock part of your morning routine:
1. Block off the first hour of every work day
- Set a daily recurring appointment in Outlook (or other calendar you use) so this time is preserved and shows others you are booked
- Do not schedule meetings or calls during this hour
- Respectfully decline…
