Your Focus Determines Your Reality - Create a Fire List

If you're feeling swamped by too many changes and chaos all at once, you can take a page from my book. This year has been full of big changes, making the weeks and months pretty overwhelming, to say the least. I've had a lot of talks with people who are going through the same thing. We're also trying to simply keep up with our rapidly changing industry, which feels like it's moving much faster than before. It's all good stuff, but the question is, how do we handle it without getting too stressed or even burned out?

To stay on top of everything and prevent feeling overwhelmed by all the tasks on our plate, as well as the ideas and projects we want to tackle, we also have to consider those unforeseen challenges that seem to crop up nearly every day.

Let's start by looking at the tasks we deal with regularly. In any job, there are things we have to do every day, every week, or every month. Many times, we have to handle multiple responsibilities. To keep things organized, I like to break down my work into projects and make a checklist of the regular tasks so that nothing gets missed. I use tools like Asana to work together with my team and assign tasks.

To stay on top of everything and prevent feeling swamped by all the tasks on our plate, as well as the ideas and projects we want to do, I also keep a list of top-priority tasks, the ones that absolutely need to be done on that day. And I have a "fire list" where I write down urgent issues that pop up unexpectedly. This list helps me figure out what needs immediate attention and what can be passed on to someone else. It's important for me to put all of these tasks and lists into Asana so I can keep things manageable and avoid feeling overwhelmed.. We also have to deal with those unforeseen challenges that seem to crop up nearly every day.

You're definitely not alone if you have a bunch of ideas and goals you'd like to achieve. However, they tend to remain just ideas unless you jot them down and attach some deadlines. Personally, I find it crucial to be somewhat flexible with these dates while still having some sort of time frame in place to help me manage my workload effectively.

I haven't forgotten about those tasks that keep getting postponed. That's why prioritizing is essential for me. It's okay if some things linger on the list for a while, as long as they have a date attached. If they persistently stay on the list, it might be time to consider delegating and brainstorming with team members to make progress.

In my experience, it's beneficial to treat most ideas as individual projects. There are usually numerous tasks involved, and your team members might have valuable contributions to offer.?

Now, on to my amazing Parts Girl Podcast guests that I had the chance to speak with in September plus a sneak peak for what’s to come!?

Ron Marvo , a Business Development Expert at Sandy Cerami's Applied Selling Dynamics, LLC , brings his boxing mindset of focus, discipline, and determination into the automotive industry. He emphasizes the importance of authenticity, building relationships, and creating a personal brand in sales. Ron also discusses concerns about YouTube celebrities entering the boxing world and shares valuable insights on understanding client needs.?

Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier , founders of ASOTU | More Than Cars , discuss their mission to change the perception of the automotive industry through community and collaboration. They highlight the importance of fostering a strong industry community, challenging stereotypes, and embracing collaboration. Their efforts include organizing events and creating the "More Than Cars" TV series to showcase the passion and community within the automotive industry.

Kelley Reis , an experienced automotive consultant, emphasizes the importance of customer retention in the automotive industry. She highlights the challenges of overcomplicated processes and the need to streamline operations to improve efficiency and customer focus. Kelley also advises using technology effectively and fostering open communication among team members to enhance customer retention.

Joe Gibson from InteliChek Automotive discusses their innovative tools and services, particularly their pricing analysis tool. He highlights the importance of transparency in pricing and dispels the myth that dealerships are always more expensive. Additionally, he emphasizes the role of storytelling in marketing and the benefits of embracing technology for business growth.

Coming up this month…Russell Hill , Jeremy Stephens , Billy Milone and Jason Goler .

I love giving my guests a platform to share their experiences and insights with the auto industry. Check out these shows and more on the Parts Girl Podcast page.

Thanks for following along on my journey, and stay tuned for more newsletters!