Closing out 2021
I am getting ready to sign off for 2021 and hope you are too. Before I do that, I wanted to share some of my personal do’s and don’ts for wrapping up the year:
Do: Leave customers, projects, and teams with next steps and action plans while out of the office.
Don't: Open slack or email while you are with friends, family, or in pajamas watching Home Alone.
Do: Budget time to get organized. Your pipeline, desktop, google drive, and calendar can probably use some housekeeping.
Don't: Ping people for things you can solve yourself. We all blended our work and personal lives and feel obligations to respond regardless of time or circumstance. Follow the golden rule and "ping unto others as you would have them ping unto you."
Do: Set goals. Professional, financial, personal, spiritual, relational, or physical. Come up with 4-6 things that are most important to you and write them down.
Don't: Get pushy with customers. If you are B2B, honesty is the best policy. Tell your customer it would mean a lot to get the deal done before the end of the year, but you would be happy to pick up conversations in January if that isn't possible. All SaaS companies are trying to close pipeline. They will understand.
Do: Share gratitude with people who have helped you along the way. These are strange times. We see each other less. When someone goes out of their way to help you or provide advice, it's more intentional than it used to be. Give this gift to yourself and send out some gratitude emails and texts.
Don't: Carry performance burden into your holiday time. What's done is done. The sun will rise, the moon will set, and all will be well in the universe whether or not that customer signs.
Do: Reconnect to the things that make you the most human version of yourself. Family, friends, hometown experiences, or pets - whatever that is for you. There's no sense in becoming professional powerhouses if we miss out on the things that make life worth living.
Thank you all for allowing me to share my stories with you in 2021. Wishing you all the best holiday season and new year. Onward!
Tommy