Hi friends,

I try a lot of things and most of them fail. But one experiment has been working, and in a huge way, so I want to share it. I call it the Actions That Matter template, for now.

If I'm being honest, I sometimes spend a lot of time on “work” that doesn't actually accomplish much. Answering emails, responding to instant messages, color coding spreadsheets, organizing music or files: it's mostly just busy work.

It's easy to get distracted. It's harder to focus.

And it's much harder to focus on what actually matters.

So I created an “Actions That Matter” template as a way to help me do that.

In summary, it's goal + high-value actions + check.

Here's the template:

1. Define a goal in concrete, time boxed terms.
2. Create a very short list of the Actions That Matter: actions that significantly move the needle towards completing the goal.
3. Every time I switch tasks or compulsively move to low value "work," I check my Actions That Matter Template and execute off of there instead.

Example:

Goal = Publish my new course by May 2024

Actions That Matter =

1. Write the Learning Outcomes
2. Write the Course Outline
3. Write a Section of the Curriculum
4. Edit the Writing
5. Write Handouts
6. Design Handouts
7. Refine Content with Reviewing Editor
8. Shoot Video
9. Design Marketing Materials

Check Yourself = Switching into busy work? Look at this list and execute off of it instead

I'll check in with that list a dozen times throughout the day. And when I felt myself going off track, I would hand-write out that list from scratch to reconnect with it.

That's it. It all seems so obvious. And it is!

But it does three big things for me:

• It removes a huge barrier to execution: decision making! I don't have to decide what to do. I just have to remind myself of what I already know I need to do. Especially when I am bored or tired, this is a gold mine.
• It helps me execute on high impact actions at a high volume.
• It helps me largely eliminate compulsive low value actions like checking emails.

Crucially, this isn't a to do list. It isn't a schedule. It isn't a project flow.

It is a template of the high-value repeatable actions that move the needle that I can frequently reference during the day to keep me doing the stuff that actually matters.

I am still refining the approach, but it's been so useful thus far, I needed to share it. (I used the same template for losing 60 lbs, and for passing 3 certification exams in the past year. I estimate that all 4 of those goals would have taken ~50% longer without this template.)

It might be a work in progress, but what isn't?

Hopefully you can use it in your own way.

Have a wonderful week!

Edward

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♥️ My Favorite Idea this Week

• 🤩 How to Study for Exams - An Evidence-Based Masterclass ​
  10/10 recommend for anyone studying or mastering skills. Recently I’ve been coaching students on passing professional certifications and I’ll be sending this to them. It is straight solid gold, and is indeed evidence backed. Look in the comments for a bulleted list of main takeaways.
• 🖥️ Make your computer run like-new by booting from an SSD ​
  To repair my old 2015 iMac, which was running so slow it became unusable, I was quoted $1k and higher. I tried this, and booted it from an external SSD hard drive ($80) and it runs as fast as the day I bought it. No need to send for repairs or buy new.

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👨‍💻 My New Blog Posts

• ​I earned $1,064,023 by working the university system​
  If you are motivated to avoid a lifetime of debt and want to learn how I did it three times, I want to share that with you. It’s tough, and absolutely worth it. In my case, worth $1,064,023.

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✍️ Quote of the Week

“Since self-control is a muscle that tires easily, it is much better to avoid temptation in the first place rather than try to resist it once it arises.”

David Brooks