business leaders

November 21, 2016 by AnnaPatrick

Balance Isn’t a Myth: 3 Ways for Women Leaders to Get Their Work-Life Balance Back in Check

When it comes to succeeding at work and home, many women feel they must work twice as hard – because often they do. However, sustaining a healthy and happy way of life, while not losing your sanity, is possible. You don’t have to pull back on your professional goals or pare back on your personal ambitions. You can align your home life and your work life in a more effective way. You can make everything fit.

Balance means prioritizing the various elements of your life, with a sense of peace and confidence that you’re making the right decisions for yourself, your career, and the people who matter most in your life.

The problem for busy leaders is there’s simply too much to do. The pattern is familiar to most working adults in this fast-paced modern world: Put in a jam-packed day at work and race off to a chock-full evening with the family, friends, fitness, church, charities, personal goals, grown and learning, and hobbies. You can’t get everything done–but you can’t not get everything done, either. It is exhausting.

For the many women that wrestle with these dynamics, they often turn to two options: Scaling back responsibilities at work to support their lives at home, risking letting go of professional goals, or drive twice as hard to make it all happen, and, in the process, drive themselves into the ground. In which of these situations is the woman, or her friends and family affected by the decision, really winning?

Resolving this dilemma requires three important things: A belief it can be done, a fresh perspective, and a few good, practical ideas for how to get better balance in your life.

First, believe it can be done. The same characteristics that make you an exceptional leader can be an advantage in balancing your life. That might include the following: aligning your personal and professional vision, being decisive about your priorities, taking action planning seriously to create efficiencies, getting clear about your strengths and values, learning ever-better systems and building a personal support team around you, and committing to seeing new possibilities available to you when you keep an open mind.

Find a new perspective. Many of our clients who lead extremely busy lives have been able to settle into a more present and peaceful mindset by applying the skills and strategies that work so well in business to their personal life. You already contain these characteristics and view them as your strengths – simply redirect and apply these assets to reach other facets of your life.

Get practical to get better balance. Planning and prioritizing your time is another way to gain control and balance in your life. Think consciously about how to spend your time, decide which tasks matter most to you and your organization, and then drop or outsource the rest. By doing this, you can reduce your involvement in low-value tasks. You can actually cut your desk work by an average of six hours a week, shave meeting time by an average of two hours a week, and free up nearly a fifth of your time (an average of one full day a week). By doing this, you make more time for what matters in your life. Imagine you had one full day a week to fill as you seem fit, giving time and energy for all parts of your life so nothing is left behind. Perhaps balance does stand a chance, after all.

With the right mindset, the right strategy, and the right information, you can enjoy your personal life and pursue your professional dreams.

The previous article appeared on Inc.com as a part of my column, “Behind The Desk.” Look out for new columns every week!

November 21, 2016 by AnnaPatrick

Never Leave Your Office Without Doing This 1 Thing

When I was growing up, my mom always told me to “always begin with a clean surface.” If we were cooking, we made sure the counters were clean first. If we were wrapping presents, we cleared off the table. Putting on makeup, we’d wash our skin. Always start with a clean surface.

Now, as an entrepreneur, I use that advice in my office. If you want to be your most efficient, you should, too.

When you’re beginning your work for the day, make sure your desk is organized and free of clutter. When you’re hosting a meeting, make sure the conference room is neat and clear. Your outer world is a reflection of your inner state, and if you’re going to become the entrepreneur you’ve always wanted to be, you’ll want to be sure they’re both as organized as possible.

You’ll think more clearly, focus longer, be less distracted and get more done.

This may seem obvious, but most people don’t do this consistently simply because – well, it’s easier not to. Shuffling papers can feel unproductive. Cleaning and organizing can be boring. Organizing things takes effort if it’s not part of your routine. Even if you feel comfortable in a chaotic environment, you’ll be more productive if your space lends itself to productivity.

Here are three ways to effectively get your space in order.

Clean your entire office in one fell swoop. Organize your office like you’re cleaning the garage. Make it a project. Tackle the whole thing. Throw out what you don’t need, and reorganize the things you do. Dedicate one drawer close to you to for daily files or current projects. Put the things you need on a weekly basis out of reach. Move anything you don’t reference regularly into long term storage. Anything that isn’t a priority right now doesn’t earn primary real estate on your desk. If you’re afraid that you’re going to forget things that you put away, create a list.

Do an abbreviated version. If making office organization a big project is too overwhelming (or too discouraging), take it little by little. You might set a goal of simply keeping your desktop clear for now. You can worry about the files and cabinets later. Having a visually clean surface goes a long way toward clearing your mind.

Retreat to a new space. If you don’t have time to organize your office, take the shortcut and move yourself instead of your stuff. Take your notes and head to a clean conference room to place a call. Or take your project and head to the library for the day. Try hiding out in a different room of your house if that space is cleaner and more open than your office. Even moving to the dining room or your kitchen table, if they’re free of clutter, can give you a renewed sense of focus.

Once you’ve got the hang of it, be sure to maintain the work you’ve done. Try saving 20 minutes at the end of the day to clear your workspace. That way, the next day, you’ll already be starting with a clean surface. Take a moment to notice the difference when you start off your day this way – clear, focused, and as productive as possible. You’ll soon discover that clearing your space is a way of clearing your mind – and that’s a strategy for much greater and bigger success in the rest of your business.

The previous article appeared on Inc.com as a part of my column, “Behind The Desk.” Look out for new columns every week!

October 1, 2016 by AnnaPatrick

Three Strategies All Women Need to Master to Network Like a CEO

As critical as networking is, it’s still a challenge for many people. For example, most

of us as are involved with social media platforms like LinkedIn, but are your

LinkedIn contacts the right contacts you need to have to attain that next career goal?

The top 20% of performers at companies excel at developing networks, not just to

find a new job but to connect them to resources inside and outside their firm, help

them master best practices, solve problems, connect to people of more influences to

get more done, and acquire better raises, among other accolades.

I recently met two networking experts who have creative tools to make networking

easy and effective. The first was Tom Gaunt, CEO and co-founder of NQuotient, who

was on several executive boards. The second is Marilyn Nagel, Co-Founder and Chief

Mission Officer at NQuotient, formerly the Chief Diversity Officer at Cisco, which she

left to run a woman’s organization called Watermark. The question they both asked

about growing networking skills was this: How do you sustain learning and make

behavioral change stick?

That answer is unique for everyone, and especially for women. It’s important to

recognize that there are unique elements for women when it comes to networking

that can give them an advantage – like, generally speaking, an innate ability to build

and nurture a relationship, prioritize relationships, and offer support.

As a woman looking to grow her networking skills, try these three strategies that

Nagel and Gaunt recommend:

Check your attitude. Gaunt and Nagel say that your attitude toward networking is

either an inhibitor or an impetus for success. Put simply: If you don’t network well,

it’s an inhibitor for you when it comes to reaching long-term career goals. But if you

do network well, it can lead to success.

Redefine how you network. If the idea of going to a room full of strangers is too

daunting, flip the script. Networking can be a range of activities: Meeting people

one-on- one for planned and meaningful conversations, having a regular conference

call with a trusted mentor, sponsor or peer, attending industry events, or even

connecting online via email, social media or professional chat groups. You can even

start conversations at work, on the train, or in a meeting. See that all the work you

do with people at every level of leadership is an opportunity to build a network.

Make sure your circle is diverse. Networking can be self-limiting if you’re

networking with only women or only men. Embracing differences in genders or

race, instead of using them as a way to rationalize differences, opens us up to a

broader, more diverse thought process that is often more consistent with the

marketplace on both a national and international level.

Ultimately, the goal for an ideal networking strategy first and foremost is to remove

barriers to connect.

In that spirit, let’s return to our LinkedIn example. LinkedIn is an effective tool, but

it can also a noisy environment. For example, if you have a 1,000 connections, but

out of that group there aren’t many you couldn’t call immediately if there was a

problem, then it’s time to evaluate and take on an active role to develop as a

network manager. As a network manager, ask yourself these questions before you

reach out: What are my goals for networking? Who can help me meet these goals?

How does networking fit into my life? Set reminders of what to say to people and

when to reach out.

The message for women leaders is to find your confidence in your networking, and

be sure you are actually committed to connecting with others and building your

reputation.

If you’d like additional support growing and nurturing an effective network, check

out NQuotient. You can take a free self-assessment online and learn more about

where to focus your networking efforts to be more effective. You can find it here.

The previous article appeared on Inc.com as a part of my column, “Behind The Desk.” Look out for new columns every week!

August 30, 2016 by lisa

The Leadership Strategy Most Successful CEOs Fail At Practicing

We all see the daily headlines: Mark Zuckerberg’s networth rises by additional millions as Facebook’s value increases, Arianna Huffington kickstarts a new “Thrive” venture, Bill Gates’ foundation makes a huge donation to a charity in need. Successful CEO’s are American heroes–we follow their path to top and hope to emulate their success in our own lives.

But many executives today–as well as managers, account executives, and many employees across the spectrum of the corporate ladder–often overlook the first, and often most powerful, leadership strategy: Personal leadership. As a result, they only obtain part of the equation for success. They earn the income but neglect to take care of themselves. Or they take care of themselves but forget to give to others. The result is a life of overwork streaked with a persistent sense of dissatisfaction and that nagging question, “Where am I going wrong?”

The key to success that includes the whole package–wealth, health, and meaning–is personal leadership.

Personal leadership is the leadership of the self. It involves developing a sense of ownership and responsibility for one’s own success–including leading positive change, overcoming challenges, and determining a career path that will be fulfilling on a personal level and impactful for the organization.

So, if these leaders are already successful, why do they need to hone their personal leadership skills? In my years of coaching experience and research for the Leadership Research Institute, I’ve found that when leaders learn and practice personal leadership, they gain a sense of empowerment. They feel more committed to their work and feel very energized about overachieving their goals and results.

If you’re a leader looking to feel fulfilled both professionally and personally, here are two ways to start on your path to refine your personal leadership skills:

Get clear on your vision. It sounds like something most successful C-level executives should already have, but many leaders don’t have a clear perspective on their vision. This isn’t the vision for your company, now–it’s the vision for yourself. What is the path to both your long-term and short-term goals? How do you answer that question both personally and professionally? Without a clear sense of vision, leaders can lose that sense of meaning, and so they get discouraged. They become stressed, burned out or exhausted. If they can’t resolve the situation, they fade out of leadership roles and may even leave the company.

When you do have a vision, it’s time to put it into words. A vision statement captures your future into one succinct statement. Done well, it gives you the language you need to refresh on the images you envision for your future and keep you on track toward that vision in day-to-day life. Unlike the vision statement for a company, your vision statement need not be pithy or profound. You don’t have to hang it on the wall or carve it in marble. What does help is to repeat the statement in your mind once a day to really lock it in.

Get a coach. Developing a vision is only part of the equation. The next part is achieving that vision, and here’s where a coach can be most helpful.

Executive coaches teach leaders the practices of personal leadership so they get clarity about their vision and goals, as well as their value to the organization.

Coaches help leaders become very focused on their priorities, so they can emphasize on the ones that have the greatest impact.
Coaches help leaders take clear, specific action to get results, with accountability and measurement.
Coaches help leaders fill in the gaps. Do you need to identify and leverage your strengths? Learn to maximize your time? Build a personal support team? Through coaching, leaders stop spinning their wheels and put into place the skills and strategies that will help them be successful.

As a result of coaching, leaders feel accomplished and supported at the same time–and that translates into a commitment to their goals, their organization, and their own personal success.

No matter where you are in your career path, you can make it a priority to advance your personal leadership skills. When you do, you’ll find yourself becoming more and more committed to the future you want, and the present you enjoy. You will develop even more clarity bit by bit about what the vision looks like in daily life. And you will achieve it.

The previous article appeared on Inc.com as a part of my column, “Behind The Desk.” Look out for new columns every week!

July 13, 2016 by AnnaPatrick

The Two-Step Formula To Articulate Your Value To Your Boss

No matter where you are in your career, you can seize the opportunity to take leadership of your own path to reach higher-level positions. So, when it comes to articulating your value to your manager to be promoted into these positions, this kind of verbal metric is a new way for leaders to think about owning their careers and advancing themselves

Being able to articulate your value is a key tool for success and advancement. Here are three ways to successfully do just that for your next review:

Start by asking yourself these questions: Are you able to gracefully, elegantly, and clearly articulate the value that you bring, the contribution that you make? If you feel that you’ve had difficulty answering these questions in the past, it’s likely not that you haven’t met expectations, but rather that you have not clearly articulated how you’ve met expectations.

When you sit down to answer these questions, give yourself permission to be formulated and robotic. First, just get your words on paper, and then you can practice saying those words so that they can become more natural. Then, look for the correct and appropriate context in which you layer them in to a larger statement.

Align your value to matrix and measures. What have you done to create those results, what role did you play, and how do you feel about that? This is when you pull exact numbers to support your case, or, as I often say to leaders I coach, these are your “concrete measureable results.”

The way you articulate concrete measurable results is to say something like: “As a result of my effort to do [identify your action], I have achieved [results] which provided the following specific benefits to the company, [fill in numerical data].

To give you an example of the two-step formula in action, I’ll use the story of a recent client who is an Executive Vice President in a Fortune 500 company. She felt that she should have a seat on the Executive Committee, and she had a meeting with the committee to make her case. Many of her bosses and managers agreed that she would be a good candidate, but not everyone saw that she had made concrete contributions. So, we sat down and we identified what she had done to earn that C-level title. She identified that as a result of her effort to think about the entire enterprise-wide contribution of their team to the end-goal results of their company, she was able to transform the organization and significantly improve their impact, including a figure that she could identify in real dollars in the seven-figure range. By being able to articulate the sentence: “As a result of doing this, I’ve achieved these results, with this specific benefit for the company,” she got clear and more confident about what she had actually achieved, and what she had led her team to do. Then she was able to look for appropriate ways to say to the executive committee members: “This is the team that started here, these are some of the things we’ve accomplished, here’s how we’ve benefited, and here’s how the company is moving forward–and I’d like to lead a discussion on where that actually takes us next.”

Remember, being able to articulate your value isn’t bragging–your statement is simply a fact put into context. Verbalizing your contributions for others in a way that deepens understanding of the bigger picture of what’s working for the company as a whole can be a real contribution to your organization as well.

The previous article appeared on Inc.com as a part of my column, “Behind The Desk.” Look out for new columns every week!

June 14, 2016 by AnnaPatrick

5 Quick Tips To Master Managing Remotely

In a recent Inc column I wrote about the two traits you need to master to successfully work from home: discipline and self-control, which highlighted that working from home isn’t just for small businesses anymore.

For example, I recently worked with a senior level manager at one of the Big 5 tech companies who “managed remotely,” meaning that even though he had over 250 people reporting up to him from around the globe, he almost never saw them face to face. Senior executives, business owners, and entrepreneurs in companies of all sizes are learning to work from home, manage others as they travel, and lead teams with members living in other states or even countries. As we get smarter about our use of technology in the global world of business, more and more workers will need these skills.

Leadership always has its challenges, but those challenges are multiplied when you’re managing a team from home.

How do you remain productive and keep the team cohesive, when you all may be on different time zones and working out of individual locations? Today, I’m sharing some of the best practices I’ve seen for setting yourself up to succeed as a leader wherever you are.

Work at your high-energy time. Do you have more energy for productivity in the morning, or at night? Plan your day around your high-energy zones, and you’ll get more done in less time.

Have regular hours. It can be tempting to work at off hours when you’re always “at the office.” But setting a schedule for yourself, whether it’s a 9-5 or a 7-3, can offer a sense of separation.

Make your office your office. Give yourself the chance to take a “mental commute,” even if your “commute” means just walking down the hall to your home office. Also, make sure the space you choose for your office is only used an office–that’s 100% work space, not where your kids or your spouse hang out and do their own thing. This is important in order to avoid distraction.

Set office hours when it comes to colleagues and clients. For example, make it known to your clients that all of your appointment hours are between 10-2, keeping 2-5 as your quiet productive hours. This allows for action planning to create a to-do list system for projects so you’re not tempted to leave the office and do other things.

Use the word “office.” When it comes to mentally preparing to work from home, it’s important not to neglect the rhetoric you use. When you’re working in your home office, you’re “in your office,” not “at home.” Other important vocabulary to exercise include the words “working,” “being in a meeting,” and “staying offline.” Keep all verbiage office-oriented for mental association. Not because you’re embarrassed in any way to communicate that you’re working from home, but rather to build credibility and accountability. If you think about your work the same was as you would if you are downtown, it will create a similar air of focus.

When you implement these practices, “managing remotely” becomes less about the “remote” status and more about simply “managing.” By optimizing your hours based on your productivity, setting your appointment hours around it, and cultivating your office environment, both you–an and the team you’re leading–have a clearer focus on the work you’re doing, no matter where on earth you may be.

The previous article appeared on Inc.com as a part of my column, “Behind The Desk.” Look out for new columns every week!

November 24, 2015 by sereynolds

10 Questions Every Entrepreneur Should Ask Themselves

Have you been running a million miles an hour, trying to keep up with the busyness of the season? Many entrepreneurs, especially this time of year, feel like they are so busy they’re starting to lose control. Losing control–over your schedule, your priorities, your ability to manage all of the details–isn’t just stressful, it’s a big red flag. Recognize the symptom of overwhelm as a cue to STOP and take control. In just 15 minutes, you can move from feeling overrun by your schedule to being back in control. You can empower yourself to be in charge again with a few minutes of reflection.

Empowered reflection is an ongoing, even routine process of paying attention to your progress–especially as a leader and entrepreneur.

Basically, it means taking a time out to think about your vision and ask yourself, “How’s it going?” You step out of the busy-ness of life to ask yourself a series of reflective questions about your life and leadership. If you do this regularly, say once a month or even a few times a year, you will keep your finger on the pulse of your development as a leader and your progress toward your goals.

By practicing empowered reflection you make it a habit to assess your progress. To get the most out of your empowered reflection, try bringing the following questions to your next meeting, or schedule a 15-minute block for yourself to write them out:

What’s working?
What’s not working?
What would you like to change?
What accomplishments have you achieved?
What lessons have you learned?
Are the goals still the right goals?
What do you still need to know or learn?
How might you be sabotaging your own success?
What do you need to start doing, keep doing, and stop doing?
What’s next?

Every time you go through this process, you are putting a stake in the ground for what you want. You are declaring, “My vision is important to me, and I’m willing to continue thinking about it and reaching for it until I achieve it.” Practicing this form of reflection on a regular basis is a technique for accountability and focus.

Empowered reflection isn’t hard. It doesn’t take long, and it doesn’t cost a dime. You can practice empowered reflection while driving, jogging, walking through the park, meditating, lying down, or even sitting in the bath. You can almost think of this practice as “visiting your vision” to see how you’re doing. That way it never gets forgotten.

Whenever you’re feeling detached from your long term vision, whenever you could use a boost to get back into action, or whenever you want to step back to get an overall perspective on your progress, take a few minutes to run through the ten questions above. Doing so will resurface the motivation you need to make your vision a reality.

The previous article appeared on Inc.com today as a part of my column, “Behind The Desk.” Look out for new columns every week!

October 15, 2015 by sereynolds

Project 123: The Simplest Strategy For Getting Things Done

The following article appeared on Inc.com today as a part of my column, “Behind The Desk.” Look out for new columns every week!

I often write on my column about “maximizing your time” as opposed to “work-life balance,” because the former implies that you have some control or say in the matter. And you do! You are in control of your time–although, when you realize the truth of that, you may suddenly feel a little overwhelmed. Maximizing your time is a big responsibility and a far cry from just giving over to the busy craziness of life (as many of us usually do).

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all you have to do and want to take control, here’s a strategy that can help. It’s called Project 123.

This strategy came up one time when I was–of all things redecorating my house. I have since made it a staple in my time-planning techniques and use it anytime there simply seems to be too much to do to fit the time I have.

One day years ago, my friend and decorator arrived to help me redecorate a room. One room. We sat in that room, the living room, and talked about ideas. Before we knew what was happening, we had moved to another room (more ideas) and another (more ideas) and another (still more). In an hour we had whipped ourselves into a fervor of bathroom remodels and office reorganization and new paint on every wall. When she left, I closed the door, turned around, and thought, “What just happened? And where will we ever start?” It felt so overwhelming, I just walked away and left it all behind.

The next day, the decorator emailed me her project proposal. It said in big letters, PROJECT ONE: The Living Room. Oh, yes, I thought. Project One. The living room was my original motivation for calling the decorator! She remembered when I had forgotten: There was one priority. A place to start. Later, we could move to Project Two (the TV room) and Project Three (the home office). The way she crystallized our plans into a logical order, they all made sense again, and we tackled them one at a time.

When you get overwhelmed by all of the complex and multiplying tasks competing for your time, it can help to sit back and identify Project One, Two, and Three. George Leonard of Mastery captures the essence of this strategy well. He writes, “Ultimately, liberation comes through the acceptance of limits. You can’t do everything, but you can do one thing, and then another, and then another.”

You can use this strategy to choose one focus area or one action item to tackle along the way to your vision:

Keep sight of which project you’ll grant top priority, and give it the best of your time.
Now number them in priority order.
Only turn to the next project when the first is completed fully and to your ability.

How would it change your efficiency if you could think of these as “Projects 1, 2, 3,” etc. and complete one at a time?

To put this strategy into place, jot down a quick list of all of the projects you have going right now. Tackle one at a time without any divergence–this is easier said than done! But this is a way to take back control over your time, and you’ll see a difference in the way you are able maintain focus.

October 1, 2015 by sereynolds

Women Leaders: Traveling Next Week? Do These 5 Things First

The following article appeared on Inc.com today as a part of my column, “Behind The Desk.” Look out for new columns every week!

Women manage a complex life. For many women, business travel means not only making plans for ourselves, but for our children and families.

If you follow my column you know I often write about ways to maximize your time, and this is still true when it comes to business travel. As is true with most things, your business trip will be easier the more you plan ahead.

Many of the following are things we always say we’ll do, but never do, before we travel in order to maximize our time–and sanity–during business travel:

Give up packing. I recommend that people have a small suitcase completely packed at all times. Set up a business travel-designated suitcase with duplicated essentials: your makeup and toiletries, an extra set of glasses or contacts (if not cost-prohibitive), a travel-specific set of PJs and a full workout outfit with shoes. This will cut out at least 30 minutes of packing. Have standard travel outfits that are always at the ready–one black dress, a black blazer, a white blouse, and pair of black slacks. You can always mix up your travel wardrobe by throwing in different scarves at the last minute.

Think through all modes of your transportation. This includes buses, trains, cars, and hotel reservations. Minimize your stress factor by having this all done before you leave, especially when you’ve never been to your travel destination before. For example, if you have a meeting in Las Vegas it’s good to know that when you get off the plane you may need to wait 45 minutes to get a cab, and that should be factored in on your time. On the other hand, if you’re trying to hail a cab at a busy time, perhaps in New York City, for example, you might not get one at all. Get a sense of your options in advance so you won’t be unpleasantly surprised.

Give everything a specific place. This can cut both time and stress. If you have a travel-specific portfolio or folder that you carry with you with all of your travel documents in specific locations you never have to suffer from that “Did I forget…” moment. If you know you keep your passport in the front flap of your portfolio, and you know that you keep your tickets in the back flap of your portfolio, you never have to get frazzled while you’re digging through your bags in the security line.

Get WiFi passwords in advance. Most people don’t know that you can get the WiFi passwords of places like hotels and airports ahead of time if you search online–FourSquare is a great place to start. Googling and getting this information beforehand can ensure that you’re not late on those urgent emails and calls that can come through when you’re on the go. Plus, connecting can help save your cellphone battery from extra distress.

Plan your downtime. There’s a lot of downtime during travel, and it doesn’t have to be a waste (unless you want it to be)! If you want to be more productive than checking your Twitter feed for the third time, think outside the box. What could you be listening to in the security line? Perhaps that new audiobook you’ve been meaning to start, or that podcast discussing the latest market trends. Unexpected downtime becomes less frustrating when you have a plan, even offline–prepare printed documents ahead of time that contain the notes for a proposal you need to create or phone numbers you need for the calls on your to-do list.

Maximizing your time is still possible while sitting in an airport–you can meet your goals by preparing ahead of time, allowing you to arrive at your destination awake and ready to go. The next time you go on a trip, do your best to prepare, but also pay attention to where and when you get frustrated along the way. Pay attention to the points at which you reach boredom or stress, perhaps during delays, and next time use the strategies above to help plan your downtime and solve your frustration.

July 30, 2015 by sereynolds

5 Quick Steps You Can Take To Find Your Focus

The following article appeared on Inc.com today as a part of my column, “Behind The Desk.” Look out for new columns every week!

There is a quote by Stephen Covey that I love: “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.” Essentially what he’s saying is that we, as entrepreneurs, need focus.

In order to get where you want, in order to be who you want to be, in order to live the kind of life you want to live and lead the way you want to lead, you need to be strategic and find that focus that will make it all possible.

My book, The Inner Edge, outlines many practices that can help you zero in your focus, so that when you’re leaving your office each day you can confidently say you were “productive,” not just “busy.” And how to gauge the difference.

Below are five quick steps you can take to take back your focus, and set yourself up for success instead of burnout:

Step 1: survey the scene. The question here is, “What do you want?” Briefly review your vision so your focus will be aimed in the right direction. In other words, take a step back and take in the panoramic view of your life. Remind yourself of the long-term vision, but zoom in on the near-term vision. Write down your answer to the question in one sentence, and keep it where you can see it often.

Step 2: choose your focus. The question to ask is, “What areas do you want to focus on to achieve your vision?” Name 3-5 specific areas that need your attention if you’re going to successfully attain your vision, and write those down under your statement of what you want. Identify the aspects of that vision that deserve your time, energy and attention right now.

Step 3: study the subject. Ask, “Where are you now? Where do you want to be? How will you know when you get there?” Get specific about what each focus area means. The answers to these questions can be a big reality check–for example if you have to get to California, it helps to know if you’re starting in New Zealand or New York. The same is true for your focus area. If you know where you are now in relation to what you want, you increase your chances of getting there quickly.

Step 4: sharpen your focus. The question here is, “What will you do and when will you do it?” Make a commitment. For example, let’s say you have a focus area called “financial growth.” Right now you are in debt, and you want to be making money. You’ll know you’re successful when you’ve got 12 consecutive reports showing your company to be in the black. The question, “What will you do?” forces you to consider how you’ll get there. Will you eliminate debt? Make an acquisition? Your answer is your commitment.

Step 5: take a snapshot. Ask, “What do I want to remember?” When you’ve gone through all of the steps above, write down your focus areas. Keep them where they can serve as a reminder of what’s important to you now.

Is anything missing from your focus areas? That’s an absolutely critical question to ask, and one many people overlook. Make a conscious effort to step back and think about the bigger picture of your life, and all of your focus areas logically will be designed to lead you to that end.