Getting It Done

For the well organisedorthe person reading this instead of working

2026

  1. Jun 92 min read

    Buffer

    Most stress isn't about the work, it's about the timeline. Starting before you have to won't change the work, but it changes everything around it.

  2. Mar 312 min read

    Brad Pitt’s Toothbrush

    Brad Pitt's toothbrush isn't better than yours. When the gap feels big, we blame the tools instead of the behaviour. Better gear won't do the work for you.

  3. Mar 162 min read

    The Decoy Goal

    Instead of fighting yourself to change a habit, commit to a decoy goal. The smoker who starts running stops thinking about cigarettes. The real change follows.

  4. Feb 172 min read

    The Last Push

    I'm great at starting and enjoy the middle, but I stall near the end. Finishing creates space, on your hard drive and in your head, for new work to begin.

2025

  1. Nov 252 min read

    The Next Obvious Move

    Getting things done isn't about willpower. Arrange your environment so doing the thing becomes the next obvious move and backing out is the harder option.

  2. Sep 302 min read

    Creative Debt

    The unfinished book. The draft sitting at 80%. Creative debt costs you energy, not dollars. But none of that effort is wasted. It's compost for what's next.

  3. Mar 182 min read

    Where Projects Go to Die

    Starting is exciting and finishing is rewarding. The middle is where projects die, as shiny new ideas pull you away. Half-built bridges go nowhere.

2024

  1. Aug 132 min read

    Don’t Be Late

    Chasing perfection past the deadline rarely pays. The gap between good and great is often invisible to everyone but you. Late is something everyone sees.

  2. Mar 262 min read

    Skip The Sprint

    Crash diets, all-nighters and daily Herculean workouts lead to burnout. Most goals need sustained effort. Find a pace you can keep and run the marathon.

  3. Jan 302 min read

    Rethinking Best Practices

    Best practices can paralyse people starting from zero. Start with a small step up from where you are now. You'll still be way ahead of where you were.

  4. Jan 162 min read

    Goal Mastery

    Setting goals is the easy part. The hard part is turning them into daily practice. Goals become tangible when you translate them into daily habits.

2023

  1. Nov 212 min read

    Where Ideas Strike

    Your best ideas rarely arrive at your desk. Walking, swimming or working out often spark them. Notice where ideas strike and put yourself there.

  2. Nov 72 min read

    Hurry Up and Be Creative

    Deadlines crush creativity but they're great at forcing you to start. Use urgency as a motivator, just don't expect it to make your ideas better.

  3. Oct 102 min read

    Don't Wait For January

    If a resolution truly matters, there's no reason to wait for January. You can spend the rest of the year planning, or get a head start right now.

  4. Aug 291 min read

    Breaks Are Always Allowed

    It took me years to start this blog because I feared the commitment. Consistency matters, but starting matters more. And breaks are always allowed.

  5. Aug 11 min read

    The Master of "No"

    When you say yes to everyone else's requests, you're saying no to yourself. Guard your time with purpose and master one of life's great skills.

  6. May 302 min read

    URGENT!!!

    One word in caps can knock you out of focus. Some urgent things really are emergencies. Many are only urgent for someone else. Check before you jump.

  7. Feb 281 min read

    You Can't Save Time

    Businesses promise to save you time but the clock never stops. You can only choose what to do with it. Pick something your future self will thank you for.

  8. Feb 141 min read

    Be Careful What You Measure

    Tracking followers won't grow your audience and weighing yourself won't make you fit. If you want to reach a goal, measure your actions instead.

  9. Jan 102 min read

    "Start Tomorrow"

    "Start tomorrow" is how we fool ourselves. Try five minutes today instead. Starting is the hardest step, and tomorrow it'll be ten times easier.

  10. Jan 31 min read

    362 Opportunities

    New Year's resolutions rarely work because you can't remodel your life overnight. January 1st is overhyped. Any day is a good day to start.

2022

  1. Dec 272 min read

    The Dangerous Pursuit of Efficiency

    Efficiency hacks just make room for more tasks. You'll never finish the to-do list. Forget efficiency, set priorities and make the list shorter.

  2. Dec 202 min read

    Deadlines With Teeth

    Self-imposed deadlines are easy to ignore. The fix is to give them teeth by telling people who'll care. If that sounds scary, that's how you know it'll work.

  3. Dec 131 min read

    Good Enough

    Aiming for perfection on everything is impossible. "Good enough" frees you to get more done. Save perfect for the few projects that truly deserve it.

  4. Nov 151 min read

    Create More Time

    "I don't have time" usually means "it's not a priority." Once you make your goal a priority, something strange happens. You create more time.

  5. Nov 82 min read

    Talent Is An Excuse

    Picasso made up to 110,000 pieces of art. He didn't paint because he was great. He became great by painting. Forget talent, focus on daily progress.