Stop 'Working On' Everything
Why Focusing on Specific Finish Lines Will Help You Achieve Your Goals Faster and with Less Stress
Pop quiz: What are all the things you are currently working on?
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Got it? Cool.
Now, I would like for you to stop working on those things. {Wait, what?}
Instead, I want us to be focused on crossing finish lines.
I know that may sound like dorky semantics, and I admit I’m a sucker for dorky semantics. But this change in language is actually crucial.
I challenge you to take "working on" out of your vocabulary and instead focus solely on the specific finish lines you will cross in the next seven days. Here's why.
The Problem with "Working On" Everything
If you're like most people, you probably have a laundry list of tasks, projects, goals, errands, and half-baked ideas that you're "working on" at any given time. But what does that really mean? And how is it affecting your ability to make real progress toward your goals?
The problem with "working on" everything is that it encourages procrastination and perfectionism. When you're "working on" things, you tend to flit from one project to another based on what you feel like doing next. You put things off until they're "perfect" instead of making incremental progress toward your goals. You have a false sense of progress and focus because you tell yourself you “worked on” something today.
And let's be honest, when you're "working on" something, you're not really committing to anything. You're just kind of dabbling, not doing. You're hoping that something magical will happen and the project will complete itself.
Spoiler alert: it won't.
By "working on" everything, you're also wasting a lot of time thinking about what you should do next. You're constantly switching gears and jumping from one project to another, never really making any significant progress on anything. It's like trying to herd a bunch of cats - it's exhausting, frustrating, and ultimately, not very productive.
The Solution: Focus on Finish Lines
So, what's the solution? The solution is to stop "working on" all the things and instead focus solely on the specific finish lines you will cross in the next week. By finish lines, I simply mean the very next obvious step that will move you closer to what you want to make happen.
For example, let's say you have a project like "start a podcast." Instead of trying to tackle the entire project all at once, break it down into the very next finish lines you can cross in the week ahead. Maybe it's "finalize cover art" or "record at least one podcast episode." By focusing on specific finish lines, you'll be able to make real progress toward your goals and feel a sense of accomplishment at the end of each week.
But why is this approach better than "working on" everything? For one, it reduces overwhelm and stress by narrowing your focus and eliminating unnecessary distractions. It also helps you avoid procrastination and perfectionism by breaking things down into smaller, more manageable steps. And perhaps most importantly, it allows you to make real progress toward your goals and feel a sense of accomplishment along the way.
Bottom line
At the end of the day, the whole purpose of my work is to help you make things happen - farther and faster than you ever thought possible. I don't want to help you become more productive just for the sake of productivity brownie points. I want you to feel a sense of accomplishment toward what matters most to you. And the fastest, most sane way to do that is to spend your days crossing finish lines.
So, what are you waiting for? Stop "working on" everything and start crossing those finish lines! Your goals are waiting for you on the other side.
P.S. If you read this article (or any of my Substack articles for that matter) and thought, “how is this chick reading my mind,” I’ve got more for you…
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