(Originally published on 7/20/2010 - it's that time of year again, and just as relevant as ever to everyone suffering through summer this year.)

It's hot here in Texas.  I mean the kind of hot that makes you just want to lie down on the floor, next to the cats, to try to find a cool spot.  Even with air conditioning (read: life support) everywhere, the heat is relentless, and just performing normal activities (grocery shopping, meeting with clients, etc.) is absolutely draining. 
 

Let me tell you something; there is nothing quite like that first contact of the leather (or vinyl) seat when you've had to spend an hour or so in the grocery store, and there is no shade to be had in the meantime. Yowza!  There is more hot air in that vehicle than a Congressional filibuster.

It's that time of year many people when many of our business contacts are on summer vacations, and those with school-age families are on that last grim death march until school starts up, after which the house will (hopefully) start to resemble something other than a perpetual slumber party gone bad.  We're hot, we're listless, and we don't want to face a single second out in that triple-digit heat that we can possibly avoid.  In short, the summer doldrums are here in full force.

It's easy to get aggravated when there's constant distractions, and people you work with may not be available because they *are* on vacation still (lucky pups!).  However, instead of pulling your hair out in frustration, take a step back and look at it from another perspective.  Maybe this isn't "the doldrums" - maybe this is the time you can look at as "Powerhouse Prep".

Think about any big projects you have in mind; if you're trying to tackle them now, you may be giving yourself a major headache.  Instead of fighting the time of disruptions and interruptions, work with it.  For every major project, there are a ton of small tasks that need to be done to "pave the way".
 

If you're planning a major marketing push, pre-write some of your blog entries or FB updates, and plan the dates you want to use the entries (Hot Tip: Hootsuite is great for scheduling, and most blogs will allow you to set a future "publish" date).  Put together a "new client" package, so that when that marketing push is a towering success, you'll be ready to sign up your new business! 

Sometimes we have to fight upstream to get things accomplished, and that's just the way it is; however, if you can figure out a way to work with the flow, it's usually a lot less painful and a whole lot more productive.  Happy summer, y'all - I think I'm going to go find a fridge to sit in for a bit.

Did this article strike a chord with you? Great! Please leave a comment, or share it with friends via the "Twitter" or Facebook links below!