Actually, there is a secret to success…
But it has nothing to do with working harder, having better ideas, or knowing the right people.
If you want to make success inevitable, stop obsessing over what to work on & start looking at how you work.
🧵👇
But it has nothing to do with working harder, having better ideas, or knowing the right people.
If you want to make success inevitable, stop obsessing over what to work on & start looking at how you work.
🧵👇
Successful people work with intention.
Not only do they set goals, but they design their days to make incremental, consistent progress toward them.
To be effective executors, we must stop leaving work to chance & get serious about designing an execution framework of our own.
Not only do they set goals, but they design their days to make incremental, consistent progress toward them.
To be effective executors, we must stop leaving work to chance & get serious about designing an execution framework of our own.
Here’s the cool thing…
An execution system is a force multiplier for everything that you do —a shot of adrenaline in the arm.
If you spend the time to build it once you’ll reap the benefits for the rest of your life.
So how do we do it?
An execution system is a force multiplier for everything that you do —a shot of adrenaline in the arm.
If you spend the time to build it once you’ll reap the benefits for the rest of your life.
So how do we do it?
A solid execution framework should have the following components:
1.Start up ritual
2.Task org system
3.Energy management
4.Closing routine
5.Success metrics
Let’s quickly break these down.
1.Start up ritual
2.Task org system
3.Energy management
4.Closing routine
5.Success metrics
Let’s quickly break these down.
1 - Start Up Ritual
The first hour of your day is critical. What you do in that hour will set the stage for everything else. Take it seriously.
Consider the follow:
- Brain dump journaling
- Habit tracking
- Project review
- Daily plan building
The first hour of your day is critical. What you do in that hour will set the stage for everything else. Take it seriously.
Consider the follow:
- Brain dump journaling
- Habit tracking
- Project review
- Daily plan building
Customize as needed, but protect this ritual at all costs.
It’s the first domino. Get this right & you’ll unlock the rest of the day.
It’s the first domino. Get this right & you’ll unlock the rest of the day.
2 — Task Organization
Ever feel like you’re constantly trying to figure out what to do next?
That’s because you’re trying to shoot from the cuff.
A daily plan reduces friction when transitioning between tasks & conserves precious mental capital.
Ever feel like you’re constantly trying to figure out what to do next?
That’s because you’re trying to shoot from the cuff.
A daily plan reduces friction when transitioning between tasks & conserves precious mental capital.
Think of “tasks” as the worker bees to your goals.
They define how you spend the minutes & hours of your day.
You need to have a system for logging & organizing your tasks, and then a plan for which you’ll do and when.
They define how you spend the minutes & hours of your day.
You need to have a system for logging & organizing your tasks, and then a plan for which you’ll do and when.
3 — Energy Management
For ambitious entrepreneurs —time is not the enemy, energy is.
Our ability to focus dictates what we’re capable of accomplishing at any given moment.
Low energy leads to less focus and fewer tasks executed at high level.
For ambitious entrepreneurs —time is not the enemy, energy is.
Our ability to focus dictates what we’re capable of accomplishing at any given moment.
Low energy leads to less focus and fewer tasks executed at high level.
You’ve likely noticed that your energy fluctuates throughout the day.
(For most, it peaks in the morning and dips in the afternoon)
If you plan your tasks according to your energy levels, you can turn this handicap into a form of leverage.
(For most, it peaks in the morning and dips in the afternoon)
If you plan your tasks according to your energy levels, you can turn this handicap into a form of leverage.
Stop forcing a square peg into a round hole.
Instead —schedule mundane tasks that require a low cognitive load for your energy dips, and mentally taxing tasks for your peaks.
This allows you to ride the wave of your biology rather than fight against it.
Instead —schedule mundane tasks that require a low cognitive load for your energy dips, and mentally taxing tasks for your peaks.
This allows you to ride the wave of your biology rather than fight against it.
4 — Closing Routine
As entrepreneurs, we have a natural resistance to shutting down the system.
You might think that having work on the brain 24/7 is a competitive advantage — it’s not.
Like your muscles after a hard workout, your brain needs downtime to recover.
As entrepreneurs, we have a natural resistance to shutting down the system.
You might think that having work on the brain 24/7 is a competitive advantage — it’s not.
Like your muscles after a hard workout, your brain needs downtime to recover.
This can be particularly difficult when working from home.
When does work end & recovery begin?
When does work end & recovery begin?
Your closing day routine is a series of tasks that tell your brain it’s okay to hibernate.
“We’re done now. Good job. Rest up because we’re back at it tomorrow.”
- Do a final review of your list
- Reschedule unfinished tasks
- Clear your desktop
- Power down your computer
“We’re done now. Good job. Rest up because we’re back at it tomorrow.”
- Do a final review of your list
- Reschedule unfinished tasks
- Clear your desktop
- Power down your computer
5 — Success Metrics
Finally, no system is complete without a scorecard.
If you’re not doing the things you say you’re going to do, the system collapses.
Finally, no system is complete without a scorecard.
If you’re not doing the things you say you’re going to do, the system collapses.
Each day, you need to measure how well you executed on your planned tasks.
You don’t need to be 100% effective every day, but if you’re consistently doing half of what you set out to do —you have a problem that needs to be addressed.
Shoot for a 80% daily execution rate.
You don’t need to be 100% effective every day, but if you’re consistently doing half of what you set out to do —you have a problem that needs to be addressed.
Shoot for a 80% daily execution rate.
It’s clear that achieving more requires an intentional approach to our work.
It’s not easy, but if you spend the time to build an execution framework once, it will pay you dividends for the rest of your life
It’s not easy, but if you spend the time to build an execution framework once, it will pay you dividends for the rest of your life
Working alone is hard.
For tweets on productivity & achievement frameworks for freelancers, indiehackers, and soloprenuers, follow me: @shane___martin
Upcoming Threads:
- Deep dive on how to plan your day
- How to build motivation from the inside out
For tweets on productivity & achievement frameworks for freelancers, indiehackers, and soloprenuers, follow me: @shane___martin
Upcoming Threads:
- Deep dive on how to plan your day
- How to build motivation from the inside out
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