When a journalist asked Mike Tyson about Evander Holyfield’s game plan before a big fight, Tyson famously said, “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.”
Now, that’s kind of how it goes in the workplace too, right? You’ve got your plan all laid out, but then reality comes swinging, and suddenly, your whole strategy gets thrown out the window.
In this video, I want to talk about how to handle those unexpected curveballs that come flying your way and totally mess up your plans.
Now, if you’ve been following me for a while, you know I’m all about the quarterly plan. Sitting down every few months to figure out your priorities and focus on two or three key things. But… and here’s the big but… sometimes life throws you a curveball.
Maybe one of your projects blows up, or there’s an urgent crisis that demands your attention, or maybe you just took on too much and you’re drowning.
In France, they have this saying about biting off more than you can chew, and it happens all too often. You sit down, you plan your priorities, and then boom, everything explodes.
So here are a few suggestions:
Be Honest: When you’re doing your quarterly plan, stick to just two or three priorities. And be brutally honest about the time each one will take. If you’re looking at more than 15-20 hours a week for each, it’s a sign you’re biting off more than you can chew.
Anticipate: Think ahead. Are there any big projects or events coming up that could throw a wrench in your plans? Anticipate those “big business as usual” moments like tax projects or audits, and adjust your priorities accordingly.
Adjust as You Go: Stay flexible. If one of your priorities turns out to be bigger than expected, it’s okay to shuffle things around. Maybe you need to split one big rock into two, or push something to next quarter. Flexibility is key.
Remember, it’s not about how much you do, but about the quality of what you do. Focus on the things that truly matter, and give them your all.
This is this week’s Work Smarter: Live Better tip.
So, my question for you is this: When you’re choosing your priorities, are you being honest with yourself, or are you taking on too much?
Wishing you a lovely day ahead!
A bientôt,
Cyril
