Step back for a few minutes and imagine that you are looking to hire a babysitter for your newborn and your six year old son. What type of babysitter would you look for? You’re probably thinking of a babysitter who shows up on time, never cancels on you, always feeds and bathes the kids before bed, and doesn’t invite her creepy boyfriend over when you’re not there. All of that can basically be summed up by one essential characteristic, being reliable.
If being reliable is a universal expectation parents have for their babysitters who usually make $10 or $20/hour, conceptualize the robust amount of reliability expected from business owners or executives who make $100/hour or more. It seems obvious how essential it is for professionals to be reliable. The real kicker is how to become a more reliable person. Let’s dig in!
Bite-Sized Chunk #1: Buy an agenda!
Please do not say “I’ve never used an agenda and I’m doing just fine” or “I always buy agendas then never use it”!! We are here to become more reliable so let’s start changing those things we’ve always done a certain way. Write everything in your agenda. Birthdays, date nights, tests, presentations, interviews, conference calls, nail appointments, seriously EVERYTHING. Become attached at the hip with your agenda. You will eventually become dependent on your agenda which at first may feel restricting. Eventually, that dependence helps you rely on your schedule, forcing you not to forget important events like a job interview or even personal events like remembering to buy your grandma her favorite flowers in time for her birthday. If you want to impress your boss, show your friends and family how much you love them, and never forget a birthday again, this is a rewarding habit to develop. Just do it. I’m serious. This will help the people around you know that they can rely on you.
Bite-Sized Chunk #2: Stop making excuses for yourself
When you read the header you probably thought I meant stop making excuses when people ask you why you did not accomplish a task. While that is also important, that is not what I’m referring to. I’m talking about the excuses we plant in our own heads that justify why we did or did not do something we needed to do. The common excuses I personally hear myself using are “I worked so hard already, someone else should finish this” or “I ate healthy during the week so it doesn’t matter” or my personal favorite “I know that no one would do this for me”. How nasty is this self-talk?? Let your thoughts help you succeed, not hinder your growth! Change your thoughts to “I worked so hard already, I need to finish this off strong”, “I ate healthy during the week so I should keep up that positive growth”, or even “I know that no one would do this for me which is exactly why I want to do this for someone else”. Don’t let your inner voice make excuses for your behavior, let your inner voice be your inspiration!
Bite-Sized Chunk #3: Anticipate the needs of others
Let’s venture back to the babysitting example. Your babysitter texts you and says “Good afternoon, Mrs. Applepie (forgive my hunger). I know that you normally do date night on Wednesdays with your husband. I took off this Wednesday to make sure I was good to go just in case! I look forward to seeing the kiddos soon!”. I, personally, would not be on the lookout for a new babysitter. That would be memorable and reassure me of how reliable my babysitter is. I might even throw an extra twenty dollar bill in the babysitter’s payment for that week. Be proactive and think about what you could do to make the lives of those around you easier. I guarantee that people remember that.
Being reliable takes hard work at first but once you develop the habit, you will be the most qualified babysitter/executive/hairdresser on the block.
XOXO,
Kay
Recommended book if you liked this post: The Slight Edge: Turning Simple Disciplines into Massive Success and Happiness
