Tag Archives: tasks

Chunk Planning

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Even the best planners and strategists can be overwhelmed by the entire picture, so don’t be disappointed when you are daunted by the thought of outlining the key steps to your next major goal.

Think in terms of chunks or key pieces.

  1. Open up a fresh document and type out what you believe are the key ingredients.
  2. Then, open another new document and put just 1 of those key ingredients at the top.
  3. I am a bullet point guy, so below I would start my bullets and then seek to list all of the items that must be done or met for this area to contribute to the bigger goal.
  4. Repeat step 3 for all of the areas.
  5. Get a 2nd and 3rd set of eyeballs on your initial brain dumpings… this is great because in just 60 minutes (or less) you can draw up some pretty comprehensive, logical and strategic steps towards accomplishing your big goal.

Pick you next goal and try it. It works.

Get it done!

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Who wants to hear anyone frustrated at them for not getting stuff done on time? Not one of us, but yet, it seems that for some of us as the work load is piling up, we have a hard time just “getting it done”. Here are some basics to consider and integrate into your work life when you need to just get some crap done, out the door and delivered.

  • Get alone – Find a quiet place (don’t tell me you work best at Starbucks) where NO ONE will bother you; politely tell the nosy person next to you to be quiet if you aren’t allowed to leave your work space. When you are done you can go out for drinks and make up later.
  • Set aside a chunk of time - More than you realize, most everyone has a hard time sitting still and just doing some work. Before prioritizing your list, schedule your next isolated work time right away on your calendar. Block it out as an appointment to yourself and make every effort to keep it as though you were meeting with your boss.
  • Turn off your email & cell phone - Seriously… you are wasting more time there than you realize and it distracts your focus.
  • Brainstorm your tasks - Everything you need to accomplish should be in one master list. Yes, it must be digital! Don’t tell me your notebook works, your grandparents didn’t have to hold onto as many details as you do today. Don’t worry about sorting yet, just get it ALL done on a list… think through every aspect of your life: work, projects, home, personal goals, honey-do’s, etc.
  • Most important stuff first - Use the #’s 1, 2 & 3 to prioritize your list; #1′s being urgent items, #2′s being important & #3′s being items that you would someday like to get to.  Since it is on the computer you will be able to sort it (see the genius now?).
  • Do it NOW! - If there is a project that is due today, the get to work on it now! make a sub-list for the project of the things associated with it that you need to get going on. enjoy the victory of checking things off.
  • Easy stuff 2nd – There might be more projects to do, but with you next allotment of time (now or that time you set aside) use it to clear a bunch of easy things off your plate. you will feel much better.

Tech info. - if you run on a PC, then just use the Outlook task pad; I used it for years and it is VERY robust. if you are MAC, you can use Wunderlist, Things, Task Paper, or OMNI Focus.