Setting priorities is a critical factor in taking control of your life. In this episode, host Darren CdeBaca helps define and operationalize priorities with tips on applying them in your daily life. Learn about his practical strategies and get to know action steps to help you achieve your goals. Darren discusses the four types of priorities and the eight priorities of ‘The Best’ as a guide on what you should focus on and how. He also details how to define priorities within actions, strategies, and goals, including how to use your calendar to organize a map of your priorities. Grab a pen and get ready to take notes so you can apply these tips immediately and see a change in your life.
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Set and Organize Your Priorities
I wanted to thank you for your time and for tuning in. If you are not having the opportunity to take notes because you are on a walk or you are relaxing on the couch or you are driving, don't be afraid to come on back and replay any part of this to get those meaningful thoughts and suggestions back into your day and/or vision as you see fit on this discussion, which is titled Set and Organize Your Priorities.
This is going to be a fun one. If you have the ability to take some notes, you are going to need to do that because there's a lot of good stuff here broken down into three different areas. Before I get into that rumble, I want to make sure we set it up properly. Before I initiate the topic, let me share the phrase that best defines our work at DCB Strategies. It's the following, “Being the best and average have nothing in common.”
Being the best and average, have nothing in common.
That phrase captures the result of achieving bold goals with a plan of accountability and purpose. Whether the person is in the professional world, personal type of endeavors, or athletic world, they are ready. Being the best on average have nothing in common. The best are ready. Let's take a moment and say and repeat that to yourself. Being the best on average have nothing in common. How does that resonate with you?
What it typically does is it sets your mind into a space of, “I'm going to draw a line in the sand. Am I either the best or am I average?” We are not here to judge at DCB Strategies. We are here to share with you the tools that the best utilize to separate themselves from the average and thus, be memorable and differentiated in their own space.
Again, we are going to have fun with it and utilize that phrase along the way as it applies to this topic of setting up and organizing your priorities. Thus, set and organize your priorities as the title. In the platform work of DCB Strategies Coaching, one of the first steps we take is the profiling of our clients who are either individuals or teams to invest in the discovery of their priorities. If you know the person's priorities or the team's priorities, we can then discuss the relevance of those towards achieving their most desired goals and/or maintaining their purpose.
Keep that in mind. If you have a goal, you should have a purpose of why it's motivating you to provide structure and discipline along the way. Over the years, what I have discovered is that there is real no common understanding between individuals and teams of what a priority is or represents or even what type of priority it may be.
What a priority is or what type of priority it may be. Interestingly, many confuse the issue by saying that they have either high priorities or low priorities. You have heard it before, “This is a high-priority topic. This is a low-priority topic.” What does that mean? Now, when asked that, what it means, it gets fuzzy, and often, more times than not, there's no answer. It's a priority but one's a little higher than the other.
Hopefully, it means what we are about to enter, which is it's more important. Let me make it a little bit clearer. It is vital to have an understanding of priorities even if you do not, you will not be able to properly set yourself up to achieve your goals with a back by any purpose. Again, you want to make sure you have your priorities and if you understand these, you are able to back them with purpose, strategy, and actions and thus lead into cadence and momentum.
What is a Priority
There's a lot there. That is why we are going into this topic to provide you with what you call a favorable and memorable framework for setting up and organizing your priorities. Let's first properly define what a priority is because incredible things happen when you get your priorities straight or what we call at DCB Strategies, you are now entering the priority zone.
Simply stated, a priority is an item that is more important than another. If something is a priority, it is the most important thing that you have to deal with or must be done or dealt with before everything else you have to do. There you have it. It is a degree of importance that defines the level of your priority. Now, how many levels of priorities do you want to deal with? You will see, we make it pretty simple here in the framework we are about to introduce in making sure that you have a focus on the right priorities as you enter the priorities zone.
As an observation, our personal priorities are revealed by our achievements, whether at work or in our personal life. It's very visible what our priorities are once you see the person's achievements. Without truism, priorities are certainly the most important to be in control of with our daily focus. I think all of you would agree after going through that small example. Let's enter that priority zone.
I'm going to discuss the following three applications for your priority framework. Again, if you have an opportunity to write these down and follow along, it will be very helpful when you write these down as a visual. We are going to put together a DCB uplift on this, which will be a handout if you are interested. As a follow-up, contact us at the following at DCBStrategies.com and we will get that to you.
The Four Types of Priorities
Here we go, priorities zone. Application number one is titled the four types of priorities. Number one, the four types of priorities, traditional thought leadership has taught us over the years that there are four types of priorities. If followed accordingly, it will set up our ability to best organize priorities by their importance.
Let's state them and we will go from there. How's that? Write these down if you can. This is the recipe for setting up and organizing your priorities as the basic chassis. Four types of priorities are the following, number one must have priority. It's a non-negotiable item.
Number two should have priority. Not vital but it does add significant value. Number three could have priority. It may have a small impact if left out. Let's put it that way, could have priority. Number four will not have priority. It's not a priority at this time. It’s pretty simple.
As a reminder, must-have priority, should-have priority, could-have priority, and will-not-have priority. Those are the four. What you will notice as we glide along into the other frameworks is that we are going to be seeing that the majority of people's focus and effort revolve around must-have priority and should-have priority.
If they have a little time, they could-have a priority put in there. Again, these must-haves, should-haves, could-haves, and will-not-haves can change as our life and our goals also become more fluid and our achievements become more often and contagious. Thus, life becomes a growth pattern so your priorities will change. Your priorities are based on new goals and those goals are supported by new strategies, thus actions, and so forth as we'll get into the framework on number two.
Remind yourself these aren't stagnant priorities. They will change with our life as we change and grow into our growth zones of most desirable eloquence. We do talk about this. We have talked about it in the past and touched upon it in one of the past episodes titled, Reassess, Restate and Reactivate. That's the beauty of having that framework of reassess, restate and reactivate. It applies to your priorities.
As we often discussed, it's one of the best ways to set and organize your priorities along the way of life's journey. Don't forget to tune into that one if that helps you with the format of this number one application of the four types of priorities. Once the number one application is understood and I think it's somewhat straightforward, adapted, and practiced. You got to practice it. The focus on priorities becomes most efficient because as we know where focus goes, energy flows. The best in their league constantly and consistently have energy flowing toward their passionate goals. The best possess the mindset by properly defining and owning their must-have and should-have priorities.
Priorities within Actions, Strategies, and Goals
I'm going to repeat that, the best possess the mindset by properly defining and owning their must-have and should-have priorities along the way of their growth. We reviewed application number one, which is the four types of priorities. Now we are going to jump into application number two and which is titled Priorities Within Actions, Strategies, and Goals. We are touching upon what we do every day at DCB Strategies.
At DCB Strategies, we have a proven process that is initiated by defining one's bold goals. These goals are then supported by personal strategies then those goals are backed up by specific daily actions or new habits. Let me give you an example. The goal is I am climbing the top of Mount Everest. It needs to be backed by a strategy that it will hit five base camps in six days to get to the top of Mount Everest. That's the strategy.
The actions are within six days. Every day, I'm going to hit 1 of the 5 base camps and I may take an extra day along the way for proper nutrition, proper hydration, and also, acclimation to the altitude. Those are daily actions that I have on my calendar. I make sure that those daily actions lead me to each base camp at the end of the day. That's an example of goal strategy actions. Let's keep it clear, we will usually have more than one goal in a specific timeframe.
Let's be frank with that. People have more than one goal in a 1 to 4-month period. Here's an example. Here's a goal regarding this application of number two. I am losing ten pounds in a month. That's one goal. Number two is I'm getting a meeting with the largest private wealth team in my territory within the next two months. That's a number two goal.
Number three is I'm passing the CFP or the CFA exam the next quarter. I put an order because may be one or the other. What you will notice though is even though these have different timeframes, all three of these are of equal importance, our goals, or as we term before in application number one, the must-have and will all require a priority of strategies and daily actions to achieve.
Our goals must have, and will all require, a priority of strategies and daily actions to achieve.
Every one of those goals they are also a priority in the broad sense but they have different timeframes in each one of those goals/priorities. Let's keep our goals, need to have a set of daily priorities of strategies and actions to achieve. Let's introduce an example of the framework for this number two application, which again is titled Priorities Within Actions, Strategies, and Goals.
Here's the goal. I am passing the CFP exam by next quarter. The strategy that supports that goal is the following, I am studying and taking practice exams five days per week for the next two months. This is a must-have priority. If you have more available time, you may be able to insert a should-have priority strategy also that's using application number one. Remember, must-have, should-have, could-have, and will-not-have.
Again, the goal is I am passing the CFP exam next quarter. The strategy that supports that goal is I am studying and taking practice exams five days per week for the next two months. This is a must-have priority and if you have time available to put in a little bit more work, it could be a should-have. That's using application number one.
Number two, I think you get the drift there. Here are the actions in the habits of that strategy. Every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, I am spending two hours from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM fulfilling my above strategy. This is a must-have priority in your actions and if you have more available time, you may be able to insert a should-have priority in your actions, thus, like application one.
I think you get it. The goal, the strategy, and five days. The actions and habits you are developing, new actions and new habits, 3:00 to 5:00 PM each one of those days, we specifically put out. That's a high priority. That is a must-have priority. Remember in the above, you may have noticed there may not be much room for a could-have in your journey of achieving your bold goals. Certainly, there will be never room for will-not-haves. Not room. We don't want to complicate the issue.
It sounds pretty straightforward which it is. It takes effort and discipline to set up this framework. When you do, you now have set up your priorities in place. Next, it's time to organize them. At DCB Strategies, we talk a lot about this by repeating that we schedule our priorities versus prioritizing our schedule. That is your organization map, it's your calendar.
Again, if you have your priorities set must-have, should-have based on your goal strategies must-have, should-have and your actions must-have, should-have. Your actions will be the ones in your calendar backing up your strategies. Your calendar's going to be your organization map of your priorities. That organization map is going to share with you by the hour of the day, thus fully committed all-in in your must-haves and should-haves of your actions supporting your strategies, which will then get you to your goal.
Your must-haves and should-have actions. As I mentioned, plug them in and before you know it, you are in control of your calendar and using your priorities to fuel your focus and thus, achieve your bold goals. Let me remind you that before you know it, you are in control of your calendar. It's not controlling you. You are using your priorities to fuel your focus and thus, achieving your bold goals.
The 8 Priorities of The Best
As a reminder, our priorities are completely revealed by our achievements, whether at work or in professional life. With that truism in mind, priorities are the most important because to be in control of them will be in control of our lives and our daily focus. Application one, the four types. Application two priorities in terms of strategies, actions, and goals. Application number three is let's visit from an observational standpoint the eight priorities of the best.
This is the work that we do at DCB Strategies by studying the best athletes, executives, the people in our business, the financial business, other businesses, and so forth. There's a common link of what the best have as priorities. Some of these may be goals in your mind. Some may be a purpose but again, it's a priority that they back up with strategies and actions.
How's that sound? Let's look at them. Again, these are the eight. I'm going to go from 1 to 8. You can argue with me that number three maybe should be number four. The point is, we are going to nail it down to an 85% accuracy level here. If you are a financial advisor, asset management, asset management wholesaler, private wealth team, team lead, sales leadership team, athlete, husband, wife, business owner, or community leader, again, the best in your space, set their priorities up in the following order and so can you.
You will note that these are all must-have priorities because guess what? They matter. The must-have priorities because guess what? They matter. If it matters, you will make it happen. If it matters, it's going to be a priority. It's going to going to be a must-have priority. I thought I would throw that in there. It's pretty simple. You don't have to pay for that. It's free because that's the way the best think.
Let's take a look at the number one priority. My health is my must-have priority. What requires there is the investment of time and effort in your personal health through diet, exercise, and mindfulness. Being healthy will allow you the energy to be the best when you exploit effort towards your best interests. You may have noticed that there are and maybe times and goals attached to each of the above in which application two would come in with strategies and actions regarding your health.
You are going to need strategies and actions to back up your commitment to diet, exercise, and mindfulness. Also, your time and effort are relative to your dedication to this. Again, my health is my must-have priority, number one. Number two, clarity of direction is my must-have priority, so I will define enlist personal and business priorities.Strategy and actions are needed to support this goal or priority. They are commonly fused together and that's okay. It's a priority, clarity of direction. In order to do that, you need to have priority, strategy, and actions. I think you get where we are going here.
Number three, the best say, “I provide for my family,” is a must-have priority. No doubt. Without your health and success, your families will not stand to benefit. This also can be a purpose behind committing to a bold goal. I'm doing this for my family but again, you have a must-have priority that could be a purpose also. I get it. It can go on one side or the other but these are the priorities when you talk out loud to the best-minded individuals out there.
Number four, I continually practice my self-confidence and mental growth. That's a number four priority. This is a must-have priority amongst the best, which again will require strategies and actions to upgrade the habits for personal motivation, structure, and discipline.
Number five, they set up and have an active precision-based model for their business so they can be amongst the best in their business. It's going to require a must-have support system of strategy and actions to set up a precision-based business model or franchise.
Number six, I am constantly researching and adopting educational uplifts and best practices. It's a must-have to be amongst the best and that's right. Always elevating themselves and that's what we talk about in number seven about what the best do.
They constantly understand. They are designated to do what they do. They dedicate themselves to a stronger purpose and stronger meaning of what that means in that practice. They elevate themselves and turn on the volume so everybody understands the difference that they can make in their space. That’s number seven.
Number eight, this is what the best is, “Do they schedule their priorities versus prioritizing their schedule?” It all fits together like a hand and glove. Four types, number two is the application of your strategies and actions toward your goals in terms of priorities. Number three, how you can see here that the best do keep that in mind by making sure they are in charge of their calendar by scheduling their priorities versus prioritizing their schedule.
The action steps to start setting your priorities and organizing them now are the following, make sure you understand application number one, the priority zone of must-haves and should-haves. We are not going to dwell on the could-haves and will-not-haves because those are space or time users that don't get to the heart of the matter supporting the strategy or the goal.
Application two, get that blank piece of paper out or laptop and start listing your goals. List your goals then your strategies to get those goals achieved and the priorities or actions, thus priorities within the actions to fill the strategies. Again, relative to the same mountain climb analogy we used earlier in that application number two.
Application number three is what the eight priorities of what the best usually think about are commonly out there. Review and adopt any or all of the eight accordingly and use application number two to back up your daily strategy and actions as we need. That's we are relevant and we talked about that. Let's summarize. First, thank you for taking the time to read this one. We talked about priorities and what it means, it's a matter of importance and it matters. There are four types.
There's also another application. We talked about how it applies to strategies, actions, and goals. Also, we shared with you the eight top priorities amongst the best in their minds and how they activate on those with their strategies and actions. Somewhere along the line, something's going to happen for you as you get an a-ha about using the word priority in your life.
We discussed these and we discussed the next action steps you can take to apply the framework for each one. Review and adopt and practice the number one application of the four-sire fit. Get out that blank piece of paper and list out those bold goals and strategies and actions and put them in a priority zone, for you the must-haves and should-haves. Adopt or at least get really close or adopt and use them to a large degree the eight top priorities of the best out there.
Let me remind you that to change our lives, we need to change our priorities. No doubt because we talked about earlier that life is fluid. It does run differently and we can't get distracted or we can't grow quickly. We need to make sure we change our priorities that will match our strategies and actions, thus our goals.
To change our lives, we need to change our priorities.
Thank you for your time and interest in this important topic of organizing our lives and professional careers. If you have any questions and would like to talk more about this topic, please contact me at DCBStrategies.com or email me at Podcast@DCBStrategies.com. I'm more than happy to get back to you. As we say at DCB Strategies, stay healthy and passionate. Thanks again.