Ever worked with a Gary?

An ex-colleague of mine (I’ll call him Gary – apologies to all Gary’s!) could talk s**t with the best of them. He’d dazzle you with jargon, and baffle you with BS, making every conversation feel like it was about to change the world. The man had what you’d call “the gift of the gab.”

I remember Gary grandstanding in meetings, delivering monologues with the kind of confidence that made you question whether you were doing enough with your life. He had BIG ideas, bold intentions, and plans that sounded like they were ripped from a TED Talk.

The problem? Gary did absolutely none of it.

Pretty much diddly squat!

Gary was a master at saying, “Leave it with me,” which roughly translated to “You’ll never hear about this again.”

Problem was it took everyone a while to figure that out because, on the surface, Gary looked busy. His calendar was always booked, his inbox full, and he was never short of a coffee meeting.

Yet, somehow Gary managed to escape scrutiny for longer than you’d think possible, all thanks to his verbal gymnastics and weasel words...

But you can only bluff for so long. Eventually, the lack of delivery caught up with Gary, and he was marched out the door – even talking a big game as he was physically departing carrying his cardboard box of belongings!

I share this story because, as ridiculous as it was to witness Gary’s charade, it’s a classic example of the gap between intention and action. Gary had all the intention in the world but delivered on very little.

Which brings me to the point of this midweek check-in…

Midweek Check-in: How Are You Tracking?

It’s the middle of the week, and in no way am I inferring you’re a "Gary," but are you guilty of beginning the week with a list of goals, only to get stuck in the "intent" phase? 😱

Did Monday feel like it was filled with endless possibilities, but now those goals have taken a backseat to random tasks and distractions?

Despite good intentions, the truth is: Intent doesn’t pay the bills. Action does.

If you need to get back on track this week, then:

1.     Plan it like you mean it:
Don't just write down your goals; break them into small, actionable steps. If it doesn’t fit in your calendar, it doesn’t exist. 📅

2.     Time-block your priorities:
No excuses - dedicate time to those high-impact tasks that get pushed aside by "urgent" distractions. 🚫🔔

3.     Track your progress:
Reflect each day. What did you achieve? What can you improve tomorrow? 📝

4.     Celebrate small wins:
Whether it’s staying the course or even just sending that email you’ve been avoiding - celebrate it! 🎉 It builds momentum.

Make Every Week Productive

If you’re serious about making the rest of your week more productive than the start, why not take things a step further?

Book a session with me for a Productivity Power-Up. In just six weeks, I can help you unlock 100 minutes a day for what truly matters. Not talk, all action - real practical techniques and tools you need to maximise your efficiency and effectiveness.

And if you don’t see value in the first session? No hard feelings, you get your money back.

So, how will you make the rest of this week count? Don’t just talk a good game - act on it.

Make this week better than last.