Get Sh*t Done
The power of getting sh*t done is second to none. Prioritizing the important things and methodically knocking out tough tasks is the only way we grow. I am as guilty as anyone of putting things off that needs to be accomplished. The things that will take a good amount of time, energy, or pain. Over the past few years I have been able to accomplish more than any other time in my life by following a few simple habits that I have come to live by. It has taken me out of the grasps of fear, procrastination, and depression. This has, in turn, helped me live a happier more fulfilling life by my own standards. If you are stuck in the trap of monotony, it seems like there is no way out. Hear me now, there is! Let’s talk about the power of getting sh*t done!
First of all, I want to acknowledge how easy it is to mind out and push things off until you absolutely have to do it. Unfortunately this sends us in a downward spiral because the truth is, there will never be a great time to do the hard things that life throws at you. Before you get to this point, we need start developing winning habits. These habits have completely changed my life as well as my approach to the daunting tasks I would had previously put off.
3 Winning Habits
#1 Start planning your sh*t
As the old saying goes, failing to plan is planning to fail. End each day by reflecting on your accomplishments and what still needs to be done tomorrow. Take inventory on your goals and where you are at in the process of accomplishing them. Once you are done with this, make an itinerary for what needs to get done tomorrow to make you feel like your making progress on the big goals. YOU DO NOT have to do it all at once. Break down your big tasks into bite size chunks and do one thing every day that will progress you to ultimate accomplishment. Oftentimes, we get bogged down by looking at our massive goals that take time. We don’t know where to start. Best answer for this is this approach. One thing at a time. Every day!
There is an analogy for this that I like to think back to when I am seeking clarity. It is the analogy of ROCKS and SAND in a jar. The ROCKS in this analogy is your big things that need to get done. The big goals, hard tasks, the things that really push the needle forward. The SAND is the small things. The tasks that need to get done on a daily basis but don’t necessarily bring you progress on your big goals. If you fill the jar with SAND first, there is no room for the ROCKS. If you fill the jar with the ROCKS first, you can then add the SAND to fill in the rest of the jar. The JAR is your day. Do the things that matter first! Plan for them, set time aside and get them done. If you don’t do this, there is a good chance it will not happen at all!
#2 Find sh*t that works for you
Everyone is different man! The things that get me fired up may be a buzzkill for you. The things that motivate me are most likely completely different from what may motivate you. It is important to find something in your life that you can point to that will keep you pushing through the hard stuff. This can be your family, money, time freedom, your dream life, dream house, dream car, travel, vacations, peace, whatever. Find something that truly matters to you and keep that with you at all times. Everyone has a story to tell and everyone was raised differently. Personally, I have my own set of things that matter to me such as family and being a successful business owner. What matters to you? Find it, and build your routine around it. Stick with that routine for at least 3 weeks and see how far you can go. You may surprise yourself.
#3 Take time to develop your sh*t
There is no overnight success. You have to work for it if you want it. Steps on Soapbox Today, we have so many damn “gurus” and “life coaches” who haven’t done sh*t! Why do we pay these people money or attention? They sell us courses and programs that promise to make us a fortune if we follow their “easy steps”. COME ON MAN! Its a scam. One day, all of these self proclaimed gurus will have to get a real job and stop trying to skim hard working folks for their money. Now, Steps off soapbox, lets set the record straight. NOTHING BEATS HARD WORK. PERIOD. There is nothing more true. So if you want it bad enough and you have the audacity to ask to universe for the big things that you most certainly deserve, get to work. Start developing your skills and hone in on your craft. I recommend you start reading books that will further your knowledge in your field of endeavor as well as books that focus on personal development. What you learn and take from these books and programs is up to you. Find little nuggets in your research and learning that make sense to you and apply. This furthers your expertise. Watch videos, attend seminars, etc. The more you can learn, the more you can help yourself. You can then take your learnings and expertise and give your gift back to the world. You have to take TIME to develop yourself first!
Create a DOING LIFESTYLE
We have developed the habits by this point and we are well on our way to accomplishing our goals. It’s important that we make this sustainable for the long term. I believe this comes from a mental shift on the work that we do day in and day out. The mental shift comes from making the important things, the “rocks”, an absolute MUST EVERY DAY. If these things are truly important to you, you will find a way to get it done. We all have the same amount of time every day. We get ahead and make progress by the things we are able to execute in the 24 hours we have. Execution is the name of the game. I believe we all know the answers to the tough questions and we all know the things we should be doing. Now, turn those things in to musts. This is an idea I took from Tony Robbins and it has made a huge difference in my life. Again, be honest with yourself. Clarify what matters most to you and attack your to-do list with ferocity!
Power of NOW
There are some things in your life that you learn or you are exposed to that completely changes your outlook. The book “The Power of the Now” was an eye opening book in many way but most importantly, it taught me the significance of this moment. It helped me to stop fearing the things I can’t control and to just be alive in this moment. I decided to stop worrying about the opinions of others or these fake situations that my mind would make up in a millisecond about everything. I let it all go and it has been completely liberating. With this, it gave me responsibility. When you live in the present moment, you have the ultimate responsibility to make it the absolute best. Your job is to make the most of it. So when you relinquish fears and everything else that comes a long with it, you can tackle things like never before.
As you begin getting sh*t done, it is like a snow ball effect. One thing leads to the next, then the next. Set time away every day to assess your progress on your goals (short term and long), measure what matters (actual accomplishments), and adapt your routine and schedule to make sure you stay on task and on track. Never neglect the things you can do TODAY. It is easy to do and it is also easy NOT to do. Ask yourself, “what would the BETTER VERSION of myself be doing?” in your down times. The constant progress towards the things that matter to you will bring you joy like you'd never believe. There is never a perfect time but NOTHING feels better than getting sh*t done guys! Let’s get out there and get to work!
