Today we’re talking about AREAS in your PARA system.
P = Projects
A = Areas
R = Resources
A = Archives
If Projects are your money makers, Areas are your money maintainers.
These don’t have deadlines, but they’re your continuous responsibilities. Account management. Territory planning. Your personal development as a sales pro.
Think of Areas as your sales life’s infrastructure. They’re not sexy, but when organized, they make everything else work better.
What makes something an Area?
• No completion date (unlike Projects)
• Requires consistent maintenance
• Would cause problems if neglected
• You’re accountable for its standards
It’s the sales hygiene you can’t skip, folks.
Common Sales Areas to Track:
Territory Management – Your sandbox. Know it better than your childhood neighborhood.
Pipeline Health – Like monitoring your cholesterol, but for deals.
Account Relationships – Because sales is just expensive friendship.
Personal Development – Keep sharpening that saw before it gets dull and you get fired.
CRM Maintenance – Yes, updating Salesforce or HubSpot is actually part of your job. Shocking, I know.
I once had a rep who treated his CRM updates like optional weekend plans. His deals mysteriously “slipped” every quarter. Coincidence? I don’t think so.
How I Organize My Areas
Each Area gets its own folder with:
• Current status documents
• Relevant resources
• Tracking sheets
• Quick reference guides
For example, my “Account Health” area contains:
• Account review template
• Relationship maps for key accounts
• Value delivered tracker
• Renewal risk assessment
Review your Areas weekly! It’s like checking your mirrors while driving – boring until it prevents a career-ending crash.
The Brutal Truth About Areas
Your manager notices Areas way more than you think.
Projects come and go, but how you maintain your Areas shows your true professional DNA.
Your CRM hygiene, territory knowledge, and account relationships tell me more about your future success than any single deal you close.
