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Get More Done with a "To-Don't" List

September Fuel Free Seminar

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Fuel Free Seminar - Interview Tips Every Pro Should Know

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I hope you're enjoying the changing fall weather. At our house, we're back into the school routine. So far high school seems to be agreeing with Brandon. He's even talking about going to homecoming with a group of friends. It's hard to believe he's in high school!!

Fall is an important transitional month, and not just for students. For some businesses, September is the start of a new fiscal year. It's also a month in which professionals gear back up in their job searches if they are in a career transition. Either way, this month's fuel free seminar is going to be one not to miss!

Because of the input I received from those who responded to my survey last month, guest expert Liz Handlin will be sharing her Interview Tips Every Pro Should Know. Whether you are in career transition or a business owner, the information she has to share is applicable. Business owners can use her tips when working with prospects and clients too! REGISTER NOW to reserve your spot!

I'm still finalizing the creation of a brand-new program with my friend and fellow coach Tammy Cook of Renaissance Minds. I promise to have more details out soon.

Lastly, if you want to get more done, think about writing a "to-don't" list. Learn more about that in my article below.

Cheers!

"Knowledge is power and enthusiasm pulls the switch." ~ Steve Droke

"Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together." ~ Vincent Van Gogh

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Get More Done with a "To'Don't" List

By Victoria Cook

A colleague of mine recently sent me a link to an article written by Liz Massey of Creative Liberty on 7 Ways to Reduce Stress With a To-Don’t List. As a chronic To-DO list maker from waaaaayyyyy back, I was really intrigued by the title! As a coach who helps her client’s focus on what’s most important and get it done, I figured I’d learn some additional insights to share with you.

I’m just soooo busy!
Somehow in our culture, “being busy” has been elevated to a status symbol. However, busy does not equal productive! It’s easy to be unceasingly busy with the never ending to-do list. As one thing is checked off, three more are added on. But too often clients complain they just aren’t getting what they want accomplished or they aren’t hitting their goals. They are “busy” going nowhere.

While the to-do list seems forever ongoing, in contrast, Massey describes the “to-don’t” list as “contractive, narrow, and boundary-defining.” She also shares that, “At the heart of the ‘to-don’t’ list is the Pareto principle, also known as the 80/20 rule.” The 80/20 rule states that 20% of our efforts produce 80% of our results. This means that 80% of our efforts aren’t even important! Enter the “to-don’t” list.

Do it yourself!
While Liz Massey’s article focuses on the seven benefits you’ll get from implementing your own “to-don’t” list, I’d like to share three tactics you can use to create your own “to-don’t” list so you can get those benefits!

1. Assess what you are currently doing and rank the importance using the traditional A, B and C ranking where A is urgent, B is for items you’d like to get done today but aren’t critical and C is for the optional or back burner items. Review your B and C tasks and assess if any can be added to the “to-don’t” list (permanently or temporarily).

2. Identify what you can outsource! While some tasks need to be completed, they may not need to be completed by YOU! Much of the business administration work you do can be given to an assistant (or virtual assistant for all you small business owners) to free you up for focusing on the 20%! Those items outsourced can be added to your “to-don’t” list.

3. Detect your key time stealers. Cell phones, blackberries, pagers, a disorganized boss, e-mail, junk mail, or a chatty co-worker are just a few possibilities. Once you know the time stealers you can decide how to handle them. Perhaps some things can go on your “to-don’t” list like checking e-mail first thing in the morning. This is often a major time stealer and can be relegated to a little later in the day. Save your “prime time” work hours for the more important and strategic activities.

Use your “to-don’t” list to clear away some of the 80% of unimportant work. Your “to-don’t” list will also help you create a to-DO list that is more strategic AND realistic!

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