On getting things done...

Since we're all interested in New Year's Resolutions in January, I thought I'd post this interesting list of four commandments on how to get things done. It's a good one - so good, in fact, that I've taped the list to the cabinet just above my computer screen so I won't forget to apply these.

Four Commandments

1 - Show up - Sometimes all we need to do is simply be in the right place at the right time. It's certain, however, that we won't do anything if we're not where we're supposed to be, when we're supposed to be there. I've got a tendency to be late to things, so one of my resolutions this year is to improve my timeliness.

2 - Pay attention - Most of the time, we don't really need to give our full attention to what's going on. However, when things are happening, it's important to pay attention to a) what's happening, b) why it's happening, c) how what's happening now relates to what happened earlier, d) how what's happening now relates to what should happen in the future, and e) what we need to do about all the above, if anything.

3 - Do your best - Often, it's easy to slide along and do an adequate (but not spectacular) job of things. Having picked that small subset of all our duties that really matter for the long term, it's important to do nothing but the very best on those crucial few. Have I always done that in my life? Sadly, no - but I think I'm getting better at it.

4 - Let go - I was surprised at first to see this one on the list, but the more I think about it, the more important it gets. Once we have done what we can do - even if things don't turn out as we had hoped - it's to our own benefit to let go of the project physically and emotionally. We all know people whose lives topped out when they were in high school and who have done virtually nothing since; people who live on the memories of past accomplishments. Similarly, it's not hard to find people who can't seem to get past some real or perceived emotional wound. Divorces often cause such emotional ossification. Only when we put down past burdens or cease carrying our old trophies are our hands and heart available for the tasks of the present and future.