If your calendar for the week is essentially empty at this point on a Sunday night, you’re prepared to be reactive instead of proactive this week. Instead of working on your highest priorities, other people’s highest priorities are going to be working on you. Instead of working on what matters most, you’re going to end up distracted by nonsense and trivialities.

Related: 3 Steps to a High-Performance Culture

If your calendar for the week has huge blank spaces all over the week on Sunday night, it’s unlikely that you’re prepared to make the investments in ‘who matters’ most.

It’s unlikely that you will spend time with your most important clients, and it is equally unlikely that you’re going to spend time with the most important members of your team. If they’re not on your calendar now, you’re not treating them like they are a priority.

If you have not blocked off time to be proactive when it comes to prospecting and nurturing, it isn’t likely that you’re going to do that work this week.

If I looked at last week’s calendar, I imagine I would not find blocked off time for prospecting or nurturing there either. Prospecting never needs to be done with any urgency, but it always needs to be urgently done.

Sunday night is the night to plan

Investing an hour on Sunday night to map out your weekly priorities, to get them on your calendar, and to commit to keeping the promises you make to yourself will massively increase your productivity throughout the week.

It’s true that things are going to come up. Sure there are going to be emergencies that require your attention. You can work around those. By having your calendar mapped out in advance, you can deal with what comes up and then quickly get back on task.

Related: Why Mass Emails = Mass Apathy

Spend an hour on Sunday night preparing for the week ahead. Get what’s important on your calendar, and get who is important on your calendar. Don’t let the world impose its priorities on you. Instead make sure you work on your highest priorities.

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