Whenever we start a new Lego set, the first thing we do is sort the pieces by color. It takes a little bit of time on the front end. And makes the process of gathering the necessary pieces easier and quicker. So building the set is more fun, satisfying and less stressful.
We didn't always build Lego sets this way. We just started following the directions and putting Legos together because that's the point, right? But the process of getting frustrated time and time again as we struggled to find a tiny piece amid a sea of colors necessitated a change.
And the options were, 1) do it differently, 2) stop doing it, or 3) continue getting upset and act like nothing was within our control.
This is a simple metaphor for the symbiotic relationship between planning and execution.
A little bit of effort setting the stage for success goes a long way. Yet, this premise is simple and boring. It doesn't require you to signup for a new app. It's not a 10 step system to make millions of dollars. There isn't someone or something outside of you that'll cause a magical shift where things are suddenly effortless and easy.
There's lots of businesses profiting off of the New Year right now, promising to give you the one thing you need to make 2025 your best year yet. But what if the one thing you need, you already have? Because it's inside you!
What if the difference between thriving in 2025 and getting by is a matter of how you use your
brain?
Taking time to step back, reflect on where you're going, why and what you need to get there, doesn't always feelproductive. It might not feel as satisfying as making something tangible.
But it is not only extremely important, it's the best way to step off the Ferris wheel of unrelenting to do's weighing you down.
I'm sure you know the feeling - when your to do list stretches on for pages of a legal yellow pad. And everyday ends with more to do's than tasks crossed off. The stress of all what still needs to be done lingers after work. Waking you up in the middle of the night. Your racing mind like a runaway train. And the next day's harder because you're riddled by insufficient sleep.
Who wants to live that way? None of us, and yet so many do because the tyranny of the urgent keeps us in doing mode.
When I asked a client what stops her from planning out her day she said, "there's just too much to get done. I don't have time!"
Ooofff! Her lack of time is exactly why she needs to hit pause and make a plan.
A friend recently shared this quote by Dale Carnegies, "An hour of planning can save you 10 hours of doing." That is true, it you're planning is focused, realistic and aligned.
In order to effectively manage the dance of planning and execution, you have to accept your role as the star of the show. You have to cultivate your ability to think big picture, to listen within for your own truth, to set priorities (cause there will only ever be 24 hours in a day), to do the thing, then to evaluate how it all went so you can course correct.
Legos might provide the directions to build the Aragog set we just completed. But we get to decide how we go about doing it! And a small tweak setting the stage brought the joy back into the process.
It's a simple productivity hack that'll help you thrive in 2025 - step back, reflect, make conscious choices and act. Do this on a bigger level - planning for the year. Do it on a smaller level - planning your day or the next hour. And you might find you'll not only accomplish more, but you'll have more fun doing it because you're less stressed!
Want to be more fulfilled, joyful, aligned, purposeful, connected and happy in 2025? Join me at the 2025 Annual Planning workshop - accept your role as the star of the show and cultivate your skills to thrive in a supportive community. More information and registration is available online.
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