Writing, Self-Publishing, Book Marketing

Make Your Priority List and Check It Twice (a month)

December 1, 2009 at 11:39 am mbutler22 Leave a comment

As a blanket of ribbons and wrapping paper cover our thoughts, it is also the perfect time to evaluate, prioritize and create an action plan for the New Year — not to mention what else you can accomplish just in time for the holidays. The countdown has begun. Never mind ideas of resolutions — Put it on Paper.

There’s not enough time in the day — a commonly spoken phrase. But, the holidays — life — won’t grant more time, so where do we all begin? Begin with the idea of a list — a carefully designed plan detailing a direction, opportunity and the prioritized efficiency that increases your performance and productivity. 

Consider the following when creating your list of priorities and maintaining your plan:

Vision — Your overall image, or visualization, of what it is you are working towards and who it is you want to become. Keep your vision on the grand scheme of things but also realistic. Recognize each avenue of opportunity as it branches out from your visual map.

Accomplishments — Assess where you are now. Review your previous goals and compare those to your current standing. Did you accomplish anything outside of your initial target? In what time frame did you reach each accomplishment? Note any goals being carried over and understand why they have not yet been met.

New Direction for Goals — Recognize any new opportunities. This may be due to personal progress or a change in the industry and its trends.

List Your Priorities — What are you currently working on? Working towards? List all projects in motion as well as the anticipation of future projects. Note the level of importance for each task and rank them from high to low priority.   

Create Due Dates — Assign a date of completion for each task. If your goals have sub-tasks, create a due date for those as well. Build a type of schedule to help navigate your progress as well as prioritize each task and goal.

Consider Consequences — Not all tasks are created equal. Some tasks have minimal results or consequences while others significant. Should your schedule ever call for it, or if a new opportunity presents itself, tackle the significant tasks first. It may seem obvious, but we tend to think we can get the easy ones out of the way quickly so we may concentrate more thoroughly on the higher stake. Prioritize means the most important or impacting comes first.  

De-Clutter — On the flipside, most lists will contain a variety of smaller tasks that require little time but also anchor your progress. Schedule a day to de-clutter your list. Work your way through the little things and free your time for more beneficial tasks.

Reassess — Change is constant with priorities and opportunities. Depending upon the intensity of your schedule, reevaluate your list weekly to monthly. Stay on track of your progress and keep up with the shifts in your priorities.

Give yourself the gift of course. Planning and preparation will set personal guidelines and keep your progression headed towards your goals. Prioritizing helps to manage your work and adds professionalism to your name. 

 - Melissa

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