The 2 Priorities

On a frequent basis, I have these little realizations that I'm not a consultant anymore. Like, as I realize that putting my laptop into my desk drawer is becoming a routine, for example. Or, when I walk to the cafeteria for the first time (outside) as an employee, remembering my first days here as a consultant when I was terribly sad about the uncertainty of my job and wishing I could just stay at this client forever. It's kinda neat - keeps me from taking it for granted.

Last week, I had an inordinate amount of stress. One of the differences between consulting and being an employee is that you don't just have one stressful project, you have many! And you are usually responsible for supporting quite a few finished projects. I ended up going to my manager and asking him to select two priorities for me to focus on. This kept me sane. I'm doing the same thing with my own employee - setting two priorities per week.

This could be my own management innovation - the two priority method. The first priority is what you throw all your energy into. The second priority is what you do when the first priority is on hold, or if you simply need a mental break. When the first priority completes, the second priority becomes the first. Now, add another. Slowly slowly, you make it through your list.

The alternative is staring down your hundred item to-do list, feeling overwhelmed, attacking it all at once, and yet progressing at the same rate or slower than you would have, if you acknowledged that a human being can only do a few tasks at a time. And you're stressed to the nines.

Same work, less stress. The two priority system.

As a sidenote, does anyone actually read this blog? If so, please raise your hand - I'm curious.