getting tasks done

Brain Not Required Work

Last night,
I hit the wall
brain-wise.

My brain was
empty.
Nothing was happening
up there.

But I still had energy
and I had time.

So I completed
tasks
that didn’t require any thought.

I shredded confidential
documents.

I shared social media posts
writing buddies
had crafted
to help them sell books.

I organized
the tax file.

I put some mailing
together.

Those tasks had to be completed
but I had saved them
for times like last night,
times when my brain
wasn’t working properly.

Save some
no-thought-required tasks
for when you are past
the point of thinking.

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.

The Benefit Of Seeing It Everyday

I’m often asked
why I use print calendars
to track some project tasks.

I use print calendars
because most of my tasks
are done on the screen
and it takes additional minutes
to switch
between screens.

It also gives me
a quick visual
of how that project
is progressing.

I always have the information
on the printed calendar
in front of me.

It is like putting
a post-it note
on the edge of my screen.
It is a constant reminder,
one I see every day.

That’s powerful.

Never underestimate
the power
of seeing something everyday.

Focus On One

The holiday season
can be hectic.
It can overwhelm
many business builders.

When I’m overwhelmed,
I focus
on one thing.

I focus on one task,
one customer,
one project.

When that one thing is tackled,
I celebrate that win.

I then tackle
the next task,
the next customer,
the next project.

Until I feel capable
of tackling multiple issues
at once.

Getting sh*t done,
even if it is one small thing,
calms me.
That win
rebuilds my confidence.

Which allows me to
tackle other sh*t.

Focus on one.

A Little Bit Every Day

I’ve been writing
one extra blog post
on this site
every day
for the past thirty days.

That might not
seem like much
…except I can now
take a month off
blogging
and still have new content
every day.

Little bits add up.

Don’t have time
right now
to design the entire packaging
for your new product?

Choose a font.
You have time to do that.

Eventually, the packaging
will be completely crafted.

Do a little bit
every day.