Chapter 3 - Before the Meeting

Successful Business Meetings - Overview

A series of successful business meetings at the right time in your career can change your life forever.

So you have to start taking meetings seriously. Much more seriously.

Let’s start by taking a look at the larger wider overview to meetings.

You and Your Lifestyle

To make things happen, to be an ideas person, to be someone who gets things done, to be the person you want to be, then you need to be clear-headed, fresh and as stress-free as possible.

If you’re only running on half a tank then you’ll get caught out and you’ll regret it later - when it might be too late.

In other words, you have to consider you and your lifestyle.

Try following these rules. They’re simple and they work.

• Get plenty of sleep. Eight hours is normal. Five isn’t.

• Don’t be hung-over in meetings

• Keep fit.

• Have a definite relaxation routine

Remember: The people who haven’t the time to do the above haven’t got the time to be a real success.

Old chestnut: Did you ever hear of the guy who was so poor he couldn’t even afford to pay attention?

Ha ha

If you want to be a big success then you have to make the time to get your lifestyle right.

You need to make sure that your lifestyle is one that will ensure you function to the best of your ability during meetings.

If you don’t make the time to ensure you function at your best then you’ll only get second best.

At meetings, you need to ensure that you’re at your personal peak.

This is so incredibly important, yet so many people neglect it, even boast about it. Don’t be fooled.

• Stay sober in the week.

• Get your sleep.

• Look after your body.

• Establish a stress-eliminating personal routine.

Exercise 25:

What steps do you need to take to ensure your lifestyle supports your ambitions?

Write this down as a simple list. Do this right now.

Follow this with a short plan as to how you’re going to achieve this. Do this right now.

Confide this with a friend or mentor.

Whatever you choose to do, be sure to do it in comfortable realistic stages. Don’t promise to become a saint overnight.

Look at your next three meetings and plan how you’re going to peak for them.

> Setting up the Meeting - Setting the Agenda