Moving Forward

In This Issue

- Feature Article: Clear the Decks

- Ask Debbie: How do I clear the mess of papers on my desk?

- Debbie Recommends: Music to help you be more productive

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ISSN 0000-0000

April 10, 2008
Volume 1, Issue 1

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Note from Debbie

Much has been happening within C4GP and me, even though it may not be evident to you yet. I say "yet", because my decision to work and live more virtually is coming to fruition. We are fine-tuning some things, so watch what happens over the next few months.

My husband recently retired and is ready for us to travel. My youngest child will graduate from high school in June. We will be empty nesters soon. With that, comes freedom and choices to be made. My plan has always been to move the business in a direction where I could help anyone, anywhere, at anytime. The progress has been somewhat slower than I desired, however recently I made a change that helped me to move forward. I hope it resonates with you too!

Keep moving forward...

Debbie Gilster, CPO®
Chief Productivity Guru

Feature Article: Clear the Decks!

Do you want to really delve into a project or pursue a new avenue within your business but just can't seem to make it happen? You have this list that keeps swirling in your mind of things that need to get done "first". You keep saying to yourself that when you get these items off your to-do list, you can really concentrate on the project. But...time keeps dragging on.

I understand this too well. I have been whittling away at developing my company's new virtual strategy, and even though I would say this is important to me, it has been agonizingly slow. I finally got disgusted with my progress and took a good, long hard look at myself. Did I really want to go in this new direction? Maybe I was just kidding myself. The answer was still "yes, this is what I want to do", so the next step was to determine what was getting in my way. It was me of course!

I decided once and for all to get those nagging tasks off my plate so that every excuse was gone. I was going to "clear the decks." On the day I made this resolve, can still remember the picture in my mind, of me yelling: "Grab your mop matey and swab away, you don't get to stop until you're done!" Like a pirate locked in on getting to his treasure, I had a resolve to make this happen. I visually saw myself swabbing away a messy deck until it was clean and clear. I saw myself standing there with a big smile on my face and a load lifted off my shoulders. I could now take on new stuff with gusto.

So, for you more systems-minded folks, how does this work? The first step is to own that you will make this happen no matter what. Usually the tasks themselves are either boring, will make you step out of your comfort zone, or may end a relationship. Thinking about your new goal, and what you can accomplish when you are working on what you really want, should incentivize you. I call this: Write-Decide-Act.

Write. Make a written list of your things-to-do. Use a lined sheet of paper or my free form to record your tasks. Empty your head so the ideas stop swirling around. Get this all down. When I did this, the list wasn't as long as I thought it would be.
Decide. Sort through the items and determine what is really important to get done. Let go or delegate what you can. Think about why some of them have been on your list for while. For me, when I completed several days of rather mundane work for a client, I would be finished with the client. Somehow this was now freeing as I could see that I could work on my stuff and grow my business instead of theirs. Another task was finding an IT company to figure out some issues with the computers in my office. I find it exasperating to deal with IT guys and have not had much success in the past. The problems were getting worse though. Prioritize the list and put those nagging ones at the top.
Act. Do the work. Don't be a perfectionist. Make appointments with yourself and honor them. Face the fear and stay focused on what you will be able to do with your time when these are no longer haunting you. Be ruthless like a pirate - keep at it until you are done. For me, this took almost a month to fit these tasks in to an already busy schedule.

Looking back now, I laugh at myself. The tasks were not so daunting, but they were real. They got in my way. I let them. I also chose to finish them. We all have that choice. Every day I would start with the Write-Decide-Act system. Some items stayed on the list for a bit but I could see progress. Eventually I could feel myself standing on my ship, mop in hand, admiring my spotless deck (ok, at least I could *see* my desk). A weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I was feeling free and energized as I begun work on moving my own ship forward.

Ask Debbie

Q: How can I clear the mess of papers on the top of my desk?

A: It helps to have an easy-to-remember system to attack the stacks. I can easily remember FAT (from Barbara Hemphill, author of Taming the Paper Tiger). When you handle paper, you only need to do one of three things - either File, Act or Toss it. So, gather all those papers strewn on the top of your desk into one big pile. (It looks better already!) Now get started using FAT to your benefit. In no time at all you'll have a skinny pile.

About Debbie

Debbie is a problem solver. Through the Center for Growth & Productivity website, she provides personal and team productivity improvement tools, techniques and training. Her methodologies and templates allow self-employed business owners to better manage themselves and move their business forward. Visit the C4GP website at www.CenterForProductivity.com.

Debbie Recommends

I use music to get myself in the right frame of mind as I write or strategize new directions. It helps me to relax and let the creative thoughts flow. As I listen, the world around me and all my business fades away as I am transported to the beach on Maui. One of my very favorite CD's is Nature Sounds of Hawaii. Check it out at: http://www.centerforproductivity.com/hawaiimusic1.htm.