Find The Loose Thread

Everything is a matter of perspective. Where you focus determines what you see.

It’s easy to get swallowed by the size of what you’re trying to do and completely lose sight of how to get it done. You don’t untangle a knot by pulling harder on both ends. You find one loose thread and work from there.

The lesson applies everywhere. If you’re staring at a blank proposal, write the problem statement first, not the whole document. If your inbox is out of control, reply to one email. If you’re learning a new tool, master one feature. If you’re preparing for a big presentation, nail the overall storyline before you think about the slides.

Don’t let the enormity of the task freeze you. Find the smallest thing you can do that moves you forward and do that.

As momentum builds, things get easier. The second paragraph is easier to write than the first. The second email easier to send than the first. The second slide easier to build than the first.

Focus on a small but critical part of the task. Do it. Repeat.

The idea is simple. Doing it is the hard part.