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.

This follows on from yesterday’s post here. You should read that first (it’s only short).

image by http://constanthing.blogspot.com

So… the story begins with a lot of introspection…

…After asking myself wh I was not getting things done, I had a revelation!

I realised that our willpower is like a small child – mine is like a stubborn little git that won’t do anything he doesn’t want to.

Have you ever seen a small child, about four or five years old, that is over tired?
When it’s way past their bed-time and after the extra energy they get from the thrill of being up late, they then degenerate into a demon that throws tantrums beyond all proportions?
Sound familiar?

OK, so my willpower is like that.

How do you get any kind of order and good behaviour from a child?

Routine. Kids NEED routine in their lives; from morning routines to get them dressed and teeth brushed to evening routines to get them to bed at a certain time.

They might complain at the introduction of a new routine, but pretty soon they get into the groove and, once established, a change to this routine results in apocalypse.

So that’s step 1 in getting myself to make any progress:
Routine.

Every day do the same things at the same time.
And while we’re at it, making plans and all that, let’s make sure the most important things get done first. Before anything else. By doing that one thing you’re probably outperforming most people  – I mean, how many days have you had where you wonder if you achieved anything at all?

The toughest part of all this is that I don’t have a parent forcing me to adhere to the new routine.

So how do we replace this with something equally persuasive?

Find out tomorrow, in the next part of Getting Shit Done

If you enjoyed this, thought it was helpful, useles, complete crap, or the ramblings of a madman, then comment to let me know, and while you’re at it, why not tweet it too?

Tony.

One step at a time.

That’s how you get somewhere. Why is it that I sometimes think I can do things any other way?

I know i’m not alone in this- there’s plenty of others out there who have this affliction. I know for certain I won’t be the last.

A simple remedy for not getting shit done-

Get your arse in gear.

Or rather, get your Rs in gear…

Let me explain: it’s a simple way for me to remind myself I need to apply the five Rs.

The Five Rs stand for:

Routines, Results and Rewards Remove Resistance.

Resistance to what? Positive change.

Success. Fame, riches, whatever you want, really!

WARNING: This powerful technique may not work for everyone. It might not be for you.

Coupled with the fact that it might bring out some horrible character traits you’d rather not face up to, there’s a good chance you’re going to be angry at me for sharing this with you.

In short, if you want your positive to happen at any cost, then read on…

…if not, then don’t apply this.

I’ll explain this as a story… A true story about a lazy shitwad.

That shitwad is me. Was me. Whatever, you know what i mean.

that story continues tomorrow…

Here’s the MOST important bunch of questions you’ll ask yourself today…

Q: If I do nothing but wait will abundance and riches come my way?

Q: Does anybody owe me a living?

Q: Is it my divine right that someone else should do all the work to make me rich with no effort on my part?

It’s very doubtful.

Here’s the more likely scenario:
If I don’t make my own plans and execute them then all I’m left with is someone else’s plans… and guess what – they don’t have good things in store for me (or YOU, for that matter!)

So, what can we do? Simple: Dream.
Dream BIG. Write it down, make a plan.

I ‘ve already covered a bit on goal setting in the past, here and the goalsetting videos here, so I won’t harp on about how to do it.

Here are some wise words I heard yesterday:

“Tony: are you working off the old script or your new script?”

This followed a conversation about how many of my goals I’d achieved…

1. We have a new house
2. We have a baby due any day
3. I have an online income
4. I have a new Job as Head of Marketing on considerably more money than my last, crummy job.
5. I work with adults who respect me and value my skills and knowledge.
6. I’m associating with the right kinds of people.

The list goes on…

but the key point is that you need to review your goals often; I’ve achieved many of them and now there’s space for more… but by not updating my desires, then I fall into the plans of “The Man” again, and we know that those aren’t great!

Actions:

• Review your Goals Often
• Read them first thing in the morning and last thing at night
• Every day before you check your emails, do your best thing first… whether it’s a blog post, a video, whather you need to do – DO. THAT. FIRST.
  Nothing Else… JUST. THAT.

My best first thing?
Today, it was writing this post

If you found this post helpful, please comment, tweet, cry, laugh sing, or whatever you feel is appropriate

UPDATE 1: Now go check this post by David King – it follows on nicely from mine: He Said It Was A Scam