As a sales coach, I have a love/hate relationship with 3 days weekends.

The “love” part is easy, because my clients recharge and reconnect with family, friends, and as a bonus, get some much needed “me time”.

The “hate” part, is what a 3 day weekend does to productivity!

Time Out: I’m not referring to the 3 days, I’m referring to how 3 days, becomes 5-6 days for some.

How?

Well there’s the “leading up to a holiday weekend” thing.

For some, that holiday begins around Wednesday when they start justifying turning the week into an “admin” week.

If you really think the days leading up to a holiday weekend are useless as far as calling clients/prospects, then;

1. Why don’t you schedule appointments for those time slots instead? And those appointments can also be conference calls, a Webex, Skype etc. If people are hesitant to meet with you use one of those options as your “Plan B”
2. Take some time off. Taking time off represents an actual decision, which is far better than doing a whole lotta nothing.

Then, there’s the actual holiday. That part happens either way but;

Then there’s the unofficial “grace period” AFTER a holiday.

I mean, it’s a sin to call someone on the Tuesday morning following a holiday weekend, right.

And you need some time to get your head back in the game, right?

And its really rude NOT to chit chat about the holiday weekend with your coworkers, right?

And that’s how you turn, what should have been a 3 day weekend;

Into a 5-6 day mental checkout.

Do that a few times in the next year, and it adds up.

Repeat a similar pattern over the summer, and it adds up.

It will certainly add up around Christmas when people turn a holiday week. into a 4-6 week, “Holiday Sabbatical”.

And that’s how you lose your year and;

A nice part of your paycheck.

You need to change your plan when holidays and summer arrive.

You need a plan to LEVERAGE  holidays and summer instead of being challenged by them.

Do you have one? And doing more “admin” doesn’t constitute a plan!

In a little over a week from now, I’m going to share the plan, that I’ve been able to battle test, over the last few summers.

We’re going to be talking about how you can create a greater sense of urgency with your prospects and clients. You know, the type of urgency to do things NOW, instead of in September.

10 email tactics that will help you capture your prospect’s attention (and get more responses)

2 “summer specific” ways to get your prospect’s attention (and stand out from your competitors)

3 ways to generate more business with your existing clients.

2 ways to TRIPLE the amount of referrals you’re getting now (you ARE asking for referrals, right?)

A step by step communication plan to help you stand out and outwork your competitors this summer, while enjoying yours!

How to automate two important sales activities so you can be at two places at once (like the beach and your prospect’s computer screen)