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.

Most of us just sat through our end of the year reviews. I bet you had to talk about your strengths and weaknesses didn’t you. You may have even left that meeting with instruction to work on your weaknesses. Please don’t! I mean it. Working on your weaknesses is a waste of time.

And how do you really know what your strengths are? Did you or your employer really analyze data to come to this conclusion? Are your “strengths” just what you hope or want them to be?

“People who do focus on their strengths every day are six times as likely to be engaged in their jobs. They are more productive too, both individually and in teams. And they are more than three times as likely to say they have an excellent quality of life.” Gallup Strength Finder

I like to start the year off with a productivity kick in the pants so to speak. This year I revamped my iPads home screen. Most people have an iPad but never took the time to setup it to help them be more productive. Or in my case the setup was so complicated that I found it was hindering my productivity. I recently spent time stripping down the home screen to only have my top productivity apps shown.

The iPad can help you be more productive and it’s up to you to make it happen!