Top Time Tip #127
How To Get The Flywheel Moving!

1st October 2009

I'm buzzing! For what seems like ages we've been working on a very exciting project. And today I can announce that we're launching our new Membership programme - the Getting A Grip Inner Circle www.gettingagrip.com/products/membership.asp (If you've ever struggled to drive a new project to completion you might enjoy this week's article - observations made as I slogged away!)

I guess I'd better explain.

For some years now I've been looking for ways to add value to our increasing 'family' of loyal readers and Top Time Tips subscribers (9,223 this morning, from all round the world). I get a real buzz from presenting, love interacting with my audiences and really enjoy the conversations and questions afterwards. However, I'm also aware that many of my readers (and maybe that includes you), clearly interested in time management or you wouldn't even be a subscriber, will rarely or never be able to attend a live event with me.

So I've been looking for the best way to give value to more of you - removing the limitations of geography and (for some) budget. Once I heard about Membership programmes (and I tell the story below) I knew this was the way forward.

All manner of things had to be aligned in the backend of my business so that I could confidently offer a regular programme of support. They're now in place - and I'd love you to take a look. www.gettingagrip.com/products/membership.asp

And as a special thank you to all my wonderful readers we've got a very special introductory offer - you can trial it all for only $1 for the first month - a minimum of $320 of great resources for only $1!

(Yes, you read it right!)

I'd love your feedback - is there anything specific you'd like help with? Any angles I've missed? Further features you'd like when we include higher levels? Please email with your comments.

Cheers,

Lead Article:   How To Get The Flywheel Moving (And Stop Being Your Own Biggest Obstacle on New Projects)

Last year I was at a seminar run by West Australian internet marketing guru Gihan Perera. He's given me help over many years and knows my business pretty well. He challenged me with the following comment.

"Robyn, it's time you started offering your subscribers a monthly membership programme. There's a whole bunch of people who want more from you than you're able to deliver via your free Top Time Tips. If you don't provide it you're letting them down."

Talk about hitting the right buttons! However, a lot of things needed to be organised first. Have you ever noticed that ideas are two a penny - but implementing is the far harder task?

I'm sure you're as busy as me - everyone is. We all have our regular work  to do, existing clients to serve, immediate deadlines for others to meet - the game goes on. So, where was I going to find time to implement this 'kick in the butt' suggestion of Gihan's?

'But hang on', you might be saying. 'You're the time management specialist. You shouldn't be asking that question!'

Well, I've got news for you - I have to push myself just as much as the next person. It doesn't come any easier to me than anyone else. I'm tempted to fall into "I'll do it later'" habits just as much as the best procrastinator. In fact, I used to get top grades in that particular habit! And another curly little habit that still tries to take over is my desire to have everything perfect before it's released to the public. (A throw-back to my days as a librarian, I suspect.) Add to that a truly busy work schedule with many other more pressing projects, staff to train and work with, a large family that includes twelve grandchildren, a busy weekly exercise programme, ...... Yep, I'm the same as you - I could always use more hours in the day! And in this case, you didn't know what I was planning so you weren't nagging me to hurry up!

Does any of this sound familiar? Anyway, as I've shared in my Update above, I'm thrilled to tell you that we've finally done it.

And not surprisingly, I've learnt a few things along the way. Hopefully, the following four observations might help when you're facing similar issues of potential overload and big projects to move forward.

1.     Just keep going.

Each small step in the right direction, even if things don't happen as fast as you'd like, is one less task to do later.

In Jim Collins' fabulous book 'Good to Great' he talks about  moving the flywheel (alias a huge task). "Each turn of the flywheel builds upon work done earlier, compounding your investment of effort ... If someone asks 'What was the one big push that caused this thing to go so fast? ... you wouldn't be able to answer. It was all of them added together in an overall accumulation of effort applied in a consistent direction."

2.     Get a visual plan, mind map or list on the wall.

It helps to keep you aware of 'next steps'. My assistant Hayley and I have our mindmap on the wall of tasks we decided were integral to the process. Every now and then my eye flicks to it. It's become a bit like a sore tooth - a constant reminder that something needs attention.

 
3.     Lock yourself in to a commitment to others.

I discovered it wasn't good enough to say to my team: "We'll launch this on ... date." It's too easy, when you're the boss, to let yourself off the hook and not many staff members will seriously hassle the one signing their pay slips. The commitment had to be external.

A couple of weeks ago, with many things in place but still what I thought were a few weeks' worth of tasks not completed, I realised that a speech I was doing only one week later was an ideal time to announce the new Community. Once the decision was made it was truly amazing how much energy was released. All manner of things (some of them quite important) were pushed aside (and no serious wheels fell off!). The whole team really worked hard (and it only took a few hours in reality) to get a bunch of details completed well enough to go public. Quite a few details weren't perfect, but they were good enough. Once we'd pushed through I looked back and thought: 'Why was that so slow and difficult before. It really didn't take much time after all!' (And now we're just tidying up loose ends.)

4.     Find an encourager.

My colleague Andy has been great. At times I know he's been frustrated with our slow speed, but wheneverI got despondent he'd remind me of what we'd already achieved. Most of us don't need a whipping: instead we need encouragement to keep going.

(For those who'd like to explore the topic more, we'll drill down with more learning points and solutions in a future Keeping It Simple Inner Circle Newsletter, the hard-copy printed newsletter all Community members receive.)

For NZ Readers: A Winter Holiday Retreat With A Difference

At this time of year many of us are looking for a short break away - a chance to recharge at the end of the winter and before the madness that accompanies our pre-Christmas build-up. I've persuaded my good mate (since our school days) Jackie Cooper, who runs a very well-managed motor camp (with cabins and some motel units as well) at Whananaki, mid-Northland, to offer my readers a special weekend package with a

40% discount, but only until 30^th November.

In this peaceful and unspoilt spot, less than an hour from Whangarei, you'll find beautiful beaches, great bush and beach walks, good fishing, diving, kayaking, surfing and horse riding.

Bookings are essential, it's subject to availability and it excludes Labour Weekend. (When you call, tell Jackie you heard it from me.)

Website: http://www.whananakiholiday.co.nz/

Phone: 09 433 8896
Email: whananaki@igrin.co.nz

 Changes To Our Website Which Will Make Your Searches Easier

One of the changes we've made in the last few months was to the front page of our website. I wanted to make it easy for you to find help, no matter what time-related issue you're dealing with. Click on any of the icons on that front page and you'll get a list of resources. They're listed not only in topic groupings but also in categories relating to the level of investment you want to make in yourself - free, minor or serious. I'd be surprised if there isn't something there for you. http://www.gettingagrip.com/ 

Thought Of The Day

"Concentrate all of your thoughts on the task at hand.
The sun's rays do not burn until brought to a focus."

~Alexander Graham Bell~

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