Be Opportunistic – A Little Bit Every Day!

Mar 11

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Life is busy, chaotic at times. One of the biggest challenges we face daily to get everything done is time. If we can barely get the things done that we NEED to, how can we possibly find time to get everything else done that we WANT to?

For me, the things that I want to do are:

  • Working on my blog
  • Connecting and growing my network via social media
  • Working out / staying active
  • Playing the piano

Jeb Blount from SalesGravy.com discussed a concept on his podcast Quick and Dirty Tips last year and I still think about it .

“A LITTLE BIT EVERY DAY”

Would I love to block off large chunks of time every day to get everything done that I WANT to do? Of course. I do it when I can. But on days when things go sideways, and I cannot stay on track, every little bit helps.

Take a moment and think about fitness and health. I have never purchased a gym membership, nor wanted one. The industry thrives on people committing early on, and most never following through long-term. There is a preconceived notion that “If I don’t work out for at least an hour, there will be no value”.

Before our son was born, my wife and I had a personal trainer come to our home. She taught us to use the equipment we already owned, and we could work out in the basement at our convenience.

As life got busier with a new-born, it became more difficult to do full workouts. But with the reminder of A Little Bit Everyday in my head, I still get down there as often as I can to work out. I have a pact with myself to do at least 15 minutes of push ups and sit-ups every morning. Anything in addition is a bonus.

I power walk in to meetings, take my dog for short brisk walks, and run after my son as he gets comfortable on his new bike.

AND NO DRIVE THRU coffee shop windows! (unless you have one or more screaming kids in the car). Get out and walk! And please take the stairs to meetings instead of just hopping on an elevator.

With respect to my blogging and social media work, the short 15-30 minute segments of activity are still very valuable, and inch me closer to my goals. A few of those sessions and I have still put in your two hours of work that I was hoping for. It becomes a mindset, and the theory of “anything is better than nothing” helps inch me closer to my goals than doing nothing at all.

I love to get up early in the morning to work, or stay up late at night. I sacrifice watching some of my favourite TV shows, but it will be worth it in the end.

Google “Gary Vaynerchuk Stop Watching Lost” and see what comes up in the search if you don’t mind an in your face take on this, with a few “bad” words. His philosophy on the phenomenon of wasting time is a powerful wake up call for the couch potatoes.

  • Do you feel overwhelmed and just cannot get everything done during the day?
  • What can you change now to subscribe to the “Little Bit Every Day” theory?

If this post has inspired you to take action, please leave me an update in the comments section over the next few weeks discussing how you are now getting more done that you WANT to.

A Little Bit Every Day…  A Little Bit Every Day… A Little Bit Every Day…

(I hope it is in your subconscious now too.)

Keep Smiling!

About Tim Mushey

Dynamic and energized sales rep, mentor and leader since 1999. This blog will be about sales, social networking, personal branding, leadership, music and having some laughs! Don’t be surprised if I mix it up on occasion, and talk about something totally different! I thrive on being part of successful, forward thinking teams. I am ready to go from the moment my feet hit the floor each morning, with the expectation that new adventures will be coming my way. It is rare that there isn't a smile on my face, as I take it all in, and have some fun along the way!

Posted on March 11, 2014, in Inspiration, Motivation, Success and tagged , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink. 13 Comments.

  1. rupertwhiting | May 16, 2012 at 8:13 am

    Very good points Tim. It works well for BD and coaching as a leader too. You can never be too busy for the big things.

    Reply
  2. stuartart | May 16, 2012 at 8:14 am

    Great advice. I like Dean Jackson’s 50/20/50 approach. he says get rid of all your distractor factors (email/mobile/colleagues/TV etc.) and dedicate 50 minutes to getting a task done – then take 20 minutes break to do whatever you want – then do another 50 minutes of work. All I need to do now is DO THAT! 🙂

    Reply
    • Tim Mushey | May 16, 2012 at 8:27 am

      Ahhh Dean Jackson. There is a name that I have not heard in a while. Great points Stuart! Thanks for sharing. Dean’s lifestyle is fantastic and he certainly takes time to do what he WANTS. Hopefully you will be able to implement Dean’s strategy sooner than later 🙂 Have a great day.

      Reply
  3. Tina Del Buono, PMAC | May 16, 2012 at 6:12 pm

    Hi Tim, this post sounds like I could have wrote it myself. Somedays are harder than others to complete what I need and want to do, but learning not to stress over it has really helped. I agree that 20 minutes on a project is better than none. We need to just keep plugging along. There is one thing that I have found helpful and that is getting up earlier on the weekend and giving myself some block time to catch up if I need to. We each need to do what works for us and our family.

    Thanks for the post and enjoy today!

    Reply
  4. Paul Turner | March 11, 2014 at 5:05 pm

    Hey Tim,

    Greetings from Halifax!

    Great points about a little bit each day. It’s true they can add up and if that helps someone make progress on their goals, you’ve pointed them in the right direction. I am a power walker and push up & sit up guy too. I find exercise helps me keep the stress levels down and can help me think clearer particularly about those tough to crack work challenges.

    I look forward to more of your blogs.
    Cheers,
    Paul

    Reply
    • Tim Mushey | March 11, 2014 at 9:11 pm

      Hey Paul!

      Nice to hear from ya way out on the east coast 🙂 Glad to see you use the “little bit every day mantra” with your exercise progress as well. I slipped a bit over the winter, but need to get back on track with exercise as the weather improves too!

      Thanks again!

      Reply

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