Tuesday at 2:00pm with Russ

It's Tuesday at 2:00pm! (PST Time: I live and work from Southern California)

Greetings to you!

Each week I send out a short leadership blog that's called "Tuesday at 2:00pm". The purpose of this is simply to provide a brief thought on leadership that you can read and think about in just a few minutes. I send it out every week at 2:00pm (PST) and encourage you to make an appointment with yourself to pause and think about the thing I'm writing about.

Russ...

LEADERSHIP QUOTE:

"If the big rocks don't go in first, they aren't going to fit in later." Stephen Covey

What does this stir up? Either write me HERE or comment at the end of the blog post HERE.

A LITTLE BIT DEEPER:

This month I want to explore some ideas around PROJECT MANAGEMENT. Pretty exciting theme for a summer month, but I'm finding myself looking for some tools to help me get some things done over the next few months.

I know how I can be the most productive, but there are times that I just allow some bad habits to sneak back into my work life and it messes with my ability to focus on priorities and to manage the most important things to completion.

Of course, trying to do this while the World Cup is on is a problem, but I'm talking about "managing the time you have left AFTER watching your favorite World Cup Match!"

Stephen Covey talks about "BIG ROCKS" in many of his books, and often he's uses the terms of "priorities" or "first things first" interchangeably.

He shared this video illustration years ago that best describes his theory of Big Rocks:

This is such a great illustration of how I often try to manage my time, my projects, my priorities. Covey drives this idea home in a very clear, practical way.

If you were to identify a few key projects or areas of focus that were important to you, how would you structure and plan to execute on that?

Please share with me ONE IDEA you have that has helped you in this area and I'll share these with everyone on this distribution list. EMAIL RUSS

What's the ONE THING that helps you focus on what's most important?

DEEPER STILL:

When I think about managing BIG ROCKS in my life, there are a couple of things I've learned to do which doesn't guarantee success, but it positions me for the best possibility of success.

I am always challenged by distractions. Some distractions might be divine, others are simply distractions. When I can manage distractions in a healthy way, I'm much better at getting my priority projects accomplished on time.

Here are my THREE THINGS:

#1) IDENTIFY MY PRIORITIES

If I don't do this, then I'm just working my to-do list and trying to check boxes off. I need to know what my priorities are at any given time, and these change sometimes. I work priorities from some tools that come from LifePlanning: What are my GOALS? What are the RISKS that keep me from my GOALS? What are the DRIVERS that propel me towards my ultimate VISION? Some big words here, but you need to do the work to identify your priorities, whether these be for your work, your personal life, your family or whatever aspect of your life you need to focus on. DO THE WORK and figure out what is most important.

Tools I use:

#2) SCHEDULE MY PRIORITIES

I begin my week "working my schedule" and designating time for these BIG BLOCKS. If I don't schedule it, I never get to it. I usually work about a month out, but I block time out in front of me and then I work hard to protect that time.

Tools I use:

  • Evernote (I use this to create project descriptions, to-do lists and goals)

  • My Computer Calendar that I sync to all my devices, and I color code things to define priorities

  • My Notes App to create a running list of all the little things that need to get done that come to mind. I put them on a Notes List just to get it out of head so I can get back to focusing on the Big Rock.

#3) WORK MY LIST

This is where it gets real. I can have al the defined projects and priorities exactly where I need them, but there's a time that I just need to WORK THEM. No distractions, no excuses, just hard work.

I had a goal last week of cleaning out one of my email accounts that had just loaded up with junk and spam email, so I blocked 2 hours during the week to address the issue, clean it out, and get rid of a pile of emails. I got distracted (because it's not a very exciting project) and ended up taking a call that took 1 hour of that time, then I started working on the list and was pulled into an email thread that took me into a whole other direction, and at the end of the day, out of the 2 hour block, I probably spent about 20 minutes addressing the issue that I had defined as being important. Instead of finishing it, I addressed it, spent a little time, but eventually moved on to something else, and it's still hanging over my head.

The Apps and tools we have can help us address the work, but they can't do all the work for us. Sometimes you just have to WORK.

Tools I use:

  • Digital Timer I use this stand alone timer to help me focus for a period of time on a project.

  • White Board I have 2 of these large white boards in my home office. Sometimes I just need to write out projects so I can see how it's laid out.

  • Good Work Space. I've found if I'm in a shared work space, coffee shop, or outdoor space, it get easily distracted. I need to create the best space to work in, especially when I'm addressing a Big Rock

What's ONE THING you've done that helps you move the needle on focusing on your Big Rocks, your greatest priorities?

 

Things I'm Reading, Listening To and Watching This Week:

Source: www.leadermundial.org