I often feel the strain of always having more to do than I can handle in a day. So many projects on my desk. Knowing that I will spend 10 hours getting through maybe a third of it.
Instead of needing more time, what if it were possible to finish your tasks in a very short time – say only two hours of time? Just two hours. The perfect two-hour block. Total efficiency and total effectiveness.
Select a time soon. Maybe tomorrow or maybe at the end of this week. You have two hours to handle prioritie and clear your list. And you can practice it over and over before it happens. You can practice and prepare so it comes off perfectly. You can pack all the activities you can fit, but you only have two hours to execute it.
First, what choices? Start a new project, a new venture or even start a business? Maybe you just need to clean up a month of loose ends.
How would you execute? You would make the right phone calls for the right follow-ups. Not just sending emails, but the perfect email, sent with urgency to drive follow up against your number one priority. A phone call that unlocks a project that is sitting at a standstill. An appointment with someone you know has the power to change your direction. Approval to move forward against projects that support your most important goals.
This is what I would do:
1. Hold short meetings. No long meetings where participants sit for any length of time. Prepare for succinct conversations and scheduled them into 5-10 minute blocks. Leave interactions with concrete next steps and schedule them immediately. Large groups slow decisions down and veer off topic.
2. Follow up first. Before working on my list of tasks, follow-up on responses I am waiting on from others.
3. Leverage your Brain-trust. These are the people who you trust completely and can give you the best advice in a short time. Be clear so they know what input you need.
4. Handle only tasks you can do well and where you add the most value. Assign administrative tasks and analysis to those who can best handle them.
5. Debrief. After your two hours, write the answers to three questions:
1. What did I finish?
2. What worked?
3. What could I have done better?
The exercise reminds me of the movie Groundhog Daywhere Bill Murray had to relive his life every day the same way repeatedly until it became perfect and ultimately changed the direction of his life. And he got the girl of his dreams. (It was a movie after all) I am just looking for two hours.
Fill your two hours with projects that support your main goal in life and in business. And you know what is even more fantastic? You can use these skills any time to multiply your effectiveness.
