
Getting to It!
Accomplishing the Important, Handling the Urgent, and Removing the Unnecessary
By Jones Loflin,
Published 08/2022
About the Author
Jones Loflin is an internationally recognized speaker and trainer, celebrated for his expertise in time management, focus, motivation, and work-life balance. He co-authored the award-winning book Juggling Elephants and has developed and delivered solutions for many Fortune 500 companies. Loflin has also worked as the trainer of trainers for Who Moved My Cheese? LLC, enhancing his reputation as a leader in organizational training.
Todd Musig is a senior training industry executive and consultant with extensive experience in marketing and business operations. He has been associated with FranklinCovey, AchieveGlobal, and Who Moved My Cheese? LLC. Musig co-authored Juggling Elephants with Loflin, bringing his deep expertise in training and business operations to their collaborative work.
Main Idea
The central premise of Getting to It! is to help individuals identify and focus on their most Important Thing (IT). The book provides tools and strategies to prioritize and accomplish important tasks, manage urgent ones, and eliminate unnecessary activities. By defining IT, planning for IT, focusing on IT, and getting excited about IT, individuals can achieve greater success and fulfillment both professionally and personally.
Table of Contents
- Defining IT
- Believing IT
- Communicating IT
- Planning for IT
- Doing IT
- After Accomplishing IT
- Doing IT Again
- Working with Others on IT
- Wrapping IT Up
Defining IT
What is IT?
The book emphasizes that amidst the rush of daily tasks and deadlines, there is always an IT – the most important thing that should take precedence. IT is not just about identifying what needs to be done but understanding the steps required to accomplish it. Constantly analyzing and prioritizing IT is essential for efficient organization and success.
"Of everything you could do in the next moment, IT is the most important thing." - Jones Loflin and Todd Musig
Types of ITs and the Need to Identify Them
ITs can vary in scope and timeline:
- Long-term ITs: These might include lifetime achievements or goals that take a year or two to accomplish.
- Short-term ITs: Goals that you aim to complete within six months to a year.
- Daily ITs: Immediate tasks that compete with numerous other demands on your time and energy.
Identifying IT for any period initiates a planning process to ensure its success. Without a well-conceived plan, distractions can easily derail progress.
"The question for you is, 'What price are you paying for allowing things of lesser importance to dominate your schedule instead of spending more time on those you care most about?'" - Jones Loflin and Todd Musig
Define IT or Everything Else Will Define You
The process of defining IT involves five steps:
- Stop what you're doing: Take a moment to pause.
- Review your funnel: Understand the limiting effect of time and resources.
- Evaluate your possibilities: Assess potential tasks and activities.
- Use your filters: Apply criteria to prioritize tasks.
- Develop plans to say no: Avoid distractions that do not align with your IT.
Many people are overwhelmed by potential activities and tend to tackle the most convenient or urgent tasks, often neglecting what is truly important. The first step is to stop and evaluate.
Reviewing Your Funnel
The funnel metaphor illustrates how only a limited amount of tasks can be completed due to time and resource constraints. Pouring too much into the funnel causes overflow, displacing important actions with urgent or unnecessary ones.
"A strong understanding of what you have done to let tasks enter your funnel prepares you for the next step in the process: filtering what makes it through the funnel to become IT." - Jones Loflin and Todd Musig
Evaluating Your Possibilities
When evaluating possibilities, consider both positive and negative mental filters. Negative filters include harmful attitudes that prevent you from undertaking tasks due to unfounded reasons, while positive filters encompass moral, safety, social norms, and practical considerations.
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