A Simple Piece Of Paper Can Make You More Money?

I went through the same thing recently when I rediscovered an old checklist routine.

Using 3x5 cards, I would write the top three things down and pin them to an old cork message board. The board would sit along side of the monitor so I could not avoid seeing it and the cards on it.

Now a real motivator was added by having stupid looking annoying pics on the cards. If I really got tired of looking at those annoying pics, I would have to do those projects and get them off the board.

I became pretty good at it and no longer needed the board so I tossed it. Lately though, I have been slacking so I have been thinking about pulling the old board and cards out. lol

Perfect timing on this message.

Thanks
Matt

Hi everyone,

I must say it us true when you will write down what you must do you will do it

So lets make same lists of task for next week

Thanks and all the best.

Erwin

Sounds like good advice to me.

Solid advice! I do a checklist daily, and try to focus on all the task on the list. Somedays I get them done, sometimes I don't (I move them to the next day then).
but it helps me keep track of what it is important and what's not.

I agree. Using checklists can not only keep you productive, they assist in making sure nothing is forgotten in our ever changing quest to bring value to the IM field. I've used them as summaries from a book or video. Lots of uses.

That's why I use PocketLists for iPhone.. it's super effective.

For me it is those darn Harlem Shake videos that I can't stop watching.

Today I actually managed to get distracted while putting together my to-do list.

Thanks for this post. I'm going to go finish my list and tackle that algebra quiz I have been putting off.

"Make yourself accountable." Just remembered another thing that helps with productivity is having accountability partners.

Find someone that you can share you ideas, plans, the things that you want to get done and the two of you make each other accountable. Kind of like a "nag" partner. To have someone that will ask you if you got that done and if not, then why not.

I realize that this is not exactly what you had in mind for your thread topic Coby but if people are really having a problem with getting a project finished, then they could combine a list with a partner and have a better chance.

Sometimes we need another person to tell us to quit screwing around.

It's important to spend time thinking about what you will do not just jumping in and doing random things every day. You can go on for years with no results.

Very true! I couldn't do half as much in a day without my list.

I use the dot system, picked it up when I worked in an estate agents (briefly) you just draw a round bullet next to each item on the list and then colour it in when the task is complete.

Simple but effective.

My list...

1) Start coffee machine.

2) Wake up to money:
Login to PayPal.

3) Transfer money to bank.

4) Wake up wife.

5) Coffee on lanai with wife.
Get marching orders for my son.

6) Call domain broker.
Buy, sell, giveaway.

7) Call webmaster
Create new website, articles, etc. for new domains.

8) Login into help desk, aka client list workshop.
Sell websites, answer questions, etc.

9) Wake up son.
Happy - Happy. Give marching orders.

10) Email clients.
Sell websites.

11) Break Time.
Morning walk to bank. Make sure it is not on fire.

12) More coffee with wife.
Get "my" marching orders.

14) Skip #13 because I am superstitious of the number 13 and it usually would involve #12 (wife thingy).

15) Telephone business partner.
Brainstorm or Brain dump. Depends.

16) Warrior Forum and one other.
A little unofficial mod work.
A little browsing.

17) Login into domain registrars.
Make sure domain sales and buys are on record.

18) Lunch

19) Nap.

20) See if wife is in the mood.

21) Execute wife's previous marching orders.
Long walk or gym or swimming pool.

22) Call partner.
Fix any new brain dumps.

23) Client list.

24) See if wife is in the mood yet?
[yes] Proceed.
[no] Pout and live to fight another day.

Jeffery 100% :-)

If I don't have a to do list then I amble around the internet from place to place, browsing, wasting time, procrastinating, thinking I have nothing that needs done (how foolish, there's ALWAYS something that needs done) and don't get anywhere.

I NEED a list to work through or I do nothing.

Checklists are always useful and I use them to remember things. I often take a quick note on my IPad and refer to it later.

Will check out the recommended app :-)

Hey Coby,
The "Funny Cat Videos" email was an eye-opener for me. I often find myself wandering around the Internet wasting way too much time. I started a checklist on a legal pad the other day, and I'm now starting to see some results. I'm focusing on product creation and building my list. Your list building product "Autoresponder Magic" is awesome. It has really helped me understand all the components that are needed to build a successful list. Thank you and keep up the good work.

Oh man i probably have a dozen pieces of paper scattered around my desk, I need to re organize and stick to maybe one or two lists.

I find having a to do list is brilliant IF I first ask the question, is there any of these on the list that I really don't need to do, or that I can give to someone else, or that I can legitimately put off so I can put more focus into more important things - AND if I have first asked myself what the outcome is that I'm after, and found a way to motivate myself emotionally.
I'm not very self disciplined, I have to find ways to motivate myself, and just having it on a to do list doesn't do it for me, I have to try a bit harder

Very solid advice in order to help many people become more productive with their time and get more things done. Time management is very important to becoming successful online.

It is not productive if you don't write what you want to do the next day. Thinking about it is not good either. It is always a good idea to write things down on a piece of paper or journal.

People who don't have a check list tend to spend more time online and get less done then those who write their goals and actions each and every day.

It is not hard to do this at all.

Excellent Post! It is true having a checklist on items to get accomplished makes you more organized and able to get more done.

I have also found that instead of creating a week list - create a list for each day. Do this before you go to bed and have say 3 things you want accomplish that day, starting from the most important to the least.

This way when you wake up you are not busy trying to decide what to do and waste time.

I can't believe something so simple can change..i can see myself achieving more with a list.i waste a lot of time on celebrity gossip websites and realize i got like 1hr to do productive work then i end up sleeping on my goals.Am definitely going to implement the checklist from now onwards
#1)Browse through warrior forum for approximately 30min then exit

My typical day list
a.m - Read the paper and have breakfast
Watch funny cats videos
Watch funny dogs videos
Watch funny kids videos
Eat lunch and have a nap

p.m - Buy a $7.00 WSO and read it later
Vacuum house and clean bathrooms
Put on the tv and check the weather
Have a shower
Go to pub
Come home and have dinner, watch Poirot and go to bed

While I agree that a simple "to do" list can help keep someone organized, I've also seen a very bad side effect. It seems that people who need a list to keep working, sometimes get "list addicted" - that is, they spend more time building more and more, and more intricate lists. They end up spending so much time making the lists, that they might as well just be blowing the time on something else like videos. You can only spend so much time making lists before they start consuming time you could be working on them. Ever seen anyone sooooo attached to their list that they can't even brush their teeth til it comes up on the list? Serious.

Serious - I do a few jottings here and there, but avoid becoming a "list freak" at all costs. A list should only be a memory tool - when it becomes a project in itself, it's gone too far.

I have to have a list of to do things every day. If I don't make one the time flies before I get anything accomplished.

There are too many distracting things on the computer. I even try to schedule my email time. If I don't it usually costs me money (lol)

Simple, yet so effective!

It's actually been a long time since I've used a checklist, so thanks for "refreshing" the idea :-D

checklist/tasklists are critical for me as well. Otherwise I spend brainpower and concentration just trying to remember what I am supposed to be accomplishing. Writing it down takes a big burden off.

I used to use paper and it works good in a pinch, but now have a galaxy note2 with digital pen. Can free hand quick notes or dictate quickly with accurate voice to text. The notes can instantly be turned into a calendar item. Task lists on calendars (thunderbird, google calendar etc..) stay there until you get'em done. You can drag them to your calendar and make them a scheduled item with alarms/alerts as others mentioned.

I have been doing this daily for quite some time.

I really like this concept Coby,

Legal pad is best I think, with a tick next to them when they're completed.

I had experimented with one on the phone but I believe simplest is best.

The real lesson here is that funny cat videos can make money.