Home
>
Time Management
>
Put a Couple of Elephants on Your Plate

Put a Couple of Elephants on Your Plate

How do you eat two elephants? The same way you would eat one; one bite at a time. Monstrous tasks often appear to be complex and overwhelming. That's why it's so very important to isolate the parts from the whole. Break your elephant-sized project into several smaller tasks. Identify one area and cut it down to size. Lather, rinse, and eat. The key is to begin! It doesn't matter if you have or elephants on your agenda. Put one of them on your plate today. Target one part, and start!

Every one on us-including the most seasoned trainer-can benefit from a review of the basic principles for effectively conquering even the most monstrous task on our agenda. However, doing so requires following specific steps. The first step is to commit to the completion of your project. Two, identify and secure the tools and resources you will need. And three, write down the time and day you expect to have your project completed. Many people know what they need to achieve, but they fail to take these preliminary steps. Simply taking these steps will increase your efficiency, accelerate your success and get it all done, sooner.

Create Your Own Systems for Success

A great time to go to work on your task is?during your peak period of productivity. Critical is identifying or creating new systems for your success. For example, when approaching piles of paper, separate and shred on Tuesday, file and process on Wednesday, and repeat until you're finished. Give yourself permission to ask for help when tackling large tasks. Have a "dinner party" with the perfect ambiance and double your efficiency. Make sure your environment is climate-controlled and the appropriate amount of light. Remember, your life is full of distractions, don't allow the phone, doorbell, uninvited guests or disempowering thoughts to interrupt your "meal."

Challenge Yourself

Challenge yourself to take 20 "bites" or more every day until you complete your task. Competing against yourself can actually make your project fun. Feeling a bit full after just a few bites? Take a 10 - 15 minute break to digest. Go for a walk, check in with a loved one or read a magazine. Then, pull up your sleeves and go right back to the table.

Begin Today

Take the thirty or more minutes you would normally spend watching TV, and put an elephant or two on your plate, today. Dig in! You'll not only produce greater personal and professional results, you'll take a bite out of wasted time.

Fran Briggs is President of the Fran Briggs Companies, an organization that helps people maximize their human potential. For time management and innovative success tools. Visit http://www.franbriggs.com and sign up for your free successzine. It's loaded with innovative tips and strategies for success.

emergency cleaning services Glencoe ..

In The News:

The iconic Mary Kay pink Cadillac goes electric with the Cadillac Optiq, available only to the company's top 1% of sales force performers.

Cybercriminals abuse trusted Intel driver to gain kernel access and shut down Windows Defender, enabling undetected malware deployment since July 2025.

Using email aliases for online shopping and subscriptions can protect your privacy by preventing companies from linking your activity across websites.

New research shows AI overlap does not equal job replacement, with knowledge-based roles seeing most integration while physical jobs remain least affected.

Scammers target seniors who avoid social media by exploiting public records like obituaries and real estate filings to steal personal information and money

Recovery team in Italy use AI-enabled drones to detect missing hiker's red helmet, leading to successful recovery after months of ground searches

Google Salesforce system breach exposes business data while scammers use incident to target users with fake security calls and phishing attempts.

Google announces Pixel 10 lineup with Tensor G5 chip and Gemini Nano AI, introducing Magic Cue, Pro Res Zoom up to 100x and satellite emergency support features.

C San Diego study reveals 86% of school safety companies monitor students 24/7 on personal devices, raising privacy concerns.

Users can now add their favorite outlets' coverage to the Top Stories section of Google search results by utilizing the 'preferred sources' feature. With just a few clicks, you can add Fox News.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Interstellar object 3I/ATLAS shows an unexpected frontal glow that Harvard's Avi Loeb says cannot be explained by sunlight reflection or standard cometary outgassing.

Receiving order confirmations for purchases you never made could mean your email address is being exploited in fraud operations targeting multiple retailers.

First wireless brain implant works with Apple's official protocol, enabling hands-free control of iPhones, iPads and Vision Pro through thought alone.

Data brokers sell personal details that scammers use to target retirement funds through fake financial advisor calls and convincing phishing attempts

Ten innovative tech solutions from gait sensors to smart pill dispensers help adults 65+ track fall risks and prevent injuries before they happen.

Meta AI internal documents revealed chatbots were allowed to flirt with children and engage in romantic conversations until the company was exposed by Reuters.

ChatGPT will avoid giving direct mental health advice under new OpenAI rules following instances where the AI model provided harmful or misleading responses.

Your phone tracks you in more ways than that little GPS icon suggests. Here’s how to find and clear hidden location logs on iPhone and Android.

Authorities in France and the Netherlands have been notified. Meanwhile, impacted customers are being told to stay alert.

Apple just rolled out a redesigned Blood Oxygen feature to specific models, following a recent victory in a legal dispute.

Kidney dialysis provider DaVita experienced a ransomware breach by the Interlock gang affecting 916,000 people in the second-largest U.S. healthcare attack of 2025.

A Chinese-made Unitree R1 robot walked Manhattan streets and shopped for shoes as part of KraneShares' $28 million AI robotics fund promotion campaign.

The ShinyHunters cybercriminal group breached Google's Salesforce system through vishing attacks, stealing business contact details and customer data.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Put a Couple of Elephants on Your Plate

Time Management