Overwhelmed by Your Task List? 3 Crucial Tips on How to Prioritize Your Projects Like a Pro
Time isn't money; it's life.
Picture me as a third grader. A thick, hyperactive kid trying to defy the laws of gravity on a T-shaped stool—my teacher’s “brilliant” solution for my ADHD.
Spoiler alert: It didn't work.
I just stood up and embraced my fidgety self. ADHD has been a wild roller-coaster ride, fraught with pitfalls and perils. Yet, it's led me to unlock a powerful mantra: “Prioritize or perish!”
ADHD is a blessing and a curse.
My affinity for novelty means my attention span is about as short as a goldfish's, which, for the record, isn’t the best trait for someone with an annual revenue goal of $100,000,000.
So, how do I juggle the balls of a million-dollar business without dropping them? Hint: It's all about the mantra—prioritizing.
You see, learning how to prioritize projects is like trying to catch a bunch of greased-up chickens. Frustrating, comical, but oh-so-rewarding once you get the hang of it.
Whether you have an attention deficit twitch, an obsession with doom-scrolling Twitter, or struggle to focus on what matters, you must learn how to prioritize projects.
Here's what I've learned:
Tip 1: Define your goals.
No, I'm not talking about scribbling them on a napkin.
I mean, etch them deep into your core values. Filter your goals through your values, which act as a guardrail for all your decisions. They prevent you from driving off a cliff when you accidentally get distracted by some pointless task.
Then, ask yourself, "What is the single most important strategic objective or idea that, if I rallied fully behind it, would have the biggest positive impact on my long-term vision?” Don't just copycat goals based on other people's desires—you have your own rainbow to chase, and chasing it starts with the answer to this question.
Once you've identified your big objectives, you'll turn them into a system.
Tip 2: Time-block the hell out of your calendar.
This isn't just about being organized; it's about declaring war on distraction.
Allocate a dedicated period for each task, creating a fortress of focus around your priorities. The benefits?
Improved productivity, better time management, and no more chasing low-priority tasks.
Tip 3: Learn to delegate effectively.
Don't delegate wasteful tasks; just delete them.
Instead, you should delegate tasks that others can do better than you or to whom the task is a higher value activity.
Remember:
Always delegate based on competency, create a structured handoff system, and remember to regularly check-in.
The art of delegation is your golden ticket to focusing on what's most important.
Don't shoot arrows blindfolded; set your most significant non-mimetic goals and align your tasks with them.
And if you need more help on how to prioritize your projects and tasks, join The Optimized Report, where I'll help you set, delegate and audit better standards (KPIs) to launch your results into the stratosphere.
