When you want to do things that matter, things that change the status quo, things that make an impact, a great place to start is to own your own schedule.
Even if you are in an entry-level role, if you keep bouncing from one task that is important to your senior colleague to the next task that is important to the manager, you will never get to what is important to you.
And that, in the long term, matters more than anything else.
For any recipe you have found that has worked, there are at least other ten that go in the exact opposite direction. And still work.
That’s why it is so important to find a way that matches who you are and what you stand for. A way you are absolutely and completely comfortable with. A way you would use even if no one would be watching.
In any other cases, you are just drifting.
Aim at finishing the week (on Fridays) setting a clear list of priorities for the following week.
I do one key item per weekday, one thing only that I absolutely want to get done. Then I add a few reminders or secondary tasks (e.g., call this, email that, talk to them, send newsletter, etc.).
The few times I fail to do this, my weekend is not as relaxing as when I do it. And my weeks are not as productive.
That moment you spend doing something that someone else wants you to do, and that you absolutely hate. That moment when you despise yourself, blame the other, feel like there’s no point, find faults in everything. That same moment you get angry, furious, mad, and then sad, depressed, disillusioned.
It’s just not worth it, isn’t it?
And to be clear, that does not mean “follow your passion and do what you like“.
It means find what you like and be brave enough to stick with it.
No matter what others want or say.
They too will thank you, eventually.
No matter what your role is inside an organization, you have the power to change the things you see not working. Much more than you think you do.
You might think that those above you condone a negative behavior or a flawed process, but the reality is that most likely they are simply not aware of them. Or they don’t have the bandwidth to jump on them. Or they have initiated the behavior or the process with completely different intentions and failed to follow up.
If you hide behind that excuse, be mindful that it is just you hiding.
You've got this 