5 Ways to Stay Productive Through the Holidays

In life, and especially as we head into the holiday season, there are constant demands that will consume our time and can take our eye off the main thing and the bigger prize. Navigating these distractions is a challenge for everyone, even the most productive people.

Allow yourself to get too far off course and you will find it impossible to provide for yourself and your family in the way they deserve. Life serves up enough distractions, now let’s add Thanksgiving and Christmas to the mix. Even if you don't participate in these great traditions, your customers do. To continue your commitment to 10X production levels, it is mandatory to limit your distractions to the bare minimum.

This is the time of the year when I make a complete list of all the activities that might possibly distract me. Then I look at the ones I'm willing to compromise on and be distracted by and the activities that I know have no value at all. Your last month of the year are annihilated with distractions and that doesn't even include parties, school, kids, ballgames and whatever other unplanned activities will show themselves.

Here are 5 ways to keep your head in the game and remain focused.

1. Make a list of all possible distractions. Create two columns on a sheet of paper. In one, list the things that won’t ever contribute to your production. In the other column list your "must-do" distractions - the ones not even you can negotiate your way out of! Then avoid those activities in column one.
2. Remove all whitespace on your calendar. The days in December that are free from holiday distractions must be filled with calls, people to see and tasks to complete. Have a strict policy during those times for no distractions and commit to new levels of action. When people complain that they “haven’t seen you in ages,” you know you’re on the right track. The more things you get done, the less distracted you’ll be.
3. Create time don’t manage it. Divide each hour into four 15-minute blocks of time and see how much you can complete in each 15-minute block. Work fast and furiously to see how much you can accomplish. When you start to approach time this way, you start to move from one thing to the next with little room for distraction.
4. Share your commitment and get support. The more people know about your commitment and dedication the better. You might even want those closest to you to agree contractually to support you. Let your friends, family and colleagues know your goals are to double sales this month and that you need their help and support.
5. Get obsessed!! The only way to knock out any distraction is to get completely obsessed. Become as consumed by your production as most people get over eating a fried bird on Thanksgiving and as obsessed as your kids get over Santa delivering gifts. Your energy and posture at work must take on an intense, obsessed-like nature. This approach will cause everyday distractions to seemingly disappear. This is when you don’t even hear the TV or other noise going on around you.

Life is already filled with enough distractions and those consumed by distractions trade experiences for freedom. Successful people are willing to sacrifice the experience in order to build a future and do everything possible with the time they have. When you become completely committed to providing security for your family, the distractions that seem so appealing to the average person will no longer trap you. Successful people are willing to trade the distractions of today for greater freedom tomorrow. Use this holiday to build your hustle muscle and make choices that will result in the life you want, not just a life filled with endless distractions that control the everyday person.

Be great,

GC

Grant Cardone is an American entrepreneur, New York Times best-selling author, speaker, motivator and online sales training expert. Cardone is a respected, highly regarded master salesperson whose passion is to teach people how to sell themselves, their products and services regardless of economic climate. His books, audio packages and seminars provide people of all professional backgrounds with the practical tools necessary to build their own economies towards the path to true freedom.

“Success is your duty, obligation, responsibility."