Fight One Problem at a Time

fightingdudes In action movies, one of the common recurring stupidities of any fight scene is that when 200 bad guys fight the hero, they all come at him one at a time. In real life, 200 bad guys would probably bum rush the hero and knock him on his butt, and proceed to thrash him. But in movies and video games, one bad guy waits for the next bad guy to finish fighting before he jumps on board. I propose that looking at your problems in this way, one problem at a time, is a better way to tackle things.

Admit One

Everyone has more than one problem (or challenge, or big thing to fix). I’ve got dozens: my finances, business challenges, my physical fitness (or lack), and TONS of tiny things I’m just not getting to that bite my butt when I don’t do them.

So, here’s what I (and I believe most people) tend to do with all that: I dump all my problems into my mind like tipping my “junk drawer” out onto a table. I look at it all in one big mass, and then I think, “This is WAY too much to solve.” Forget it. And then I throw it all back in the box to further NOT deal with.

What if I looked at just one thing to solve? I haven’t bothered getting my car inspected yet. Guess I should do that, as it turns out the fine is $200 for that. Hmm. Okay, I’ll make a point of stopping by an inspection station tonight.

Done.

A Strategy

If you’ve had some trouble executing on this idea, here’s a plan: do a few small, easier problems first. For instance, I have some credit card debt I have to take back into control, but that’s HUGE, and I will feel crappy if nothing comes of it. So instead, I’m going to fix the inspection sticker first. That means I’ll think when I’m done, “Hey cool. One down!”

Small victories precede larger ones.

Then, switch it. Once you have a few little things done, tackle a big one. Why? Because little problems add up quick, and they suck up the same amount of time as big problems. Tackle a big problem for every two or three little problems.

Are You With Me?

What are a few little problems you can nail TODAY that might give you confidence for the bigger problems?

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Photo credit, strocchi

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/mimisyaka/ Mimi Syaka

My Dad always dispensed that same advice whenever I had “project paralysis”. One small step at a time = feeling of accomplishment.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mimisyaka/ Mimi Syaka

My Dad always dispensed that same advice whenever I had “project paralysis”. One small step at a time = feeling of accomplishment.
http://abiteofsanity.com Bryce Moore

I’ve made a point and habit these days of striving to get at least one “C” or “D” priority [I prioritize "A"-"D"] item off my to-do list every week. It helps keep the to-list from completely overwhelming me.

Of course, then the issue becomes having way too many “A” and “B” items for the time available!
http://abiteofsanity.com Bryce Moore

I’ve made a point and habit these days of striving to get at least one “C” or “D” priority [I prioritize "A"-"D"] item off my to-do list every week. It helps keep the to-list from completely overwhelming me.

Of course, then the issue becomes having way too many “A” and “B” items for the time available!
http://abiteofsanity.com Bryce Moore

I’ve made a point and habit these days of striving to get at least one “C” or “D” priority [I prioritize "A"-"D"] item off my to-do list every week. It helps keep the to-list from completely overwhelming me.

Of course, then the issue becomes having way too many “A” and “B” items for the time available!
http://www.bluesloth.net Philip

I agree with you completely. I’ll tell you what I’ve done to help get all the problems out of the junk drawer and out in broad daylight where I can sort through them and attack them in the best possible manner.

I bought a big wide whiteboard. Actually I bought two – and then two more for my hallway – and I wrote headers across the top. These headers suit me and my life, and yours would obviously be different, but it fits in with your small, medium, big-sized problems idea.

Mine say: Today, Need, Blog, Build, Ideas.

I find that if I tackle the little problems systematically, I have the confidence and time to tackle some of the bigger ones as well.

(don’t want to hog your response area…I decided to make my full response a blog post and link back to you. Thanks for sparking my mind this morning!)
http://www.bluesloth.net Philip

I agree with you completely. I’ll tell you what I’ve done to help get all the problems out of the junk drawer and out in broad daylight where I can sort through them and attack them in the best possible manner.

I bought a big wide whiteboard. Actually I bought two – and then two more for my hallway – and I wrote headers across the top. These headers suit me and my life, and yours would obviously be different, but it fits in with your small, medium, big-sized problems idea.

Mine say: Today, Need, Blog, Build, Ideas.

I find that if I tackle the little problems systematically, I have the confidence and time to tackle some of the bigger ones as well.

(don’t want to hog your response area…I decided to make my full response a blog post and link back to you. Thanks for sparking my mind this morning!)
http://www.bluesloth.net Philip

I agree with you completely. I’ll tell you what I’ve done to help get all the problems out of the junk drawer and out in broad daylight where I can sort through them and attack them in the best possible manner.

I bought a big wide whiteboard. Actually I bought two – and then two more for my hallway – and I wrote headers across the top. These headers suit me and my life, and yours would obviously be different, but it fits in with your small, medium, big-sized problems idea.

Mine say: Today, Need, Blog, Build, Ideas.

I find that if I tackle the little problems systematically, I have the confidence and time to tackle some of the bigger ones as well.

(don’t want to hog your response area…I decided to make my full response a blog post and link back to you. Thanks for sparking my mind this morning!)
http://www.bluesloth.net Philip

I agree with you completely. I’ll tell you what I’ve done to help get all the problems out of the junk drawer and out in broad daylight where I can sort through them and attack them in the best possible manner.

I bought a big wide whiteboard. Actually I bought two – and then two more for my hallway – and I wrote headers across the top. These headers suit me and my life, and yours would obviously be different, but it fits in with your small, medium, big-sized problems idea.

Mine say: Today, Need, Blog, Build, Ideas.

I find that if I tackle the little problems systematically, I have the confidence and time to tackle some of the bigger ones as well.

(don’t want to hog your response area…I decided to make my full response a blog post and link back to you. Thanks for sparking my mind this morning!)
http://gardenfork.tv eric : gardenfork.tv

Despite all my gadgets and computers, I have an erasable whiteboard on the wall on which I write things down that have to be done. Big and Small. I pick a big or small project depending on how much time I have available.

The whiteboard makes all the ‘to do’ clutter much more manageable.
http://gardenfork.tv eric : gardenfork.tv

Despite all my gadgets and computers, I have an erasable whiteboard on the wall on which I write things down that have to be done. Big and Small. I pick a big or small project depending on how much time I have available.

The whiteboard makes all the ‘to do’ clutter much more manageable.
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http://enterthelaughter.com Marti

Excellent advice! On the credit card battle, I started sending a second payment each month…just a little bit, like ten dollars. I can do it online, so it’s easy – that helps. We don’t miss it, but it has sure helped get those balances down.

To Philip and eric:gardenfork.tv ~ We have a big old school blackboard and one of those big desk blotter calendars to help us keep track – as you say – it really does work!
http://enterthelaughter.com Marti

Excellent advice! On the credit card battle, I started sending a second payment each month…just a little bit, like ten dollars. I can do it online, so it’s easy – that helps. We don’t miss it, but it has sure helped get those balances down.

To Philip and eric:gardenfork.tv ~ We have a big old school blackboard and one of those big desk blotter calendars to help us keep track – as you say – it really does work!
Anonymous

This is excellent advice. The only thing I would add is sometimes those “big problems” are really lots of little problems in disguise.

There is a story in the beginning of the book “Bird by Bird” by Anne Lamott (of which I have probably only read the first chapter). The story is about the author’s brother who had a report to do on birds which he left to the last minute. He turned to his father for help, and father agreed to help. The brother asked “How will we get it all done.” The answer was: “Bird by bird”.

Sometimes when the tasks I have to do look too huge I sometimes take a second look and see if I can do the task “Bird by bird”.
Anonymous

This is excellent advice. The only thing I would add is sometimes those “big problems” are really lots of little problems in disguise.

There is a story in the beginning of the book “Bird by Bird” by Anne Lamott (of which I have probably only read the first chapter). The story is about the author’s brother who had a report to do on birds which he left to the last minute. He turned to his father for help, and father agreed to help. The brother asked “How will we get it all done.” The answer was: “Bird by bird”.

Sometimes when the tasks I have to do look too huge I sometimes take a second look and see if I can do the task “Bird by bird”.
Anonymous

This is excellent advice. The only thing I would add is sometimes those “big problems” are really lots of little problems in disguise.

There is a story in the beginning of the book “Bird by Bird” by Anne Lamott (of which I have probably only read the first chapter). The story is about the author’s brother who had a report to do on birds which he left to the last minute. He turned to his father for help, and father agreed to help. The brother asked “How will we get it all done.” The answer was: “Bird by bird”.

Sometimes when the tasks I have to do look too huge I sometimes take a second look and see if I can do the task “Bird by bird”.
http://goldiesgabs.blogspot.com/ Goldie Katsu

This is excellent advice. The only thing I would add is sometimes those “big problems” are really lots of little problems in disguise.

There is a story in the beginning of the book “Bird by Bird” by Anne Lamott (of which I have probably only read the first chapter). The story is about the author’s brother who had a report to do on birds which he left to the last minute. He turned to his father for help, and father agreed to help. The brother asked “How will we get it all done.” The answer was: “Bird by bird”.

Sometimes when the tasks I have to do look too huge I sometimes take a second look and see if I can do the task “Bird by bird”.
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Fight One Problem at a Time

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