- NEW: Replays—Insider exclusive recordings of Office Hours sales discussions
- Downloadable prospecting letters
- One killer-good intro letter only the bravest of the brave send out
- A downloadable voicemail script
- 15 on-demand video sales courses
- Archived sales content searchable by sales challenge
Complete Story
02/28/2024
Time Management is a Bag of Flour
Source: Bill Farquharson, The Sales Vault, February 26, 2024
Time management is a bag of flour.
You are sitting at your desk performing a task of some kind and an idea comes to you. You write it down. Getting back to that task, you are reminded of a thought that came to you while you were driving earlier in the day. You write it down. The day’s production meeting starts and new procedures are introduced. That means you’ll have to put some time into learning a new workflow system. You write yourself a reminder.
This kind of innocent activity is common for most of us. Seemingly by itself, a task list grows until there’s no more room to write on the piece of paper. Suddenly, you are buried in to-do’s, each an additional mental burden.
While you are able to whittle away at some of these add-on tasks, you feel frustrated at the end of the day because you did not get to any of the original priorities you had established while planning your day.
Think of this scenario as a bag of flour dropped on the floor. At the center of this kitchen disaster, there is a pile, while all around in every direction is a cloud of white. In the end, only the mess in the middle is in any way salvageable. But you can’t get to it until you clean up around it.
Look, there is nothing wrong with capturing these fleeting thoughts before they whisp away, but we cannot let them derail our day as they do. Go ahead and write them down but keep them separate from the day’s agenda. With very few exceptions, nothing is as urgent as it seems. Most of these wayward thoughts can wait.
Let them.
Work your task A-List as you would normally. That will give you an important sense of completion before you move on to List B.
And hand me the broom, will you? There is some clean-up to do.
The Sales Vault, created by Bill Farquharson, is a subscription-based resource and sales community featuring a calendar packed with live workshops, on-demand sales courses, peer-to-peer discussion groups, and 35+ years of sales training content all searchable by sales challenge. Think of it as a sales conference where the seminars and workshops, full of instantly applicable ideas, are ongoing and more programs are added constantly.
The Sales Vault is available on a monthly subscription basis, normally at a no-brainer monthly price of $45/participant, but… GMA members can take advantage of an exclusive offer: FREE membership for 30 days followed by a discounted monthly subscription price of just $40/participant.
Bill has been a friend of GMA for many years and is, no doubt, known to our members as a top sales trainer and content creator for the graphic arts.
Other Vault resources:
What's Your Holiday Game Plan? 2026 GMA Holiday Survey
Will your company be closing for the holidays, operating with reduced hours, or keeping production running? Graphic Media Alliance wants to know! Take a moment to complete our brief 2026 Holiday Schedule Survey and help us provide a valuable snapshot of how companies across our region are planning for the upcoming holiday season. Results will be shared with members next week!
Read MoreGreat Leaders Don't Happen by Accident. Invest in Yours Before 2027!
There's still time to invest in your next generation of leaders! Graphic Media Alliance's Emerging Leaders Academy offers two exciting opportunities this December, including a December 10 session and a special All-Day Academy experience on December 15. Plus, all 2026 ELA participants will receive complimentary online access to the year's educational content and presentations throughout 2027. Don't miss this opportunity to build stronger leaders and a stronger organization!
Read MoreEmployer Checklist for November 2026: Is Your Business Prepared?
As 2026 winds down, employers face important decisions involving workplace compliance, employee benefits, safety, and emerging technologies. From Ohio's upcoming minimum wage increase to new considerations surrounding artificial intelligence and workplace policies, Fisher Phillips has identified key issues every business leader should have on their radar. Take a few minutes to review their November checklist and make sure your organization is prepared for what's ahead.
Read MoreLittle Readers, Big Impact: Celebrating the Power of Print!
There's something special about turning the pages of a book, especially for young readers discovering the joy of reading. In celebration of Children's Book Week, Two Sides North America reminds us why printed books remain essential to learning, comprehension, and building lifelong connections with reading. Discover how our industry continues to make a meaningful difference, one page at a time.
Read MoreDetroit Brew Crew Brings 50 Industry Professionals Together!
Great conversations, new connections, and a room full of industry professionals! Graphic Media Alliance's recent Detroit Brew Crew brought together 50 attendees for an evening of networking, collaboration, and celebrating the printing and graphic communications industry. See how we're continuing to strengthen connections across Michigan!
Read MoreWhen You Don't Have the Answers
Think you need to have all the answers to be a successful salesperson? Think again! Sometimes the most valuable thing you can bring to a customer conversation isn't your expertise, but your curiosity. In this week's Short Attention Span Sales Tip, Bill Farquharson explains how asking the right questions, listening carefully, and understanding a customer's bigger picture can transform you from another vendor into a trusted business partner.
Read More