Hi -

First, the conclusion to last month's story. My daughter eventually collected $370 for Jump Rope for Heart. That's 185% of the $200 goal she set (which to me itself seemed a pretty tall task!). But thanks to the generosity of others and her own persistence she finished as a top fundraiser, and more importantly now carries the confident knowledge that she can accomplish what she sets out to do.

Not a bad life lesson at any age. We should all be so focused.

Speaking of which, did you know National Proscrastination Week starts on Monday, March 6? (Yes, I'm sure… it's not the following week.) What better time to assess progress on the goals and objectives you set earlier this year? (Read December's Tip for more on the subject). If you'd like to accelerate the pace of improvement, check out the details on my coaching program below.

Realize, too, that next week's event also offers a great reason to check in with clients and prospects who've been on the fence about moving forward with you. (A tongue-in-cheek phone call, note, or email asking how they're planning to mark the occasion might be all it takes to break the log jam.)

Now on to this month's tip... a quick remedy to one of the more insidious time bandits that drains minutes from your day: recreating information unnecessarily. As always, I'd love to get your thoughts on that and other subjects. Email me at kip@gregory-group.com. More and more people are in touch every month which is really what this newsletter is all about – sharing and discussing simple ideas that work.

I hope to hear from you.

Learn to Repurpose Your Content

Time flies and those who study where it goes say most of us fall prey (at least on the job) to three common culprits: digging around for information, replicating answers for others, and failing to utilize knowledge we've already developed.

Do you know that just 30 minutes a day spent on activities like those rolls up to more than four weeks of lost productivity a year?

Sobering, isn't it?

That's why I focus so much on tools like knowledge journaling – because they are quick, easy, affordable ways of conquering the time-management challenge. This month's tip offers just such an approach to getting more mileage from what you communicate via email.

How often do you send out email content you've worked hard to create – things like responses to client questions, proposals, a description of your services, or maybe a comment on market or current events? Once a week? Once a day?

Ever find yourself thinking, "This is good… I should hang onto it and use it again"?

Okay then...

Do you have a system for doing that, or at least a place where you can store that material and access it easily… so you don't have to hunt around for it or recreate it from scratch the next time around?

If not, try this simple solution: create a specific folder in your email inbox for putting copies of anything you plan to reuse (I call mine "Repurposable Content").

Once that folder's set up, whenever you create a message with potentially reusable material, add yourself to the cc list before sending it. When your copy of that message comes back to your inbox, move it into to your Repurposable Content folder.

If you like, you can even have your email program redirect those messages automatically by typing a unique code at the bottom of those messages (something like "a2rc" – for "add to Repurposable Content") and then creating a Rule which tells Outlook or whatever email program you use to move messages containing that a2rc text directly into the repurposing folder as soon as they arrive.

I've been using this approach for years but what got me thinking of it now was watching Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire on IMAX here in DC recently. In it Dumbledore, Harry's mentor, has what he calls a Pensieve, a bowl in which he magically stores memories pulled from his mind with his wand. The result: less clutter and clearer thinking.

You can do the very same thing and in the process put minutes back in your day and weeks back in your year. All with the simple set up I'm describing. (And you don't even need a magic wand.)

Give it a try and let me know how you make out.

Make Sure This Newsletter Reaches You

The best way to ensure that future Tips messages reach you without being filtered or blocked is to add the address they originate from, kipgregory@mailer1.cooleremail.net, to your Address Book. Be sure to label it "Kip's Tips - No Reply" because messages sent to that address never reach me.

If you have a corporate email address, I encourage you to pass that address onto your IT help desk so they can add it to your company's approved sender list as well.

Finally, please take a minute to review and update your contact information on file in case any of it has changed since you first signed up.

Ways We Can Help You Improve Results

One-on-One and Team Coaching

Right now you've probably read this month's tip and are thinking to yourself "yeah, I can do that" or "that seems pretty easy."

And actually, you're right -- it is... and you can. But only if you follow through.

Unfortunately, too many advisors, wholesalers, and senior executives never get past the "thinking about it" phase. Competing priorities, uncertainty around where to begin the process and lack of accountability (and reliable mechanisms for implementing lasting improvement) get in the way of real progress.

My individual and team coaching programs are designed specifically to overcome those challenges.

Each engagement starts by developing a very clear picture of your goals and objectives, business structure, markets served, clientele sought, team strengths and weaknesses, technology and other resources you own. Then working together we map out an action plan for getting you from where you are to where you want to be, laying out specific milestones by which we can measure success.

We don't just talk, we roll up our sleeves to address specific objectives. Big ones like developing a better profile of your top clients, expanding (or consolidating) your base of accounts, and increasing assets; and little ones like eliminating unnecessary expenses, automating routine tasks, and taking control of your email inbox. We develop practical ways of achieving those results (through smarter use of people, process, and personal technology) and focus wherever possible on executing those strategies using resources you already own.

We also draw on a variety of proprietary tools – forms, worksheets, databases, and online conferencing resources (all available at http://gregory-group.webexone.com) – designed to help you achieve that elusive next level of success.

Most sessions run between 45 and 75 minutes and are conducted weekly… all in the comfort and convenience of your office (which means everyone on your team can participate... and there's no travel expense, time lost in traffic, or nights spent in a "bootcamp" hotel room).

The cost? Just $3000 for a full day's worth (eight hours) of consulting and coaching time that you can access for as little as 15 minutes at a time.

If you are ready to take your business to the next level email or call me at 202.364.6913 and let's visit.

Don't let another month go by. Contact me now and let's develop a plan for getting you to where you want to be. The kind of results you're seeking don't happen accidentally.

Keynote, Breakout, and Workshop Speaking

If you're involved in booking or recommending speakers for national or chapter events at AICPA, FPA, NAIFA, NAPFA, the Society for Financial Service Professionals, or any other industry group, my presentations offer the kind of practical, innovative, take-it-back-to-the-office-and-put-it-to-work-immediately value attendees are looking for... useful content that will save them time, increase their income, and improve their effectiveness.

Or perhaps you work for a product or service provider and you're currently planning a national sales meeting, due diligence road show, or sales force training calendar. Let me show you how to increase your meeting ROI by delivering tangible, value-added content that draws advisors closer to your firm and helps both you and them do more business.

Either way email or call me at 202.364.6913 to explore how I'll assist you in getting more mileage from your event. I'd be happy to schedule a webinar with your and your colleagues to see and hear my material firsthand.

Here's a sampling of recent audience feedback:

"I've been this business for 32 years and I've heard a lot of good ideas from speakers about building my business, cultivating high net worth prospects, asking for referrals, you name it. The problem is after a while they all start to sound the same. Your stuff was fresh, innovative; I'd never heard anything like it."

"One of the five nuggets I look for at a meeting."

"Really creative and invaluable tips."

"Excellent. Every advisor looking to increase office efficiencies and production should attend."

"Very valuable - quick, easy-to-apply-immediately techniques to share with our reps at 700 financial institutions in 42 states."

Until next time wishing you all the best,

Kip Gregory
The Gregory Group: Teaching Clients to Leverage Their Time, Talent, and Technology to Increase Productivity and Profit
202.364.6913

http://www.kipgregory.com