It’s been a little while since I posted my thoughts – but I think today I am ready to share again…
When we first began the “work from home” scenario – I honestly hated it! I still don’t love it, but I have become better at it. When we first started, my biggest hurdle was turning off when “work” hours were over. Trying to find that balance in working and personal time was a challenge because whatever time it may have been – if I had an idea or thought of something I needed to do for work – I did it, because all I had to do was walk downstairs to my new “office space” and turn on the laptop or jot a note or task in my CRM app. And during my work hours, even though I was working – my productivity was suffering – not because I was procrastinating or being lazy, but because I was spending time on too many things that even though they were work-related…. they just really didn’t matter.
After some time working from home, I have discovered that if I ask myself several times during the day “What is important to me today?” that I realize what I am actually working on is not always the best use of my time – I pride myself in being great at time management, but that was when I was in an office atmosphere. At home – well, not so great at it….. I set my tasks every day and know what I need to be working on, but I find myself sometimes veering into a different direction with a client when a thought or idea pops into my mind, I stop what I need to be doing to make a quick call or send an email, getting completely off task. I am learning to get better at deciphering what needs to be done versus what I think I need to do.
What is important for me today….. Working from home has taught me one very important lesson – that I have to take back ownership and responsibility for myself! In this crazy world we are living in at the moment, where so much seems to change minute-to-minute and so much seems totally out of our control, one thing remains — only I have the power to take back ownership of and responsibility for myself. When I do that, I will be more effective in work, my personal life and what is going to move me forward to be successful in this new atmosphere and my surroundings. During this “unusual time”, I am very out of place and uncomfortable out of my comfort zone—in life as it was before coronavirus! I do understand that about myself and that’s why in part, I am so beyond anxious to get back to life as it was “before”….. I know it’s going to be a while before any semblance of normal returns, and it probably won’t ever be the same again. I will be different than I was before. I get that…. which is why I had to make the decision to learn how to work differently.
I can use the excuse of C19 and that people just don’t want to talk or have a meeting… but that’s just what it is – an excuse. The important thing for me today is continuing to make calls – make contact – check in my my existing clients – prospect for new clients. I have a set of talents that I can offer to my clients – I just have to get out of my own way!
What is important to you today?