Just Do The Thing | Just Do The Thing
Something Measurable
You learned about the importance of Defining Done a few pages back, and hopefully wrote down a definition for yourself. What was that again?
Right. Now’s a great time to revisit it. Maybe give it an update if you like.
Here’s another place where Done comes in real handy. Once you know what Done looks like, you can choose how to estimate your progress toward it. What are the mini-dones that lead to the big Done?
These are your measurements.
Of course Things can be measured in many different ways. So which is best?
Whatever keeps you moving toward Done. Remember that the time you take to measure is time you take away from your Thing. Your Thing is not getting any closer to Done while you stop and coordinate with other people or update a spreadsheet that calculates progress or reorganize your calendar, etc.
Cut that out. Or at least minimize it. Don’t focus on the distance between The-Thing-now and Done. Focus on Done. And measure your progress simply.
What is the fastest, easiest, cheapest way to measure the distance between how-things-are-right-now and your Done Thing? Do that. And don’t change how you measure unless you change your Thing. Even bad measurements are usually better than what it costs to stop to change them.
Resist the temptation to know more every time it costs you doing more. If you’ve already got something that’s important, attractive, specific, and doable, then you only have to measure it enough to keep it moving.
So keep it moving.