Cut the Box in Half

Cut the Box in Half – The Works

small boxes

I’ve been obsessed by the concept of “small boxes” for a while. I once did a video podcast about them. The concept is simple: everything seems to big if we look at it as a whole. Instead, we have to break things into small boxes and work from that size. When I used to mow the lawn for my dad, I’d do it that way, too. Cut the lawn in half, and then in half again. (Okay, people who actually like mowing lawns, yes, I know it looked cruddy that way because of the lines, but shush.)

Cut the Box In Half- The Works

As part of the Human Business Way, The Works refers to business basics and the discipline to execute on them. When we’re faced with a lot to accomplish, it freezes us up. It’s hard to learn to love the grind if everything feels overwhelming. Look for ways to cut the box in half, and maybe half again.

Let’s say your goal is to raise revenue by $120,000 a year. If you’re selling something small, that number looks huge. But instead, do this:

$120,000 / year
$10,000 / month
$2,500 /week
$500 / day (weekdays)

The goal becomes reaching $500 a day in revenue. See how less daunting that is? Still a challenging accomplishment for lots of us, but seeing that number $500 is a lot easier than looking at $120,000 or even $10,000. Right?

This applies to everything. Need to lose 30 pounds? That’s a lot. But at 1 pound a week, you’ll be done in about 9 or so months. Right? Easy cheesy. Losing a pound a week might just be skipping cream and sugar in your coffee. It’s a much smaller box than looking at that 30.

It Still Requires Discipline

A draft of a second edition of one of my books is due tomorrow. I had a real hard time turning it in, even though I know how to do the small boxes method to accomplish goals. Even knowing that I only had a handful of words to write a day, I skipped and procrastinated and then pushed myself into a cram situation. There’s no excuse. It’s strictly because I didn’t hold to my discipline. I got it done the hard way instead.

But even that, if used right, is helpful. Reminding myself how much the hard way stinks, I work harder at doing it right next time. And that gives me strength to do the discipline of small boxes.

Cut your work into small boxes and you’ll see success faster. Plus, the more you click off those little wins, the more you feel like you’re making progress, and this fuels your motivation to get the job done.

You with me? Are we in this together?

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http://www.wakeupcloud.com/ Henri Junttila

I’m with you, sir.

I do this all the time. When I’m creating products, writing articles, or whatever I’m doing, I break things down into tiny, tiny pieces.

I also use deadlines, which you seem to use as well. It always helps when someone is depending on you.

But on the small boxes thing. It works. Tiny, tiny steps. Not a 60,000 word book, but 500 word per day, or even 250 words two times a day.
http://www.blazewebstudio.co.za/ geoffreygordon

Chris you don’t have to tell me twice. You nailed this one neatly on the head. excuse the pun but if one doesn’t use the box method well we tend to get all boxed up.

I found this method especially helpful when i am designing websites, everything has to be collected and plan in bite size chunks. As will all technical jobs, you can loose track from time to time.

So repackaging your schedule so to speak using the box method is imperative from time to time. This method can be applied from the smallest goals, to a busy daily schedule to a long term project.

Great Post, I am always benefiting form your sage wisdom. :)
http://cashwithatrueconscience.com/rbblog Ryan Biddulph

Hi Chris,

I’m with you!

Work your work into bite-sized pieces. Make your work believe-able, if you get my drift.

If you believe you can do something you do it. If you believe you can reach your goals you reach them.

Taking a quantum leap is simply too much for most to embrace. Too much uncomfort going on here.

You can baby-step your way. Just don’t sell yourself short. Aim a bit higher, grow a bit more, but keep cutting the box until you find an achievable goal.

I am stunned by the effectiveness of my acts when I break things down. Daily goals work so well…if you work, of course…as we think of things in terms of days.

Hence, work days…not work weeks, or months, or years.

Thanks Chris!

RB
http://raulcolon.net/ Raul Colon

Yes we are in this together. I think that its human nature to procrastinate especially when someone like you has so many things going on at the same time.

I also break things down into smaller tasks that I like to get accomplish. This weekend I worked less that I am used to working and today Monday I am sitting down and re-organizing what I need to get done.

Reading this made me think of a few things I can do to tackle every task I need to get done by end of day.

My friend uses an example of taking Sumo size projects and attacking them in Sushi bite pieces. :)
http://twitter.com/peter_osborne Peter Osborne

Totally with you on this. But I am hoping you’ll address at some point the age-old problem of the extended To-Do List. This approach works very well for the big project or the big problem (writing a book, losing weight). But do you advocate looking at that To Do list and (1) wiping out a bunch of small things first or (2) deciding to make progress on the big one (i.e., setting everything else aside and trying to devote 2-3 hours of focused time on moving it forward)?
http://www.cffatboy.com/ Jesse Petersen

From Day One of my business, I’ve had a daily goal that I averaged out over the week because the cashflow comes and goes as I get deposits and complete projects.

It makes eating the big, ugly frog much easier.
Daniel Decker

Agreed. I’ve done it most of my life although I didn’t realize I was doing it. I’d find myself thinking of it like stepping stones… knowing there was a path with a destination at the end but putting my primary focus on just getting to the next stone… then the next one… then the next one.
Sheldon Curry

Good one Bro. Bro.! That’s what I doing right now. Draft the opening of the article, edit the anthem, clean out the dog’s ears … little boxes on the hillside (you’re too young to remember the song but your folks will) thx scurrior
@barbarawayman

Yes I am right there with you. Thanks for the reminder to use this tool more often.
Heady

This is so good and practical. Thanks for sharing this thought today.
http://artedujour.com/ SL Clark

research, domain, install WP, usual plugins, design logo, new email list, integrate ecommerce, at the same time create the products, then the imagery for sale and finally sell something. Each a line of progress under the lawn mower’s blade. Our yards were the same way, do a section, move on. There’s something inherent about washing cars, mowing lawns and raking leaves that creates a path towards success at an early age. Thanks for the brilliant post.
http://twitter.com/tishpiper Pat Zalewski

Excellent way to describe getting things done. Chunking the elements of a project or goal really does make the activity seem doable. The planning piece is key. Thanks for breaking this down. I keep learning techniques from you to make work and life easier. Also, you are genuine about how you too get behind and need to scramble. I hate when that happens, especially when I had complete control over the process.
http://www.royalharvest.co/ Royal Harvest

Thanks for this reminder! Great Post!
http://www.heartspoken.com/ Elizabeth H. Cottrell

I learned this back in the days of book-reading deadlines, but darned if I hadn’t thought about it such a long time. Thank you, thank you for the way you bring implementable wisdom to us in brilliantly simple ways.
Jo

Funnily, my Weight Watchers leader said to someone who was disapointed she’d “just” lost a lb this week – “But you’re on track now to lose 52lbs in a year. That’s fantastic!”. Kinda hit it home.
OBVAVirtualAssistant

I suppose you mean “everything seems too big”. It is so true.
There is a saying ‘divide and rule’, so we should divide it into small boxes
and act on it one at a time. Thanks for this informative article.
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Sean McCarthy

Chris thanks for the post. As a coach I often coach on the concept of chunking down ideas and goals. I like this thought of a box and halving the box. With my coaching clients I often talk about breaking down larger tasks into 1 hour segments. This definitely helps create a better level of productivity.
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Wallace Reed

Such a good writing, or by I saw for the first time. I’m quite happy,
you are a good writer!
James

Eating an elephant one bite at a time…dam carnivores.
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