One big lift?

Have you heard the phrase “a big lift”? It’s the idea of making a concerted effort to accomplish something big, in one steady effort. The idea being that some accomplishments just don’t quite ever get done via small, daily steps.

Each year, in NO!vember I set about weeding. I try to identify every single thing I’m doing, and then assess whether or not I want to keep doing that. This sets me up for December. In December everyone I normally interact with starts to assume everyone else is on holiday. Things generally get more quiet in terms of projects and work.

In December, I identify big things that I’ve either just discovered (perhaps I didn’t even see them until clearing out in NO!vember) or which I’ve been ignoring (which means they’ve been nagging at the back of my brain.) I try to find a big lift that will yield some sort of big benefit in the coming year—a big time savings, or a big force multiplier for me going forward.

In December, I point my efforts at one of those big lifts…

It invariably ends up being a huge effort—bigger than just “big,” several hours, every day! But each year, as I head into the new year, I ride on that bad-ass high of knowing I cleared the decks in NO!vember and picked off that one big lift in December.

Is there a big lift you can imagine that would shift your continents creating new opportunities or capabilities for you in the new year?

ɕ

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@craigconstantine

This is huge. NOvember is a brilliant concept.
A big lift for me would be (dare I finally say will be) to at last focus more on podcasting this year, and thereafter? I know there is a way to merge that intention with existing workflow details. I must pause and give some thought to a solid NOvember response to as yet unknown requests that surface (no matter what month* it is).

*A few (likely) corny examples (but the principle you floated out there is a great catalyst to think about strategic abandonment more intentionally)…

JanuWEARY (of the same ol’ same ol)
FIBruary (stop lying to myself about what I am/am not shifting with regard to productivity)
MARCH (away from things that shouldn’t consume any attention, effort, or time)
ApREAL (progress on a new way forward)
MAY (I do a better job today than I did yesterday)
OCTOBER (surprise! Look what I stopped doing…)
It will take people more creative than me to generate Craig-esque “No!” triggers for the other months of the year. Again, regardless, of the month, day, season, or current projects, this reflective practice is a good one!

Thanks for the nudge, Craig.

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