18
Slice and Dice the Task

Don’t try to eat big frogs in one bite—you may just choke! Instead, break large tasks up into bite-size morsels. Beyond breaking up large tasks, develop within yourself a compulsion to closure. The more tasks you complete, the better and more elated you’ll feel—and the greater the jolt of personal power and energy you’ll get.

NOTES

1. One approach to making large projects feel more manageable is the “salami slice” method. Instead of succumbing to the temptation to tackle the whole thing at once, lay out the task in detail, writing down every step of the task in order. Then resolve to do just one slice at a time. As you finish, move on to the next one.

2. For larger projects—say, projects that will take weeks or months to complete—try the “Swiss cheese” method. Say you’re writing a book or working on some other enormous project. Instead of balking at the enormity of the task, commit to picking away at a piece of it, every day—drill holes in it, like holes in a block of Swiss cheese.

What are some big projects that you could pick away at, over time?

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Once you’ve identified them, choose the one with the greatest potential to increase your success. Set aside some time each day to devote to it.