Strangest semester ever!
As a side hustle, I teach two public speaking classes at Rutgers University – one is an advanced class. Out of a total of 50 students, 4 of them failed the class.
Three students simply had very poor attendance. It is difficult to justify a passing grade for students who have between 10-12 absences. You read that right, 12 absences. And one of those students may not graduate because of the failing grade. In a practical course like public speaking, showing up, as Woody Allen says, is, well, pretty important.
The remaining student attended class for the first 3 weeks, then never again throughout the semester. No communication, responses to emails, nothing. Then she showed up the very last week to deliver a final presentation with expectations of making up the work and passing the class, which did not happen.
The point? You must show up and do the work. Simple as that.
In the classroom, do what the syllabus and the instructor tell you. (Obvious, I know.)
As business owners and service providers, including financial advisors, insurance agents, attorneys, coaches, accountants, butchers, candlestick makers, when it comes to generating business (as opposed to a grade!), It’s all about consistently following a plan.
Here are some of the plans that I encourage the financial advisors, attorneys, and bankers to use as I coach them.
STREET BUSINESS PLAN
Your SBP is a simple plan made up of four quadrants – Vision – 1 year plus, Goals – up to a year, Projects – 3 months, and Actions – this week! It’s important to include both business objectives and personal objectives. This way, you have in mind what you want to accomplish and when, while considering the other tools below.
DAILY MUST LIST
What high-leverage tasks, if done every day consistently and at a high level, will generate the best results as stated in your Street Business Plan? Email marketing, LinkedIn strategies, invitations to events, posts, AI tools, and follow-ups.
WEEKLY MUST LIST
Same as above, what do you need to do weekly to generate the positive outcomes indicated in your Street Business Plan? Outreach to prospects, clients, referral sources, registering for events, meetings, live events, podcasts, continuing education, earned designations, and certifications.
MODEL WORK WEEK
Set aside timeframes to work on your Daily Musts and Weekly Musts, and to attend networking, client, and prospect meetings. Make your obligations fit into your Model Week – not the other way around. Control your calendar and what gets scheduled; this way, you’ll get to events and meetings without having to bump anything. Own your calendar!
Plan your work and work your plan. Show up every day. And don’t let your attendance prevent you from graduating on time.
WHAT DAILY OR WEEKLY SYSTEM WORKS BEST FOR YOU?
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