I’ve tried every tool, every software, and every approach imaginable…
Today I’m taking you behind the scenes into my simple strategy that allows me to consistently be productive and hit my massive goals.
With pen and paper I take my most important goals and I break them down into what needs to be done over the course of the year.
At the beginning of every month I block out 45 minutes to write out what needs to be done for that month in order to stay on pace with my goals.
I ask myself:
“What objectives have to be achieved this month to stay on pace?”
Look at it this way:
Let’s say your personal income goal is to earn $1.2 million this year.
That means each month you’ll need to earn $100,000.
From there, you break it down into weekly goals. So you need to make $25,000 this week.
Next, you create a daily to do list.
Every day I look at my weekly list, take out a blank piece of paper and write my important tasks most responsible for moving me towards my goals.
Then I move over the tasks that I didn’t complete from the day before.
I add any additional tasks. Then the things that I do first are the priorities based on goal consequence and goal importance.
I look at my weekly task list to determine priority.
If I can’t decide if one task is more important than another, it doesn’t matter.
I don’t stress about it.
I’ll put one first and then the other one second.
I know I’m going to get to both of them.
I prioritize on a daily basis based on which task has the biggest consequence on the goal.
That goes first on my daily list. It gets done first.
If there are urgent ut unimportant things… I don’t care if they don’t get done today.
Why?
Because most people make the mistake of allowing the immediate consequences of something “urgent” to determine their life.
Urgent items have consequences tomorrow…
But important items have even bigger consequences long term… Consequences that you often can’t see.
They might not wreak havoc today, but they will wreak havoc.
It’s like smoking… If you take up smoking, you don’t get sick tomorrow. But over time you’re going to deteriorate.
You need to recognize that you can choose to accommodate your schedule and your life for the immediate, smaller inconsequential things…
Or you can focus on those big picture things…
Only you get to decide.
For me, as long as the building isn’t on fire, burning down around me…
I’ll ignore it.
Even it it’s burning a little bit, I’ll let it burn until I need to get out.
I know that sounds insane…
But you know what happens if you allow the important to be at the mercy of the urgent?
Your important goals will NEVER be achieved. Ever.
Do your most valuable task first thing in the morning.
Don’t screw around with e-mail.
Don’t sit down and play.
At the end of every day, your to do list for the next day should be done, when you are ready to get to work.
You sit down. You get to work.
Don’t open up Facebook. Don’t go to Instagram. Don’t check email.
That’s you allowing your mind to immediately go to unimportant inconsequential tasks. Do the most valuable thing FIRST.
That is how high achievers operate…
That’s how they structure their days and their life.
You can get sucked into unimportant tasks, putting out “fires” all day… or you can take control of your life and achieve your massive goals.
You decide.
Enjoy,
-Todd