Success Secret 1: Getting Things Done

Published by Linda Rolf on 3/12/2019 and updated 11/17/2021

"Someday is not a day of the week." --- Janet Dailey

If you're like time-starved professionals everywhere, at least one of these phrases sounds uncomfortably familiar to you.

Check all that make you nod, cringe or laugh.

____"We want to tackle that big initiative in a few months. We’re busy right now."

____"I'm so busy I don't have time to stop and think."

____"Some days I just want to stay in my pajamas crawl back into bed."

Feel free to add some of your own.

The good news is you can reclaim your time, sharpen your focus, and get more of the things done that really matter.

1.  What Does Your Day Look Like?

"Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple."

--- Dr Seuss

If you are intrigued by the prospect of turning everyday busy into strategic successful, then let's start with where you are now. Think about your typical day.

How do you begin your day?

Do you have a set of morning rituals that jumpstart your day?

Do you have a realistic, written plan for each day?

How do you prioritize internal and external demands?

How do you define and prioritize urgent versus important?

Who on your team do you consistently rely on to keep you on track?

What does your ideal productive day look like?

What are your evening rituals that create time to recharge and reflect?

You get the idea.

Exploring the reality of your days can be an inspiring experience. Not so long ago I set out to understand where our team's time was being spent and where we could improve. Our simple getting things done workbook was the only tool we needed to capture and measure the value of our daily activities.

While tracking your activities for a week might seem tedious, it will be well worth the time you commit to it.

As you become more aware of the things you do every day, you will naturally look more closely at why you're doing them and for whom. Comparing day-to-day activities with your organization's strategic goals will uncover the gaps and misalignment in your organization. These discoveries strengthen and focus your strategic growth plans.

I hope you enjoyed your snack!




Linda Rolf is a lifelong curious learner who believes a knowledge-first approach builds valuable client relationships.

She is fueled by discovering the unexpected connections among technology, data, information, people and process. For more than four decades, Linda and Quest Technology Group have been their clients' trusted advisor and strategic partner.

Linda believes that lasting value and trust are created through continuously listening, sharing knowledge freely, and delivering more than their clients even know they need.

As the CIO of their first startup client said, "The value that Quest brings to Cotton States is far greater than the software they develop."