Yesterday I went to the grocery store to get some groceries and found that I forgot the list my wife had wrote out for me. I thought I remembered everything on it and when I got back to the car I found it on the floor, glanced at it and besides for one thing I thought I got everything on the list.
I put the groceries away to find that we now had lots of Greek yogurt and apples but no meat or bread. I went back to review the list and I noticed the ‘specifics’ of the grocery list I had overlooked.
#1 The Quantity: I had purchased 12 Chobani yogurts and the list said 5.
#2 The Type of Product: I had purchased cranberry Kashi granola but the list said Gluten Free Bakery Best Cranberry Granola.
#3 The things I forgot: avocados, frozen fruit for shakes, meat for Joshie
So what’s the moral of this story? Without the list I thought I was doing and getting the things we needed. But really I ended up getting more than enough of some things, the wrong type of others, and missing things that will now cost us more time and money to go back to the store and get.
Internet millionaire, Jeff Usner talks about a daily to do list in your business. I have been following his advice for a couple of weeks and seeing improved productivity and focus in my business.
His simple system consists of a list of 6 things you must get done during the during your workday. He suggests having it done before you leave work or your office. Now everyone may not have a 6 things workday. You may only have 1-2 hours to work on your business a day so your list might be 3 things or less. Don’t over challenge yourself by putting many things down that can’t be reasonably done in the time you have put aside to do your business.
A to do list is important and I am not an expert to tell you how to start doing it or why but I know it works. My wife really likes Chalene Johnson’s 30 Day Challenge to the to do list. But don’t get hung up on how or what, but rather just start doing. You can use something as simple as a piece of paper or Google Task List on your phone.
Remember, a daily to do list can help you PRIORITIZE what needs to be done and not waste time on projects and tasks.
So here is your assignment. If you are not keeping a daily to do list, do it for a week and see what happens. Come back and tell us in the comment section how you did and if you saw a difference in your productivity.
