Episode 151
Zero Out Your Notifications
The principal focus of this discussion is the imperative of managing one's professional communications effectively, underscoring the notion that one must sell themselves rather than merely their products or services. We delve into the significance of maintaining a pristine digital presence, where the timely response to messages serves as a reflection of one's personal brand. Through the establishment of a daily routine aimed at achieving a 'zero out' state for notifications, we seek to illustrate how this practice not only alleviates the mental burden associated with overwhelming correspondence but also enhances one's professional reputation. I will introduce three pivotal strategies, including the implementation of the two-touch rule, the organization of dedicated message management blocks, and the systematic engagement with social media, each designed to bolster responsiveness and reliability. Ultimately, we encourage our listeners to engage in an actionable exercise that assesses their communication channels, thereby fostering a proactive approach towards their professional identity.
The podcast delves into the critical importance of effective communication management in the professional domain, particularly highlighting how email and messaging systems can directly influence one's professional reputation. The host, Wes Wyatt, elucidates that a significant portion of a professional's day is consumed by managing emails, messages, and notifications. He posits that the most successful individuals possess a strategic approach to communication, characterized by a diligent practice of clearing messages and notifications daily. This habit not only fosters organization but also empowers individuals to take control of their professional identity. Wyatt emphasizes that each unread notification represents a judgment on one’s responsiveness, which significantly shapes how clients and partners perceive one's professionalism. Therefore, the act of promptly addressing communications is integral to maintaining a positive personal brand, particularly for entrepreneurs and those engaged in side hustles.
Wyatt articulates three fundamental strategies for enhancing communication efficiency: firstly, the implementation of the 'two touch rule,' which encourages individuals to respond to messages promptly or schedule a time for more complex responses, thus preventing the mental fatigue associated with revisiting the same messages repeatedly. Secondly, he advocates for the establishment of daily message blocks, wherein individuals allocate specific times throughout their day to manage communications effectively. This ensures that urgent matters are addressed timely while also preparing one to commence the next day with a clean slate. Lastly, the '1:1:1 method' for social media engagement is introduced, entailing a structured approach to responding to direct messages, acknowledging notifications, and checking mentions. This method keeps one’s social presence active without overwhelming one’s schedule, thereby reinforcing the notion that engagement levels can significantly impact the perception of one’s personal brand.
In conclusion, Wyatt urges listeners to take immediate action by auditing their communication channels and committing to a daily practice of zeroing out messages. This simple yet powerful strategy is posited to alleviate stress and enhance the perception of one's brand by fostering an image of reliability and attentiveness. The podcast serves as a clarion call for professionals to recognize that effective communication is not merely a task but a pivotal aspect of personal branding that warrants deliberate and consistent management.
Takeaways:
- The concept of 'Market You First' emphasizes the importance of developing a personal brand that resonates with professionalism.
- Successful individuals often practice a habit of zeroing out notifications at the end of each day to maintain their organizational integrity.
- Implementing the 'two touch rule' can significantly enhance one's efficiency in handling messages without unnecessary revisiting.
- Creating dedicated time blocks for managing communications can provide structure and improve overall responsiveness throughout the day.
- Utilizing the '1:1:1 method' for social media allows for active engagement without overwhelming one's schedule or focus.
- Establishing clear communication expectations through autoresponders can help in managing perceptions of availability and attentiveness effectively.
Links referenced in this episode:
Companies mentioned in this episode:
- weswyatt.com
- MarketYouFirst.com
Transcript
This is Market YOU First.
Speaker:Market YOU First.
Speaker:It's time to learn to sell what you bring to the table,
Speaker:not what you're selling.
Speaker:This is Market YOU First.
Speaker:This is your host, Wes Wyatt.
Speaker:Hey everybody, this is Wes Wyatt and this is the Market YOU First podcast.
Speaker:Did you know that the average professional spends a large percentage
Speaker:of their workday just on email alone?
Speaker:That's hours a day just managing messages.
Speaker:But what if I told you that the most successful people I know,
Speaker:and many people you probably know, have a secret weapon?
Speaker:They clear out every message, every notification,
Speaker:and every open tab by the end of each day.
Speaker:It's not just about being organized,
Speaker:it's about taking control of your professional identity.
Speaker:And here is why this matters.
Speaker:Let's be honest.
Speaker:We all know that feeling of opening our phone to see, you know,
Speaker:say 37 unread emails, 12 text messages,
Speaker:and a absolute sea of social media notifications.
Speaker:Each one of those little red dots represents someone waiting for you,
Speaker:judging your responsiveness,
Speaker:and forming an opinion about your professionalism.
Speaker:And when you leave messages unattended,
Speaker:you're unconsciously telling people that their time isn't valuable to you.
Speaker:So for entrepreneurs and side hustlers, especially,
Speaker:your response time is a direct reflection of your personal brand.
Speaker:Clients and partners don't separate you from your business.
Speaker:So to them, slow responses mean slow service.
Speaker:And by implementing a daily zero out habit,
Speaker:you're not just clearing notifications,
Speaker:you're actively maintaining your reputation as someone who's reliable,
Speaker:respectable, and ready for opportunity.
Speaker:So here are three key takeaways that could help you with this.
Speaker:Number one, implement the two touch rule.
Speaker:Never touch the same message twice without taking action.
Speaker:So when you see a notification, you have three choices.
Speaker:You can respond immediately. If it takes less than two minutes,
Speaker:you can schedule a specific time to address it for more complex requests,
Speaker:or you could delete it or archive it.
Speaker:And that means that no action is needed.
Speaker:No more, I'll get to this later without this concrete plan.
Speaker:So this simple rule is going to eliminate the mental drain of revisiting the
Speaker:same message multiple times.
Speaker:Number two, create daily message blocks.
Speaker:So schedule three 20 minute blocks throughout your day,
Speaker:specifically for message management, morning, midday, and end of day.
Speaker:Now keep this in mind.
Speaker:Your days may be organized a little different than other people,
Speaker:but it's going to give you a really good idea to go off of.
Speaker:So the morning block is going to handle urgent overnight items.
Speaker:The midday is going to catch new developments.
Speaker:And the end of day is going to ensure that you start tomorrow with a clean
Speaker:slate. Again, you can organize these, however,
Speaker:they make you most productive,
Speaker:but treat these blocks as non-negotiable appointments with yourself and watch
Speaker:your responsiveness reputation soar.
Speaker:And the third thing is going to be using the one, one,
Speaker:one method for social media for each social platform,
Speaker:perform this daily sequence one minute to respond to direct messages,
Speaker:one minute to acknowledge notifications and one minute to check any content
Speaker:where you're tagged or mentioned.
Speaker:And this is going to keep your social presence active without letting it
Speaker:consume your day.
Speaker:Remember your engagement rate directly impacts how other people perceive your
Speaker:personal brands availability and attended this.
Speaker:So how do you Market YOU First and make this personal?
Speaker:Your messaging style is a direct extension of your personal brand.
Speaker:Are you the prompt responder who makes clients feel prioritized?
Speaker:The thoughtful communicator who sends fewer,
Speaker:but more meaningful replies or are you the boundary setter?
Speaker:He uses auto responders to manage expectations.
Speaker:There's no one size fits all approach.
Speaker:What matters is consistency.
Speaker:If you're a creative who needs deep focus time,
Speaker:your daily zero out might happen just once at day's end with an auto
Speaker:responder explaining your communication schedule.
Speaker:If you're in sales,
Speaker:more frequent check-ins might align better with your relationship focused
Speaker:brand.
Speaker:The key is your messaging management strategy to your unique brand promise,
Speaker:then communicate it directly so that others know exactly what to expect from
Speaker:you. For instance, at the end of this podcast,
Speaker:I always let you know that I have a area where you can ask a question and
Speaker:then I don't monitor that, but I'll get back to you very promptly.
Speaker:That is exactly what we're talking about here.
Speaker:So here is your call to action.
Speaker:Take 10 minutes right now to count every place that you receive messages,
Speaker:email accounts, text messages, social platforms,
Speaker:project management tools, and voice messages, right down the number. Okay.
Speaker:And then tomorrow commit to zeroing out each one of these platforms before you
Speaker:end your work day,
Speaker:do it for three days and track how it affects your stress level and the
Speaker:responses you get from others.
Speaker:I guarantee that you're going to see immediate results in how people perceive
Speaker:your personal brand. And if you find any of this to be helpful,
Speaker:don't forget to like share, comment, and subscribe. And most importantly,
Speaker:engage with it. Okay. And after listening to the podcast,
Speaker:visit weswyatt.com,
Speaker:scroll down to where you can enter your name and your email address and
Speaker:subscribe to that insider email.
Speaker:I'll get you all the tips and tricks and nuggets that I find.
Speaker:If you have questions,
Speaker:click on the thought bubble at the bottom right of weswyatt.com.
Speaker:That is my chat feature as mentioned above.
Speaker:I don't monitor that live, but I will reply promptly.
Speaker:And last but not least go to weswyatt.com/disclaimer for
Speaker:important context regarding this and all podcasts posts and info I provide.
Speaker:And I can't thank you enough for tuning in for another episode of the market.
Speaker:You first podcast until we talk next time, have a DYNAMITE day.
Speaker:You've been listening to the market. You first podcast.
Speaker:You are the most important thing you can sell.
Speaker:We hope you've gotten some useful and practical information from the show.
Speaker:Make sure to like rate and review the show and we'll be back soon,
Speaker:but to find the show notes and everything about the market,
Speaker:you first podcast visit market.
Speaker:You first.com on behalf of your host,
Speaker:Wes Wyatt and the whole market.
Speaker:You first team have a DYNAMITE day.
