The 1 Thing I Do Every Morning To Ensure Success

Friends, I'm back again with another great episode of Early Childhood Business Made Easy!

If you remember well, last week, I discussed the three things I did every January to make sure I have the best strategic plan for my life and my business (if you haven't listened to the episode yet, click here).

But I don't stop there. To thrive as much as I can, I also make sure to plan my days!

I use my annual strategic personal plan as a stepping stone in order to set myself up every single day. 

And that's exactly what you'll be learning about today!

Designed to help you stay focused while also living a life of fulfillment and growth, my daily planning process will ensure you set up your year for success.

Ready?

Let's dive in!

Why You Need a Daily Planning Tool

In last week’s blog, I discussed my annual strategic personal plan. I talked about the big picture vision and how it can show you where you are headed and the steps you need to take to create the life and business you want. 

Based on that big picture vision, you can identify the big goals you need to work on to stay focused and move your life and business into the direction you want. Then you can finish off with the planning process, which will help keep you on track. 

In today’s blog, I’ll be discussing how to use that same annual strategic personal plan to set you up with a productive daily planning process. 

This process is designed to help you stay focused on your life and business. With these tools, you will be set up for success for the entire year. 

When you adhere to a daily planning process like the one below, you'll experience more clarity and productivity. 

All in all, with this as a part of your morning ritual, you'll begin every day focused on the important things so you don't get distracted with work that doesn't move your goals forward.

The Perfect Daily Planning Tool

A daily planning tool should do eight things for you:

1. Keep you on track to accomplish your life and business vision plan. 

2. Help you experience a sense of purpose and meaning every day. 

3. Give you the clarity and confidence to make decisions when unplanned obstacles arise. 

4. Inspire you to work rather than procrastinate. 

5. Separate your important projects from your tasks. 

6. List your tasks and most important things to accomplish for that day. 

7. Keep you aware of your appointments. 

8. Remind you of your goals. 

Discover My Daily Planning Process

There are seven steps to my daily planning process. Of course, you don’t have to follow this exact process to find success. Do what works for you. 

Here’s what works for me:

Step 1:

The first thing I do is create my daily affirmation statement. I ask myself, “What’s important to me?”

For example, for me, the daily affirmation statement that I say every morning is, “I expand in abundance, creativity, success and happiness as I inspire those around me to do the same.” 

Feel free to use my example as you work to come up with one for yourself. But do find one, and then make sure to start every morning by closing your eyes and saying your affirmation statement out loud.

Step 2:

Look at the three big goals in your yearly strategic plan. Write them in the “goals to remember” section on your daily planning page. This will help remind you to stay focused on the important tasks, no matter what comes at you during the day. 

Step 3:

In the “schedule and meetings” section, list any appointments, meetings, phone calls, or other time specific things that need to happen that day. Do this for both business and personal appointments. 

Step 4:

In the “self care” section, list out your personal priorities for that day. Sure, there will be days where work priorities will completely take over and our personal life will have to take a backseat, but apart from those days, make sure to focus on yourself first. 

Step 5:

Review your “daily plan” section and make any adjustments needed. This helps you keep perspective when thinking through everything you need to accomplish that day. Rather than feeling overwhelmed by your list of tasks, you'll be reminded there is still a lot to look forward to, and your sacrifices will be well worth it. 

Step 6:

Fill out your big three business priorities. These are the things that absolutely need to be accomplished that day. 

Going back to your annual strategic business plan, take a look at your goal worksheets and use them to decide which big three priorities you should focus on each day. This helps prevent spending your time on the wrong things. 

Step 7:

Fill in what tasks have to be completed for each of the big three business priorities. The first line should be tasks that have to get done right away. The second line is the secondary tasks. Those are things that still need to get done, but not necessarily right away. Feel free to transfer unaccomplished tasks to the next day. 

The Key Elements of a Daily Planning Tool

Finally, make sure to remember that a good planning tool has seven key elements, which are:

1. It doesn't take long. 

2. It directs your life and your business allowing you that work-life balance. 

3. It gives you more clarity and confidence. 

4. It ensures that your relationships are nurtured and don't fall apart. 

5. It helps you be more productive on the things that matter. 

6. It helps you see when you should say no. 

7. It enables you to live a life of meaning and purpose. 

---

Resources

Be sure to get on our email list so we can send you more information about our Shine Membership for Early Childhood Business Owners/Managers that is now Open!

We give Early Childhood business owners/managers the operational strategies and tools they need to grow their profitable businesses with more joy, confidence, clarity, and less overwhelming.

You will learn how to spend less time on small details and daily tasks. You can spend more time doing the things you truly enjoy. Focusing on the things that really matter, your top priorities, your key relationships, your most important projects, all the things that will bring you more joy and your business more success.

---

---