photo by zhurnaly
“The greatest amount of wasted time is the time not getting started. “
— Dawson Trotman
Sometimes one of the hardest steps to take is the first. It’s especially true when it comes to completing a tough work assignment. If you are faced with a daunting task or an uncomfortable conversation, do you find it difficult to take that first step? Do you sometimes feel you can’t start on a task because you lack all the facts or haven’t engaged the right people? Conversely, do you suffer from analysis paralysis, caused by having so much information you can’t make any decisions on what to do?
Sometimes you need to tell yourself to just start. In the Getting Things Done (or GTD) world, this is defining the next physical action you need to take to complete the project. It could be sending an email, making a mindmap, or simply jotting down some ideas. The point is, just start working on the project.
When other people are causing you to delay a project, you can still just start. It’s not that they don’t want to help. Most often, it’s because they can’t commit the time due to their workload. This shouldn’t stop you. Don’t be afraid to take a risk by starting without them. If necessary, look for other resources. Start on the work that you can complete without them. You may be surprised by how quickly momentum builds and new ideas spring to life.
If you are going to start a project without the other people you need, you should let them know in a tactful, understanding way your intent. You don’t want others to feel guilty for not being able to work with you at the moment. Let them know you understand it’s a busy time for them and promise to keep them in the loop on how you are progressing.
Take a moment to note any tasks or projects which you are putting off. Why you are delaying the start of the project isn’t as important as what you need to do in order to start it. Ask yourself, “what can I do today that gets my project one step closer to completion.”
The longer you delay starting a project, the more likely you are to find reasons to never start it. Schedule some focused thinking time in the next few days in order to get your project moving forward. You may be surprised how easy that first step actually is.
