How You Can Accomplish Amazing Things with a Plan

Hello readers! How are you doing as we move through the dog days of summer? Hopefully it will be getting cooler soon for you. It’s certainly the season of students returning back to school, sometimes to the relief of those who had kids home for the summer. You don’t even have to have kids to feel this relief. It has been a busy travel season and I sure hope your clients, and more importantly you, have had a chance to get away this summer to travel. If you found yourself a bit more distracted this summer season, then I hope this edition of the Travel Hi Five is of help to you. When we as humans make our mind up that it is time to “buckle down” to focus on something that either demands our attention or that we want to put more focus on; we can accomplish amazing things with a PLAN.

I emphasized that word PLAN because I know a thing or two about human behavior. Some of us will mentally say to ourselves that we need to get things done, jump in and tackle tasks at hand based on what we “think” needs to be done. Some of use will take the time to write out a list because we love to check things off a list. Reality sets in though when the demands of your business continue and you are forced to multi task (which never really works) and return to your list only to try to remember where you left off. So, what is to be done so that you can do this better?

My coaching to advisors I work with is to set aside a 15 to 30-minute time slot and brainstorm what needs to be done in service to the goals you have that week or month.  Again, I know us; some of you will have 10 things on the list while some of you will have 50 things. After the brainstorming session then prioritize your list in order of how you want to proceed. Here is the key though, set aside the top three to five things to get accomplished on a separate list so that you FOCUS on just those critical few tasks. We as humans can really only get a few things at a time done well with quality. When you can it’s even better if you can focus on just ONE task at a time. I know it’s not always possible so having that short list will help bring you back into focus on those critical few tasks.  

Now, as you complete tasks then remove it from the list and move your next task into that group of three to five tasks that sit in front of you. Here is another trick you can use as well; assign a date of completion to your task. This is where you have to be honest with yourself and give it the proper amount of time. If it doesn’t get done by that date do not lament, just assign a new date of completion and move on. You are more likely to be successful because you’re tracking the task to completion. Here is where a visual may help; this is a section of a document I use with coaching clients on tracking their tasks using these concepts:

Now that I have made you think let me finish up this month’s edition with some fun facts about the number FIVE. Like the namesake of this article, Hi-Five, what is in a name or number? I tell people about this magic number all the time but began to wonder is behind it. Well wonder no more; here are some things you didn’t need to know but I am going to share with you anyway:

• The first ever “high five” happened in 1977 during a baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Houston Astros. Need to know more? Here’s the origin story from Business Insider.
• Believe it or not, there is a national high five day on the third Thursday of April every year.
• In numerology the number five represents spiritual growth and confidence.
• The number five represents the human being with our four limbs and the head that controls them.
• The number five in science shows up in our five senses we use all the time.
• Earthworms have five hearts.
• Five is the third prime number, a natural number greater than one that is not a product of two smaller natural numbers.

Finally, the high five hand gesture is a universal social gesture of celebration. I celebrate you and this industry every day. Practice this concept of task management in groupings of five and you too will be celebrating. You may even want to go find someone to high five because of those very accomplishments. Until next time – Here is to Your Success!

Have a topic you think should be considered for future editions of Travel Hi Five? Get in touch with me at mmussey@travelleaders.com.

About the Author

Martin Mussey is a Certified Business Coach, Certified Travel Industry Executive and a Business Development and Education Manager at Nexion Travel Group and Travel Leaders of Tomorrow. #CoachMartin works with travel professionals at all levels using his award winning Business Coaching program. Martin's brand of travel advisor focused consultation where they are the HERO in their own story is on display with Nexion’s newly announced Business Success Journeys program at Nexion Travel Group. When Martin is not coaching or traveling himself he enjoys the arts, both on stage and off. He currently serves on the board of directors for Stomping Ground Comedy Theater in Dallas where they entertain and educate with Improv for Life programs. Coach Martin has presented his own workshops on applied improvisation as it relates to business owner adaptability and success.