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Zig Ziglar, famous motivational speaker and author, provided several reasons why individuals are so productive day before vacation in his book “Over The Top”. First, such individuals tend to set goals for that day which than requires a high level of commitment. Next, he found that we tend to get started early this particular day on achieving these goals. He also found that we tend to work at a higher level of enthusiasm on this day before vacation, which can’t help but impact our productivity. We are also far less likely to procrastinate this day as well. Instead, we focus on finishing one task or project before leaping into next one. What a novel thought…
In his research, Ziglar also took note of fact that we tend to do “tough” jobs early on this special day. He reasons that “If you have to swallow a frog, why waste time looking at it?”
Workers on their day before vacation also tend to be extremely focused and disciplined in their efforts according to Ziglar. Rather than looking for interruptions in their work, we avoid than as much as possible. Too much stuff to get done. Too little time to waste.
What impact will your individual efforts on this day have on your employees or co-workers? It’s possible that they may wish you had left on vacation one day earlier. More likely, is that your commitment, your enthusiasm, and determination that will become contagious. It will have a multiplier effect across organization as others feel impact of your robust level of productivity.
That leaves us with one remaining question. Is it possible to “bottle” this Day Before Vacation mentality and apply it (with caution) everyday? Can we create same level of urgency, enthusiasm, and commitment five days a week, 50 weeks a year? Why not? I need some time to consider these questions. I need some time to further mull over application of my findings. I need…another vacation.
Tim Fulton is a nationally recognized small business consultant and management trainer. He is also a very popular public speaker. Tim can be reached at timfulton@hotmail.com.