This quote has been hanging up in my office for the past few years: “Anyone can do something when they WANT to do it. Really successful people do things when they DON’T want to do it” (Dr Phil).
We all have those tasks that we don’t really want to do, and consequently often get put to the bottom of the ‘to do’ list. Sometimes we avoid tasks because we are afraid we won’t be able to do it right. In this case, your focus needs to shift from ‘what can go wrong?’ to ‘what are the consequences of doing nothing at all?’. This shift in thinking can make a difference in how you approach those unsavoury tasks.
Other times we avoid tasks because we’re just not ‘in the mood’. As a graphic designer I can definitely identify with this one! Sometimes I do need to be in the right head space for a particular project. But this can also be an excuse to avoid a task and we can be a bit self- indulgent by expecting that we always need to feel like doing something. But if we always wait for that feeling, we are unlikely to get through all that needs to be done.
And other times, there are just plain boring tasks. Cleaning out your inbox, filing or any number of other examples we all have! The way to tackle these jobs is to set goals and schedules for them. For example: at 3pm I will stop what I am doing and answer emails until 3:30pm. Sticking to these goals will reduce your list of tasks in a shorter time frame, than if you let them build up.
Staying motivated and pushing through hard work takes commitment. But your business will be all the better for it.
Michelle Grice writes a weekly column for business women in The Western Weekender
