The Dreaded, but Necessary, To Do List
I maintain that if you believe you are operating your business effectively on a daily basis without the benefit of a To Do List, you don’t have enough to do!
An effective To Do List cannot be in your head any differently than an operating budget can be in your head. For a TDL to actually be an effective, functional tool, it must be written down and addressed daily.
By the way, it is not like a grocery list where everything has the same priority. It’s not just a check off list. It is a tool that allows you to prioritize and to compare the number of quick and easy tasks versus those that are difficult and uncomfortable.
As a matter of fact, a good rule is if something has been on a TDL for over 30 days and still has not been completed, you should give yourself a deadline to complete the task. If the deadline passes without completion of the task, remove it.
I learned years ago while teaching business classes about various functional tools that can assist in minimizing procrastination, the person who doesn’t really like to use a TDL is more likely to use one if he begins with one or two items that have already been completed.
You may be smiling about now, and thinking how silly that is, or you could be smiling because you have done that yourself. No matter how silly it may sound, I happen to know that it works, and from my perspective, it’s acceptable to put a task on the list that has already been completed — especially if it helps you to use this highly important tool.
Another excellent strategy with a TDL is to begin the day by tackling a difficult or uncomfortable task. You will be amazed at how good that accomplishment can make you feel, which means you will be more effective the remainder of the day.
Let the list begin!!!
