Want to get more done? I sure do.
I’ve always enjoyed a full plate. It seems that the more I have to do, the more I get done. And I love the feeling of getting things done. Managing multiple clients and businesses with its competing demands challenges me intellectually and physically. Demands that make me ponder “How am I going to do that?” are particularly appealing. So much so, that during slower times I’ll intentionally put off doing a big project until the very last minute just to create a crisis to get me moving. Then, in a panic, I’d kick into gear to get it done. Afterwards, I’d kick myself and vow to never “do it that way again.”
Over the years, I’ve made that vow hundreds of times. And each time I break it adds another layer of defeat. Am I doomed to this perpetual self-infliction or is there a better way to manage my work and be more productive?
Over the last couple of years, I set out to retrain the way I work. That led me to a lot of reading and personal experimentation. I decided to put what I learned in an ebook and make it exclusively available to subscribers to this blog—for free. 10 Strategies to Get More Done is a compilation of the three key thought triggers and seven key action triggers that I’ve found to be personally most effective in helping me improve my game. Each strategy is concise, sparing you the research and background on the reasons why they work; though you’ll find additional resources at the end to go deeper if you like.
If you’re a subscriber to this blog, I’ve already sent you an email with a download link. If you’re not already a subscriber, simply fill out the form on the sidebar and look for the confirmation email in your inbox.
You’ve read my story. Have you sabotaged your productivity in any way?
Hi Leary, Thanks for letting me know one of your strategies for getting things done.
Over the years I have increased my ministry giving and volunteering. I’ve found it hard to say no sometimes, so I need to reel myself back from the many activities that are available to me. I have more on my plate at work all the time, and find increasing questions of me to add one more thing.
I find it such an opportunity to have the questions such as this posed to me for I think that anyone could do it but I have been asked specifically for a reason.
In another Position, I had the opportunity to take coffee breaks with a group of guys from the buyer department in a small hospital. As it was at that time, I was a new Christian and I wanted to show the community that Christ was the Way.
I did have an obstacle in front of me though, the buyers it turned out had very loose language, both coarse and even evil. After a while of taking the cursing and slander, I relocated during my breaks . I was asked why and after much prayer, I told something that I never thought would come out of my mouth which was that I did not appreciate the language used.
The response was that they thought they could clean it up and as an end result it happened. I was very glad for that small thing that I did.
I guess I look back on it and think that I had a little to do in a friends life.
Our plates are more than full at most times. Sometimes I take the down times to regenerate.
Hi Ron. Knowing when to say ‘no’ is an important boundary to learn. I’ve found that to be particularly difficult as well. I can get inspired to take action at the time, feel that I can manage it, and then, only later, discover that I’m in over my head with the commitment. The strategies I outline are not so much about how to say ‘no’ but rather how to get what you’ve said ‘yes’ to off the plate. But you’ve brought up an important issue. Making sure there’s time for rest and regeneration is the only way to stay productive and that often requires more use of the ‘no’ word. Thanks for your perspective!