Handle it Once

Free Reprint Article by: Jillian Middleton

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Article Title: Handle it Once

Article Description: When the mail comes. Do you open it, look at it, read it and then put it somewhere to open it again later, look at it read it and possibly put it up to handle yet again later? Quit wasting your time and make a commitment to 'handle everything once'.

Additional Article Info:

Word Count: 1057 (not including resource box) Category: Business Article URL: www.virtualizeyourbiz.com/articles2/jillianmiddleton_handleonce.html

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Handle it Once

© Copyright Jillian Middleton , All Rights Reserved

When the mail comes. Do you open it, look at it, read it and then put it somewhere to open it again later, look at it read it and possibly put it up to handle yet again later?

Quit wasting your time and make a commitment to 'handle everything once'.

What's that all about?

Here we are at the end of another month and summer is already in full swing. Sometimes it amazes me just how fast time shoots through my day or my week and then poof another month is gone.

Anyone else relate?

Thought so. I can almost hear your groans. I know 'because I get to work with so many of you now and have worked with hundreds in the past in this thing called MLM, network marketing or direct sales.

Bottom line, anyone working from home has to be particularly careful with their time or it's gone before you know it and you don't have much productive "money making" activity to show for it.

So how do you get the "taking action" thing under control?

My first suggestion is to "handle it once."

Handle what once?....everything!

Here's the deal. When the mail comes. Do you open it, look at it, read it and then put it somewhere to open it again later, look at it read it and possibly put it up to handle yet again later?

Why do it twice or thrice or...?

When the mail comes in, put it in a mail "in box." Leave it there until you're ready to deal with it.

Then open it, do the action (pay it, make the call etc) throw away the envelope and file the pieces you want to keep.

You have just shaved 50% off of your time.

That may not seem like such a big deal 50% of your time on one envelope, but how many times do you thumb through the mail looking at the same things 'cause they are left on a kitchen counter (rather than in their own resting place until it's their turn)? And you still haven't dealt with the darn thing?

Here is another time stealer and action killer. The "I'll do it later" syndrome. You know, "Oh I need to do that, but I'll do it later."

This is what happens next. By the time you get to whatever project it was you put off, you now have to spend extra time "getting back up to speed." You need to spend extra time just to get where you were when you put it down instead of doing it now.

Then there's the great idea you get in your in box. (Why it might even be my ezine!) It's so great that right after you read it, you file it so you'll have it for later..... Why not take all those great ideas (those from other people plus your own) and put them into action. Now. Keep this in mind. We all have great ideas. Those who make their dreams come true, live the life they want to live... simply take action on their ideas and the great ideas that come along. They don't file them away.

What do you need to do to change your time stealers? Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

All I want you to do is this. Place a white board or a black board or something like it somewhere central to where you work. Every time you realize you've handled something twice or put something off, go to that board and make a hash mark. Nothing fancy, just a hash mark. When you have four standing along side each other the fifth one goes diagonally across the other four.

At the end of the day with just a glance you can count how many times you put something off or how many times you handled something twice.

Let me know what happens to your "taking action" habits.

By the way I got this email the other day from a woman who seems to be on her way to taking action. Check this out.

--- Dear Jillian,

I know you talk to so many consultants and don't expect you to remember me.

You did take the time to speak with me via telephone in May about your course and I signed up for the Academy. I wanted to share some things that are happening since I signed up for your Virtual Academy.

I was promoted from District to Area! Yeah! And now am focusing on RVP. I can't wait for the live Academy to begin. This upcoming month I already have eight classes on the books and a half dozen people looking at the business. I promoted a District and started coaching calls with her team as they live two hours away. I am using a lot of your material and they love it. I am beginning to set goals and work them as well as work store hours.

Thanks for being there. I know your live course is going to move me forward even more. I understand the importance of accountability and seem to do very well in that environment. It is good to know I can do it without it too but can't wait to share with others what's going on and how to improve.

Just wanted to let you know someone out there is learning from you and thanks. My husband and I both feel this is like going back to school for me and it's going to pay off.

Keep up the good work Jillian! God Bless! Lisa ---

What did Lisa do? She took full advantage of her time and the tools she bought. She didn't file them, she didn't do them later. She is in fact the ideal coaching client, the ideal program participant.

She went to work now, with the tools. She didn't get ready, to get ready, so she could get ready, to get ready before she started. She went out there trusting her ability to learn on the job and be great later. In my book Lisa is grand now, simply because she started.

In the meantime, remember to note those hash marks when you find yourself putting off something or handling something twice.

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About the Author: Jillian Middleton is a Mentor Coach and Trainer, and author of the course '5 Steps to Working Less and Making More in Network Marketing'. Get your copy of the free '5 Steps' course at: www.SavvySponsoring.com -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

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