This is the third in a series of blog posts – you can read part 1 here and part 2 here (they’re both quite short)
a lovely chocolatey reward...
OK, so we decided that I’m a child (or something like that) and that to get stuff done I need a replacement parent to ‘encourage me’.
Have you ever seen a stubborn kid being told to do something? Doesn’t work too well, does it?
Seriously, I’m not kidding; if you treat your inner self like a brat kid, you’ll get results.
Tip: “If you tidy your bedroom you can go to the movies” works better than “you’re not going to the movies of you don’t tidy your room”.
I know it basically sounds the same, but in the first example, there’s fear of loss. The second example is just a threat which will be met with instand defiance and resistance.
So anyway, “REWARDS and RESULTS” is the next step to getting shit done.
Define rewards for absolutelyt everything. Seriously.
In the morning I plan my day, listing all the jobs and define a reward for getting each one (or group of small things) done.
I also have a predefined reward for making my list – this is a *key* point, because if there’s no reward for doing it, then you might not get it done (and that’s your whole day out the window)!
I make a coffee, then make my list.
After making the list I can have my coffee.
simple! Procrastination = cold coffee! (urgh)
The rewards don’t have to be huge or even cost anything. It could just be ten minutes of youtube.
If it’s a reward, you don’t feel bad at all for goofing off!
Here’s an example of the beginning of my day:
(make list = coffee)
1. DO BEST THING FIRST: Blog Post = another coffee
2. Check Emails, sort into junk/delete, requires immediate attention, requires attention soon
3. Deal with the ‘requires immediate attention’ emails as quickly as possible
[Emails done = ten minutes goofing off (there's usually some marketing emails or funny ones I want to look at)]
4. Article Writing: fifteen minutes
- define topic based on keywords
- make outline
- break into five sections/main points
- flesh each out a little
- make sentences to join five points
- article finished!
[Article Done = go on twitter for fifteen minutes]
the day generally goes on like that.
Key points:
- make sure you define how long things should take
- make sure your rewards are times too
- you’ll see some of the rewards are kind-of like fun work (like reading tweets) but if unregulated can take up your whole day
- make rewards for little goals reached, as well as rewards for achieving big groups of tasks, and a big reward for getting your whole list done (like buying a new dvd, going out for a meal, finishing early, etc).
Rewards is based on Results, but I define the rewards first so I have something fun to work towards.
If you’re working from home this can be a career-saver, and if you’re trying to start your business in the evenings, after your dayjob, then this approach can get SOO much done in the little time that you have.
So there we go, that’s the little story/explanation of how I’ve gone from a lazy shitwad to a lazy shitwad that gets stuff done without it seeming like hard work 
Remember: get your Arse, sorry, Rs in gear: Routines, Results and Rewards Remove Resistance.
Thanks for reading; now it’s up to you to tweet the article, comment, bookmark it, call it a waste of time, whatever you like.
