It’s on the List…

In this mod busy world of ours, some time honoured habits are just the ticket to make life easier...

For example – whilst scouring around for a fresh take on what’s what, we noticed an email update pop up from Kevin Roberts (of Saatchi & Saatchi fame) recently.  And it struck a chord – because it was, quite simply, advice about ‘making a list’.  Nothing flashy, woo woo, or over the top - just good logical advice about the value of making a list.

Roberts cited a brilliant example of the power of lists using the example set, not so much by the brilliant flying skills of Captain Chesley Sullenberger (when he landed the plane in the Hudson River), but by co-pilot Jeffery Skiles  as he used a cool head to carefully work through his emergency water-landing checklist and helped avert a disaster.

This week at a seminar, the participants at the table were chatting about slightly different lists… as in - life’s experiences list; a.k.a The Bucket List. 

Two had jumped out of aeroplanes, one had learned to surf, one had taken a year off to buy a house and renovate, one was enrolled in a Masters Degree to open up career options, one was learning piano, one was in a half marathon this coming weekend and one had decided to join the library. 

Apart from there being a glorious mixture of goals the common theme so clear with this bunch was the fact that this was successful lists in action…each individual was planning, making lists and above all, checking items off the list as they achieved it. The sense of satisfaction and achievement they shared was enviable.

So, as we head towards the end of March, the clock is ticking and there’s no time like the present to get sorted, take control, break it down, hop in the driver’s seat, get action focused and avoid that bogged down feeling.

Returning to paid employment? We are called for advice regularly these days by people wanting to return to paid employment, so we have devised a Checklist that we hope will assist. Return to Work Checklist

Want to reach out for one of the surest ways to focus? Then follow Robert’s  suggestions for making that list…

1. Refer to your plan (we use 90 day planning at Frog)
2. List what needs to be done next
3. Start each item with a verb so you have a list of real physical actions you will take
4. Cross off at least half the items on your list. Decide what’s to go and what’s to stay based on importance, not urgency
5. Get started.