Thanks David. On a day when I’m suffering a bad case of the overwhelmeds, I needed to hear this… Lots of little crazies are better than one big crazy right?

 Have you read Anne Lamotts’ classic book on writing (and life), Bird by Bird?

Small steps = slowly but surely.

Good point David and one that many forget about the way we are taught in a classroom.

Great post.  and overwhelm is a big problem.  My favorite saying is “inch by inch, anything’s a cinch.”  Credit goes to my mentor, Hon. Bailey.  Thanks, D

I talked with a friend about this yesterday. Overwhelm doesn’t come because of everything that needs done; it comes when you have unrealistic expectations or the wrong tools. This strategy you give is the exact kind that people overlook, because it’s so simple. I can testify, however, that it works like a charm. Have fun in NYC sir

There is a method I learned long ago and you reminded me I need to return to it.  It is a small step method and it works like this;
1. Establish the large goal (example: create your first ebook).
2. Establish medium goals that would need to be accomplished (get ebook cover, add graphics to chapters, write chapters.)
3. Establish the small goals to reach the medium ones (contact ebook cover designer, write outline of book table of contents, write outline of each chapter).

(OH GOSH, I’M DEFINITELY IN NEED OF REST – just re-read your article and you said the same thing.)

So I’ll say this – Do what David does because it works.  The best “systems” out there are based on this idea.  What I will add to it is assign dates to goals.  Typically, one goal for each day is good.  Now, you can’t outline all the chapters for your ebook, but you could easily outline one chapter.

I like to say “Do not do tomorrows work today.” From Wallace Wattles

The last few weeks I’ve been thinking about the state of being overwhelmed. So, I’ve started saying a new mantra to myself: slow and steady. This has helped me tremendously, and I think that your post today about small steps dovetails nicely with this. Thanks for a great post.

Great Point with the small steps.  A while back I had a goal to ‘work at least 30 minutes before going to bed everyday’ – No Fluff, no email checking, ect.  Even though it is such a small amount of time each day, every week it would really add up.

This was in addition to whatever during the day, but I was really making progress at the time.  I need to get back on track with this game plan.  It was always small steps, but it really moved things along.

I use exactly this technique when I’m trying to write a blog post and I’m finding that it does help me compartmentalize and focus on what I’m doing.  By the way I do have a 16 year old learning to drive

Hi David. 

Great advice!  Reminds me of that hilarious movie with Bill Murray and Richard Dryfus as the shrink who kept saying “baby steps.”  Can’t remember the name of the movie. 

For me personally, another important thing with muddling through internet marketing, was to limit the number of advisers I listened to.  Since many offer conflicting info, listening to dozens of them, which is what I started out doing, was counterproductive.  For basic blogging info, I narrowed it down to you!  I love your non-hype style.  Thanks!

Lorraine

The movie is “What About Bob?” I loved that one!!

This post reminds me to slow down, as I do take on a lot at times! Great advice David… Thanks!

David-

I definitely agree with this post.  I think information overwhelm is one of the biggest obstacles people have with Internet marketing; especially blogging.   Chunking it down into small steps is the way to tackle any major goal.

One thing that’s helped is to only pay attention to the information that’s immediately applicable to that next skill/project that you’re currently working on.  I’ve done this for the past year; and it’s had an amazing result on my overall productivity and results.

Anyway, like you said; it’s about taking action.  That’s something that people often seem to forget. 

~Steve

The One Minute Manager is a good book for goal-setting. It’s a slim volume so it should be easy to read in one sitting. We look at the big picture too often and it is overwhelming. We forget to look into the small steps taken to get to the big goal. 

Wow – didn’t you get a great conversation thread going here (as usual!) – keeping things simple is the ONLY way to make progress, in my opinion.  Thanks for the reminder.

Pat

Thanks, man. NYC is great, but ready to head back tomorrow. Of course, flying through here again in a couple weeks (heading to CT for Ryan Lee’s event).

I don’t know about it being a prereq, but you’re right that each step you create has to have those factors. If not, break it down further.

Yeah, heard that from many people. Although I’ve heard more of the 50-minutes of work, then 10-minute break. Cycle and repeat.

Good thing is I have 13 years before I have to deal with my kid driving.

My problem is not so much that the critical tasks are too big or overwhelming. It’s that there are so many of them. I’m still trying to find a way to do a little of everything every week without letting anything fall through the cracks. Fortunately, I’m still at the place where I have a lot on my plate that, after I do it once, I’ll never have to do it again. Maybe once I get done with all of that (and keep it from falling through the cracks) I’ll be able to keep up. (If not, at least let me dream!)

nice one