Michelle Hamer challenges small business owners to be smarter. Through her programs, she works with clients to sharpen their skills and to think beyond the square. Michelle is owner of Smart Advice and holds community roles with organisations such as the Foundation of University of the Sunshine Coast, Lifeline Council and SC Area Consultative Committee.

Tips to get that To-Do list done

January 30 | Michelle Hamer

Having trouble getting the To-Do list done?

Here is a tip that earned Ivy Lee (reportedly) $25,000 back in the late 1920s when he taught Charles Schwab, head of Bethlehem Steel, how to get things done!

1. At the beginning of the day, make a list of all the things you want to do for the day, in no particular order.

2. Then identify the top five activities, and number them 1 through 5, wherever they are on the list. Don’t bother to number the rest of the list – just the top five.

3. Start at No.1, and don’t go off it until you’re finished, you’ve gone as far as you wish to go, or as far as you’re able to go. Then proceed to No.2 etc.

4. When interruptions come, as they always do, ask yourself, “Is this new activity more important than the one I’m working on?” If it’s not, add the new activity to your list and stay focused on the more important activity. If it is, put your current task aside, work on the new job, and when you have completed it go back to the original task and complete it.

5. Each time you move to a lesser number, check the list. If something that’s jumped on the list during the day is of higher priority than the activity you’d planned to do, give it lead position. The other items will not go away because they’re on the list instead of jostling around in your mind!

6. If there’s any left once the top five and their relevant queue jumpers have been handled, go back to the list and number off another five.

Here are my variations to this $25000 tip:

1. Type the list into the Tasks function of Outlook. When you have completed multiple tasks you can re-print the list rather than re-write the list (a good time saver).

2. Try starting the grand list over the weekend and add to it each night (rather than in the morning).

3. Turn off your email system when you are working on a task. If you need to jot an email during the task, write it in MS-Word and when you are ready, copy and paste the content into your email system.

Enjoy the extra time you’ve created, and don’t forget to schedule in time to rest and refresh!