Six Tips to Help You ‘Git-R-Done’

If you are familiar with Larry the Cable Guy, you have heard his famous catchphrase “Git-R-Done.”
  While Larry the Cable Guy likely uses the phrase to encourage someone to finish their beer, there is actually something of deeper value to the mantra. At the end of the day, good intentions do not get the job done. It only matters if you have the guts to pull the trigger and, well, just DO it.

Last week, we launched the Blue Kite Marketing website. I’m absolutely thrilled with how it turned out. Are there still some tweaks that need to be made? Sure. But, it wouldn’t have launched if I obsessed over the perfection of every last detail before flipping the switch. After all, it’s much easier to make excuses than to stick your neck out there for the whole wide world to see.

Are there projects that you are fretting over? Do you have things on a to-do list that you know you should get to, but that you just can’t seem to find the time or motivation to do? I’m sure you do. We all do. Those tasks, those projects aren’t getting done sitting on a list staring you in the face. Here are six tips to help you “Git R Done:”

• Set a deadline. While a to-do list is definitely helpful, it is far more effective if you give yourself a deadline. Sometimes, the crazier the deadline the better. If you’re a procrastinator, don’t give yourself the time to waste. Set the deadline for the soonest possible time you can get it done.
• Get accountable. Telling someone that your project will be done by a certain date makes you stick to it. Put your neck out there and let your employees and clients know when to expect something. I guarantee this will help you get it done in time. This was certainly a great motivator for me!
• Limit distractions. When there’s a big scary deadline staring you in the face, it’s often tempting to do anything else. Even if you have the best intentions, it’s far too easy to log on to Facebook ‘for a minute’ only to look up and realize you wasted an hour looking at your friend’s vacation pictures. Don’t get sucked into the vortex of procrastination land. Turn off your phone, close your e-mail and by all means, resist the urge to get on Facebook or Twitter.
• Schedule time. Perhaps the reason the cobbler’s children had no shoes was that the poor cobbler didn’t have Google Calendar. Schedule an appointment with yourself and don’t let any other projects or activities get in the way.
• Get help. Sometimes we can’t get things done on our own. Instead of shouldering all of the work yourself, ask an employee to help or hire a vendor. Don’t let lack of resources stand in the way of getting your project finished.
• Be okay with 80 percent. Don’t get me wrong, I think accuracy is important and I abhor spelling errors. However, no matter how many times we check and re-check, we will find things wrong with the project. Don’t let perfection stand in the way of finishing a project. Get it to 80 percent and then get it out the door.

These are just a few of things I’ve done that help me focus on getting projects done.

What helps you finish a project? If you need to get accountable on a project, post in the comments and we’ll hold your feet to the fire!