Eat That Elephant!

Posted by Judy Peebles in The Journaling Jenius, Uncategorized on April 15, 2009 | no responses

Eat that Elephant!!!

I’m sure most of you have heard the question:- How do you eat an elephant? And the answer:- One bite at a time!

This is an old time management adage. If the elephant is a project you need to complete, you have to complete it one bite or action at a time.

Sometimes that feels easier said than done. So let’s break it down further.

1. Define the Elephant – First you need to define your project. Be specific. Make sure you know the scope of what you plan to accomplish. A good question to ask is – How will I know I’ve completed this project? For instance, when I’m creating my Journaling Jems^TM, I feel that I’ve finished when the file is sent to the printers. Then I just have to wait for them to be delivered.
2. Set a Deadline – If your project doesn’t have a deadline, you’ll feel less compelled to complete it. Make it a realistic deadline, but something that is a stretch for you. For instance, a lot of people say they will write a book one day. One day isn’t a deadline. But in 3 years is too long and 30 days may be too short for most. Sometimes an external deadline can be helpful. For example, on my first set of Journaling Jems^TM, my sister, Diannna who does all the design work, was going on vacation. I needed to get them to her before her vacation so she could finish them and get them to the printers.
3. What are the bites – Break the project down into edible chunks. You can create a list or a mindmap for this. Or brainstorm with post-it notes and create a storyboard. Once these are organized, give each step a deadline. Be sure to include steps that you can delegate and make sure you get commitment on the deadline when you delegate them.
4. Right now – Being in motion is powerful. Look at your steps and pick one that you can complete right now! If not now, then at least within the next 24 hours.
5. Accountability – Set up an accountability system. This may be as simple as telling a friend, I’m going to get this done by Tuesday and have them call you on Tuesday to check in. Having a coach is a great accountability system. I give my clients homework and because they know I will ask them about their homework on our next call, they tell me that they are more compelled to complete everything before our call.