It’s what you do before you start

I’m the kind of person who decides to organize before I start working. It’s what I do before I start. For example, this morning I sat down and wrote my master task list of projects I had to do today but then I decided to organize some photos from the past 5 years. Why? Because I wanted to find one picture. Because I wanted to send my friend Jane a picture we took together 4 years ago. Because I’ve learned how to upload my istock photos on my blog. Because I’m thinking of framing some new photos of my trip around my house. So there you have it, 3 hours later, more disorganized than I started, frustrated that I lost so much time and unsettled with how much I didn’t accomplish.

What do you do before you start? Are you avoiding or procrastinating on a project or task? I’ve watched salespeople build the most elaborate dashboards to track their leads and closed opportunities instead of just printing out a report and making calls. I’ve listened to salespeople talk on the phone at length with No-Po’s just because it was easier not to challenge themselves to call at the right level. I’ve watched managers put their C performer on plan instead of investing the time to coach and develop them into a B or A performer.

Today, I am inspired to follow a straight path and not veer off the side of the road to buy something from the fruitstand or to look at the map for a turn I forgot to take.