- 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:
The Leader Everyone Depends On Starts With the Leader in the Mirror
Great leadership starts with how you lead yourself. At ENCORE 2026, Mike Philie of PhilieGroup will challenge attendees to examine the habits, decisions and priorities that shape their effectiveness as leaders. In The Leader Everyone Depends On, Mike will share practical strategies for managing competing priorities, building resilience and continuing to grow when others are counting on you.
Read MoreTrade the Office for the Golf Course
Join GMA members, partners and industry friends on October 6 for the 21st Annual GMA & Sterling Distribution Golf Tournament at Royal American Links. Enjoy a day of golf, friendly competition and valuable connections, whether you bring a foursome or register on your own.
Read MoreWhat Is the 2026 Workforce Data Telling Us?
Are your wages and benefits keeping pace with today’s print industry? Join Teresa Campbell on September 29 for a special live webinar examining findings from the 2026 Wage + Benefits Survey and the trends shaping compensation, benefits, recruitment and retention. Go beyond the numbers and gain valuable context as you begin planning for 2027.
Read MoreDon’t Let Lithium-Ion Batteries Burn Your Business
Lithium-ion batteries power many of the tools and electronics used every day, but improper use, storage or disposal can create serious fire risks. Join Federated Insurance for this webinar to learn how to recognize warning signs, prevent battery-related fires and implement practical safety strategies to better protect your employees and operations.
Read MoreEmployer Cheat Sheet for Workplace Laws Taking Effect in October 2026
The seasons are changing, and so are workplace laws for many states across the country. Employers operating in certain states will see new legislation take effect in October on issues ranging from pay transparency to “captive audience” meetings to immigration-related notices. Fisher Phillips shares an employer cheat sheet to some of the key laws kicking in next month
Read MoreThe First Order is an Audition
Winning the first order is only the beginning. Turning that transaction into a lasting customer relationship depends on what happens before, during and after the job. In this week’s Short Attention Span Sales Tip, Bill Farquharson shares how setting expectations, understanding your customer’s needs and following up can help turn a single project into long-term business.
Read More