The Dangers of Thinking Big
And 3 tactics you can use to actually get things done.
We’re all taught to dream big and to have ambitious goals.
Whilst it’s great to have those as they give life meaning and direction, I do think that focusing too much on the big picture can be quite dangerous.
When you focus on the big picture, it’s far too easy to get daunted at the impossibility of the task at hand. It’s like being in the fifth mile of a marathon and feeling the tiredness creep in and wonder how the hell you’ll make it to the finish line.
The sheer distance separating you from it is far too daunting.
In that moment, all you can really do is to focus on the next mile, and your next step.
First tactic: Minimize
The very first step is to reduce, as much as possible, what you actually dedicate your limited time and energy to.
Make a list of all the things you'd like to get done. Write them down.
Next, go through your list and pick the absolute top things you must get done.
Another way of thinking about this is to ask 'what are the things that will negatively impact me I don’t do them?'
Put an asterisk next those.
Be ruthless in distinguishing between nice to haves and absolute musts.
Second tactic: Time-box
Next, go through each one of your top projects and, for each, answer this question:
What’s the very next step I can take now that’ll move this project towards completion?
Write down that task.
Then, at the beginning of the day or week, open your calendar and add this next step to your calendar.
So, if you plan to do Task X on Monday at 9 a.m., add it there.
Then, try to estimate how long it’ll take you to complete it and — because we absolutely suck at estimating — double it.
So Task X: Monday 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Repeat this for all your next tasks on your top projects.
When finished, you'll have a much more realistic schedule of what you'll actually be able to accomplish by the end of the day or week.
You‘ll also not waste energy wondering what to do next. Open your calendar and see what’s next.
Third tactic: Time yourself
The thing is, even you know what to do next, if you don't actually sit down and do the work, nothing will get done.
That’s why I like to start a timer for 25 minutes.
Once the timer has started, my only rule is to keeping working until it rings. I then get a 5 minute break to do whatever I like. (This is commonly known as the Pomodoro technique but use whatever block of time that works for you).
The reason this is so powerful is because the hardest thing about doing something isn’t the act of actually doing it, but starting it.
The hardest thing about going for a run isn’t the actual running, it’s getting your running shoes on and stepping out of the front door.
What the timer does is that it forces you to push past those first few painful minutes.
And once you get over that hump, it then becomes easier to keep going.
Takeaway
Getting your head down and focusing on the very next step builds momentum.
Focusing on nothing else but the very next actionable (and achieveable) step is like to hitting a tennis ball back across the net.
It feels good and it builds confidence.
No matter how small, each completed task will be a flag in the sand for how far you’ve come. Be proud of them because it was never a given that you’d get to them.
Mile 5: check.
Mile 6: check.
Mile 7: check…
The remaining miles, just like your list of tasks in front of you, seem insurmountable. But right now, don't sweat them.
They will come.
And you will deal with them when they do.
If you’re interested to see how I use these three techniques, do let me know in the comments!