This month we are gifted with an extra day. It’s a leap year, and February 29th is a bonus 24 hours for all of us. You can treat the 29th just like a regular work day, or you can treat it like a gift and spend some or all of the day working on the things you always put off.
Here are my Top 5 suggestions to leverage your Leap Day:
1 – Create a list of 5 things to Stop Doing.
Every business owner knows they are doing things that they shouldn’t be doing. Either things that don’t really need to be done, or things that someone else should do. If you set aside 15 minutes of think-time on the 29th, I’ll bet you could easily come up with five things you can stop doing or delegate. Pick the top 1-2 that will have the biggest impact on your life (time, business) and delegate them to someone else or remove them from your to-do list.
2 – Create a list of 5 things to Start Doing.
All of us know there are things we should be doing that we don’t, often because we spend time on things we shouldn’t be doing (see above). Just like the previous list, you can probably easily come up with at least five things you need to be doing. Prioritize the top1-2 with the biggest impact and take action.
3 – Thank your team.
One thing I’ve noticed over the years is that we always have time to talk to our team about their mistakes, but never enough time to thank them. Set aside some time on your extra day to personally thank as many of your team members as you can. Make your expression of gratitude as personal as possible, although depending on the size of your team that might be hard. Ask supervisors who needs to be recognized and for what.
4 – Thank your customers.
This is another activity that is often overlooked. Automated processes that send out thank you messages (and ask for 5-star reviews) aren’t very personal. What if you and your team made time to call every one of your “A” customers and thank them for their business, for the opportunity to serve them?
5 – Learn something new.
Whether for personal enjoyment or for business reasons, there is nothing like learning something new to get recharged. Get a book, watch a video, or listen to a podcast. When you learn more, you earn more.
February 29th is yours to define. Choose to do something that will improve your life/business/time, and not just your usual daily routine.
Be creative and decisive – you only get one extra day every four years!
Author: Mark McNulty, Business Coach in Louisville, KY