3 Rules to Getting Things Done

photo credit| emdot

You have been thinking about getting something done, maybe a new project, maybe applying for a new job, maybe calling an old friend or maybe even asking someone out.

For a long time, I was a planner. I planned, not just details, but the details that made the details.
I wanted everything to be perfect in one go. So every time I started doing something I would land up improving it. Before I even had the opportunity to completely include the new improvements in the plan, I would think of something more that could be done. Eventually, nothing would get done.

I had fantastic ideas and plans to show to people and maybe talk about them eloquently as well, but very few demonstrable results from these plans.

I was lucky to get a boss who noticed this and put it in my appraisal.
That hurt.

I couldn’t stop thinking about it. “Needs to focus on implementation”
That statement wouldn’t leave me.
It was ironic that I spent over a week thinking about it and not actually doing anything about it. That is when it hit me.

DO!
JUST DO!

Do something, anything, just do it, NOW!

RULE 1| Write down a step /action that you can take in under two minutes towards the goal/objective.

Say you wanted to save 10000/- this month.
What is the one thing you can do in less than 2 minutes to get you started?
You could take out 10 bucks from your wallet and keep it aside.
Now you only have 9990 to go!

Rule 1 forces you to think of an action that will take you a step closer to your desired goal. But it also forces you to think about an action you CAN actually do immediately to get started.

RULE 2| DO it NOW!

That action/step you wrote down in step 1, stop everything else and DO IT NOW!
There is no better place, time, moment in history, to do it.
The planets will never be in a better alignment and you will never have more time or less pressure.

DO IT NOW!

RULE 3| Take one step everyday!

Everyday, without fail, do something towards that goal.
Everyday!

Lets take an example.

You want a new job.
You have been saying to yourself that this weekend I will definitely do something about it.

Lets generate some ideas on what you can do in less than 2 minutes towards this goal.

1. Make a list of people you can call
2. Print your current resume
3. Write down the designation, salary you want
4. Register on one job site
5. Schedule an appointment with a consultant

There are a lot more, but hey the idea is to get started!
So choose one & do it.
DO IT NOW!

Happy DOING

Prabhjot Bedi
The Coach

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