Working on this, then that, then this, then back to that later…
Instead, focus on one thing until it’s done. This reduces the time it takes to get things done by 50% or more.
In Napoleon Hill’s classic book “Think and Grow Rich”, “controlled attention” is #11 of his 17 principles of personal achievement.
Take one thing at a time – the most important thing, and stay on it until it’s done.
Just was reading a topic about distraction from Darren Hardy(thanks for that tip Larry )I see why getting things done takes so long! Like your topic today, he said studies prove if you stop what your doing and “multi task” or let yourself be “distracted”…it takes your brain 25 mins to focus again and get back into productivity on what you were working on ! Now I know why you wanted to see what our desks looked like in our offices for a SOE assignment!
Single Handling really has helped me, especially when trying to do payroll and having other distractions. I now concentrate until the entire process is done, then take on another task. Thank you for the reminder that I’m doing okay!!
I love this thinking – however, the challenge I face is that I’m dispatching urgent calls, communicating with the technicians & plumbers & ordering the parts we need to get jobs done. All this while having to do payroll, invoicing etc. I don’t know how to prioritize when I’m pulled in so many directions – I’ve said that I’m overwhelmed and/or need to delegate and I’m told It’s my time management that’s the issue. …. Not true. I can’t time manage when I never know what each day will bring as far as call volume etc. I can’t predict that therefore, I cannot pre-predict/pre-plan my time. – help !