The first big snow storm of the year just hit the north-east. The forecast was for 24” of snow and some even said close to 30” here on the eastern end of Long Island. I had about 48 hours of notice before the storm hit.

This left me one day in the office to prepare.

Sometimes productivity is all about being prepared.

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The snow had started to fall. I knew the office was going to be closed the following day and possibly the next day. I wanted to get everything in order before I left.

I hate loose ends and I know my clients and my colleagues appreciate that I’m committed to seeing things through. The key was prioritizing.

With 30” of snow forecast, today was all about closing open loops and preparing for the day after.

First things first:

• Inbox to zero – Deal with it now not later. Don’t leave your client in California wondering why you aren’t responding.
• To do list scan – What were you planning to work on? Was there something that had to get out?
• Calendar review – What are you going to miss and what is on the schedule for when you get back? Decide now to reschedule – don’t wait. It makes no sense to have a meeting if you aren’t ready for it.
• Intuition – Use your gut. Has there been a client that has needed a lot of attention from you and you have just been placating them? Dig in now and tell them when the storm is over they will be back to the front of the line.

Don’t lose focus when the first flakes hit the ground.

Reassess and prioritize what’s important. Be methodical and logical. Go through your lists and calendars and get in touch with the people that are going to be affected and let them know what your plan is.

How did you fare during the storm and was there anything you would have done differently. Let me know on Twitter.