I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that no one reading this is sitting on the couch watching daytime TV for several hours each day. Further out on that limb, I’ll say that you define yourself as busy. The use of time and the stress that comes from not enough of it is a common thread I find with almost everyone I speak to.

But what is busy? Busy is just choosing something to do in the next minute.

Unless your day is dictated by the pace of imposed labor (picture Lucy and Ethel at the chocolate factory), you’ve got to choose wisely.

Busy is the enemy of productive.

I can begin my day in email, clicking on links, answering requests, investigating what was asked of me, researching a topic tossed to me, or jumping to the social media post served up to me. In between these activities, I can answer text messages, listen to voice mail, and pick-up live calls.

Time will pass as I stay busy, and at the end of the day, I will feel finished, fatigued and, stressed. I’ll also feel empty, regretful, resentful, and behind.

The inverse of this begins with the adage, “Never start a day until it’s finished on paper.”

In business development, more than in any other area, this is vital. Whether you’re in business for yourself or working under a quota for someone else, you’ve got to choose activities that move you toward your revenue goals, and having a written plan allows you to see and make those choices.

I know, it’s not all about making money, but unless or until there’s enough money in the till everything else is subordinate to busying yourself with activities that bring in the business. Making calls, networking, messaging, connecting, and meeting are the busy choices to make in business development.

Busy is less stressful and more productive when you have a menu of abundant choice to get busy with, so take a minute layout these activities before the busy riptides of the day drag you under