ONE LOW-TECH IDEA THAT WILL HELP YOU GET THINGS DONE
Cindie Chavez ©2018 – Confluence Daily is your daily news source for women in the know.
One of the ideas that I hold sacred has to do with making intentions. I believe that there is SO much power in making a solid intention, and writing it down and speaking it aloud.
A dear friend told me that she had a fond memory of a lunch date with me where I “made her say out loud” an intention she had. (Of course, I’m sure I didn’t make her say it out loud. I mean, not like at gunpoint or anything.)
She went on to tell me how that one intention unfolded over time into an amazing outcome – “almost like a miracle” she proclaimed. She recognized, and expressed to me that, “It all started with that one intention, and saying it out loud.”
I value this idea of making an intention and speaking it out loud. But speaking your intentions out loud isn’t the low-tech idea I want to share today. I want to help you get that thing done once you’ve intended it and spoken it. I want to share the simple idea that will help you take action, whether it’s a big idea that you’re intending and speaking about, or just a list of things you must get done.
And by the way – I’m a big believer in taking imperfect action. I like to get things done, and I like things to be perfect – but aiming for perfection usually stops me in my tracks. This phenomenon even has a name, it’s called “analysis paralysis” – where we analyze and over-analyze and keep finding things that need fixing before we’re willing to take action. So I’ve recognized that the key is imperfect action. To be clear, when I say “imperfect action” I’m not endorsing shoddy workmanship. But I am encouraging you to recognize when your idea or plan is good enough to begin moving forward.
The two things will support your success most powerfully are the willingness to take imperfect action, and the ability to have a difficult conversation. But I digress. Let’s talk about the one simple idea that will help you get things done this week, regardless of what it is you want to get done.
It is by far the most effective tool I’ve used for getting things done, no matter what I’m working on. It is completely low tech, it’s very simple. And it’s brilliant and time-tested.
It’s a well-known story in the business world, and it can be used with great effect on your own specific goals and intentions. Here it is, in a nutshell:
Nearly a hundred years ago, Ivy Lee, considered the father of modern public relations and time management, was doing some work for Charles Schwab, the head of Bethlehem Steel. Schwab wanted to make his managers more effective and help them better utilize their time.
Schwab agreed to try Ivy Lee’s ‘system’ for 90 days and then send Lee a check for what he thought the idea was worth.
Lee advised Schwab to have his managers list their top 6 priorities for the next day. Number them 1 to 6 according to how important the task was. On the next day, take the task in the priority order. Not proceeding until a task was completed. Any task not completed was put on the list for the following day. At the end of the 90 day period Schwab sent Lee a check for $25,000.
The check that Charles Schwab sent to Ivy Lee was written in 1922. The inflation calculator I used says that would amount to $375,008.93 in today’s economy.
How’s that for a $375,000 idea?
What if you were to use this one idea to create better health? If tonight before you went to bed you jotted down the 6 most important things you could do tomorrow to improve your health and then actually did them, do you see how your health would improve? Maybe they’d be quite simple things, like drinking more water, eating a vegetable, standing up straight and stretching, or taking a moment to practice a few deep breaths.
What if your 6 items were the top things you could do tomorrow to improve your relationship with your partner or spouse or child? Do you see how your relationship would just have to get better if you acted on those priorities? What could you put on that list? Write a love note? Make a phone call? Do a small favor? Give a hug?
How could making this list improve your productivity at work, on the job, in your career or if you are a student, in your educational pursuit?
I encourage you to create a “doable” list. Not 6 big items that no person on earth could accomplish in a day. Just the top 6 things you’d like to get done.
Some people like to put the most disagreeable tasks first on the list to get them over and done with. Some people like to ease into the list with the more pleasant tasks first. I say you already know what the most important ones are, your top priorities, just make the list and follow through. No need to overthink it. You’ll get another chance tomorrow. *wink*
And if you find yourself constantly falling short of all six things it might be that you’re expecting too much of yourself. Try breaking some of those big tasks up into several “things” or steps.
I keep a special little tablet and a pen near my bed and make sure I’ve got my list ready for each day. I never spend more than a few minutes creating the list. Maybe you’ll keep your list on your desk in your office. Do what works for you.
The thing I’ve found is that once this tool of making the Top 6 List becomes a habit, you’ll be pretty much unstoppable as far as getting things done. It’s simple. Have fun with it as you watch yourself be more productive than ever. And remember, let it be easy.
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Cindie Chavez is known as “The Love & Magic Coach”. She is the creator of MOONLIGHT™ – A Course in Manifesting Love and the author of Healing for a Broken Heart. She has some great free stuff for you at her website: www.cindiechavez.com
More by Cindie:
Cindie Chavez is known as “The Love & Magic Coach”. She is the creator of MOONLIGHT™ – A Course in Manifesting Love and she has some great free stuff for you at her website: www.cindiechavez.com
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