Four Steps To Get Things Done
In our omnipresent digital smartphone world of perpetual distractions, endless social media and relentless pings, more and more people are finding it hard to stay focused and get things done. One 2018 survey of 1,000 U.S. workers with full-time jobs found that more than half of respondents felt they weren't performing as well as they should because of workplace distractions.
As a business leader, I believe it’s crucial that you set the standard of what it looks like to be focused while helping others remove their distractions. Personally, I have a wife, five kids, a daily podcast and multiple brands for which I’m responsible — but I still make an effort to get things done. I have been able to achieve success because for the past 22 years, I have relentlessly implemented the following four steps over and over with a maniacal passion to get things done:
Set aside 'meta time' every morning.
I use the term "meta time" to describe when you think about your life proactively while retreating from the time-sensitive burning fires and daily struggles that come with being a business owner. My meta time is dedicated to big, core tasks. This is my big picture, future-focused time where I think long and think deeply.
Every morning, schedule a time to meet with yourself about where you are versus where you want to be in various areas of your life, such as family, finances, friendships, fitness, faith and fun. For example, I have found the perfect hour for me is at 3 a.m. because I know I won't be interrupted.
Carry a physical and tangible day planner and to-do list.
During your meta time, plan out your day in a daily planner or notebook so you have a tangible list you can carry. I do this every day in conjunction with keeping my phone off for much of the day so I am able to stay focused on my core tasks. Invest the time every morning to organize your list by the time it will take to complete each task you need to finish throughout the day; then, order these tasks by importance.
I've found that carrying a tangible to-do list frees me up to write down anything that comes up during the day, which allows me to prioritize the "musts" that I have already designated. I firmly and passionately believe that the pen is for remembering and the mind is for thinking. It’s important that you are intentional about designing your day because once your team bombards you with “burning fires” and “do you have a minute” questions, the time to think deeply or get organized is gone.
As well, try to keep all of your responsibilities on one calendar or to-do list. Do not separate your work calendar from your home calendar, or you might overbook, overcommit and end up asking yourself, “Aren’t I supposed to be somewhere else right now?" while you are wrapping up a big business meeting and simultaneously missing your child's Little League baseball game.
Turn off your push notifications.
According to a 2018 survey by Deloitte, Americans check their smartphones an average of 52 times per day. This is why I believe it's important for leaders to turn off push notifications. I've found this helpful because if I am constantly checking notifications, how could I possibly have a coherent thought? Turn off notifications on your phone, and be intentional about when you update your social media accounts. This way, you can prevent becoming overwhelmed by the customers who openly praise or criticize you or your company on social media.
Say no to most things.
You have to let go of the fear of missing out. If everything is important, nothing is important. Be thoughtful about what you commit to because each thing you say yes to takes away from something else. Get comfortable saying no to things out of obligation. This way, you can free up more time to focus on core tasks until success (or focus) is reached. As an example, I personally say no to the following activities, so I can say yes to the achievement of the goals I have for my family, finances, friendships, fitness, faith and fun:
• Networking events
• Going out to dinner when there are more pressing tasks to complete
• "Got a minute?" meetings
• Social media messages
• Mail, emails, calls and texts from people I don't know
• The latest TV shows
Of course, what you say no to will vary, depending on your goals and objectives, but make a point to prioritize what matters most to you. I believe a quote famously attributed to Steve Jobs sums it up well: “People think focus means saying 'yes' to the thing you've got to focus on. But that's not what it means at all. It means saying no to the hundred other good ideas that there are. You have to pick carefully. I'm actually as proud of the things we haven't done as the things I have done. Innovation is saying ‘no’ to 1,000 things.”
We all have the same 24 hours in a day to use, so how we use each minute is vital to our success or failure as a business owner. The most significant difference between those who succeed and those who fall short is their ability to use the day to move forward in consistent increments toward their ultimate goal.