So, you have Something to do. By doing this Something, what are the desired effects? What will the outcome look and feel like?
“The truth of the matter is that there’s nothing you can’t accomplish if: (1) you clearly decide what it is that you’re absolutely committed to achieving” - Anthony Robbins
The rest of that quote went something like:
(2) take action and (3) make adjustments according to feedback until you’ve accomplished your desire.
So really, all you have to do is: (1) clearly decide what you want, as the next two naturally follow from the first.
1. Stop planning so much and just start it.
Planning is useful until you have all the tools you need. Then the actually doing is where you really find out how the project will progress. Planning, in my experience, is a waste of time. Using productivity tools is a time saver, yes; but planning to work is like reading about procrastination — an illusion of productivity gained by reading productivity blogs….
2. Start with the end in mind.
You don’t have to go all Machiavellian, but do focus on the ends over the means. [This hyperlinks to a post outlining how to focus on creating a community-driven institute, but the same principles apply.] Give your total attention to what you want and inject that quality of purposeful action into your.. action. As long as you begin with the result in mind, you’ll figure out what you need along the way at the best time.
3. Do a little at a time.
Then do a little more, and a little more. If you don’t feel like sitting down for the afternoon to do work, then don’t. Just do it for five minutes. Odds are you’ll get into it and finish more than you’d expected anyway; but, even if you don’t, a little does go a long way. Psychologically you’ll view your work as something easy to begin (you won’t have the blocks to start it) and by doing a little at at time each day, you can accomplish much and establish a habit of knowing what’s important and doing it.
4. Limit distractions.
As much as possible, shut off instant messengers, facebook, stats pages, televisions, radios… Devote your attention to one thing at a time. Multitasking exaggerates your internal bias to think that you’re being more productive than the results suggest.
5. Do one thing at a time but seize opportunities that arise along the way.
Write down your ideas and tangents into a notepad to expand on later. As you’re writing, inevitably you’ll think of new topics you want to write about. Make a quick note, or cut and paste that tangential paragraph into a notepad file, and come back to it later. For now, focus on the article you’re writing. Or, if the momentum is drawing you to flow with the new idea, then carry on my wayward son and go with it. Save the work you were doing and turn your full attention to where it wants to go anyway. Depending on your style, riding the wave is often easier than carving snow. Point: be responsive to your environment and let feedback serve your destination. Work with how you’re feeling.
6. Have a life.
Go outside and socialize with the world. Do whatever works best for you to enrich your mind and keep your ideas fresh. If you’ve been sitting inside for weeks on end, you may find that what is exciting to you (”oh, look! my spider friend is coming out to say hello!”) may not seem so to your readers. (Let it be known that I love hearing about spiders.)
7. Have fun.
The time will go by faster. Your work becomes your play. You are no longer a dull Jack.
8. Make the lesser serve the greater.
Do what is most important, first, and know why you’re doing it. If you’re serious about blogging, then blog. I don’t care if you have a pile of clothes on the floor; write in your blog first. Write in your blog about your pile of clothes if you must. 
9. Focus on what you want to accomplish.
Have I mentioned this enough already? I like to remind myself of the big picture often. And sure, sometimes this means having measurable goals for the time I’m working, if it helps me to focus. Generally I don’t have small goals; I just do the next thing that makes the most sense to do, and I do it without really thinking about it. How’s that for deliberate intent? Anyway, when I do make goals or write lists, I make small goals that support my larger aim. Small goals remind me of the ‘Why’ I’m doing what I’m doing, while I’m doing it.
10. Keep your goals as simple and as directly related to your overarching aim as possible.
The point is to know what you will be doing in the specific block of time you’ve allotted for your productivity session. You’ve heard of Parkinson’s Law: “Work expands to fill the time available for its completion.” When you sit down to type, remind yourself of your goal, then aim to complete it. Even if you take longer to accomplish a task, you’re still ahead of the game — most people don’t know what they want to accomplish half of the time. So for each minute you do work on purpose, you invest your time x times more effectively.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
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October 5th, 2007 at 4:24 am
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