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Week 12 - One hour projects
One change each week. This week: Develop a list of "one-hour projects."
The problem: I seem to have an endless capacity for wanting to "do" things.
- Work things, such as sending hand written thank-you notes to my business' good customers, seeking out new customers, developing better management systems, dressing up the company's web site.
- Play things, such as tuning up my motorcycle, doing some photography, dressing up some of the photos with my Photoshop program, doing some serious training with my English Setter..
- Family things, such as planning my wife's birthday party, driving off to see my new granddaughter, catching a family movie, getting a beach place for a week or so for the summer.
- House things, such as cleaning the toilets (yes, that's one of my jobs), getting some carpet replaced, and painting.
I've already written all these down, plus many many more. [See Week 10 - Empty the head; write it down.]
Remember, the brain (especially the subconscious brain) gives everything the same priority, and wants you to do all these things at the same time. As a result, I can spin my wheels endlessly trying to figure out what to do next. Then once I start on something, my brain is talking to me about all the others things I could and should be doing. Another problem is that I hesitate to even start on some projects because I know they will take a long time to complete.
The solution is simple. I'll take one item and spend one hour on it. Then another item, and another hour.
During the hour, I can focus on just one thing. (I think I can hold a focus for one hour. If not, I simply change to one-half hour.) When the other things pop into my mind (and they will!), I tell them to go away and come back when the hour is up.
What about you?
- Do you have a pile of things you want to do? (Or things you must do?)
- ?Have you made your list?
- Can you select one thing (only one, remember), and devote one hour to it?
- Yes. Go do it.
Ross Runkel, Post Office Box 1031, Salem, Oregon
97308-1031.
Phone 503-399-8028. Fax 503-566-8844. email Ross@LawMemo.Com
