Yesterday was a pretty easy day. I was able to get all of my power list items done by 4:30. The power list is something I do every day. I make a list of tasks that I need to complete by the end of the day. It’s usually related to work in some regard, which includes writing and reading and book marketing or research. But it can also include exercise, grocery shopping, getting an oil change, that sort of stuff.
My client meeting only lasted for about an hour. It could have gone much longer because the client was a former designer. Prior to the meeting, I went to Target to pick up a 10” cast iron skillet for a friend’s birthday. We made elk and Brussel sprouts. It was an awesome meal. She’s having a little get-together in the park this afternoon. With B’s birthday party in the morning, it’s going to be a busy day.
It’s good for me, staying busy. It keeps my mind off of things and disengages me from the AMS advertising campaign. The Kindlepreneur guy recommends checking the ad campaign twice a week. I have been checking around three times a day. It’s a good way to monitor and learn, but I tend to get obsessive over these things. I think I have nine total sales for the week at the moment. I’m not sure about the math, but I’ve paid in more than I’m getting back. Bad ROI and a high ACOS score are not good. I’ll see how things look in November and December. There’s a reason publishers didn’t flock to my Christmastime-set book. You can only sell it for two months out of the year.
I didn’t do any writing yesterday but I have been marinating on an idea that involves Ryan Seacrest being a character in the story. When I met Ryan Seacrest, he smelled so good. I decided that since George already has some prejudices against leprechauns, one being that they are smelly and dirty, then she can be surprised when Padraig smells so good. It’ll remind her of the time she met the best smelling person on the planet—Ryan Seacrest. She’ll just call him “Seacrest.”
One of the tasks on my power list today is to be mindful. I tend to include that on the list any time I know I’m going to have a particularly stressful day. Some of the other things I like to include on my power list are activities that bring me a sense of accomplishment and balance. I’ll carve out time to work on a book idea or a script, or I’ll spend thirty minutes to an hour reading. Exercise is often on the list, and this can be a quick workout at home, going on a walk, or a 45-minute run on the treadmill. I might also include grocery shopping or a trip to the post office. It helps me create a structure for myself, and it works for me, so I keep doing it.
Curious to know if you have a similar list you make for yourself. How do you approach your most important tasks each day, and what do you do to maintain consistency? Reach out and let me know!
