The Platinum Hours Schedule... Driving Execution through Commitment, Discipline, Preparation & Daily Focus

Platinum Hours are times throughout each workday where the magic happens. Where you connect with people, drive momentum on a project or program, move towards creating results. You must protect your time throughout the day by blocking your calendar, color-coding your tasks and focusing your attention on the task at hand.

In leading many Mastermind Mentoring Groups, I have identified several key areas that are common around driving a performance mindset including maintaining focus, becoming more disciplined, driving results, being consistent, creating a plan, learning how to prepare more effectively, enhancing communication skills, execution and building balance. In reviewing what works, areas for improvement and what to avoid, I have developed my Platinum Hours Schedule to organize and execute each weekday, focusing on preparation, performance and execution. By preparing and driving consistency to your daily routine, you will put yourself in the path to deliver results and exceed expectations. This is only a suggested approach to planning your workday. Please review the notes and disclaimers at the end of this article. Here's to crushing each workweek!

Platinum Hours Schedule:

6:00am-6:30am Rise & Shine 

Stretching, light exercise, it's time to make a positive impact and be a game changer!

6:30am-7:00am Fuel Your Body & Mind

Read, eat breakfast & drink your coffee, tea or smoothie.

7:00am-8:00am High Value Conversations (HVC)

Any decision-makers that you need to speak with are more available before the workday begins. Also, this is a great time to have a concise team meeting with an agenda and a purpose to kick off the day.

8:00am-8:30am Reverse Plan & Think

Work backwards from today's plan objectives, review tasks and projects, and always start with your 'big rocks.' Pause to think about how best to move forward and attack the day.

8:30am-10:00am Platinum Hours-Phase I: Big Rocks First

Focused block of time focused on the execution of today's plan. Avoid distractions and stay in your flow. Start working on your top priorities that will ensure working towards the achievement of your daily objectives and continuing your path towards REAL Goal Achievement.

10:00am-10:30am Mind Reset

Take time to refocus your mind, meditate, check messages, breath work. Light stretching, healthy snack and relax your mind and body to reset.

10:30am-12:00pm Platinum Hours-Phase II: Key Connections

Focused block of time focused on the execution of today's plan. Avoid distractions and stay in your flow. Targeted calls, meetings, reach outs to build your network and make progress. 

12:00pm-1:00pm Lunch & Learn

Take time to eat and drive your continuous learning mindset by watching videos, reading articles and/or researching your marketplace. Add a knowledge-based activity as often as possible instead of just taking time to eat or disconnect. 

1:00pm-1:30pm Connect & Follow up

Return calls, reply to messages and kick off your afternoon engagement and activities. Use this time to ramp back up after lunch.

1:30pm-3:00pm Platinum Hours-Phase III: Building on Your Momentum

Focused block of time focused on the execution of today's plan. Avoid distractions and stay in your flow. Drive your productivity and momentum through the afternoon by continuing to accomplish today's plan.

3:00pm-3:30pm Positivity Pause

Refuel, healthy snack, light stretching, casual conversations to reset your mind. Include a positive affirmation or quote to bring positivity into your day. Reduce or eliminate negative self-talk.

3:30pm-5:00pm Platinum Hours-Phase IV: Finish Strong

Focused block of time focused on the execution of today's plan. Avoid distractions and stay in your flow.

Complete today's plan of action driving to the results you desire.

5:00pm-6:00pm Platinum Planning Hour

Preparation leads to exceptional execution habits. 

This blocked hour will set the foundation for your success. Your preparation will build confidence and organization, reduce stress, and drive a habit around successful attention management (time management). Start with reviewing your daily accomplishments and making any adjustments to your upcoming plan. Plan for tomorrow (or for Monday if it's Friday). Preparation leads to exceptional execution habits.

The top takeaways to plan, adjust and customize your Platinum Hours productivity schedule are:

1. Purposefully add positivity into each day with your Positivity Pause, reducing negative self-talk to a point where it becomes insignificant.
2. Focus your Platinum Hours in blocks of time throughout your day to reduce or eliminate distractions that divide your attention and execution.
3. Take regular breaks to reset your mind and body.
4. Be consistent each day. Consistency leads to success and drives your performance mindset.

Schedule Notes: 

• If you have a commute or need more time getting ready to start each day, plan accordingly by going to bed earlier the day before and waking up earlier. 
• Potentially make hands-free calls during your commute as long as it is safe to do so. I prefer to listen to podcasts, my playlist or books on tape during a commute to either learn or chill.
• Keep your Platinum Hours to 90 minutes to ensure proper focus and limit any external distractions that take your time away from you each day. By shortening to 90 minute blocks of time throughout your day, you can completely focus on the task at hand.
• Drink plenty of water, stretch periodically and stand up throughout the day. Add healthy snacks too.
• Set reminders on your smart phone or calendar to stay on course and commit to your Platinum Hours.
• You will most likely be exhausted at the end of each day. Be sure to take time away from work duties and responsibilities, recharge, exercise, spend quality time with your loved ones and disconnect.

Platinum Hours Disclaimers:

• Use this schedule as a guide, give yourself permission to make any necessary adjustments and realize that your action leads to delivering results.
• Customize the hours to your daily needs.
• Stay focused and drive your daily performance by insisting on your own standards of excellence.
• Be aware of your attitude and behaviors each day, and adjust accordingly. 

I hope you takeaway some new ideas to make your work life shine, like platinum.

Mark Krajnik, Chief Executive Officer with Performance Mindset Associates (PMA), is a successful talent strategist with over 30 years of success at top-ranked, global organizations. Mark brings demonstrated skills and a positive impact around retention, behavioral-based interview preparation, performance mindset coaching, mentoring, performance development, change management, team building and streamlined talent acquisition processes. He has also created talent management models that simplify and create a positive difference on your culture and team's performance. Mark will enable and inspire you. If you want to take your organization to the next level, please contact Mark Krajnik at mark@performancemindset.co.