So…
As I review more sites, and talk to more people about the wide world of “Teh Internets”, I find people wanting to do too much too fast. Someone gets a great idea for a new online business and what do they want to do?? Everything…all at once.
This is where I have to tell people to stop.
My suggestion is to take a few steps at a time. I like to suggest the following:
- Start with a list of everything you’d hope to accomplish and consider yourself “ready”. This would be the list that once accomplished, you have a fully functional online presence.
- Give yourself timeframes to accomplish the list. Chances are, the list will be completed by more than just yourself…so you have to realize that if you’re enlisting the help of others…they have their own life and may not be able to drop everything to help you and be done in a day.
- Review often. As the process moves forward, priorities will change. Make sure your list changes with it and that you’re tracking where everything is.
- Celebrate completed tasks. When something has been done, go to some of the online tools you’ll also be using once you’re ready to go. Send a quick tweet, post a short message on facebook. People will love to hear that your online venture is moving forward, specifically friends and family will want to know when you’re done, and how it’s going. They will be a great resource to help your business grow so keep them involved.
- Don’t continually add to the list. I’ve found that people will constantly add to their list, and never actually complete it. This can be frustrating. You can start a list to work on once your business is ready to go, but don’t put your long-term “once you’re up and running” type of goals on this list. If you feel like you’re never getting close to being done, you’re never going to finish.
- Finish what you start. If you start with the mind set that you’re never going to finish…you’re going to do just that NOT FINISH. Make all of your goals ones that are reachable. If you need help, then get help. If you need to push a few things back to a later date, push them back until after the main project is done…DO WHAT IS NEEDED TO FINISH!
Getting an online presence, and making it successful are not unattainable goals…but you need to start to be able to reach the finish line!
Thank you very much for sharing this. I have subscribed to your RSS feed. Please keep up the good work.
Hi Patmanutah,
I am guilty on continually adding to my to do list for everything I do. It is both an obsession and addiction to me. I recently overcome it, or rather re-direct that distracting elements, but simply putting a section on my plan where I can simply “dump” the extra ideas to. As time goes by, I found myself having less extra ideas and focus more on the plan at hand.
I am going to bookmarked your post here so I can remind myself to Stick To My Plan until it drilled into my mind like a second nature to me.
Thanks for your simple but very important post here.
Cheers
JasonSer
Hi Pat, what a great list! I agree that we all want to run before we can walk. I need to take heed of this list! Thanks for sharing.
Enjoy the journey.
Mandy
Hi Pat!
I second everything that Jason said above – I am totally guilty of continually adding to the list – and even worse – I continually start a new notebook whenever I think of something!
I agree with Jason – I think I will bookmark this post so that I can revisit it!
Cheers!
Hi Patmanutah.
Thats great advice about preparing a list and sticking to I think thats an important part of running any business. I found working from home you need to stick to a certain discipline other wise I never tend to get things done.
I like the way that you have broken it down into the various sections to make the tasks more managable. The last point you made is all important Just do it! the sooner we make a start the sooner we will complete the task. Many Thanks
Hi Patmanutah,
Good post…but I have to agree with Jason and Susan my list just keep growing.
i do start the day with good intentions but..:-(
good to meet you here on the challenge.
Cheers
Bryan
Hi Pat,
Yeah I too have seen people leave tasks unfinished, and it often reminds me of the story “3 feet from gold”
If only they kept going and completed the task they could have found the success they were looking for!
The only downside to the internet is – I can’t force them to finish! They have to decide to do it themselves…. that can be so frustrating at times when I see potential (and cash) wasted!
Randy
http://www.RandolfSmith.com
Hi Patmanutah, good informative post. You take what many think is a complicated process and make it simple. I will be utilizing your information. Terry Conti
Hi Pat, great advice my friend.
I’m another one guilty of adding to my list of things to be done, as well as having part projects sat on my HD. I have every intension of completing them but its a case of when i can get to them.
I work on my internet business 6 days a week, some days only part time while others are full time, and although some things haven’t been finished they’re not forgotten.
I’ve got some compulsory time off soon (Dr’s Orders) and am hoping to catch up with a few things then.
Great post Pat, best of luck for the 100 blog comment challenge. If you use twitter could you let me have your twitter name and i’ll add you to the twitter list of contributors to the challenge.
R&R Barry
Hi, Pat,
I shall celebrate completed tasks. Small action and a great idea. I get so caught up in the doing of tasks that I forget to celebrate. Thanks for reminding me,
Fran T
“Slow and steady” is my mantra for new runners as well Pat. People who discover running want to be fast straight away, they do too much too soon. This is counter-productive, they become injured, and have to stop.
Trying to do everything at once is a major problem for Internet Marketing newbies, along with information overload. I was aware of these, but your post has made me realise I have another problem; “continually adding to the list” – GULP, guilty as charged.
One step at a time still gets you to the end. When Mao Tse Tung was asked how he managed to get his army to march 1,000 miles across China, he replied “it began with a single step”.
Good luck with the 100 comment challenge Pat.
John
Hi Pat
This is great advice. My own online success was slowed down by me doing too much all at once. These days I take great pains to make sure a project is fully completed before I start on the next.
Welcome to the challenge I hope you enjoy the blog hopping
Cheers
Steve
Hi Pat
The to do list can quickly become your worst enemy.
Which is why I like Alex’s system of splitting your plan into sections, this way you have a deadline and an end goal for each section. Stay focussed on the end goal and leave all the extras to later, just get your stage goals achieved and, keep moving forward.
Using this I have for better or worse ignored the mobile hype as it does not fit into my timetable at the moment. I will of course look at this once my core activities have been set into a routine.
igor
Hey Pat,
Good post on how not to get overwhelmed. I agree that making a list and planning your next steps is really important.
Thanks for sharing this.
Peace,
Darren L Carter
[...] 91, Patrick Lynch: http://patmanutah.wordpress.com/2010/08/10/31/ [...]
Hey Patrick,
I noticed that too. People who try to do it all at once usually end up doing nothing:P
J
The Cartoon Coach
Great advice Patmanutah, At a recent IM workshop I went to the speaker was telling us about a guy who had so many ideas for projects that he had half started but not finished. What’s the point of that. It’s so important to see one project through to completion.
Although many of us like perfection a project is never going to be perfect. Just do it and get it out there.
Sandy
Hi Pat,
I would agree that it is very important to start with the end in mind. How cna you hit a target when you don’t know what it is? Would you go on a vacation and just get in the car and start driving anywhere? (In fact, while I’m on this subject, most people spend more time planning a vacation than planning a life.)
Nope. You’d plan where to go. The best roads to take, where to stop on the way. How much is it going to cost? How long are you staying? What are you going to do when you get there? Everything is planned out for the best possible time because you worked hard for this and it only happens once a year right?
So your vacation is over and you get back home to the grind. So why is it, Pat, that most people feel trapped in jobs they don’t like and are in relationships that aren’t working for them? Why is it that they don’t use their marvelous mind that they used to plan their vacation to make a better life for themselves?
I’ll be looking forward to your reply.
Take Care,
Steve
Hi Pat,
It is a simple process that many do not take on, or they get too bogged down with too many things.
Take it 1 step a at a time and do not move onto the next task until the first one is finished. I am guilty of not giving myself a time frame and sometimes end up doing that one thing for far too long.
Thanks
Craig
Hi Pat…
Great…wise advice.
I think it is so important to complete the tasks we start I really believe it is an important discipline that plays out in so many areas of our lives.
I think the biggest enemy is to try and implement all your dreams at once. I have found when the juices start flowing…you can’t stop it but you must file away the newness until you’ve implemented what’s in front of you! Otherwise you’ll always be chasing new dreams without every accomplishing any of them!
thanks for the reminders!
Kathy
Hi
You are so right.
I’ve lost count of the number of projects I’ve started and not finished…but
thats all got to change.
My plan is to implement my plan
Best wishes
Mike
Hi Pat,
Nice looking blog. Your blog post actually looks like my to do list with a little less doodling on:-)
I have to agree with Steve King on this one. Complete one then move on to the next project. Don’t get lost in the maze of new ideas. Write them down and start it next.
Thanks!
Daniel
Hi Patrick:
Nice post here and it has a good lesson to learn. Patrick You are on the right track to be successful and achieve your goals, as you have learned with your own work how to follow projects one after another. Yes I call them baby steps to achieve my goals. One step at a time makes it easy to do and easy to learn.
Well Patrick I like your blog and your blog post is awesome as there is a lesson for every body.
Now please write a comment to my blog post. the URL in the website box will take you there.
Make it a great day for yourself
Fran Aslam
Hi Pat
I’m quite good at planning. I always make a to do list at the end of each day for what I want to achieve the next day and once I’ve completed the tasks I cross it off my list before moving on to the next.
I like your treat yourself method and my treats is always a nice irish coffee with lots of cream on top.
Really enjoyed your planning tips and good look with the challenge
Regards
Dawn Kay
Hi Patmanutah
I make lists but am always changing them. I’m sure if I stuck with one and completed it I’d have more success with my internet marketing online business.
I’ve posted a link to this page on identi.ca for you (makes a change from Twitter!)
Hi Pat
I’m a big fan of lists, I use a daily ‘to do’ list more so than a long term plan.
I find there is a double benefit to completing my daily list;
1 I don’t forget anything important
2 I’m motivated to do more because I hate to leave items unticked!
Hi Patmanutah
Great post and ‘finish what you start’ is certainly good advice. Jumping from one thing to the next and never completing anything is a recipe for failure.
Speaking of which, I’d better get a move on or I’ll never complete this 100 Blog Comment Challenge
Warm Regards
Lynn
Hi Pat, nice post! All we have to do is set ‘em up (our tasks to-do list) and knock ‘em out, like ducks in the road, LOL
You’re so right about getting people to slow down, step back, and get steady.
Rabbit and the turtle had a race one day
Rabbit could beat the turtle in any old way
Rabbit thought he was so fast
He laid down and went to sleep
When he woke up that ol’ slow turtle had him beat
Life’s a gamble
Come rain or sunshine
You keep on tryin’
You’re bound to win sometime
Brownie Mcghee – Be well, Steve D.
Hi Pat,
I finally got here in my blog hopping rounds for the challenge. Now that we have all the contributors on board it is up to everyone to get to everyone’s blogs, have a read and make a comment. I never realised the work load this little task was going to create! oops on that one!
Re lists, goals and tasks! I have daily tasks to do, weekly tasks to do and monthly tasks to do. I have a pin board with my monthly goals and a white board for my daily. Plus I have a board with pictures of my dreams! This is what keeps me focused!
Having a plan is important, a bit like a smaller version of a business plan. Every online venture needs a guideline to work from.
I hope all is going well for the challenge. It is up to the contributors now on the level of success every receives. I will be back here soon in a couple of days to check on how the comments are going and who has commented. I feel like I am back teaching school and grading exams!
Cheers
Jacinta
“Even a journey of a million miles starts with one small step”
One small step at the time is the best way to go after it.
Hi Pat,
I’m also guilty of not finishing projects putting things on the back burner, getting distracted and finding myself jumping around from one to another and not getting much accomplished at all I think I need to make out a list to help myself stay focused on one thing at a time. Thanks for helping me realize that I need to write these things down on paper.
Have a Great day.
Mike Fleming
Great tips here! I need to work on my list and not adding to it. I just get more ideas and want to finish everything and there is not enough hours in a day to do that.
Hi Patmanutah,
Sound advice indeed.
Planning is what it is all about but I think it interesting that you are talking about “over planning” which is counter productive.
Good tips in this post.
Regards,
Dave
Hi Pat
This challenge has taught me a lot about what all can be done to help a site. My head is spinning. Slow and Steady. I need to keep that in mind. Take a piece and do it. Then, the next piece.
Thanks
Alex
Hi Pat,
I completely agree with sticking to your plan and finishing tasks.
The 100 blog comment challenge has been my focus for the past 10 days.I started late on the challenge and didn’t realise how time comsuming it would be but I started so I’ll finish I will have completed the challenge and visited and commented on all 100 blogs by tomorrow lunch. Yahoo
I’ll then spend the rest of the day celebrating my success before focusing on my next goal.
To your success
Michelle
Hi Pat
I am definitely guilty of the last 2 points …
point 5 : adding more and more to my list &
point 6 : not making reachable goals.
I think point 5 results in point 6. It took over 3 months to overcome this, though I get distracted but I am picking up one thing, make up the list to COMPLETE the task and then follow the plan.
Doing this I got my 1st giveaway registered successfully with a product and a bonus … having said that an OTO & Upgrade was an additional task … so this will be my goal for another giveaway.
And the next I am going to complete the 100 blog comment challenge. This has been a wonderful exercise .. lots of people I’ve met, lots of information shared, lots of knowledge gained and this exercise was the second one to test my focus and plan completion. its happening …
Nice post and very important information due to which some folks get frustrated and quit.
Nice to meet you on the 100 blog challenge.
Cheers!
Abizer
Hi Pat
One more thing .. your website theme is very unique and it looks really kool ..
I liked it very much and your site stands out from the rest.
Keep up the good stuff!
Cheers!
Abizer
Hi Pat,
Yes that ever growing list, I found myself going off on too many different tangents, so therefore achieving nothing.
I have now managed to kerb that, concentrate on one thing until I master it.
Pete
Thank you,
You remind me of the old adage from motor sport …
‘You can’t win a race on the first lap, but you sure can lose it’
Great psot
John Edler
Author of ‘Sticky Memory’
http://johnedler.com/blog/sticky-memory-have-i-coined-a-new-term-/?/html
That’s a great saying, and so true. I’ve lost many races on the first lap in my day
.
Hi Pat,
I’m so guilty of creating new projects for myself – way more than any single person can finish in a single lifetime! One of the things I need to get better at is your point #5 – don’t continually add to the list!!
Thanks for this inspirational “wake up call”!! LOL
Gwen
100 comment challenge
Hey Patmanutah:
Good post on some simple steps that people can follow as they build their online business. By taking it slow and steady, I think there is a greater chance of success. People will be able to celebrate small success as they keep woorking torward building their online business.
Thanks for posting and sharing this with everyone!
- Rick
Hi Pat,
O.K. I will admit it, I am one of the naughty ones, I don’t always complete one task before I start another one. I just want to get so much done and I get so excited about it, I try and do everything at once and of course it doesn’t work. I am getting better and I have learnt from my mistakes – one thing at a time, finish it then go on to the next.
Great blog, I look forward to coming back soon.
Take care.
Robyn
Hi Pat,
I am guilty as charged, I need to focus more on finishing one task before I get distracted and start the next.
Your post is a great reminder to set goals and carry them out one step at a time.
Great to meet you on the challenge.
Kindest,
Brian
Hi Pat,
some good advice here, I am guilty of not finishing too many things before I move onto the next one which does not get finished. I think the advice you give is perfectly sound and should be followed by all.
Cheers
Rob
Hi Pat,
Oh start what you finish is a major headache for me!
I usually have about 5 products on the go, and I know I should but it just keeps happening!
I think it’s because they all link to each other in some way, then I get bogged down trying to do them all at once.
I do know I have this problem and your post reminded me to STOP IT!
Sally
The hardest part must be resisting the urge to add more and more to a full pile of programs and proposals. I have been observing the many emails that fly into my box daily and each one is more interesting and exciting than the last…
How to choose right? You offered a very important tip there. I have noted the different things recommended by members of the group and I see a pattern with certain products mentioned; that serves as a starting point. Great tips. Thank you!
Stopped by on my 11th hour visit for the 100 comment challenge.
Best,
Elizabeth
Hi Patmanutah!
I add too much to my list, that’s because it keeps me productive. I know that if I don’t have work then I’m not inspired. You can say I know myself and with that I do what I can to be more productive. Sometimes too much is not good but too much for good might be more of it. Thus, I’m guilty of not being too good with little things but fair with many.
Hi Patrick,
Lots of useful info there.
Just one problem. I have procrastinated the day of my repentance and have many more blogs to tend to tonight. I’ll have to come back when I can spend much more time.
Good luck and nice to meet you.
Justin
I find that it helps to set daily goals that involve achieving just one thing. Then, once that one thing is done I often find I have enough time to tackle something else. If I set five things to do I tend to get none of them done.
Hi Patmanutah, (Patrick Lynch)?
Good post. Like Jayson, I am also guilty on continually adding to my “to do list” for everything I do. I have lots of good ideas but this leads to many unfinished tasks. Because of this I then try to complete them quickly in a result leaving important things outside or incompletely etc. hehe
I think I will have to implement and have a closer eye on your planning tips.
Take care,
Andreas
Hi Pat
‘Slow and steady, taking one step at a time’.
It’s all good sensible advice and the only way to tackle any task.
Regards
Bill
Pat
Great advice here – there is no point in having a to-do list where you are constantly adding to it, in many cases more than you are crossing off, as you will find that you stagnate at best and often feel like you are going backwards which makes it hard to keep motivated and push forwards!
Much better to break things down into smaller steps and achievable goals so that you can make those stepping stones and keep motivated and ultimately succeed.
All the best
Tom
Hi Pat
Your post and the comments on it have reminded me of what I should be doing.
I will take a note of your six points and keep them by my computer until they become second nature. Thanks for the tips.
Good luck in the challenge.
All the best
Eamon
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