Strategies for Keeping a Laser Focus on Your Vision

Without Going Crazy

Lisa Kaczmarczyk, PhDEvaluation and Assessment Consulting

www.lisakaczmarczyk.com@lisakaczmarczyk

Voices – March 9, 2015

I needed a strategy that:

Provides feedbackSupports boundary setting Stresses prioritization

Is easy to maintainIs flexibleReduces stress

Drives the visionWorks day to day

3-Level Activity PrioritizationLevel 1. Ongoing Projects & Tasks

Level 2. Weekly Activities & Tasks

Level 3. Daily Activities & Tasks

Strategic Time Organization for the Solopreneur Using:

3-Level Activity Prioritizationfor the Solopreneur

Level 1: Ongoing Projects & Tasks(it’s more than a list)

Initial Creation: Hardest part, but not that hard

Maintenance: Simple; it’s a daily habit

Brain Dump all ProjectsLeave nothing out – Categorize them

Professional - Current Concrete ProjectsProject AProject BProject C

Personal - Current Concrete ProjectsProject AProject B

Future Projects (2 – 3 yrs out)Project A

Maybe Sometime I’ll do this

Ongoing Projects Example Brain Dump

Current Concrete ProjectsProfessional- UX Speakeasy Board / Meetups- Voices Conference- Franklin School District – Evaluation- SciComm- Lacework Inc. - Evaluation- ACM Inroads Magazine- ACM Ed Council Diversity Task Force…

Brain Dump all Tasks for Current ProjectsLeave nothing out – Assign them

ProfessionalProject A

Task ATask BTask CTask D

Project BTask ATask BTask C

Brain Dump all TasksLeave nothing out – Assign them

ProfessionalProject A

Task ATask BTask CTask D

Project BTask ATask BTask C

What have I forgotten?

How many projects do I have?

What needs to be added?

Which ones generate income?

No Wonder I’m Going Crazy

Is it relevant to my vision?

Am I really working on it?

Should I keep it?

Ongoing Projects and TasksExample with Tasks Added

Last Reviewed & Revised: 2/27/2015Current Concrete Tasks and Projects

Professional- Voices Conference

- Test run logistics : March 2- Finish slides: by March 8; send to DK- Do presentation March 9

- Franklin School District – Evaluation- Analyze spring Pre surveys- Analyze spring Post surveys- Write up Pre survey results- Write up Post survey results

…

3-Level Activity PrioritizationLevel 1: Ongoing Projects & Tasks

Level 2: Weekly Activities & Tasks(when the rubber hits the road)Friday afternoon – last thing

Ongoing Projects and TasksOn Friday identify priority tasks

Last Reviewed & Revised: 2/27/2015Current Concrete Tasks and Projects

Professional- Voices Conference

- Test run logistics : March 2- Finish slides: by March 8; send to DK- Do presentation March 9

- Franklin School District – Evaluation- Analyze spring Pre surveys- Analyze spring Post surveys- Design interview protocol- Schedule 6 interviews

…

Priority for the coming week

Priorities For Next WeekFranklin – Eval:

- Analyze spring Pre surveys : Tues, Wed- Analyze spring Post surveys: Friday

Voices:- Presentation: Monday

Inroads AE meeting- Send out agenda: Tues- Facilitate meeting: Wed- Put up doodle for next meeting: Thurs

SBC legal workshop: Tues amPRISM:

- Skype call: Wed- Prep for call: Wed am

…

Write out Next Week’s Priorities

Instills Organization

Provides Insight

Creates Boundaries

Removes the Fluff

Allows for Scribbling

Chuck It Next Friday

3-Level Activity PrioritizationLevel 1: Ongoing Projects & Tasks

Level 2: Weekly Activities & Task Organization(Friday afternoon – last thing)

Level 3: Daily Activity & Task Organization(keeping it real)

(Every weekday afternoon – last thing)

FlexibleFocused

Fast

Clear what didn’t get doneVery satisfying

Chuck it at the end of the day

FlexibleFocused

Long Term Learning tool

Friends who think you don’t work

Dangers, Warnings, Pitfalls

Obsessive compulsive list procrastination

Expecting to Get It PerfectNot asking for support

Talking to yourself

Back sliding

• Keep the Ongoing Projects & Tasks List Up to Date• Weekly Activity Priority Generation: 10 Minutes• Daily Activity List Generation: 5 Minutes• Ongoing Projects & Tasks Updating: Mere Seconds

• Keep the Ongoing Projects & Tasks List Up to Date• Weekly Activity Priority Generation: 10 Minutes• Daily Activity List Generation: 5 Minutes• Ongoing Projects & Tasks Updating: Mere Seconds

• Schedule Meetings F2F OUT - EVERY Day• Know the 2 out of 3 Rule for when to hire help:

- You’re truly lousy at something- Help saves at least 2: Time, Money, Stress

• Keep the Ongoing Projects & Tasks List Up to Date• Weekly Activity Priority Generation: 10 Minutes• Daily Activity List Creation: 5 Minutes• Ongoing List Updating: Mere Seconds

• Schedule Meetings F2F OUT - EVERY Day• Know the 2 out of 3 Rule for when to hire help:

- You’re truly lousy at something- Help saves at least 2: Time, Money, Stress

Declare Certain Times Off Limits for ListsDon’t Obsess Over Any Of This

3-Level Activity PrioritizationLevel 1. Drives the Vision Ongoing Projects & Tasks

Level 2. The rubber hits the road and sticksWeekly Activities & Tasks

Level 3. Keeps it realDaily Activities & Tasks

Strategic Time Organization for the Solopreneur using

It’s Your Vision

Be Laser Focused and Not Go Crazy

You Can

It’s Your Vision

Be Laser Focused and Not Go Crazy

You Can

Thank You