Record logs are very common for all types of equipment, employees and even bathrooms, the question today is do you keep a record log or journal on you?
Most likely you don’t’ and the reason can be simple, you know what you have done at the end of the day and know what you need to for the future. Writing in a journal about your day to day life can seem a bit much and more for people that have that kind of time, you have to rush off to the next issue to deal with.
But for a moment I would like to argue the point that there are several reasons why a daily journal and or log of you make sense.
If James T. Kirk can do it…so can you!!
1. Unless you are an elephant some things might slip through your memory.
2. Even though you remember the highlights of the events, the details might escape you
3. In the day to day some things may not seem like they are noteworthy but down the road they can elevate in importance.
So those are examples of why the noggin may not be the best resource on its own. The next list is some potential reasons with benefits of logging you on a daily or semi daily basis.
1. A log can very easily make you more money or at least more valuable – Hear me out, when you have your next review or want to ask for a raise or find yourself in search of a new position a log can be invaluable. Wouldn’t it be powerful to email a list of the successes you have had over the last year?
I.E.
Dear Jane
Here is a quick summary of some of the important challenges facilities had encountered last year and how we handled them.
November successfully saved ownership 2% off of the contractor price buy value engineering with the contractor on xyz project.
Implemented new procedures for the mechanicals that cut down energy consumption by 9% which was a savings of ….amount in July
And the list can go on. The point is folks that have to justify more money for the same service will find it much easier to make the argument for you when they are aware of all that you have done and what the resulted in savings or benefits to ownership. I am absolutely certain that you will come to enjoy that meeting a lot more and feel tons more confident about how people look at you and your facility.
2. Another benefit of a log is to help with the minor details, sometimes the seemingly minor conversations that turn into much bigger issues can be forgotten but if you can back up your argument with dates and times, of what was said it makes you tough to argue with, especially if people know that you log your activities. In time you will see that people will be less likely to argue with you.
3. A log can be a great tool to simply see how far you have come and a way to know all of the good work you have done has value.
4. Even simple logistical info of who you used for certain service needs or where you found that part can be lost when you need it on a Friday afternoon and going through all those business cards seems like such a drag.
So, to sum up the values:
1. Money and value about you
2. Makes you a stronger negotiator and less likely for people to doubt you
3. Provides a chance to see all the wins you have in your years of service
4. Finding what you need when you need it just became a bit easier.
So, a journal or log provides great value if you can make it a habit and it does not have to be a daily because as we all know that is not always possible. But at least 1-2 times a week to jot down the highlights will pay great great returns for the effort.
Below is a super simple log sheet. If you are interested in a more involved log or journal, let us know.