21 Day Sales learning Challenge: Day 2

"The Knockout List"

I've been reading Anthony Iannarino's, "The Only Sales Guide You'll Ever Need" and today took an idea from him and learned how to increase my self-discipline to the next level. 

I learned that making a list before you start your day, filled with important tasks needed to be completed and worked on for the day, is my new and improved powerful tool.

I have a stack of 3X5 cards now on my desk. Before turning on my computer, before opening  up my Email, before getting distracted by co-workers  "chit-chatting" about their dinner the night before; basically before doing anything that will fill my head with unnecessary noice to slow me down...I make a to-do list.

I am calling it the "Knockout flying list". Now for the past 3 days, I've got to learn how helpful this tool really is! 

For examppe, today I wrote down four important "Knockout items" that have priority over anything else on my days work:

1. Update my CRM system with yesterday's notes/appts. This included Referral Partner notes about their business. Prospects interests, succession plan, business story, wife and kids names and activities.

2. Price out Prospect ABC Company to have proposal ready for Friday's meeting.

3. Make 10 calls to referral partners and see if theirs any potential businesses to schedule appointment with in next 1-2 weeks.

4. Check pipeline list of prospects for any updates; corporate credit approvals, corporate risk approvals, any updates from prospects to complete contracting process. Then update the potential client on any changes to keep them updated at all times.

Now this was today's list, and will change tomorrow. So today's list was fun. I knocked each one out by 11am, right before having to leave for a lunch meeting. I still haven't even opened up outlook and it's been 4 hours since I started the day.

I'll get to emails, other tasks, etc.... but not until my IMPORTANT tasks are completed. 

This new strategy I've taken, called Knockout Flying list, will now come as my starting point ever day in the office. Of course I'm sure emergency will come up; clients call asking for help, co-worker in a pinch, Boss giving an assignment, what have you...that's business.

So I called it Knockout Flying List because I'm going to knock them out, then when done take the 3X5 card and fold it into paper airplane and throw them out to move onto the next one. The plane just makes it exciting to complete a task!

#rallsysalesjourney