"I have so many things I have to get done! I don't know where to start.
Is there some systemized way of prioritizing what I want and need to get done?" I get questions like this all the time when I coach and the answer is never what the client wants to hear.
If you've read many of my articles you will know that I firmly believe that I can't possibly know what would work for you.
It isn't likely I'm going to give you advice or some pat solution to this answer and usually if the "list" is long the client wants a quick fix.
Of course you know what I think of quick fixes.
I would most definitely start off by asking you some questions, such as: 1.
How often do you think of all the things you need to get done? Weekly? Daily? o This alone can often lead to a huge insight as to exactly how much of your time you are spending just thinking and not acting.
Often it is the single most inspiring situation to move you forward towards a change.
2.
How much time do you spend thinking about these items once they surface into your mind? 5 minutes? And hour? All day? o You might not realize just how stuck you are and how often you end up in that place.
3.
How important is it that you come up with a solution to get these organized? On a scale of 1-10.
10 being the least important.
o Sometimes this question leads to a powerful insight.
Whose priority is it, yours or someone else's? Or if you are grappling with more than one issue you prioritize where to start.
4.
How do you feel about the thinking time you've spent on this issue so far? o No matter what anyone tells you there is ALWAYS an emotional investment with anything you choose to do.
It's very important to consider and explore your actual feelings about a particular situation.
It might be the only thing holding you back.
5.
What are the main insights you've had on this issue so far? o Looking at what your insights were is important as well.
It can help rekindle the inspiration that got you moving forward in the first place.
6.
And last but not least..
..
On a scale of 1-10 how confident you are that you have all the information you need to take action? o If you don't have all the information you need to move forward you might as well quit while you are ahead.
I've seen many inspirational moments disappear due to lack of tools and skills.
Now we are ready for the next step.
What are some possible paths we could take from here or how would you like to explore some different ideas to move this forward.
Then I would definitely ask you, "How can I help you from here?" Once you reach a point of planning a method and setting up goals is then I would offer suggestions for resources.
But I only give out this type of information if I'm directly asked or it is apparent you've no resources of your own.
After exploring resources we adapt them to suit your needs.
I've yet to find a resource that I or a client hasn't had to tweak in some way to make it work.
I might suggest some homework to view these resources to check out.
For example I really like Stephen Coveys method of prioritizing using quadrants but I tend to get a bit overwhelmed by the whole process he sets out in creating and following through on goals.
I've used lists before but if I can use something to "beat myself up" this is the perfect tool.
I used to create these long lists and then get angry at myself when they got bigger and I never seemed to get it all done.
Not good.
Does this inspire you? Probably not and it didn't inspire me either.
I would most definitely set up a method for you to provide me with feedback on your progress on a regular basis.
This could be an email or a quick phone call.
But nothing annoying and most definitely something that you suggest would work for you.
Looking back question 5, you can see why this might be the one place you lost track of your goal.
Reviewing a moment of inspiration regularly "locks" the new thought in place so it has time to become part of who you are.
Kind of like when you learn to ride a bike.
If you don't practice and quit the first time you fall off then you will never learn.
Inspiration and changing your behavior works the same way.
I'm smiling right now because I bet your thinking, "Did she give me a definite answer?" not really.
The second I give advice of any kind it makes me responsible for your success or failure.
It means I don't hold you capable and intelligent enough to come up with answers that will work for you.
However, I'm willing to bet I've got you thinking and if I've done that much then I've accomplished what I set out to do.