The Not-So-Shocking Truth About Getting Things Done (my 1,000 word rant)

What do I know?

Well, I’m a rube. A bit player. A small business owner in the giant moisturizing pad called Seattle.

So please take my message with a grain of salt. It’s a message about getting your Mojo back with basic practices — daily rules that have helped me immensely. And they will help you get “it” done.

So let me ask you … Have you found your way? In business? In life? Happy with what you’ve accomplished?

Or are you playing a game of whackadoodle johnson, hopelessly treadmilling like some furry rodent?

A Ground Hog Day-like feeling of nothing accomplished?

Well I won’t shout, but I will kindly suggest you STOP a few practices …

STOP reading every blog post by every so-called blogging expert under the sun.

START building a new list. An eclectic mix beyond the social bubble, so you’ll stop repeating the same old crap.

I know, pot meet kettle.

But seriously, if your roster is chock full of marketing blogs, it’s time to purge. Nothing but self-help? Clean house. Consuming post after post from bloggers who blog about blogging? For the love of God, please let some of them go.

Yes, I can taste the irony.

STOP reading blogs that are stuck in negative land. You’ve read that you should eliminate toxic people from your life, well.

START seeking out people that work their collective asses off to entertain, enlighten, teach and inspire. The glass half full crowd.

STOP sitting in front of a screen all day. It’s extremely unhealthy and is just bad for you on so many levels.

START writing out ideas on paper with no distractions. Think for yourself and stop gorging on endless content.

I mean really. Have you not consumed enough up to this point? Your noodle is overflowing, but you just keep filling it up with the same repetitive stuff. It’s like the fat man in that Monty Python movie who burst forth a sea a bile because he ate that one last thin wafer mint. Consuming too much in any form is rather toxic.

What’s the worst that could happen if you eliminate all distractions and sit down with nothing but pen and paper?

Yes, pen and paper.

STOP reaching for the latest productivity app or the hundredth iteration of some mind-mapping software. Yes, these tools help, but I’ve been guilty of seeking out the latest and greatest … and two hours later wondered, what the hell happened?

Consuming does this to you. It erodes your potential greatness. Or in basic language — your ability to get shit done.

START digging. Treat that blank sheet like a clarifier and start to filter the cosmic sludge that comes spilling out of your brain. The longer you sit, the more spilling occurs.

STOP kicking yourself for wasting your time.

START treating every minute like the precious little nugget it is.

Maybe this is the 20th post you’ve read today or maybe it’s the first. Either way, why not make it the LAST for today?

If you’re really bold you might want to make it the last for the week. E-gads, you think you can make it to Monday? I bet you can and the world won’t come to an end.

You won’t get that immediate dopamine rush (a false reward). But maybe a pen and boring old sheet of paper will help spawn your next big idea.

Yep, just you alone with your thoughts, avoiding the instant gratification of screen time.

Maybe the reason you’re banging your head against the wall trying to come of with that oh-so-special something is because you are devouring too much and doing too little.

And I’m not just talking about the pernicious social web. I LOVE the social web, in little bites of course. Hell, I love TV, if I get just enough. I love my kids, in small doses The same can be said for podcasts, movies, books, etc. I mean how else are you going to learn? BUT work to apply what you’ve learned.

STOP gorging. START crafting.

Instead of listening to a new podcast. Queue up a repeat. Listen to that one show bursting with brilliant advice and take notes.

After you read that choice chapter in a business book. STOP. write down what you learned. What made it so valuable? START a new blog post series based on this advice. Or use it to re-craft your business plan.

You might be thinking … Oh gee, thanks Grand Wizard. He who is Master of the Obvious.

But HALT that thought and think about your routine > In fact I challenge you to keep track of everything you do for a day and write down every last detail. This includes looking at Snooki’s tweets, reading Dooce.com or clicking on those pictures of Gisele Bündchen in her panties.

I know you do it. Fess up.

At the end of the day, the week, you might look back and want to vomit. I sure did.

Endless consuming will suck the life blood right out of you.

If you don’t believe me, try the following …

This only applies if you are unsatisfied with your station or generally feel stuck, in life or business.

Run or walk from your computer, tablet, phone and other annoyances like your kids (I joke), the dog, and if Kathie Lee and Hoda are on the flat screen yakking at you, turn them off, for the love of Pete.

Seriously, get out one sheet of plain white paper (two if you’re feeling bold), one writing instrument and start writing …

1. Five ideas for the book you’ve always wanted to write.

2. 10 crazy ideas for a software product.

3. 20 things that scare the shit out of you, but have the potential to change your life.

4. A blog draft that just might change your direction.

5. A “don’t do” list of bad habits that kill your spirit (Include people that pollute your soul with negativity).

6. 20 Blogs you will never read again.

7. Where you really, truly want to be in one, two, three years time (Don’t hold back).

8. A top ten list of the most important things in your life and why you should start focusing on them.

9. Deconstruct you favorite TV show, novel, comedy routine. Write in great detail what makes it so special.

I could go on, but you get the picture.

This stuff has been detailed in a zillion blog posts, but have you actually done something with that common sense advice?

You. The pen. And paper.

This spartan creative mode might be all you need.

Why not repeat this every day? If you do I bet you anything you won’t miss those past hours spent consuming. Great ideas will start spilling forth.

Again, I’m just some bumpkin who could fill a thimble with all my knowledge. And in the end this is just plain old common sense, but how often have you actually applied such basic practices to better your life? Your business?

Why not start today? Simple, right?