Another day ends, and while a lot was accomplished, I found myself moving many items on my to-do list forward to the next day (thankfully my great to-do list from Remember the Milk makes that easy.) But it’s always with a sense of loss or failure that I move anything to the next day. It’s not that I’m undisciplined or lazy, it’s that I try to cram too much in.

A technique I learned years back needs to be applied again. The top 3. The top 3 things I want to accomplish today. Instead of having 8, 9, 10 items on the to-do list, it needs to be just 3. The other items can be parked in the future, and I can pull them back when the top 3 are accomplished.

So, how to pick the top 3?

Well, you must take care of those things that are urgent first. Like deadlines. They need to be in the top 3 of course. And if you find the top 3 are always the urgent item, then you need to work on not letting those deadlines creep up on you.

Urgent aside, we turn to important – and not just the things we enjoy doing. Entrepreneurs usually have no trouble finding time to develop their product or service, but avoid financial and marketing tasks. Make a point of having a financial or marketing task in the top 3 daily if you can, or a few times a week at least.

And when you knock out all 3 on a given day – give yourself a pat on the back. Savor the moment and cheer your discipline.

And if it’s sunny, take the bike (powered or unpowered) out for a reward ride.

Posted in Everything Else
Comments Off Posted by Allen