The dangerous distraction of to-do lists.
“You just need to focus.”
Uhmm, thank you for that kind advice.
But let’s get you some practical advice on focus.
Steve Jobs used to say:
“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.”
This one speaks for itself.
It’s timeless advice, yet our minds love to complicate things.
So from today, say no to 99% of the ideas, suggestions and invitations, and you are off to a good start.
Jim Collins, the writer of the book Good to Great, suggested that instead of a to-do list, we should make a “Stop-doing list.”
How brilliant is that?
So, one day, I sat down with my pen and paper. And I’m telling you, it’s hard.
After months of trial and error, this is how I created a simple system that will also work for you.
Here we go:
- Set a timer for 10 minutes.
- Write down all your tasks.
- Order your list from most important to less important.
(Pro tip: Put money-making tasks above vanity-creating tasks.) - Now, take a red marker and cross out 3 and below.
- How do you feel? Liberated right. You left with 3 items that will move your business forward.
- Now, focus on each of the 3 goals until it’s done.
Do this, and you’ll become a focused executing machine that will crush procrastination.