Jamara Wilson, Author at She Owns It

5 Amazing Ways to Kick Butt from 5am-9am by @TrulyJamara

by Jamara Wilson | Featured Contributor

What time do you get up in the morning? What time do you actually start your day?

Those are two different questions. Let me explain. One can get up at 7:30am but not actually start being productive until after 9am.

There are many distractions that could get in the way of us actually doing something productive. Spending too much time on social media, watching an excessive amount of television, allowing a friend to talk 10 minutes about something irrelevant, or getting lost in a group messaging app all qualify. I know because I’ve been guilty of all these things at one time or another.

I’ve learned that the early riser who is productive and discipline from the time they arise in the morning, is happy, healthy and balanced. Let’s talk about 3 amazing ways to get up at 5am and be productive the first four hours of your day.

No snoozing! Let’s go!

1) Be Selfish.

From 5am – 6am do whatever you need to do for mental, spiritual, and physical health to prepare yourself to be successful for the day. This includes exercising, eating a healthy breakfast, drinking a cup of tea or coffee, meditating, and or praying. Always take time out to take care of you first. Never neglect your personal happiness and health for anything else.

Doing the things that will allow you to work with a clear mind helps you focus and ensure you are the best “you” you can be. Eating breakfast and exercising will help with your physical and mental energy for the day. You will need it!

2) React & Initiate.

From 6am – 7am begin the next hour with taking care of any personal affairs. Do things such as pay bills, make travel arrangements, or review personal financials. These things won’t need a lot of time if maintained on the regular.

Once you’ve completed that, react to the decisions of others and initiate workflows. Review your emails and respond to ones that you can provide an immediate response to. Avoid the ones that will require you to do research or calculations. Do respond to the ones that will need a response or input from someone else before you can answer.

Send any new emails that will require you to wait on the response of someone else. For example, before you can move forward with a project you need to confirm the budget or get the approval for a marketing campaign. Sequential tasks can be challenging if the previous task has to be completed by someone else. Getting a head start on requests early in your day will give the individual responsible for completion enough time to respond before you are ready to start working on that project.

Next, review your to do list for the day and see if there is anything that you need to re-prioritize based on any new communication you may have received. While reading and responding to emails, you may have received instructions that requires you to work on something that will need your attention and focus the first half of your morning. For example, something such as a RFP (request for proposal) will most likely take precedent over other things.

Keep in mind, in order to know what you have planned for today, you would’ve had to close out yesterday with preparing for today. Plan your day the evening before.

3) Eat the Frog!

From 7am – 9am the work begins! Work on the thing that will take the most of your mental energy first. The task that you don’t want to do but have to do anyway. This is a task that will take a lot of focus and the longest time to complete. Doing this at the beginning of your day, before 9am, will allow you to avoid the distractions that arise once the day has started for everyone else.

Taking care of your most complex or challenging task for the day first thing in the morning will give you motivation for the rest of your day. You will have a feeling of accomplishment and it’s only 9am!

Getting up and starting your day at 5am will put you steps ahead of the day for most people. I challenge you to wake up at 5am to begin your day 5 days out of the week and see how much of a difference it makes in your life.

Are you ready to do it?

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CEO / Founder of Tuxedo Impressions LLC™

Sitting outside of a bistro reading a good book or typing away on her laptop, with a cup of tea in arms reach, is where you will find this gutsy entrepreneur!

Jamara Wilson is the CEO and Founder of Tuxedo Impressions LLC™. A company that helps small businesses establish efficiency through automation and organized systems using integrable applications. Tuxedo Impressions LLC™ provide clients with the confidence needed to grow their business and the time to make it happen.

You can find Jamara compartmentalizing her thoughts on her blogs.

Business Memos From a Gutsy Entrepreneur is a blog Jamara started shortly after launching her business. It’s written for fearless entrepreneurs who want to minimize failures and learn all they can to succeed as the CEO, Chief Everything Officer. His Majesty’s Favorite is an insightful and inspiration blog written to encourage self growth from a place of self actualization.

When not working, you can find Jamara dancing, traveling, spending time with friends, shopping new teas, or walking through the city pretending she’s a tourist. She aims to be in a position to give back to a large community of people in infinite ways.

Connect with Jamara! LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Google+

Jamara Wilson

Entrepreneur | Blogger | Extroverted Introvert

www.jamarawilson.com

Building relationships with the right people.

by Jamara Wilson | Featured Contributor

Attending networking events has become overrated. You attend a mixer of many people with the intention to network your way to a sale or warm lead. Then you find yourself speaking to a dozen people who asks what is it that you do before even asking your name. All of which have decided to hand you their business cards. Although, you never asked for it.

After two hours of speaking with more people than you can remember, you find yourself holding 15 business cards. You’ll be lucky if you’re actually interested in 30% of them.

I’ve attended many networking events over the years. Two years ago, I decided to work smarter rather than harder when it came to networking. I limited the number of networking events I attended to only the ones I knew would be mutually beneficial to the other party and myself. I became strategic in who and where I spend my time.

The thing to remember about networking is it’s not just a single interaction that helps you win. Networking your way to the top requires building genuine relationships with the right people. The right people being those who are empowered to make the decision or influence the decision.

The other thing to remember is these people are often times connected with other decision makers who may or may not be within the same industry. If you succeed in one connection, you’ll succeed in another.

Here are 7 ways on how to network your way to the decision maker.

1) Don’t Ignore The Little Guy

Just because you aren’t speaking with the person whose empowered to make the decision, doesn’t mean you should treat them as if they have no influence. Often times, the decision maker has a gatekeeper. This could be the Executive Assistant, VP of Operations, or anyone in between. Respecting and showing value to the person who has the capability to introduce you to the right person, helps them make the decision to do so.

2) Think Not What They Can Do For You, But What You Can Do For Them

Going into any relationship thinking selfishly is not good for the long term. Networking isn’t just about receiving, it’s about reciprocity. Show your target that you are valuable to them. Ask them if there is anything that you can do for them. There may be a challenge or problem they are dealing with and don’t have a resource to resolve the issue. You may be the solution they are waiting for. Offering your network or resources to someone before you ask them for anything, shows you’re willing to serve.

3) Create an Intimate Surrounding

Let’s do lunch! Invite your target out for an intimate setting. Grab coffee, tea, dinner, or even a celebratory cocktail. Creating a setting where they can be comfortable and converse with you without any distractions is a great way to learn about someone on a personal level.

Getting to know something personal about your target allows you to relate and build rapport. Building rapport, makes you memorable.

4) Get Involved With What They Are Involved In

You want to be in front of your target as much as possible. Become identifiable. If you are interested in building a relationship with them for profitable gain, then showing you take an interest in what they are involved in let’s them know you are serious about establishing a relationship.

5) Be Authentic

Always be yourself. Even when you disagree with your target. If that should happen, be the first to say “It looks we are going to have to agree to disagree.” Being transparent about your beliefs, and position on topics, that may come up in discussion shows your human. You show you are an individual and there begins the building of trust. Remember, people still do business with people they like.

6) Be Patient

Understand that getting to the decision maker or a chance at presenting, can take time. Be patient and show grace while your waiting.

7) Follow Up

Follow up while being patient. Send an email or handwritten note in the mail checking in on your target. It could be something as simple as “Hi Linda, you crossed my mind and wanted to check on you. How are you and your family?”. Remember, your building a relationship. Relationships need communication to survive. Remember, you want to be identifiable and memorable. Don’t let them forget you.

It’s not about “knowing of” everyone in the room, but instead “knowing” the right people in the room.

What are some effective ways you network?