2-3-4 Friday 

‘Seeking to spark the most potential within you per word of any online newsletter’

1 THOUGHT

Part of my work today writing, full-time, brings me in touch with individuals from many different walks of life.

I’ve to interview them, talk to them, and understand them.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learnt recently is how to get shit done. Pardon my language. But you get the idea.

Because many of us, often don’t. We see shit, procrastinate, and can’t wait to get it out of our lives.

So, how do you get shit done? How do you stop procrastinating on the things you want to do? Because you’ve probably tried the latest fancy app, the to-do list, and probably read productivity books.

Why do you still not get things done?

Recently, I was speaking to a funeral director. He organises funerals for people. You can imagine how difficult that is. You do tons of things that you would normally not want to do. Like lift the bodies of those who’ve passed. Place them in the coffin. Talk to families who’ve been bereaved.

How does he still do it?

He simply doesn’t think about it. He just does it. He does the thinking later.

This is contrarian advice.

Because if you read many books, they will tell you to start off your day with a gratitude journal, or to celebrate your progress of yesterday, and a million other things that get you away from the work, rather than to the work.

And this funeral director teaches one thing.

Waiting for motivation, is a sure-way to fail. How many times have we watched that inspirational video, only to feel a momentary high, and then still not get closer to the work?

As stupid as his advice sounds, ‘just getting down to the work’, it works.

But how? How do you overcome the procrastination within you?

Start small. Rather than telling yourself that you would complete that casenote today, why not just tell yourself you will type for 5 minutes, and then see what happens after 5 minutes?

You may find yourself just wanting to continue.

Rather than trying to get over the initial hump, it’s about getting to the initial hump, and then making the decision after.

1 TALK

Done is better than perfect.

Sheryl Sandberg

1 TIP

Part of why we don’t get shit done is because we are constantly trying to get multiple things done. Simple check.

How many tabs do you have open on your computer?

If there’s more than one, it’s probably one too many.

Just keep that one tab open, and focus on that one thing.

However hard it feels.

P.S. Want to think differently about a problem you're facing? Let’s chat (and no worries, there's no fee!)

John

Live Young, Live Well - Work Your Love