How to stop faffing and turn your BIG plans in to results
It’s the little daily stuff that makes it all happen!
Thinking big is good! You’ve got to have a plan. But starting the week paper shuffling, email faffing and hiding in Twitter is not going to crack it.
And a big problem many of you seem to have (me too!) is being able to break down the BIG plan in to little daily stuff.
Let me give you some examples:
“ Get blogging” becomes “Write and publish a blog article every Wednesday” (yes, I am sure you know that the more you blog, the more effective your blogging will be, but if you don’t commit to one every week, then it ain’t going happen!)
“Do more in LinkedIn” becomes “Invite 5 new connections on LinkedIn every Monday morning” (yup, you could be doing more, but hey – let’s start with something do-able!)
“Do newsletter” becomes “Write and send out your email newsletter every third Thursday” (OK, so once a week or fortnight is more effective, but if it is all too much you will only end up in overwhelm and that won’t do any good, will it?)
“Follow up on new networking contacts” becomes “Phone 3 people up on a Tuesday morning” (what phone?? Is that allowed in this new world of social networking?! – Duh! Yes!)
“Fill pipeline” becomes “Make a plan to meet one new person for coffee every fortnight” (Surely you could more, but hey one a fortnight is better because you are DOING it!)
Need me to go on?
It’s too easy to think BIG and then give yourselves HUGE plans … that never seem to happen.
It’s the little daily stuff that makes it all happen.
This is a great focusing article that made me thinnk more about breakdown into very specific tasks – a real reminder of how micro-tasking can help you achieve more in a more structured way – thanks!
you are very welcome Sarah 🙂 Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment.
“It’s the little daily stuff that makes it all happen.”
You crystallised the point just perfectly! A former boss of mine at a creative agency used to say that big projects often look like an enormous ball of tangled yarn. Just go and find the end and then slowly start to unravel it. Before you know it, you’re making good headway. Thanks for a good anti-procrastination post!
Love the ball of wool analogy Kimmo!
Morning Karen!! I’m a big fan of setting clear intentions as they’re much more likely to keep you focused on what you need to do rather than woolly ones. And like that you’re encouraging people to be realistic as to what they can achieve. You can always go for more, but if you set your targets too high, you just feel disappointed with what you haven’t achieved, rather than excited about what you have done.
That said, to go back to the title of your blog, I’m also quite a big fan of faffing. Sometimes it’s difficult to get our minds focused, and when we have days like that we should (if we can, depending on what we’ve got on for that day) listen to our bodies that are trying to tell us we need a little brain down time. I also find that when I unplug my brain and just let it float (yes, planet Jean is a nice place to be), it’s amazing what ideas and insights then flow into my consciousness. Trick is always to make sure you have the means to capture your insights when they happen.
Have a great day everyone, whether you’re focused and productive, or faffing and productive in a different way!!!
Floating is good too. I’ve been doing a little of that this morning and it’s helped me write out a small list of the projects I want to focus on and want to have achieved before my kids break up (again!)
Just as long as that floating faffing translates in actionable tasks that help the dreams happen 🙂
Really encouraging article, Karen. I’m just coming to terms with thinking of myself as a business. I guess that sounds a bit weird, but I’m a toastmaster and have only recently made the step of thinking of myself as a business and behaving accordingly. I know I’ve got a good service to sell, but sometimes the task of getting it out there seems too huge. You’ve helpfully broken it down for me and I’m pleased that I’m already doing some of the things you recommend, such as regular blogging. Thank you!
I was just sliding into Faff mode – well done for snapping me out of it!
right, 2 more emails before lunch …
I’m sorry, what’s that ‘phone thing you mentioned? lol
It’s got numbers on -used to be a dial – and rings loudly if someone calls you HeHe!
Hi, Karen.
I read through that post through and caught myself asking, “Why don’t I do that already?”
I must have this faffing down to a fine art! I’m going to start doing as you suggest!
As one of your previous commenters has said, I too am just coming to terms with thinking of myself as a business. Getting myself – and the business – out there seems a logical thing to do and you make it sound unbelievably easy!
Many thanks,
Nick
Hi Nick
I’m in a similar situation, and yes, she makes it sound very easy doesn’t she?!
Sue
Great article Karen!
I have been quite good this morning and only just looked at my emails, so I must be learning something 🙂
There’s some great advice here, and a reminder for me to be more active on LinkedIn too.
As for networking contacts, well I am following up, but as for picking up the phone…hmm…
Great reading 🙂
Sue
Go on …. pick up the phone. I dare you ;o)
Hi Karen I know it’s not Monday but I’ve decided to start taking action not just saying oh that’s good stuff so I just added 5 contacts on LinkedIn. I found it’s the easiest I could do to take action immediately. I will definitely be dealing with the rest tomorrow as the post will be calling my name from my Reader. By the way, thanks for the good stuff! It’s much appreciated.
Hi Karen,
Some great points. Hiding in Twitter? I find Twitter my biggest distraction, have to turn off internet and email off, & focus focus focus.
Also, really good point about being more accurate with your targets, it takes the principles of business plan and applies it to specific areas. If you leave a target as ‘loose’, it can drop down the importance list.
Great points Karen! SMART Targets – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Timed (or Trackable if you prefer 😉 – Love it! Thanks very much for the motivation!
Hi Karen you might not have been aware but your article Stop Faffing from June 2011 has just been circulated by one of my local Wiltshire networks in perfect time for New Year 2012 🙂
I gave a talk on goal-setting earlier this week in which I shared a tip to make ‘activity goals’ as well as ‘results goals’ which effectively summarises your excellent tips in the article. No point in setting big, hairy, outrageous goals if you have no plan to accomplish them – been there, done that TOO many times !!
There are numerous theories on goal-setting both published and on-line, my personal favourites are by the late, great Jim Rohn (jimrohn.com) and Brian Mayne (goalmapping.com)as well as the fantastic book The Slight Edge which also underpins your point about small steps at a time.
Keep up your articles Karen, they’re one of the few I do read and share :))
Warmest Wiltshire wishes, Caroline
Wow, thank you Caroline. Love that you took the time to pass around this article to your netwalkers!