5 Simple Steps

Personally, I've noticed that there are projects that are taking a little longer to take off or deadlines are  sneaking up on me to get done. Be it procrastination, the attraction of video games or simple just forgetting, I know that I'm not the only one that has this experience. It seems that it's always plagued me since high school. However, through the years, I've mastered being efficient and effective in what I do, therefore allowing me to do more. Here are the 5 Simple Steps to make it all happen.

1. Work Backwards. Start your plan from the finish line and come up with several milestones till you reach to today.

2. Delegate. If there are things that you can hand off to people to do, then do. However, the pitfall is either to micromanage them or don't communicate with them until the deadline and get mad when things aren't complete. Continue to maintain communication so you know what is happening and place additional steps, tasks or people as necessary.

3. Write it down. Pencil or electronically works, whatever works best for you. Anything you can think of that relates to the project needs to be written down. Once the ideas are taken from your brain and written down, you can then have a clear head.

4. Schedule it. Schedule the tasks and items on your calendar. When you're going to spend time on the project, when the deadlines are and when to expect things back from people you've delegated to. If it's not in the calendar, it doesn't get done.

5. The most important step, take the action! You've planned your work and now, work your plan! All of this pre-planning is great, but it doesn't do anything if you don't follow it. Following it will ensure that your work gets done. Deviating from it will ensure that you'll stress out because you forgot, you procrastinated or that life is just happening and you're overwhelmed.

That's it, 5 Simple Steps I follow to be effective and efficient in what I do. Now you can too!