The Zero Based Calendar: Quit screwing off and get more done

The biggest accomplishment for many people was graduating college. 16 years of schooling topped off with a cap, gown and diploma.

I never graduated from college. I wasn’t able to pull it off.

Actually, I dropped out 3 times.

The biggest accomplishment of my life was paying off $80,000 of personal debt. $30,000 of which was to the school I never graduated from.

I know, it was dumb.

But after 47 months my wife and I did it. We were audited twice, moved and closed down two businesses while doing it. But we did it. We paid off every cent we owed (listen).

The #1 influence on us was Dave Ramsey. If you haven’t heard of Dave, he teaches something called the Zero Based Budget.

His philosophy is to:

  1. Have a plan for your money
  2. Write it down on paper
  3. Do it before the month starts
  4. Don’t leave any money without a plan.

Example:

What not to do:

Don’t leave any money unplanned for. If you’re going to go to the mall and blow it all on clothes that fine, just admit it on paper.

It works.

In the last 2 months this site has started to grow rapidly. With that comes more emails, more customers, more contracts and complete overwhelm.

My calendar started to get out of control and balls were starting to be dropped. I started experimenting with solutions and tweaking my daily routine.

After a few weeks I implemented the “Zero Based Calendar.” The idea is simple, leave no time unplanned. Even if that time is dedicated to mindlessly browsing Facebook.

This is how it works:

  1. Write down everything you have to do for the day
  2. Put all of those task on your daily calendar
  3. Only do what you have planned.

This is what my calendar looks like now:

-_Calendar

How do I do the same thing?

I created a bonus lesson that shows you how to do the exact same thing. Even if you aren’t at the point of being overwhelmed it will help you avoid getting there.

It keeps me on task, organized and focused.

Click below to enter the Videofruit Member area and start the lesson (it’s Free).
video-bonus