So, the weirdest thing just happened to me.
Santa called and said he wanted to talk to me about his business.
Seriously.
He said he’d heard that I could help him be less crazy before and after the Christmas rush. That I could help him find time. And help the business of toy giving to go more smoothly.
Santa said one of his elves (you know – pointy ears, pointy shoes, dressed in striped short pants) mentioned he recently did business with one of my clients and that client was bragging about how our work together had revolutionized his business and his life.
So, of course I made time to talk to Santa and his team of elves (even though officially I’m on vacation). I did it because Christmas is my favorite holiday – and I didn’t want Santa to put me on the naughty list for next year.
I thought some of the pointers I gave to Santa and his team might help you, too, so I’m sharing them below:
- Your brain is not for remembering – Santa does keep a list, but it’s handwritten. And when he’s meeting all the boys and girls, have you ever seen him take notes? I haven’t. So what happens after the malls gig is over is Santa sits in his sleigh in the mall parking lot and makes notes on that handwritten list – all from memory. Santa would do well to hire a personal assistant elf, create a database, and have said assistant elf take notes in the database while the kids are perched on lap – real time. No more jotting notes from memory – and perhaps forgetting important wish details!
- It is easier to keep up than to catch up – Santa knows he’d get better gas mileage with his sleigh if he weren’t quite so…jolly and round. If he could organize his workouts and his meals each day, he wouldn’t be trying to starve himself and workout the few weeks just before Christmas. I mean, gorging on cookies one day of the year is fine. The other 364? Veggies and cardio, Santa. It’ll get you way better gas mileage and will put less wear and tear on Rudolph, Dasher, Dancer, and the rest of the reindeer crew.
- Go slow now to go fast later – Santa and his elves always collapse from exhaustion right after Christmas. It’s a lot of prep work and a critically important big day. They deserve a vacation afterwards, right? However, in the crazy flurry of activity each year, Santa notices things that would make next year go more smoothly. And the elf team notice things that would reduce the craziness by planning ahead. Except they don’t write them down in the moment or even the day after the big event. So, part of my meeting with Santa and the elves yesterday was capturing those important details for next year. Checklist with notes? You bet!
- We cannot know it all, read it all, keep it all, remember it all, do it all, have it all, or be it all. It is worth reminding Santa about the power of delegation. Sure, he’s the one to deliver the toys, but he has an entire team that can help make the toys, load the toys, and program his GPS with all the children’s addresses. He doesn’t need to be ironing his suit or shining his shoes. And he can certainly delegate the cooking to someone else. This leaves Santa to focus on the best and highest use of his time – delivering joy to all the good girls and boys.
Much of this advice applies to you, too, if you take a moment to think about it. You’re trying to do it all, really fast, and without even knowing about the most efficient and effective habits and tools.
At my January retreat, which I created exclusively for you and your business partner (if you have one), I’ll be focusing on these important details.
And it’s worth my reminding you about the special investment and bonus goodies expire at 5 pm on December 31, 2012. That’s Monday, in case you forgot.
If you were even sort-of considering attending my retreat, I’d highly encourage you to reserve your seat now. Do it today.
You’ll get all the great advice I gave to Santa and more. Plus, I’ll show you how it applies to your business. After all, if you want more free time and you want a business which runs like a well-oiled machine…2013 is totally your year.
Click here to claim your seat right now. And just so you know, Santa’s coming, too.
Sincerely,
Angie