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The other day it was raining and I was stuck inside.

It started raining like crazy outside. It was nice and cozy inside. I can barely hear the dripping of water outside.

Oh, that’s good! No, that’s bad!

The dripping sounded different than usual. It was just outside my door.

Oh, that’s bad! No, that’s good!

My curiosity caused me to open the door to look outside and discover the overflowing gutter.

Oh, that’s good! No, that’s bad!

Opening the door let water rush into the house from the porch.

Oh, that’s bad! No, that’s good!

The water flowed into the drain missing all the stuff on the floor.

Oh, that’s good! No, that’s bad!

The puddle on the basement stair landing revealed a clogged drain.

Oh, that’s bad! No, that’s good!

We caught it before it flooded the entire basement and ruined our precious stuff.

Oh, that’s good! No, that’s bad!

We had to act quickly to stop the landing from filling with water.

Oh, that’s bad! No, that’s good!

It was clear the water was coming from the overflowing gutter and the ladder was a  few feet away. It was cleared easily.

Oh, that’s good! No, that’s bad!

It took our attention off the water still flowing into the house from the clogged drain in the basement landing.

Oh, that’s bad! No, that’s good!

We got the tools, cleared and drained the clogged drain in the basement landing.

Oh, that’s good! No, that’s bad!

I tracked gunk into the house all over the place.

Oh, that’s bad! No, that’s good!

There were plenty of towels to wipe up the mess and help dry things out.

Oh, that’s good! No, that’s bad!

Some of the towels were purchased yesterday. My wife was NOT Happy!

Oh, that’s bad! No, that’s good!

I apologized. She forgave me.

Oh, that’s good! No, that’s bad!

I had forgotten just what a wonderful person she is. So, I told her.

Oh, that’s good! Yeah, that is good!

Listen to The Teach Jim Show where I tell the story in full and liken it to problem solving and lead generation systems.

With our Mission in Mind, We are ready to plan the “movement” desired
for progress this week as we Ponder, Plan, Project and Perform.

It Looks like this:

1. Ponder: I initiate the movement phase of my planning by pondering where I’d like to see myself at the end of the week. I cycle through each of my roles and picture what the end of the week is like. Each project is also considered. What is the next step to move it forward.

2. Plan: With the desired results in mind I examine each Role in my life and establish or review the Goals I have for that role.  With each Role/Goal combination I record the ‘Next Action’ needed to make progress?”  That item is added to the to do list and prioritize highly.  Next I ask “Is there something needed in this role?  If there is I add it to the list but with a low priority. Each role can only have one or two High Priority items.

3. Project: Next, I look at all the high priority items and manage them as a project manager.  I look at their needs for resource and the best time and context for delivering on them within the performance periods of the day.

After looking at the priority items through the eyes of a project manager I try to foresee barriers and walls by projecting into the future the risks associated with each item.  Here I formulate plan “b” type actions or end around the walls or how to blast through the walls (barriers).  Additional action items, like communicating to additional stake holders or including additional players come into the to do list in this process.

I share my prioritize list of action items for the week with my accountability partner/weekly Game Plan Mentor.

4. Perform: The rest of the week I work off the prioritized list for each role while adjusting what I’m working on based on context. Context being the physical location, the time available, the energy level and timing for others involved.  At any given moment I tend to work on the prioritized list but only as it is effective in the context of the day.

At the end of the week and sometimes sooner I get with my accountability partner and assess how I am doing on the prioritized list of critical items. In some areas if the goals for that area are obtained easily and there is extra time for that role/goal the next items on the list are ready to be worked on.

The prioritized plan for the week in each Role/Goal area drive continual progress in each area.  It feels good to be doing so many worthy activities daily.  The feeling of increased control builds confidence in my ability to do the things that matter most.