People always talk about a glass being half full or half empty – and the way in which you choose to view the glass reflects your viewpoint on life. My take is this: no matter if people are “half full” or “half empty,” they’re all wrong. That glass is always full, because it has air in it. It’s full, just in a different way than you’re used to seeing.

Where’s the air in your life that you’re not seeing? The truth is, there’s stuff all around us that we miss out on because we’re looking at something in one way; if we change our reference point or allow ourselves to back up, get up above our own egos, and attack a problem in a new way, the chances are good that you’ll find that “air.” You can’t leverage something if you’re not seeing it – by looking a problem with a new set of possible solutions, you’ve allowed yourself to make use of those solutions most effectively. Remember the glass is always full, so keep your chin up and find your own air.

When you walk into a meeting, ask for what you want – first. Most people think they should keep their goals close to the vest, waiting until the end to make an appropriate “ask.” Most people are wrong and never end up getting what they truly want. Set the stage up front and be frank with your goals. People who want to get down to business will appreciate your candor and you can start the conversation’s direction toward your desired outcomes. So what if the person you’re meeting with knows what you want? Why is that so terrible? Frame your goals clearly and quickly, and then get to work with the other person across the table to make that a reality. Hunting is no different in your place of business than it is in the field – you’re working toward achieving that final desired outcome and you have to set everything in motion up front to make it happen.

Everyone has a peak activity window. During this time, you just crush it! Productivity gets a major boost, and so does your ability to focus. Figure out what yours is – keep track for a week of when work comes easily to you and when things are tough. When you’re blasting through projects and cranking it out, while time flies by, that’s your zone. If you’re a rooster it’s first thing in the morning. For hawk-types, it’s midday. For people who work late, you’re like a bat. Whatever time works for you, leverage it. Be selfish and prioritize this time – every day – to accomplish your biggest tasks. Think of what advantage that gives you over your competition and what it does to your day. There’s only 24 hours and we all have to live in that, so if you’re more productive during your peak window, the rest of the day will have more time for family and leisure. Make your hunt efficient and watch the results start stacking up.

In the hunt, You set out with a very specific goal. When your target approaches you, it’s simply your job to zero in on that with laser focus and accomplish your task. In life, often you don’t have that same one-for-one thought, but you should. Why be vague and wishy washy when you can be specific? Here’s your challenge for the week: think about what the three targets are that mean the most to you. It could be landing a certain client. It could be cooking dinner with your kids twice weekly. Everyone’s targets are different but pick the target that means the most to you. You’re only able to hit targets that you’ve identified; otherwise, you’re aiming blindly into the air and hoping you hit something. Hope is not a plan.