getting shit done

The Things We Can’t Change

According to weather forecasts,
it is going to rain
in my area
every day
for the next two weeks.

That is…disappointing.
I had things to do outside

But I can’t change the weather.
That’s not my area of expertise
or my business model.

I have to accept it will rain.
And adjust for it.

I might erect tents
so I can work outside.

Or delay that work.

Or try to bring it
inside.

Or make another tweak
to my plans.

In your business,
there are things
you can’t change also.

Accept that
and work with or around them.

Batching Tasks

Yesterday was social media
promotional post day
for me.

I crafted all the graphics
and all the text
with links
for a month
and then scheduled the posts.

Instead of it taking me
two hours a day
for 31 days,
it took me around 15 hours.

THAT is the power
of batching tasks.

The programs were open.
I could cut and paste
taglines.
I only had to run image searches
for each type of graphic
once.
Etc.

If you want to get
a lot of similar tasks done
efficiently,
consider batching them.

Scope Creep

I gave myself
the project of straightening up
some shelves.

While I was doing that,
I was tempted to declutter
those shelves too.

I was already
looking at the shelves.
I might as well
evaluate whether or not
I needed those items,
right?

Wrong.
This is a simple example
of scope creep
and it places the entire project
in jeopardy.

Because the time needed
to complete the project
with this add-on task
just increased.

I had the couple free minutes
that would be needed
to straighten up
the shelf.
I didn’t have the entire day
that would be needed
to declutter it.

I had a choice
– Either I limited the scope of my project
or I didn’t complete it at all.

Part of being a project manager
is controlling scope creep.

Keep your team focused
on the task
you truly want to complete.

There Are Always Exceptions

I was told
I absolutely couldn’t participate
in an event.

I didn’t qualify.
The event was full.
There were no exceptions.

Except there are ALWAYS exceptions
and yes, when I talked
to the correct person,
I became one of the exceptions.

There are ALWAYS exceptions
for EVERYTHING.

If you really want
to be the exception,
continue asking,
continue pushing
until you achieve that goal.

Preparation Is Part Of The Project

In project management,
we often focus on
the planning and the implementation.

Those ARE important parts.

They’re also exciting parts.

Planning involves dreaming
and what ifs.

Implementation involves
taking big action
and seeing the project come to life.

The part very few of us
get excited by
is…
the preparation stage.

We’re implementing solar
in our house, for example.

Before the skilled tradespeople arrived,
we had to prepare the key work sites.

That involved moving shelving
and cleaning spaces
and other tasks.

These were boring tasks.
But they were essential tasks.
And they increased the probability
of the project being successful.

Remember the preparation part
of the project.

It might not be exciting
but it is key.

Make It Easier For Partners

Getting any tasks done
right now,
with the multiple pandemics
happening,
is challenging.

People are taking time off
for illness.
Or, often worse,
they’re working while ill.

There’s low energy
and brains are fuzzy.

So if I want something done
and I’m feeling great,
I make it as easy
as possible
for the other person
to complete the task.

I clear the working space,
for example.
I provide all the information
they’d need
in one easy document.
I list the tasks
that need to be completed.
I do as much as possible
myself.

And that increases
the probability
tasks will be completed.

Make assigned tasks
as easy as possible
for your partners
to complete.

Follow Up

It takes me,
on average,
3 follow up communications
now
to see action
on anything.

I’m usually promised
action
on the first contact
and
the second
and the third.

Then on the fourth contact,
I point out,
yet again,
that nothing has been done.

I tell them
I’ll wait
until I receive confirmation
it has been done.

And they usually don’t
fight that
(as they do
on the first three contacts)
because they now know
I’ll come back.

Follow up.
Don’t assume
action has been taken.
And factor that follow up
in your timelines.

Heads Down And Working

When the world
becomes too much
of a tire fire
and I reach a point
where, emotionally,
I can’t handle
hearing about it,
I put my head down
and I work.

I throw myself
into business building.

I get sh*t done.

I work with focus.

I tune out the world
and I live the business.

That calms me.
It builds my confidence.
It makes me happy.

When I feel ready again,
I resurface
and I catch up.

Doers do.

When the world gets
too much for you
to take,
tune as much of it out
as possible
and do.

Get sh*t done.

Your Goals ARE Important

The world is a f*cked up place
right now.

There’s talk of a world war.
The pandemic continues to disable
or kill
people around us.
There are fires and floods
and a gazillion other things
happening.

What is the point
of building our businesses?
Do those goals and other goals matter?

Yes, they matter.
They matter to US.

We’re building businesses
and working toward our goals
because that’s important to us.

That’s one of the ways we’re changing
the world for the better.

And we have some control
over
the building of our businesses
and the achieving of our goals.

We have very little control
over
the other sh*t that’s happening
in this world.

Your goals ARE important.
Allocate time and energy and other resources
to achieving them.

2024 Goal/Resolution Reminder

It is February 20th.
We’re approaching
the end of this short month.

Take action on
at least one
of your 2024 goals or resolutions.

The action can be big
or it can be small.

The important thing
is progression.

You’re moving toward
a goal that is important to you.

Take action on
a 2024 today.