Productivity Tip Of The Day: Set Deadlines

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JakeStratham

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The following tip is obvious, but useful to remember.

You have a lot to accomplish during any given day. Keyword research, building links, researching niches, meeting with clients, creating landers, writing books, speeches, etc. Clearly, the goal is to get it all done in as productive a manner as possible.

Here's an idea that can improve your productivity: use Parkinson's Law.

The gist: Whatever you are working on is going to take however much time you give it. So, set a deadline for every task. Rather than sitting down with a list of stuff you hope to accomplish today, assign a deadline for each item.

Then, get to work. Be ruthless. Be draconian with your time.

You'll find that the things on your list get done more quickly. That means more time to enjoy your family, live life, and argue on the internet.

Again, it's obvious. But that's the reason it is so easy to forget, or ignore. It's also the reason we fail so often at it.
 
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Deadlines indeed are crutial and get you moving but enforcing the deadline for me is even more difficult of a job. =P
However just like you said a deadline does get you to do more and move forward, so its always a good thing.
 
AdsMakeSense said:
but enforcing the deadline for me is even more difficult of a job. =P
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That's the hard part. Seeing that deadline come and go in Basecamp, doesn't really scare you intogetting shit done. Any good ideas for maintianing accountability for your deadlines?
 
11111 said:
That's the hard part. Seeing that deadline come and go in Basecamp, doesn't really scare you intogetting shit done. Any good ideas for maintianing accountability for your deadlines?
Click to expand...

You and you alone. Burn yourself with a cigarette every time you miss a Deadline. What the fuck is the point of setting a Deadline if you are going to miss it. You are the one setting it for yourself. Respect yourself.

Deadline is sacrosanct to me. And should be to you.

Don't set deadlines you cannot meet. Once you get used to missing deadlines, it becomes a habit. It is easy being a Loser.

Split your task. Complete milestones. Don't go to sleep if you a missed a milestone so that they don't heap on later.
 
Excellent post, setting deadlines keeps me focused. If I don't set one I sometimes even forget to finish certain small task. Write it down , deadline it, do it. WIN.
 
I'm pretty sure it was eliquid who told me about the pomodoro technique and time-boxing to get stuff done. You make a to do list, and you timebox it and work within time increments then move on to the next task.

It keeps me focused and keeps mixing things up so I don't get bored of one task.
 
11111 said:
Any good ideas for maintianing accountability for your deadlines?
Click to expand...

In my youth, my roommate and I had a cash bond for every household chore. If either of us failed to complete a chore for which we were responsible (wash dishes, vacuum, take out the trash, etc.), we'd simply pony up the bond. We'd forfeit the agreed upon amount. I think it was $20 per chore.

Today, motivation to get something I want is a stronger prompt than accountability. I have photos of my loved ones in which we're doing things we enjoy. I want more of that. In order to get it, I need to get my stuff done. So, the photos drive me.

Note that it takes discipline, not only to establish the habit, but to keep yourself on track. And if you're like me, it'll be an ongoing challenge. We live with countless distractions. But the more you do it, the easier it gets.

On a side note, if the idea of a cash bond appeals to you, let me know. I'd be happy to hold you accountable by accepting $20 each time you allow a deadline to pass.

Just trying to help, of course.
 
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JakeStratham said:
In my youth, my roommate and I had a cash bond for every household chore. If either of us failed to complete a chore for which we were responsible (wash dishes, vacuum, take out the trash, etc.), we'd simply pony up the bond. We'd forfeit the agreed upon amount. I think it was $20 per chore.

Today, motivation to get something I want is a stronger prompt than accountability. I have photos of my loved ones in which we're doing things we enjoy. I want more of that. In order to get it, I need to get my stuff done. So, the photos drive me.

Note that it takes discipline, not only to establish the habit, but to keep yourself on track. And if you're like me, it'll be an ongoing challenge. We live with countless distractions. But the more you do it, the easier it gets.

On a side note, if the idea of a cash bond appeals to you, let me know. I'd be happy to hold you accountable by accepting $20 each time you allow a deadline to pass.

Just trying to help, of course.
Click to expand...

I like this. Money + accountability partner. Also the photos of you in a situation you crave more off. + rep.
 
Learning to meet deadlines takes time and you need to build skills and confidence. It's like exercising...you don't start with a 25 mile marathon...you train and work up to it.

Start with small short term deadlines that are easy to at meet. Before you know it you will be meeting lots of short term deadlines that will lead to successfully meeting a deadline for a really big project.

Failure is when you stop trying....don't stop trying!
 
The great invention of all is the 'deadline' because without deadlines there would be no inventions.
 
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