“I’ve got too much to do!” my client, Amanda, said.
“I hear you. It’s in your voice. You’re feeling overwhelmed, right?” I said.
“I can’t get it all done!”
“That’s true,” I said.

As the Spoken Word Strategist and an Executive Coach, my clients expect me to tell them the truth and cut through the cluttered-thinking we may fall into.

Do you notice these details? …

• You canNOT get it all done
• Some areas, you do well
• Some areas, you’re clogged up
• A bit of insight does not kick you into action

It’s not insight that gets you off the floor.

It’s a System. Don’t make a big production out of the idea of a system.

Let’s call “system” something else: An Effective Pattern.

Every day, I write. My clients ask:

• Tom, could you help me with my speech, website and press release?
• Would you help me with sound bites for my appearances on TV, radio and podcasts?
• Could you help me write the video so I get sales?
• Help me write my Online Course, okay?
• You mentioned that this book needs to be strategically written and positioned so I’ll be speaking at conferences, working with high-end clients and appearing in the media. What do you suggest?

I have no hesitation. I jump in and write. Not because I feel like it. (I often do not feel like writing.) I have a full menu of Effective Patterns so I write immediately.

Now, let’s add an Effective Pattern to your day:

Reduce Feeling Overwhelmed with this One Step

I’ll now share an Effective Pattern (system).

Here’s One Step that will get some things off your schedule. Sort your tasks into two categories (I call them “boxes”). Picture that you have two boxes in front of you. Box #1 is your “Consider Box.” Box #2 is your “OTA Commitments box.*”

** OTA stands for “On Time for Airport” Commitment. I don’t know anyone who does not take special care to get to the airport early to ensure they board their flight.

In essence, you choose what you will consider doing at some point, but you’re not going to fret about these things this current week.

You’ll save your precious energy because you’ll avoid criticizing yourself for failing to get everything done.

Secondly, you focus on your most important commitments. For example, at this moment, I’m writing 2,000 words a day (for my 45th book). This is an OTA Commitment.

My clients reduce a significant portion of their workload by making that choice to separate things they’re considering from that which is essential.

For example, I canNOT reach out to everyone I have met who might need my special combination of Spoken Word Strategist/Executive Coach work.

I must focus on my Highest Priorities. I contact first, the most promising people to be a match for me as their Spoken Word Strategist – Executive Coach.

Now, it’s your turn. You can reduce your stress by sorting “stuff to consider” and OTA Commitments.

Answer these questions:

• What’s most important to you about ______ (your career, your family, bringing love into your life …)?
• What Top 3 Things can you do this week that will make the Best Difference?
• What can you “toss into your Consider Box” – and off your plate?
• What’s in your OTA Commitments box?

Sometimes, I’m working with a client and I have to say something brief to shake the person up.

My client, Amanda, runs her own business. She said, “I don’t know what to do next.”
“You’re asking about your business, right?” I ask.
“Yes.”
“Here’s a principle related to keep your good company going.”
“What is it?”
“Go get the money.”

I explain that, during work hours, the thing to do is get the money: Send the invoice, make the marketing call, create your online course, rehearse your speech and so forth.

Focus on The Power of Three

I encourage my clients to focus on “The Power of Three.” By this I mean, identify three most important steps … or three speech titles … or three most important marketing methods.

I’ve seen several other business owners get stuck in a pattern of “Oh, look! That new thing is shiny.” They do a little of one marketing method, get bored, and search for something new and ‘shiny’—the next class or book.

Instead, you’ll massively improve your productivity by choosing THREE, and you’ll avoid spreading yourself too thin.

In summary, the One Step that Brings You Higher Success is to sort your tasks into the Consider Box and the OTA Commitments Box.

Focus! Take action on your Top Three Most Valuable Tasks.

Warmly,
Tom

Tom Marcoux
Spoken Word Strategist
Executive Coach

CEO
Speaker-author of 44 books

GetTheBigYES.com

Soar with Confidence: An Executive Coach Reveals Secrets, Lies and Countermeasures So You Excel Like Top CEOs and Leaders – Pitch, Lead, Succeed

Get the Advantages to take your business to a higher level. Learn Leadership Advantages, Pitch Advantages, and Success Advantages. To Soar with Confidence, you learn and use principles for top level communication to board members, team members and the media.
“Marcoux demonstrates how to “Prepare a Compelling Story that Moves Emotions.” He mentions techniques that he teaches clients for developing compelling Ted Talks.” – Dantalion Jones

Darkest Secrets of Making a PITCH for Film and Television: How You Can Get a Studio Executive, Producer, Name Actor or Private Investor to Say “Yes” to Your Project

Learn the vital skills of pitching your ideas and enrolling others into your vision. Get that “Big Yes” to funding your project. “This insightful book shows you how to zing a curveball right past the parts of the Hollywood exec’s brain that want to say no before you even make your pitch. You will learn what works when pitching, and more importantly, why, so you can get to YES much more often. Buy this book now. Consider it Spring Training before the big game.” – Danek Kaus

Darkest Secrets of Persuasion and Seduction Masters: How to Protect Yourself and Turn the Power to Good

This invaluable guide, used by people in 15 countries and now in its second edition, will help you become immune to dark persuasion. Learn to use countermeasures to defend yourself against unethical persuasion and seduction tactics. Break any trance in which a salesperson is trying to get you to buy something not to your benefit. “Learn how to defend yourself against manipulation. Best book you’ll ever read to protect yourself, feel strong and move forward in your life. Highly recommended!” – Dr. JoAnn Dahlkoetter

Secrets of Awesome Dinner Guests: What Walt Disney, Steve Jobs, Oprah Winfrey, Albert Einstein, Martin Luther King, Jr., Helen Keller, and John Lasseter Can Teach You About Success … (The Power of Your Personal Brand)

Imagine dining with Walt Disney, Steve Jobs, Oprah Winfrey, Albert Einstein, Martin Luther King, Jr., Helen Keller, and John Lasseter. These seven people share one thing: They’re great communicators. So this book will help you become a great communicator. “Marcoux especially stresses the importance of personal branding, of coming across as trustworthy and dependable.” – Einar Masson

Darkest Secrets of Charisma: Overcome the Lies about Personal Magnetism, Get People to Feel Your Charisma and Influence Others with Your Words

Learn how you can tap into your natural gifts and tendencies to radiate Three Types of Charisma. Discover how to influence people with your words. “Marcoux explodes this myth: Charismatic people always feel comfortable before and during an important event, such as public speaking, networking or some other social event. This book shows how you can feel discomfort but still come across as confident and charismatic.The secrets include ways to radiate all three forms of charisma Marcoux describes as Warm Trust Charisma, Natural Charm Charisma and Magnetic Charisma.” – Danek Kaus

What the Rich Don’t Say about Getting Rich: Work Smarter, Live Better

You want wealth, abundance and enjoyment–yes? Wouldn’t it be great to learn the real strategies that the Rich use to create Sustainable Wealth? This book takes you behind-the-scenes to what really works. You’ll see a lot of myth-busting, and you’ll learn the strategies that get real results. “Tom Marcoux gives you an inside look on the psychology of what it takes to be successfully wealthy in life. It’s more than just taking advantage of opportunity, but also about taking care of yourself. This book discusses a number of strategies that we often overlook when it comes to leading a successful life that leads to wealth generation.” – Barry Adamson II

Amazing You: Enjoy the Power to Get It Done, Get Stronger, Get Credit for It … featuring Secrets of Extreme Confidence

Would you like to Amaze yourself? This book helps you Get Stronger so you can Get It Done! You’ll learn how you can Get Credit for It! All three elements are crucial so you rise to a higher level of success and happiness. Think about it. If you get it done, but you’re a physical wreck—you lose. If you get things done, but you don’t Get Credit for It—you cannot get new clients. And, you’ll lose your current clients—if they don’t know, in their gut, how their lives are better because you’ve brought them significant benefits. Here’s a secret: You can unleash the Amazing You! Executive Coach Tom Marcoux helps you develop Extreme Confidence. “Tom Marcoux, once again, has written a book filled with practical insights and veteran business expertise that allows individuals to acquire the tools to balance personal and professional life. Tom’s wisdom possesses depth and the experience of someone who has ‘walked the walk.’” – Dr. Arthur Ciaramicoli