Imagine your day starts with the following thoughts on your mind: Jeanie, the new boarder, doesn't get along with others and needs to change her thinking if she wants to remain at the farm. Your busiest instructor was hurt yesterday and won't be able to teach for a week. The feed quality of your local mill has been slipping; moldy feed has been a problem on and off for the past twelve weeks. Your estimated income tax deposit is due in two days. Your business marketing plan includes a display ad in a local publication and the deadline for the copy is tomorrow.

Sound like it could be a normal day in your life as a professional horseman?

You already know that in the horse business and all other businesses, getting things done each day is critical for business growth and success.

And you already know that organizing your daily schedule to accomplish all of these tasks is a struggle.

Experience tells me that the methods of organizing the tasks for the day vary greatly from:

1. no written plan- rely on semi-reliable memory systems
2. a scrap piece of paper
3. a one page to do list
4. a detailed computer program listing all tasks at hand and charting the progress toward completion.

All of the systems have advantages and disadvantages, so what is the best method?

A one page to-do list completed daily.

If you are using one already, congratulations, pat yourself on the back, stop reading this and move on to tackle another item on the list

If you're a little foggy about the purpose of a to do list, here are some tips:

1. It should be created every day adding and removing tasks.
2. The list may be hand written or printed on a single sheet in a daily planner or on an index card or on a folded 8-1/2" x 11" sheet of paper.
3. Daily action items are for current actions,not for reminders about planning future activity. The current actions have a sense of urgency like concrete that has to be poured and leveled today.
4. Items are broken down into the simplest activity. Like: make phone call, complete report, lead staff meeting. . . .

As you construct the daily to do list, ask yourself these questions:

• Is this item the best use of my time?
• Is there someone I can delegate this task to?
• Do I really have to do this or what will happen if I just toss it?

Your daily to do list is more than a reminder; it also serves as a contract with yourself to get things done every day.

"First things first, but not necessarily in that order." -- Doctor Who

"Cleanliness and order are not matters of instinct; they are matters of education, and like most great things, you must cultivate a taste for them." -- Benjamin Disraeli

"The human animal differs from the lesser primates in his passion for lists of 'Ten Best'." -- H. Allen Smith

Earlier this week, on the way to a farm visit with a client in Southern New York state, I couldn't help thinking about the Amish man I saw during my drive. He was sitting on a bench in front of a run-down country store; a horse and buggy was tied loosely to a post nearby.

I was pushing the speed limits to be punctual for my appointment and trying to read directions in eye straining fine print while traveling on unfamiliar roads.

The snapshot of him in my mind's eye caused me to reflect on the simpler life of the Amish. Perhaps the Amish man was wondering why so many "English" are always in a hurry trying to do three things at once, stressed out and seldom thankful for the good things in their lives.

Or perhaps the Amish man was wondering what if he had a buggy that could travel seventy miles an hour, a cell phone and a high speed internet connection; could he quit working so hard farming and get into multi level marketing?

Ah, those greener pastures on the other side of the fence.

I work with Professional Horsemen who are struggling with the business half of the horse business.

Just like a top performing horse has a strong foundation, so does a top performing horse business.

If you've had enough with disappointment in your horse business, call or e-mail and we can talk about your business and how I may be able to help you.

A big Welcome to new subscribers this week. If you know other horsemen who would enjoy this newsletter, please forward it to them!

I appreciate your help !

Need a speaker about the horse business for your horse related organization? Talk to me about talking. Keynotes and workshops available. (716) 434-5371