Stop avoiding deep work

Brandon Fluharty explains in a blog post how avoiding deep work can harm your productivity and well-being.

He offers a system to regain control and boost effectiveness.

What is deep work?

• Deep work: Focused, distraction-free, complex tasks.

• Shallow work: Simple, fragmented tasks that don't require full attention.

Importance of deep work

• Enhances productivity and job satisfaction.

• Essential in a competitive economy, especially for remote tech sales.

Two key skills for success

• Mastering hard things quickly.

• Producing at an elite level.

Four approaches to deep work

• Bimodal approach: Alternate between deep and shallow work with large time blocks for focus.

• Rhythmic approach: Schedule regular, smaller deep work sessions daily.

• Monastic approach: Minimize distractions drastically, like avoiding social media.

• Journalistic approach: Utilize free moments for deep work, ideal for unpredictable schedules.

I recommend you read Brandon’s full blog post, which also includes many visuals.

One quote that comes to my mind reading this:

“A task left undone remains undone in two places - at the actual location of the task, and inside your head. Incomplete tasks in your head consume the energy of your attention as they gnaw at your conscience.” - Brahma Kumaris

Sales slump? → 3 tips

Martin Roth shares 3 tips for handling tough sales periods.

The short version:

1. Never miss your number.

2. See rule #1.

Even top sales leaders like Martin Roth face tough months or quarters. Here’s what to do when you predict a miss:

1. Be honest about your forecast

• Be transparent: Inform your team and CEO if a miss is likely.

• No sugarcoating: Avoid lying or inflating your forecast.

• Communicate early: Share the bad news quickly to avoid bigger issues.

• Avoid false hope: It’s better to admit a shortfall than to miss an overly optimistic forecast.

2. Get help from your leadership team

• Attract support: Being honest draws in help from your peers.

• Team effort: Let marketing, customer success, and others assist.

• Collaborate: Ask for help—you’re not alone.

3. Find revenue wherever you can

• Stay persistent: Don’t give up on the month or quarter.

• Work the pipeline: Pull deals forward, re-engage old prospects, and look for upsell opportunities.

• Be creative: Use innovative deal structures to close sales faster.

• Never quit: Often, you can hit your targets right up to the last day.

Remember, it’s not over until it’s over!

Can you predict getting ghosted?

Chris Ritson talks about only hitting 40% of his meeting goal because he ignored the basics.

Here's his plan to get back on track:

1. Review performance: Spend 30 minutes assessing what worked and what didn't.

2. Prepare daily lists: Dedicate 30 minutes at the end of each day to prepare for the next day.

3. Prioritize activity blocks: Focus on scheduled activities over everything else.

4. Stay positive: Accept that bad weeks happen and focus on recovery.

Failing is part of the process - it's how we react that matters.