It's time.

For the last two weeks, my partner and I have been up well before dawn to catch the Australian Open. Sixteen hours ahead, the Melbourne event’s nightly must-see matches, with the top-rated players, start at 3 a.m. EST. Whew!

Novak Djokavic and Dominic Thiem battled it out during the finals Sunday morning in a great match. During one of Djokavic’s final serves before he ultimately beat Thiem, I noticed the shot clock glaring over his shoulder.

Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open on TV.The clock keeps players on schedule. They have to serve before the timer reaches zero.

Imagine if your work involved a shot clock.

For just this week, let’s pretend it does.

Start your clock and take shot. Take action.

1. Make a list of the clients/sponsors/donors/partners you want to work with.
2. Research and make a plan for each.
3. Ask for introductions.
4. Call them. Make 5 calls a day. 10 calls a day. 20 calls a day. Whatever the optimum number is for your goals.
5. Take your next action on the email you have to write, the plan, the article, the blog post, the introduction letter, the next major piece of writing that will elevate your organization’s thought leadership.
6. Sit down and spend 30 minutes brainstorming how you’ll execute an idea that will innovate the way you deliver your mission, the way you work with sponsors, the way your business partners with nonprofits, the way you market your organization. What’s the next action? When will you take that step?
7. Take a look around your operation. What—or who—is not working? What needs to change? Take action.
8. Dig out the cool new project that’s buried somewhere on your desk, that you’re putting off. Dust it off and get started. Now.
9. Pull out your annual or fiscal year goals—or your new year’s resolutions. One-twelfth of the year is over. Have you made 30 days’ worth of progress?
10. What about your personal goals? What do you need to schedule? Whom do you need to make peace with or be in touch with? Where do you need to go? What do you need to learn? 

The shot clock is on.

If you’re on a mission, what are you waiting for?