How Do You Eat an Elephant?

We all have projects of some sort that we’re trying to complete.  They may be personal, they may be professional.   Some are critical to complete and carry a lot of urgency with them, while others can be pursued at a more relaxed pace. 

Whatever the case may be, completing these projects require time, effort, and energy. 

But there are those projects that belong in a special category—these are the projects we absolutely need to complete but keep spinning our wheels with. 

We’re having a hard time getting traction for various reasons:  we’re overwhelmed by the project; we’re exhausted and don’t have the energy; we’re way too busy; we lack interest and motivation; we don’t have the support or resources we need; and so forth.

Still, the project needs to be completed!  So how do we get to the end of these daunting projects that tower over us like menacing giants?

We find the answer in our riddle-for-the-day:  How do you eat an elephant?  One bite at a time.

Break that giant project into bite size chunks.  Chew and swallow.  Take another bite.  Chew and swallow.  Keep doing so until you’ve made your way through that entire beast.

It’s the only way. 

Some expect to eat the whole elephant in a couple bites.  Or, they know they have  a mountain to eat and they know they have to proceed one bite at a time, but they think they can do it in just one or two sittings.  

Both of these are nutty ways to think, underestimating the size of the task in front of us and overestimating our ability to accomplish it quickly

So, get real about how big your project really is.  And get real about your ability and limitations.  Then come up with a step-by-step plan, but get real with your plan, too!

Application

1) identify that giant, annoying project that you have but maybe wish you didn’t.

2) clarify when it needs to be completed.

3) divide that project into bite-size chunks that fit with your time frame.  The chunks have to be do-able and realistic! 

4) grab your knife (make sure it’s sharp) and fork and get busy!

Bon Apetit!

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