Why To Do Lists Do not Work For Perfectionists + What To Use As an alternative [Part 2: Getting Shit Done Series]

That is Half 2 of my 5-Half Getting Shit Accomplished Collection. Right this moment I’m sharing three explanation why to-do lists don’t work for perfectionists (regardless that we love them) and the straightforward productiveness you should utilize that makes it simple to say goodbye to overwhelm and observe by way of together with your plans, even if you’re not motivated.

Discover the complete episode transcript and present notes at samlaurabrown.com/episode511.

Opening Quickly: My Productiveness Program, Perfectionists Getting Shit Accomplished

For those who’re able to get out of your personal method and take constant motion in your small business with out burning out, you need to be part of my productiveness program for perfectionist entrepreneurs referred to as Perfectionists Getting Shit Accomplished (aka PGSD).

Enrollment is opening quickly however just for one week – from Friday 31 January to Friday 7 February 2025. Discover out extra about this system and be part of the waitlist at present by visiting: samlaurabrown.com/pgsd.

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FULL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

Introduction

Hello, and welcome to a different episode of The Perfectionism Mission, a podcast filled with perfectionism recommendation for entrepreneurs. My title is Sam Laura Brown. I assist entrepreneurs launch their perfectionism handbrake to allow them to get out of their very own method and construct a satisfying and worthwhile enterprise. I’m the founding father of the Perfectionists Getting Shit Accomplished group teaching program, which is in any other case generally known as PGSD. And for much more perfectionism recommendation that will help you with your small business, you’ll be able to observe me on Instagram @perfectionismproject.

Sam Laura Brown – (The Getting Shit Accomplished Collection)

[00:00:29] Okay. A fast little intro, after which we’re simply getting proper into it. So that is half two of my 5 half sequence on Getting Shit Accomplished. It’s particularly for perfectionist entrepreneurs who need to cease overthinking, procrastinating, being lazy. burning themselves out. If you wish to begin constructing momentum in your small business and at last have it really feel like an actual enterprise, then this sequence is for you.

[00:00:55] So take pleasure in half two of the getting shit achieved sequence and know that my program Perfectionists Getting Shit Accomplished goes to be open for enrollment from the thirty first of January. To the seventh of February, one week solely. So for those who go to the present notes, you’ll be capable of see the web page to go to hitch the wait checklist and get your self inside as soon as the doorways open. Hope you take pleasure in half two of this sequence.

Sam Laura Brown – (Begin of the episode)

[00:01:19] For those who’re a perfectionist, you’re somebody who tends to procrastinate. Overthink, burn your self out.

[00:01:24] You will have the all or nothing mindset. You’re frightened of judgment, together with judgment from your self. That’s the large one. You decide your self quite a bit. Then you definately need to just remember to have a productiveness instrument and a productiveness technique that really takes your perfectionist mind into consideration and will get it working for you rather than in opposition to you.

[00:01:45] So what I need to discuss at present is particularly what that appears like. And I need to start that by speaking about what doesn’t work to your perfectionist mind so that you’re actually clear on what doesn’t work and so to cease doing it and cease anticipating it to work. And most significantly, that is large, particularly for those who really feel behind in your small business.

[00:02:10] To be able to really cease shaming your self for not being extra productive. As a result of for those who suppose you’re the issue and also you don’t really acknowledge it’s the productiveness instrument that’s the issue, then you will be feeling responsible and ashamed that you simply preserve procrastinating and you retain overthinking and you’ve got all these nice concepts and all this potential and also you’re not doing something with it.

[00:02:33] However for those who’re like, Oh, really I can see now, I can see now it isn’t me. It’s really simply, I’m not utilizing the fitting instrument for my mind. For instance, like for those who want a prescription for glasses and you’ve got the unsuitable prescription, It’s going to be fuzzy. It’s not that you simply’re the issue. You simply have the unsuitable help.

[00:02:55] You will have the unsuitable instrument. You simply want glasses with the fitting prescription. In order that’s what we need to get you on the subject of productiveness. So to do lists, I need to discuss to do lists and the way they’re making you unproductive as a result of this was such a giant epiphany for me once I realized it, as a result of as a, I imply, I nonetheless love a to do checklist, however I don’t use that as my key productiveness instrument for the explanations I’m going to be sharing.

[00:03:23] And I didn’t understand that for thus lengthy that the to do checklist was an issue. And so I simply stored making an attempt to be extra motivated, making an attempt to be extra disciplined, making an attempt to be extra organized, similar to making an attempt to higher myself so the to do checklist may work. So there’s a couple of key explanation why to do lists don’t really work for perfectionists, regardless that they provide us a lot hope.

[00:03:48] Regardless that the to do checklist simply actually provides us this sense of like, I can lastly catch up. Like if I may really get this all achieved, I’d be on high of all the pieces. Lastly, I wouldn’t be so behind. However what occurs is a couple of major issues. with to do lists, particularly lots of people say, for instance, like write a to do checklist of all the pieces you should get achieved for the week after which spotlight, , the highest three belongings you need to do at present after which give attention to getting them achieved.

[00:04:17] That doesn’t really work for perfectionists by way of having the most efficient use of your time. And so I need to share why, why that’s as a result of I do know I’ve helped so many perfectionists transition from to do lists and I do know we love them and it simply feels so good to tick it off. So a couple of explanation why.

[00:04:36] Having a to do checklist doesn’t really work to your perfectionist mind. Primary is that when you’ve gotten a to do checklist, you’ll be able to simply go cling it. You possibly can write all of the issues down in your to do checklist. It’s very optimistic. It’s very wishful. It’s very properly intentioned. Like we aren’t making an attempt to set ourselves up for failure, however you’ll be able to write all of the issues and also you would possibly know this.

[00:05:03] When you have a protracted to do checklist, After which at the start of every week, you’re consolidating all of the issues that didn’t get achieved from final week onto this week’s to do checklist. And because the day goes, you may be ticking a couple of issues off, however you then’re including increasingly more and extra issues. And also you continually are creating this actuality the place you’re all the time, all the time, all the time behind.

[00:05:24] You by no means can really Get a way of completion out of your to do checklist, regardless that it’s satisfying to tick issues off. You by no means get the last word satisfaction of truly feeling completion and truly feeling like you’re on high of all the pieces that must be achieved. You’re all the time behind when you’ve gotten a to do checklist and you’re all the time over scheduled and giving your self Extra proof and extra proof that you simply aren’t ok, that you simply don’t have what it takes, that you simply’re not a productive individual and that possibly you’re not going to achieve success in enterprise.

[00:05:55] So the opposite purpose, properly, there’s many, however another excuse why to do checklist don’t really work for perfectionists is as a result of not solely can we utterly overschedule ourselves with all the issues, however we put a variety of pointless shit on that checklist. And after we try this, We are going to are likely to gravitate in the direction of ticking off the straightforward, fast issues, fairly than the larger duties that must get achieved, the duties that can really transfer the needle.

[00:06:29] So because of this you would possibly end up prioritizing doing issues like checking electronic mail, checking Instagram DMs. checking any form of stat associated to your small business, it doesn’t matter what form of enterprise you’ve gotten, checking, checking, checking, checking. And also you’re simply, Oh, shortly do that 5 minute factor right here, shortly try this 10 minute factor there, shortly do that little factor over right here.

[00:06:49] As a result of what you need to do is create this sense of like, I’ve all my free ends tied up after which I’ll really transfer on to the larger factor. However the purpose you’re procrastinating on the larger factor is since you’re frightened of not doing it completely. And since you’ve put a lot strain. On having that factor work since you’ve put it off for thus lengthy.

[00:07:05] So for instance, a variety of PGSDers they need to have an electronic mail checklist freebie or really begin constructing their electronic mail checklist. And so they’ve put a lot strain on like that can really assist my enterprise or rising their Instagram following. For instance, or launching a course or an app or various things like that, there’s a lot strain round it that the worry of not doing it completely creates that procrastination if you’re busy with all these various things in a to do checklist, then you may get to really feel busy with out having to really face doing the factor that you simply’re scared to do.

[00:07:37] And that finally long run, regardless that you may be Feeling productive through the week. Long run, you’re not being productive, i. e. you aren’t producing outcomes. Productiveness is about producing outcomes, not about period of time spent working. This is the reason I’m capable of work three days per week and have a a number of six determine enterprise and a really small crew is due to my capability and the talents that I’ve realized.

[00:08:07] And I educate them in PGSD to determine what’s really essential after which to really be capable of get myself to observe by way of on these issues. Even when I’ve worry and resistance round it, I’ve totally different instruments to assist me be much less resistant and to additionally, in some circumstances, let myself really feel resistant and get it achieved anyway.

[00:08:28] In order that’s another excuse to do lists don’t work for perfectionists. And another that I’ll point out, is that to do lists don’t work for perfectionists since you don’t really get to finally work in the direction of or have an understanding of the way you’re working and the way you’re working. In case you are simply working from a to do checklist on a regular basis, you then don’t really begin to actually perceive your work rhythms, what time of day you’re employed greatest.

[00:08:58] You don’t get to essentially be capable of debrief and replicate in your week. You’re simply continually on this whack a mole of making an attempt to get issues achieved, making an attempt to be extra motivated, making an attempt to be extra disciplined, hoping to lastly get forward. You’re working within the evenings, most likely early within the mornings, possibly you’ve gotten a full time job, possibly you’ve gotten children, possibly you’re full time in your small business already.

[00:09:18] However you’re simply all the time needing to spend extra time working and also you’re not even understanding extra about how you’re working. For instance, that you simply’re not really getting to essentially be capable of have an perception into enhance your productiveness since you’re simply so busy making an attempt to tick off the checklist.

[00:09:36] So what I need to do is share with you about. what I like to recommend doing as a substitute of a to do checklist. And it may be, you don’t use a to do checklist. It may be you utilize a a whiteboard, you utilize a post-it word system, you utilize your electronic mail inbox to your productiveness.

[00:09:53] You do one thing like time blocking in your calendar. And I simply wanna current to you a instrument I’ve developed after my very own experiences as a perfectionist entrepreneur and training so many perfectionist entrepreneurs and actually understanding how the perfectionist mind works in addition to how outcomes are created and produced in a enterprise and created a instrument that received’t set off all or nothing mindset that received’t make it simpler to procrastinate that received’t disguise self consciousness from you that can really be a instrument that you should utilize to your productiveness. And to have the ability to longterm develop the very best work rhythm for your self.

[00:10:38] For those who’re somebody who needs to have a enterprise that helps your way of life, you’re not having to work 24/7, this may actually assist with that as properly.

[00:10:45] Okay, so we talked about why perfectionism impacts productiveness. At this level, I’m going to imagine you determine as a perfectionist or that that may be one thing that’s happening for you on the subject of your small business and productiveness.

[00:10:59] So perfectionists want the fitting instrument for his or her perfectionist mind. That’s what it comes right down to. That’s what it’s a easy matter of is aligning the productiveness instrument with the mind that you’ve fairly than making an attempt to all the time be extra motivated and be extra disciplined and simply cease being a perfectionist.

[00:11:16] Perfectionism isn’t an issue if in case you have the fitting instrument to help your mind with it, with that, and to additionally help you to be much less perfectionistic with out having to love work so exhausting on it. So there’s that. After which secondly, we talked about why to do lists don’t really work for perfectionists, regardless that we love them.

[00:11:37] So at present, what I need to discuss with you about is what does work for perfectionists. And it is a productiveness instrument that I’ve developed. After learning so many alternative productiveness instruments and strategies, after I’m a licensed life coach, understanding a lot about how the mind works and likewise how perfectionist brains specifically work and bringing all of it collectively, in addition to a deep understanding of enterprise and what creates leads to enterprise, not only a teaching enterprise like mine, however I coach entrepreneurs throughout all totally different industries.

[00:12:13] Not simply on-line companies, both all totally different industries, how outcomes are created when you’ve gotten the understanding of that, like I do, after which you’ll be able to develop and have the curiosity in creating a productiveness instrument that works with that, you need to share it. In order that’s what I’m doing. It’s one of many key issues I educate in my program perfectionists Getting Shit Accomplished. And we’re opening for enrollment on the thirty first of Jan.

[00:12:36] So with that stated, what really works for perfectionists? So I need to discuss to you about versatile planning and the way this makes it simple to observe by way of together with your plans. As a result of finally, if we need to have a profitable enterprise, you want to have the ability to execute and observe by way of together with your plans.

[00:12:56] There’s no level having an incredible concept For those who don’t really deliver that concept to life, or if it takes you 10 years due to procrastination or due to overthinking and due to perfectionism. So we need to have you ever be capable of observe by way of together with your plans. And a variety of perfectionists, we give attention to, I must be extra motivated and extra disciplined, however really.

[00:13:18] You simply have a planning drawback. Your observe by way of drawback is only a planning drawback. It was such a aid once I realized this for myself, once I realized, ah, that I wasn’t really the issue right here. That I may really simply plan another way. It’s not plan higher and never like, I simply take the identical instruments and use them higher.

[00:13:41] However what if I really plan in a method that works for my perfectionist mind? In order that’s a key factor to know. Your observe by way of drawback is only a planning drawback. So how do you resolve the planning drawback? The planning drawback is solved by versatile planning. That is with the ability to have versatile construction to your week that helps you to observe by way of in your needle transferring duties.

[00:14:06] These are your important duties for your small business. which can be really tied to the outcomes you need to create, whether or not that’s having a full time enterprise, whether or not that’s making your first thousand {dollars}, your first twenty thousand {dollars}, your first million {dollars}. Having a instrument that helps you determine what these needle movers are and truly get them achieved.

[00:14:29] Get numerous clear, guilt free relaxation, which may be very, very, crucial for perfectionists. I received’t go into it on this one, possibly within the subsequent one, I’ll discuss clear relaxation, tremendous essential. However you need to have a instrument and with versatile planning that you would be able to really as properly modify your plans as you go. So a variety of perfectionists, for those who’ve tried working from a calendar, have tried time blocking the place you’ve gotten blocks of time, like work on web site, Emails, lead era, relaxation.

[00:15:01] Such as you simply have these chunks of time all through the week after which you’ve gotten like what the tough exercise is that you simply’ll do in that point. Sometimes when a perfectionist does this type of technique, it’s very idealistic. You form of act such as you’re this excellent little robotic who doesn’t must eat or sleep.

[00:15:18] Lots of over scheduling occurs. Then you definately fall off with the plans, otherwise you burn your self out by following by way of with them. We fall off with the plans and sometimes then revert again to one thing like a to do checklist the place you’ll be able to simply nonetheless over schedule your self, but it surely’s quite a bit much less noticeable as a result of it’s all in a listing versus all being in a calendar.

[00:15:34] So on the subject of having versatile planning, what have been you doing? is having construction for the week. So that you’re utilizing a digital calendar and also you’re not simply time blocking or scheduling your self. You’re planning out your week in a method that initially, honors your commitments. Second. So for instance, if in case you have like calls with totally different folks, um, household issues like all of that, that’s in there.

[00:16:00] It acknowledges and honors a necessity for clear relaxation, which is time if you’re not working in your small business. In order that can be in there as properly. After which within the remaining time you’ll resolve for, okay, what’s really most essential in your small business. In PGSD, we actually educate you. We’ve received the needle mover matrix.

[00:16:16] There are instruments and trainings and a variety of help that will help you determine particularly for your small business and the stage of enterprise you’re in, what your needle movers are. So within the time that you’ve left within the week, you’ll schedule in your needle movers in a method that you would be able to really observe by way of with them in a method you’ll be able to really observe by way of with them.

[00:16:36] That is so essential. And you’ll give your self buffer time, evaluate your calendar for workability so that you simply aren’t simply going into the week with this wishful considering. And if in case you have achieved one thing like time blocking or perhaps a to do checklist, you’ll know this sense. Thanks. For those who’re a perfectionist, which is if you make a plan and also you already know you’re not going to observe it, or possibly you simply skilled this together with your alarm that you simply already know you’re not going to get up at the moment.

[00:17:04] And nonetheless we’re like, Oh, however I need to be the one who may. So we set ourselves as much as fail by not really making a sensible plan. And so when you find yourself utilizing versatile planning, and I educate a way referred to as energy planning, when you find yourself utilizing that and utilizing the straightforward three steps of energy planning to plan out your week, you then’re Make changes as you go all through the week after which evaluate so your energy hour little tweaks and weekly evaluate when you find yourself doing that You’ll be able to observe by way of together with your plans Alter as life occurs as a result of life can be life in like for those who don’t already know I’m the mother of three Life can life a variety of instances life can actually be life in You really need to have the ability to take that into consideration if you’re planning and have a approach to modify your plans Versus falling off the wagon.

[00:17:56] My plans are ruined to have the ability to really nonetheless have that construction and that readability of I do know precisely what I must do. That’s going to be most impactful for my enterprise I’ve sufficient relaxation to have the braveness to do these issues. And if life occurs, I can modify and reprioritize if wanted. If I don’t have an as a lot time as earlier than, in order that I’m nonetheless each single week making progress in my enterprise.

[00:18:24] That’s what occurs if you’re versatile planning, if you’re utilizing energy planning, which is particularly created for perfectionists who’re constructing companies. Whether or not it’s an e commerce enterprise, whether or not you’re a photographer, whether or not you’ve gotten an company, it doesn’t matter what form of enterprise, that is designed for you and your perfectionist mind.

[00:18:47] Even if in case you have a variety of disruptions, you’ve gotten a variety of distractions, you’ve gotten a variety of uncertainty. That’s all taken into consideration so that you simply’re by no means feeling such as you don’t know what to do. And so subsequently I ought to be doing one thing. So I’ll simply test electronic mail once more, however you then see the e-mail and also you most likely don’t even reply to the e-mail since you don’t have the proper factor to say, however you then return and test once more.

[00:19:06] Oh, it’s nonetheless there. So we need to have you ever with the ability to really observe by way of together with your plans. And that is what took me from being the one who is wise, clever. Has a variety of potential and has $0 enterprise income to the one who now has remodeled $2 million in my enterprise. And similar to, I can’t even articulate.

[00:19:33] Possibly I ought to discover a previous like video. I didn’t even, I wasn’t even on video once I was in just like the thick of my perfectionism, and I nonetheless am perfectionist by the best way, however once I was within the thick of it, particularly by way of productiveness. that I undoubtedly didn’t need to be on video. However I simply didn’t consider in myself.

[00:19:54] I believed, you may be like accustomed to this, you consider, however you don’t actually consider. Like you’ve gotten a lot deep perception in your potential and a lot self doubt. And for me, most days of self doubt would win. Simply spend 5 hours enhancing a Pinterest graphic or writing a weblog put up and by no means really posting it as a result of I originated as a blogger.

[00:20:15] And so to have the ability to go from working in an accounting job and having my enterprise be the key facet hustle as a result of I used to be so scared to even point out it to anybody else, to really with the ability to have a enterprise that has made a number of thousands and thousands of {dollars}. that helps me full time, that has allowed me to have children and have numerous time with these children, and I really get to do the work that I like doing, which is teaching and serving to folks with precisely this, that that got here by way of, initially, me fixing for my perfectionism and my productiveness and me letting go of I ought to know higher.

[00:20:55] I ought to be capable of be productive as a result of I’m sensible. Placing that to mattress and simply being like, really, I must determine it out for myself as a perfectionist. And what would that appear like? After which me figuring that out for myself after which me sharing it with my one on one shoppers. After which me sharing it with increasingly more folks and simply seeing how successfully it really works for perfectionists throughout the board.

[00:21:16] In order that’s what I need to be sure to learn about. And I nonetheless use energy planning. It’s such a grounding instrument for me. It’s my mindset instrument. It’s my productiveness instrument. It’s what permits me it doesn’t matter what’s happening in my life and instances I must have numerous time without work or no matter. It simply, permits me to be clear on, I do know what I’m doing.

[00:21:42] I do know the place I’m going and I do know what I don’t must do. And I do know that once I relaxation, I don’t must really feel responsible as a result of I do know that I can belief myself when the time to work does come, that I’ll get shit achieved. So I need to make it easier to to turn into a perfectionist who’s getting shit achieved. Therefore why PGSD is named What it’s, Perfectionists Getting Shit Accomplished.

[00:22:03] And it’s all about doing that in a method that doesn’t contain you burning out, placing obscene quantities of strain on your self, having to do all the pieces the fitting method, as we perfectionists can attempt to pressure ourselves to do. It’s actually about A having a instrument, a productiveness instrument, and likewise in PGSD, we educate you different frameworks as properly which can be quite simple and efficient that will help you really overcome the perfectionism that’s stopping you from being productive in your small business.

[00:22:30] It’s not similar to, simply bear in mind achieved is healthier than excellent. That by no means, ever resonated or labored with me. Like that simply really wasn’t a technique to simply write it on a put up it word. Accomplished is healthier than excellent. Like I really wanted a correct instrument and different mindset instruments as properly. And sensible methods to assist me.

[00:22:48] So we’re within the enterprise in PGSD of taking perfectionist entrepreneurs from being overthinking procrastinators. With a variety of potential and smarts, however perfectionism is stopping them from being productive to really simply utilizing productiveness instruments that work for his or her perfectionist mind and with the ability to even have their enterprise take off.

[00:23:10] And it’s simply my favourite factor to witness. So we’re opening PGSD on the thirty first of Jan for one week solely. So the wait checklist is samlaurabrown.com/PGSD. Go and enroll. It’ll be within the hyperlink in my bio. You’ll be capable of go there and try this.

Outro

[00:23:26] In case you are able to get out of your personal method in your small business, I need to invite you inside my productiveness program for perfectionist entrepreneurs referred to as Perfectionists Getting Shit Accomplished. We’re opening enrollment for one week solely from the thirty first of January, 2025 to the seventh of February, 2025. To seek out out extra about this system and be part of the waitlist so you’ll be able to enroll when doorways open, go to samlaurabrown.com/PGSD.