Work When They Slack- Overnight Success

November 29, 2009 · Comments

For your next dose of Overnight Success, I share a secret of mine that I’ve used successfully for the last few years. When everyone else lets off the gas around the Holidays, I use that time to gun it past them. I make lots of content and business value in the weeks between US Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. Here’s the video. (If you can’t see it, click here.)

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  • hackmanj
    Hi Chris - what a great tip. One thing people can also consider is the good will among the people they already work with. I like to make my rounds and get out to see as many customers as I can during this time. I care about these people and their success and it is a great time to say thank you and let them know how much you appreciate their support. I usually distribute some kind of holiday gift to the clients in the process, again just a gesture of appreciation.
  • Great tip Chris. While the cat's away the mice will play. Indeed.
  • Hey, the stealth approach worked for George Washington too.

    I appreciate this tip. Every year I wonder if I should ease up during the holidays and every year I continue working. I might slow down a tiny bit to shop and bake and decorate but this is the time of year when people are cutting down on the client load, it would be foolish not to take advantage of the opportunity.

    Thanks, Chris - and happy holidays.
  • Gareth
    Great thoughts....mmmm maybe this is one I won't share!
  • Important point - goes back to the inspiration versus perspiration concept. I guess yesterday when I woke up at 5 to start working, and went to bed at 2:30 AM qualifies. I agree, this is a great time of year to hustle. So little seems to get done except for people to consume, but very little to create.
  • I totally agree! As soon as I decided that December was *not* going to be my lowest income month of the year ... it wasn't. Why? Because now I take action in December! If no one is launching anything ... there's less noise ... and it can be a *great* time to launch. Then, you're the only one out there! :)
  • denikasrel
    Chris,
    You are so right. And there is likely a Sun Tzu (Art of War) saying to fit this same idea.

    I share your enthusiasm for capitalizing on the lull that others adopt during the holiday season and have noticed exactly what you mention, at least on Twitter. There seems to less tweeting in the channels I follow, but those who are doing it are paying a lot more attention to everyone else. Less traffic = you stand out more.

    I especially like your idea of stockpiling content. As always, Chris, you offer great tips.
  • Another excellent tip Chris! Everyone knows who Gary Vaynerchuk is, and Gary always talks about his passion and how it drives him. He talks a lot about working his ass off as well, but it is often times over shadowed by his passion (which that dude has a ton of). I have owned three companies now, and every time I bring people into my startups, they think that hardwork is working 60 hours per work rather than 40.

    Becoming successful, as Chris has pointed out, is a MAJOR sacrifice. You miss some birthdays, you miss some family events, soccer games, school plays, etc. But the most important thing you should intentionally miss is everything, and I mean EVERYTHING except work and family. Develop 2 priorities in life, (mine are work and family) and everything else completely goes away. No more Lost, no more Simpsons, no more any of that.

    Look at your competitor and look at what they are blogging, facebooking and tweeting about, you will quickly get a feel for how much time they are dedicating to their personal success and how much time they are dedicating to things not core to the cause.

    Chris, cannot begin to tell you how much I appreciate you doing this series! It is so incredibly valuable for everyone out there to see what it takes to be successful. THANK YOU.

    Erik Boles
    http://ErikBoles.com
    http://twitter.com/ErikBoles
  • "No more Lost, no more Simpsons, no more any of that."

    Is that why you watched Cleveland/FamGuy and/or American Dad last night?

    "@ErikBoles: Seth MacFarlane may in fact be the most brilliant human on earth! My stomach hurts!
    about 11 hours ago from Tweetie"

    Ha, ha! Busted. j/k
  • I agree 100% Chris. I think that people should just push harder during the holiday months. It makes sense considering most people get pretty lazy during these times.
  • Just as applying force at the most effective part of the fulcrum, *strategically* working while others coast gives us a double payoff. One, we are expanding our current skills during our activity while others are not and two, the momentum we've established carries us past our competition at the beginning of the next year. Come Q1, we're already at the first turn on the track while our competition is nesting their shoes in the starting blocks.

    I agree that family time is exceedingly important. Working for the sake of working makes for a poor quality of life IMO; creating abundance by employing our gifts isn't *work* anyway. But strategically looking at ways to apply ourselves to our goals benefits the whole, and that's worth the effort. Thanks for the forum! Best, M.
  • Thank you again Chris - Perfect timing, as with the holiday vortex now staring us in the face it would be much easier to leave new content ideas undeveloped until the New Year. Needed this inspiration, so back to the keyboard and sketching storyboard for mini video presentations!
  • I love this series. I went back and watched all of them this morning. I have been getting back into blogging and was planning to do a blitz of content in December not even thinking that people were going to be taking off for the rest of the year. Now I'm more motivated then ever to get moving.
  • What I love about the holidays is that its quiet. I have time to think. This has always been the best planning and execution time for us and we will continue to take advantage of it!
  • Thank's Chris!
    great tip!
    /Nils
  • Hey Chris,

    First, I am loving all of the one-minute nuggets that you share. I think these are perfect for how we absorb information, in small chunks. Maybe this has something to do with the success of Twitter?

    It is so true that we 'give ourselves permission" to let go of all kinds of responsibility during this season. Plus it is a time of great personal stress, between organizing and attending various holiday events, making sure that no familial or social faux pas are created by neglecting the right card or gift. There is not only permission, but a great deal of distraction.

    Going against the flow is often a recipe for success. Is it not Warren Buffet who says something about being cautious when everyone else is bold, and vice versa.

    Two questions:

    What camera do you use for your video clips? Great quality and obviously portable.

    What's with the balloon in the back of the car?

    Thanks for all you do.

    Bert
  • remarkablogger
    "Sneak some success in..." I like that. :-) With you on this, 100%, sir.
  • Woah, I just blogged on this very subject! It's the nooks and crannies of our life that will make or break your success in business, I'm convinced. Most completely discount their time away from home or with family as "unproductive." Too bad for them, they better get ready to watch us FLY by them. :)

    As with everything else in life, it's the little things that make the difference. Because little things are so easy to do, but they're also so easy not to do.

    Thanks again, Chris, love this!
  • alejandrorecio
    that is a great tip, and this is even more true for latin american cultures, were they really leave everything and get to the good stuff, but off course somebody has to do the work, and they will keep checking the web and hopefully find us :) !!
  • Good tip, and a good reminder!

    Reminds of me of the story of the ant and the grasshopper
  • This is something Sean "Diddy" Combs (one of the people who inspires me) has always said, too. While others sleep... we work. It's a mantra. :)
  • Maybe it is the nature of our business which depends so heavily on the holiday season or just the nerves of the score board going back to 0 on January 1st, but this is always a big time in my world.

    That being said, one of my most productive times of each year is our summer holiday. I love the extra time with my family, but always carve out opportunities to work on my gameplan while I am away from the desk!

    Great piece and as I've said before, cant wait to see what you do with this whole series and hope you arent wrapping it up anytime soon.
  • The holidays just makes me want to work harder. A friend of mine made the comment the other day over dinner that I should take time off and spend more time with family (he's a friend of the family and noticed that I spend much time with or talk with family). I do talk to family and I spend time with parents on the phone often. But as for the rest of my family, let's just say we don't get along with one another. I work hard during the holidays because being an entrepreneur, if I'm not working, then the business isn't making any money. If the business isn't making any money, then the whole mission falls apart. Sure it's hard work (more than your basic 9-5). But the little accomplishments, the little victories with clients... That just makes it all worthwhile!
  • garyslack
    Chris, for me, work is "slacking"!
  • cliffalexander
    I've done this for the past couple of years and it's worked very well. Very good - and timely - advice.

    And, if you get up early, you don't even have to take time away from the family.
  • cliffalexander
    I've done this for the past couple of years with great success.

    And, if you get up early or stay up late, you don't even have to take time away from the family!
  • roguepreacher
    Chris, I think you make a good point about taking stock during this time of year, and about continuing to work hard, and about quality time with family. That said, I also think you're walking a fine line here and I worry that some people will misinterpret what you're saying and lump it in with all the other messages of our 'get ahead' culture.

    I have a friend who was recently diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer at age 49. She and I have had some really great talks these past few weeks as she pursues healing in her life and relationships as well as physically. One thing she said that stuck with me was this: "I did everything right. I worked hard. I did all the right things for my husband and boys. But I never did anything for me." Her regret is that she forgot how to play, laugh, and rest...and now her body, and cancer, is forcing her to face that reality.

    I really like your stuff, but my (unsolicated) advice to you, friend, (and your readers): turn off the camera, get out of the car, grab that balloon in the backseat, and run through the rain like the child of God that you are. There's a time to forget about the 'competition' and 'getting ahead.'
  • geofflaughton
    Roguepreacher is right on the money, in my book. I agree with Chris' advice about capitalizing on that time period...AND, I know that there's a part of me that gets so easily seduced into taking EVERY free amount of time to be "productive." That word gets easily used for distraction, avoidance, workaholism, and keeping oneself not fully present. I was moved by your story of your friend who has cancer. I have a feeling that folks who are staring at the possibility of death in the face aren't wondering if they're going to be productive enough. They may be wanting to be focused on the quality of the life they're living balanced with taking care of business. I don't see that clearly given any real shrift here.

    Chris, I'd recommend that you do a post on that balance....you are doing great stuff I usually agree with. I'd encourage you to use your platform to also bring out more on how the relationships approach you espouse a lot can be aided by being in healthy balance between social media, head, heart, body and Spirit.

    Thanks for your incredible contributions,
    Geoff Laughton
  • I spent the "vacation" I just took finishing a few bigger writing projects that I don't normally get time for during my regular work week. It was fun, and productive.
  • I agree with you. I love this time of year when everyone is slacking. It is a great time to push ahead.
  • Love the rain covered jacket and balloon floating in the back. : ) Authentic.

    I find for myself that the time between Thanksgiving and New Years is very productive. Allows me to focus in on some things that perhaps I was neglecting throughout the business of the rest of the year. I use the slower time (slower from the perspective of clients slowing down) to gear up on foundational things or special projects of my own. I call it my SLING SHOT THEORY. You pull back in a way that enables you to propel forward with increased velocity. “Pulling Back” is in the context of being intentional to whatever it is you / I need to do. It might be slowing down from outside work but increasing the level of focused work on your own business needs (strategy, direction, etc).
  • Woops. Typed "business of the rest of the year" above but meant "busyness."
  • DrV
    When you post an overnight success clip while shaving I'll be impressed
  • The holidays are my favourite time of year to do just as you have suggested!

    Not only does this provide a fantastic competitive edge, it's always so much quieter that productivity goes way up. Working in *holiday mode* is incredibly enjoyable too -- just crank up the tunes and [boldly] go! :D
  • Thanks for the video, Chris, this is helpful. I have always felt like December is a great month to get projects done, and also to network at holiday parties, which can be a bit more relaxed then the typical networking sessions. December is also a good month to work up your communications plan for the upcoming year. I like the beginning of January to be a bit more reflective.
  • Steve
    I'm with you Chris - this is the time to make hay on projects (while you're drinking egg nog at home). In fact, I believe it was this time last year that I discovered YOU. I already have several biz projects lined up for that precious week between Christmas and New Year's. And I will take every new biz call. (And hit a museum in NYC with my son.) And think of my 5 or 9 words for 2010... And...
  • I'm with you Chris - this is the time to make hay on projects (while you're drinking egg nog at home). In fact, I believe it was this time last year that I discovered YOU. I already have several biz projects lined up for that precious week between Christmas and New Year's. And I will take every new biz call. (And hit a museum in NYC with my son.) And think of my 5 or 9 words for 2010... And...
  • Hey Chris - Good food for thought as always. Was planning to write something similar on From Bogota With Love and ended up elaborating on your post instead. My key takeaway from your post was that these are great times for changing up routine - whether it be getting ahead on content creation or putting planning and strategic thinking at the top of your list. I know the past holiday was a great chance for me to catch up with some people who inspire me creatively and spiritually. Hope the same was true for you and yours.
  • That is so true. I was reflecting today where the last 11 days went...I need to make sure I don't ask myself where the last 40 days went.
  • Nice to see you weren't actually driving during the video this time!

    I'm reading this one late because I was slacking over Thanksgiving ;-)

    But, I like the message as well as the nod to "balance".

    Cheers,
    Bill
  • Great tip Chris. I agree. Holidays make people think of family more then work so you can really make a move in your success goal. Thanks for sharing.
  • Chris, I love what you are saying in this blog and I missed it when you sent it out because of my own efforts to build success. I know it's generally considered rude to put a link back to your own site but I'm just so excited about the project I launched on Friday November 28th while everyone else was playing and shopping. I launched The DADvocate project This is a project to write a book by Dads about Dads. I used Google docs to build the survey and when I launced I was the first person to complete the form at 11:20 PM. I then went in an looked at the results and saw that because of all the editing and what not the form was not completing the spreadsheet properly. So I ended up redooing the entire form, including inserting all the answer options and makeing it better. At 3:30 AM on Saturday it was updated. I got a few hours sleep and got up with the kids to play. It was a great weekend. I'm sorry if this is an inappropiate comment my thought was that this is an example of what you are talking about though.

    By the way if your a dad we sure could use your input. I explaine the entire project over at the MySpellingSucks.com blog under "DADvocate Project."
  • Great tip Chris. I think there's a lot of truth to what you say. If everyone is working equally as hard as you the rest of the year, then the only time you can truly get ahead is by working just as hard when they aren't - and what better time then the holidays! That said, how does your family feel about that approach? Are the on board with it?
  • Thanks for the nudge! Great message...good push... awesome setting...dig the background balloon=evidence of your balance work/play time. I always appreciate what you pour into these nuggets of truth. Now here's to actualization. :)
  • "Stockpile good content." Easy, doable advice. Thanks, Chris!
  • "...when they're all pumped on their resolutions and all that." Classic!
  • tylerwood
    Great point.

    I've found it interesting how people use the New Year to make changes in their life or business. Why not today? The only difference is the date.
  • OK, Chris. Thanks for the heads up.
  • cindyronzoni
    Chris,
    Thanks for this great advice - it made me feel better that I'm taking this month off to up grade and improve all my social media...hoping to re-launch robust blog in Jan. One upgrade I'd like to make is purchasing a new video camera. Is there one that you like over another and can recommend?

    Thank you for all your great advice. Although I don't comment a lot, I am a sponge and soaking in all your words and advice.

    Happy Holidays,
  • susanpjoyce
    Absolutely true, particularly for job hunting!

    Many seem to think taking a break from their job search in late November and December - a.k.a. "taking the holidays off" - is a good idea. Then, on Jan. 2 (or whenever the last bowl game is over), they jump into the job market along with everyone who made a New Year's Resolution to find a new job.

    Toughest job market of the year is in January. Easiest one is in December.
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