Tag Archives: Time Blocking

#111 – The Ideal Week for Financial Advisors with Brian Margolis

Life Balance, Practice Management, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Are you running your week, or is your week running you?
Brian Margolis, founder of Productivity Giant explains why most advisors spend too much time reacting to emails, distractions, and day-to-day chaos, and how you can reverse that trend.

Key Takeaways:

  • Pillar System: Identify 5-7 weekly “pillars” – the most high-leverage activities that, done consistently, drive your long-term results. Success lies in consistency, even if the payoff isn’t immediately obvious.
  • Pro Time (Protected, Proactive Time): Schedule focused, undisturbed blocks in your calendar – ideally in the morning – to work on your business, not just in it.
  • Mold & Batch: Treat your Pro Time as your most important client. Mold your calendar around it, and batch similar tasks together to avoid the productivity-killing cost of context switching.
  • Plan Your Day: Don’t start your morning until it’s finished on paper. Brian Margolis shares his “four column” legal pad system to organize priority projects, tasks, and even personal to-dos.

  Quick Implementation Tips 

  • Set Recurring Pro Time: Make it a standing appointment with yourself on your calendar – before meetings or client work fills the space.
  • Try a Reverse Timer: When tackling email, set a 10–15-minute timer to process as much as you can, saving longer items for later.
  • Batch for Focus: Group similar tasks. For example, process prospecting emails together, handle admin tasks in one block, and reserve creative work for your freshest hours.

This episode is packed with actionable strategies to help you work smarter, protect your pro time, and achieve the results you want.

Don’t forget to check out the show notes for free resources and get ready to turn great ideas into meaningful action!

Sponsor: 

 Connect with Brian Margolis:

 Resources: 

Connect With Bill Cates:

About Brian Margolis

Brian Margolis is a former environmental scientist who turned entrepreneur. He is the founder of ProductivityGiant.com and author of the book The Index Card Business Plan for Sales Pros and Entrepreneurs.

Brian’s Pillar System helps sales pros and entrepreneurs create a strategy so simple, it fits on an index card…but so powerful it’s helped create 7-figure earners and has been licensed by some of the largest companies in the world to train their teams.

Brian has been a partner or consultant in multiple ventures ranging from startups to national brands. He has worked with everyone from SharkTank entrepreneurs to Fortune 500 companies. Both his accomplishments and failures span a variety of industries.

In addition to his above work, and appearances on some of the largest business and sales podcasts in the world, he is still in the trenches having done thousands of individual coaching sessions with sales pros and entrepreneurs.

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Episode #42 The Power of Effective Networking for Financial Advisors – with Michael Goldberg

Education, Finance, Marketing, Speaking, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

“I tried networking once. It didn’t work!”

Yes!  This is an actual quote from a financial advisor.  Sad!

Networking for financial advisors is not just going to networking events – which even “The Referral Coach” loathes. Networking is forming our own “community” of mutually beneficial relationships. And it can be done without ever going to a single networking event.

And don’t forget… It’s not called, “Net-sit” or “Net-eat.”  It’s called “Net-work” for a reason. Forming a great network of folks who can help you build your business does take some effort. The good news is that most of the time that effort can be fun!  

In this episode, Bill Cates interviews Michael Goldberg, author of Knock Out Networking as well as a consultant and trainer to financial professionals for decades. 

With unusually fun and lively banter, Bill and Michael discuss:

  • How Michael’s career as an amateur boxer (hence “Knockout Networking”) informs how he helps advisors become successful networkers. 
  • ​​Why effective networking for financial advisors goes beyond just attending events, emphasizing that it’s a verb that can be applied in a variety of ways, including social media (LinkedIn, etc.)
  • How the pandemic made people more intentional about networking, and how that intentionality is helping advisors achieve better results. 
  • Why and how focusing on a clear target market makes networking for financial advisors easier and more productive.
  • Michael’s three goals for networking events (if you do choose to go this route), and how to break the ice to have more meaningful conversations while you’re there.
  • The importance of preparation for networking events.
  • The difference between networking and selling, and how prospecting at events can be unattractive and off putting. 
  • How to answer the dreaded, “What do you do?” with Michael’s PEEC Statement formula.
  • The importance of time blocking and owning your calendar to manage your time properly and make the most of networking activities.
  • …And more!

 

Resources: 

Connect With Bill Cates:

Connect With Michael Goldberg: 

About Michael Goldberg:

Michael Goldberg has helped financial advisors, brokers, agents, reps, wholesalers, and other sales producers add hundreds of thousands of dollars to their bottom line.

His firm Knock Out Networking, LLC is renowned as a speaking and training resource in the financial services industry. Described by clients as “dynamic and motivational”, Michael is a master at invigorating and engaging audiences. His knock-out style is “in your face” and high energy. His content is real world and can be applied immediately. Michael speaks at conferences and associations, runs sales meetings, and delivers results-driven programs on networking, referral marketing, and sales presentations.

“It’s all about Connection” – Michael Goldberg

Boxing, like networking, is a contact sport. The more and better connections you make, the more wildly successful you will be. The state of growing a business and gaining more market share for your top performers is becoming more challenging. Despite technology and all that it has allowed us to accomplish, those with the most contacts, the best relationships, and a greater understanding of how to utilize them will achieve the most success.

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