The Now Habit by Neil Fiore PhD

Author:Neil Fiore PhD [Fiore PhD, Neil]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781529930658
Publisher: Penguin Random House UK
Published: 2023-12-28T00:00:00+00:00

The Reverse Calendar

When Joel applied three-dimensional thinking to his assignments, he was able to see the entire process, directing his energy toward dividing the project into small, manageable parts. This view lets you mentally spread the work out over the days and weeks ahead, creating your own deadlines for the subdivisions of the project.

When you learn to look at projects this way, you rapidly diffuse the condensed effort of two-dimensional thinking into a three-dimensional and four-dimensional view spread over distance and time. Now, instead of facing a large, looming, impossible task, you’re facing only small units that you can see yourself accomplishing.

I call this the reverse calendar. As you picture several smaller deadlines—all within your control—the paralysis caused by trying to complete a large project (with dire consequences if you fail) disappears. With your own personal deadlines stretched into the future, you’ve taken some control over the work and created some breathing space in between each step. This revised image of your project enables you to use your other tools to focus in the present, where you can start on the first step. That extra energy that you needed in your attempt to do it all at once couldn’t be released into the imagined future, so you experienced it as anxiety and stress. But with your mind focused on the here and now, where work can be started, your body provides the right level of energy to start and you experience it as excitement and effectiveness.

The reverse calendar starts with the ultimate deadline for your project and then moves back, step by step, to the present where you can focus your energy on starting. You will find the reverse calendar extremely useful whenever you face tasks that require work over a long period—painting the house, mounting an advertising campaign, or perservering through a weight-loss program. And the reverse calendar should be used immediately if you feel overwhelmed. You’ll want a reverse calendar to see what you can tackle right now, where you can delegate, and when you’ll have a chance to catch your breath.

1. Ultimate deadline: June 1. Have drawings or speech or project on boss’s desk by 9:00 A.M. That means

May 28: Make corrections.

May 26: Review materials.

May 23: Secretary’s deadline for mailing out reproductions/making slides/collecting data.

May 15: Complete sketches/rewrites/follow-up calls.

May 1: Start on final portion of project.

April 22: Make changes from meeting with boss.

April 21: Meet with boss on direction and progress.

Today, April 15: Make rough sketches; start outline; decide on most relevant market research and consult with experts.

2. Ultimate deadline: January 1 (next year). Complete negotiations for the contract with XYZ, Inc. That means

December 1: Meeting with lawyers and XYZ manager.

November 20: Call XYZ before leaving for ski trip, Nov. 22–27.

November 1: Deliver last segment of draft contract to Jones. (Continue to schedule each month until you come back into the present)

July 1: Meet with our lawyers.

Today, June 15: Contact Jones at XYZ to discuss deadlines and meeting times.

This approach can be applied to each step of the project.

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