Feb292008
Get ‘er Done!
Let’s face it: not every little thing we do for work is exciting and thrilling. Some things – like budgeting, filling out forms, organizing your filing system – can be downright boring.
But the fact is, even the not-so-exciting and the mundane are part of the job. It’s gotta get done,
right? So you might as well give it 100% and get it done as fast as you can!
So, here are my suggestions on how to deal with the routine aspects of any task:
Make it fun by making it a challenge. When you look at a “boring” task, like paying bills,
shift your thinking. Instead of saying to yourself, “Ugh! I hate this…,” turn it around. Turn it into a game or a personal challenge for yourself: “I am going to test myself with these bills and see if I can’t get them done in 20 minutes.”
Use the egg timer trick. When you know you have a mundane task to complete that might take a big chunk of time, try this: Find an egg timer. Set it for 20 minutes or 30 minutes. Focus on your project, don’t think about anything else. Then when the bell goes off, you get a break (for a certain amount of time; say, 5 to 10 minutes). Then you go back and do it again, and before you know it, the project is done. Knowing that you will get a break soon always makes it easier.
Give yourself a reward. Nothing motivates people like a reward. When faced with a boring to-do list, tell yourself, “When I get these things done, I’ll go out for a bike ride,” or “When I get this done, then I get to do the stuff that I really love.”
“Firewall” your attention. Sometimes you just need to hunker down. Focus! But, when you are working on something that isn’t all that exciting, it’s easy to get distracted. So, I recommend losing your door, hanging a “DO NOT DISTURB” sign on the knob, and routing all of your calls to oicemail if you can. Then just do it.
While taking care of the nitty-gritty, routine stuff certainly isn’t why we went into business for ourselves, these tasks are the basis upon which a successful business depend.
These tasks still must be done, and done professionally. But remember, even the most humdrum of tasks can be made challenging or fun.
Warmly,
Russ
Founder of Winning in the Cash Flow Business
Well done and well said!
I challenge myself everyday to step out of my comfort zone and do something extraordinary just to push myself over the place of comfort that I’m in. I find most things that I classify as “mundane” really are the “fun stuff.”
It’s all in my attitude toward it and the resulting feeling of accomplishment is my reward. I may never have had that experience had I not taken the challenge to step out in faith believing that I can.
Thanks for this perspective on it, too.
Sincerely, Robin
March 1st, 2008 at 10:02 am
The egg timer trick was so simple, but at the same time ingenious! It never occurred to me to time my tasks, especially the ones I didn’t like! Thank you for the tip. I’ll definitely use it!
April 2nd, 2008 at 2:17 pm
I had seen where one of your students said she was having fun finding and making money. I thought to myself, will I ever feel that way. The hardest thing about this “cashflow business” was to figure out the calcultor. For me this was overwhelming–I never believed I could do it. Your Protege lesson solved my probem. What a good feeling learning! Thanks.
September 23rd, 2009 at 6:56 pm