The New Year is all about new starts. Most of us, whether we admit it or not, make at least one resolution or goal of some sort. We like the idea that the new year is a blank slate. In fact, we look on the beginning of the month, the beginning of a week, even the next day as being a better day to handle things. In the words of Scarlett O’Hara, we choose to “think about it tomorrow” – “it” being whatever difficulty we are currently faced with and desperate to avoid.

 

I fell into that trap on December 29.  I was feeling discouraged and tired. Kind of the antithesis of “New Year” feelings; I was acting and thinking more like the worn out “Old Year”, or really, to be honest, a lame duck. My thought process: “Why bother calling clients tonight; it’s almost 6:00 p.m.? Most of them probably aren’t home or have company. I’ll start fresh on January 1. Well, not on the first because everyone will be sleeping off New Year’s Eve. And not the second or third because that’s a weekend. So first thing Monday, January 4, I’ll work my business!”

 

Then I looked on my Network and saw several people posting client activities they were working on. I felt a little ashamed. But mostly I realized that I was not going to “think about it tomorrow”, but rather SIX DAYS LATER. I mean, really, God accomplished all of creation in six days! Couldn’t I get SOMETHING done?

 

So, I made a list of ten clients and called each one (I ended up calling two more before the night was out). I only reached one in person, but left messages for the rest. I did not schedule one appointment with anyone.

 

Was it worth it to make those calls and get no positive response?

 

YES! In the first place, I gained momentum. My tired “why bother” became an energized “why not?!” Suddenly I had several productive days in front of me instead of wasted time. Secondly, my antennae were up; I was more sensitive to ways I could work my business, even if I didn’t have client hours scheduled. My self-talk was all encouragement now. And, it paid off. On December 30, I was on my way to a hair appointment that I made last minute, ran into a network pal who DESPERATELY wanted my services. I scheduled a session with her for the next day (December 31) which led to another session on January 2. I went from six wasted days to nearly six paid client hours. And, I also got another client scheduled as a result of leaving the earlier message.

 

So, Scarlett doesn’t live here anymore. I’ve got too much to do!