Focus - Divide and Conquer

"Rack em stack em and knock em down. "

When you focus on one task at a time you will accomplish more in less time than with multitasking.

Multitasking is a buzzword that is often misused. First off it doesn't exist. Our minds divide and conquer anyway by focusing on one thing at time. When you think you are multitasking your mind is actually just shifting between two things, focusing on one thing at a time for a brief moment.

The only time that multitasking does help is in the case of a semi-unconscious activity and a conscious activity that are linked. An example of this would be when you write notes and listen at the same time. Sense these two activities are directly related this activity can actually help you be more efficient. A great example of this is Sketchnotes (one of my favorite books).



Project management or your daily to do list is an excellent place to increase efficiency. Instead of switching from task to task work on them a little at time, chose the most important and work on it until it is completely done. Not only will you get more done but your work will be much better.

Focus on one project at a time. You'll not only get faster but you'll do much better work.

Tony D.

Simple System : The simple solution to everything

You can use simple systems to solve problems or manage projects.  The simple system model is universal and the perfect solution to any problem where you just need somewhere to get started.

A simple system template is laid out like the grill of a car. If you can remember this framework you'll always have a hip-pocket system at your disposal. 

To fill out our system we simply need to lay out our information as follows.

• Title of your project = simply give your system a name
• Problem = this is what problem you're trying to solve or question you're trying to answer
• Problem Description = describe your problem or where you are now
• Lines of Effort (LOEs) = A line of effort is one avenue or direction. This is one way to improve or try to solve your problem.
• Endstate = This is what you think the answer will be called. This doesn't have to be perfect and will most likely change as you work or your problem.
• What right looks like = this is where you describe what your end-state looks like. Even it is abstract, this can simply be an improvement from where you are now.
• Timeline = Layout the start date and finish date. Then layout some realist goals and when you should reach them. 

The simple system framework is a framework.  It should be a living document that you update as you go through the process.

Systems are living breathing animals. They should not be static and you shouldn't be afraid to  change things on the fly.

Tricks and Tips:

• Assign a team member to each line of effort. If you are the only one working on the system then limit the lines of effort to 3.
• Set realistic goals  on your timeline.
• Reward success. Don't concentrate on failure. Team members should be fearless and not afraid to fail in their line of effort.

The Power of Habit: Systems

I was told many years ago by one of my revered college professors that habits were bad.

Wrong...

Habits are not bad but they need to be used for efficiency. Habits are actions we take due to muscle or mental memory.  Habits are actions we've mastered so that we can accomplish them without much thought.  This is usually achieved by hundreds if not thousands of repetitions.

By creating good habits we can increase the efficiency during our day and free up time for things we'd like to spend time on.  Most of us spend most of our time during the day thinking about what to do next. Simply having an answer to that question can create tremendous opportunity and room for real progression.

Habits have a bad connotation because we don't analyze the situations we're in that we use habits. We do these things because they feel right and we're used to doing them in the past.  So let's give these things a new name, systems.

As system is a way of doing something efficiently.  When you create systems for the mundane parts of your day you can accomplish them much faster and therefore free up more time.  You can increase the effecienty of any action or process through a quick analyses.  Congratulations you have turned habits into systems.

Good habits are systems.  Become a systems builder and you are on your way to eliminating all the bad habits in your day.