Speed gives you an edge.
Not in the sense of cutting corners, rushing through things, hustling or muscling through. But in the sense of getting things through the finish line, often and consistently. Understanding when something is good, pressing the button, and moving to the next item.
Speed eats quality for breakfast.
We know we should add the salary ranges to our job ads, but we are reviewing the salary level for internal employees and we do not want to send the wrong message. As soon as we are done with that …
I know I should take on new challenges and find something new, but I have this very important project to take care of. As soon as I am done with that …
I know I should spend more quality time with my family, but I am having a very busy period at work. As soon as that is over …
We know we should get to posting more often on our blog, but we have no good writer in our team. As soon as we can hire one …
The fact is, there’s never a perfect time to do the things we are supposed to do.
There’s a good enough time though.
It is now.
When you sit down to do your work, start by deciding what is the #1 thing you want to get done today.
Is that a presentation?
A 3,000-word blog post?
The new LinkedIn campaign?
The quarterly report for the next board meeting?
Some estimates for next year?
A meaningful piece of a bigger project?
Whatever it is, start the day by picking the #1 thing, the one that will make that day a success. Take regular breaks as you go about it, but don’t stop your concentration by jumping to other stuff before you have that completed.
That’s what will give a real, tangible, and consistent sense of progress.
There is a lot of difference between spending time and energy and resources on something you are passionate about, and spending the exact same amount of time and energy and resources on something you don’t care about.
In the first case, no matter how much you give, you will always find a bit more. You will feel recharged even after a full day of intense activity. In fact, the other stuff and the people in your life will most likely benefit from your positive attitude and adrenaline. Just because you are committed to something you love.
In the second case, the opposite is true. Even ten minutes of the activity will drain you. You will mostly complain, find issues with everything and everyone, and that attitude will spill to everything else, and everyone else, in your life.
So, the trick is this.
Do something for long enough to get committed and passionate about it, and reduce the distractions that make you feel miserable.
Easy. Not simple.
A few of things to take away from Brandon Sanderson (popular writer of fantasy and science-fiction) breaking Kickstarter in the past week or so.
You've got this 