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  • Writer's pictureNikki Trotter, MS, M.A., SHRM-CP, ACC

The 10 most effective ways I start my day with impact

Updated: Jul 13, 2022


As leaders, we only have so many hours in a day to get things done. To be exact, we have 24 hours, 1440 minutes, and 86,400 seconds in a day; and only 8 hours dedicated to our respected workplace. For me, being a leadership #coach and a business #leader means that I need to put my energy into the things that get me going, and keeps me #growing. So, here is a list of the ten things that I try to do every workday. Yes, there are some days when I don’t get them all done, but I do my best to deliver. It has proven very effective for me and has helped me kick-off and complete my day with the right mindset. In no particular order my day includes:


  1. Reading something related to my industry. Staying abreast of the trends and statistics within my industry gives me a competitive edge, and helps me to continue to deliver the highest quality of service to my clients.

  2. Reading something related to my business or personal development. Sharpening my saw in just one small way makes all of the difference for me as a leader and coach.

  3. Send an email to touch base with a stakeholder, vendor, client, or colleague (past: present). For me, checking in lets them know that they are important, and I value our relationship.

  4. Taking a few moments in the morning to acknowledge and write down “how I am feeling.” This helps me to acknowledge and be more self-aware about how I am and how I will show up for the day.

  5. Check-in with my team member on their progress, and have a short non-work-related conversation with them. We are physically distant, but it is important to elevate our social connection. Therefore, checking in first thing in the morning, and throughout the day; especially working in a virtual environment, gives me and my team an opportunity to do what we would do if we were in the office.

  6. Reviewing my top three GOALS for my company that are focused on its growth. By keeping goals top of mind, I am much more motivated and energized by my "why" and my purpose for doing what I do.

  7. Identifying and executing just ONE task to support each of my top three goals. I debunk the myth that multitasking is effective. Therefore, my objective is to focus on one task at a time so that I am 100% productive and efficient at completing that task.

  8. Posting valuable pieces of content on all my major social media accounts. I don't post for pleasure, I post to educate, empower and engage with those that follow me. Therefore, it is vitally important for me to post quality content at least once a day.

  9. Giving back or pay it FORWARD! Out of all of the things that I do daily, this is definitely the most important one! I try to pay it forward in more ways than one; including coaching pro bono or taking the time to provide insights and information to a new graduate that is interested in I/O psychology, coaching, etc. These daily actions always fill my cup, and I am always thankful.

  10. Taking at least 5 minutes to reflect on what I am grateful for, appreciate what I have and how far I’ve come in my life, business and career. This is one of the first things that I do in the morning (in my Rocketbook). I take a few moments to sit in silence and think about what I am most grateful for in my life.

As Jim Rohn stated, either you run the day or the day runs you! And I don't know about you, but I definitely prefer to run my day by making an impact in at least one small but important

way; each and every day!


What is something that you do daily that gets you FOCUSED and into your state of productivity?


Nikki Trotter is the Founder and CEO of IO, LLC., a transformational coaching company. I specialize in coaching professional women in leadership from the front line to the C-Suite. I help my clients master the art of resilient leadership to take control of their careers with courage, clarity, and confidence.


For a confidential coaching conversation, please contact me at nikki@theiopcoach.com


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