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Getting Things Done

Guest post by: Diana Long

Article Overview: How to make the best use of your time and accomplish short-term goals through organization

Getting Things Done

Something I hear often is: "I'm overwhelmed, there is too much to do... I can't seem to make headway... having trouble keeping my focus... it's hard for me to be organized when I've got so many projects.... I can't seem to finish or complete things.

Frustrating isn't it?

Wouldn't you love to have better work-flow, get things completed and feel good about the process? Wouldn't it be great to know exactly what your status is with a project, what the loose ends are, and what needs to happen next?

You can. It's deceptively simple and oh, so powerful.

Make a checklist!

Sure, you may say to yourself--that's not anything new. Might be true. But I ask, are you using a checklist for every one of your top priority projects regularly? You should! Here's why: Checklists help you to manage extremely complex goals and chunk them down into clear and manageable points. The trap that business owners and entrepreneurs can fall into is overlooking important details that come back to haunt them later, not to mention it puts a stop on the life-sucking energy draw that happens when you are always busy but not really very "productive".

Believe it or not, there has been significant research on the merits and value of using checklists. Checklists literally can make the difference between life and death. A great example of this is the familiar The Vitals Chart in medicine. When you see a physician from a routine exam or an emergency room visit, there are certain basic elements that are always checked ( your temperature, blood pressure etc).The Vitals Chart information directs the course that your doctor will take. Here's another example: The "Cleared for Take Off" checklist is used by airplane personnel to ensure that everything is go to go and that the plane is indeed "cleared for take off". Thank goodness, right? That very important checklist has prevented many,many disasters.

In the book, Checklist Manifesto, author Atul Gawande documents several case studies in which "the stupid little checklist" (his words) literally saves lives and money every day, all over the planet!

Convinced? Good!

Use checklists for every important project you currently have. Create separate project sheets vs. randomly thrown together on one big to-do list) and follow these guidelines.

Take inspired action and enjoy your desired outcomes!

How to Best Use Checklists for your VIP Projects:

1. Name the project and your desired outcome(s)
2. Identify the points and document the flow of requirements that your current projects
3. Be specific and clear about the what
4. Be specific and clear about the who (is responsible)
5. Create reasonable, do-able time-lines and deadlines
6. Use your checklist as a way to systematically and effectively make progress!
7. Check off completions as you go, course correcting as needed
8. Celebrate your results!

Checklists are simple and practical and guaranteed to help you move smoothly to the outcome you desire. Check!

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  False Dichotomy! (If Anything, Backwards!)
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  Help I have Trouble Sticking to My Daily Sales Plan
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Article Tags: Time Management



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