Have you ever been faced with a huge task, something that seemed to be insurmountable to your normal sensibilities? Have you quivered at the notion of tackling it? Have you had sleepless nights worrying about it? Have you fretted and fumed shaking your head with the internal dialogue "this is impossible"?
The Elephant
Imagine an elephant is standing in front of you. Imagine you have been told you must eat this elephant.
Will you stand there, whining and complaining that it can't be done? Will you lay awake at night and worry how this can be done? Will you tell others you plan to eat the elephant but never take a bite? Will you tell yourself that sometime next year the elephant will be eaten?
If a task is before you seems too big to handle you have to create a plan. Whether the gigantic task is a project for your employer or a personal challenge such as "quit smoking", decluttering your pig-stye house or learning a new computer language the key is relatively simple.
The key is having a plan.
You've heard it before. If you fail to plan, you play to fail. A plan is not a wide range sweeping notion that provides little direction. It is not a wish list. It is not a vague time table for new years goals.
A plan is a detailed plot, step by step, written down and attached to a calendar timetable. It is a checklist so that each step along the way can be "checked off" as you move on to the next step.
The first step to eating the elephant is to break down the menu step by step. Determine where to get started. What are the resources you need to begin the project? When the resources are gathered, what is then needed to move on?
Plot it out. Take the time to sit at your desk or kitchen table with a blank piece of paper and begin to map it out. Be reasonable with a time schedule.
Benefits to the plan?
You will find that you can sleep at night without fretting about the project. You have a plan. It is written down. Sleep without fret.
You will find that your plan provides for you direction on what is needed next.
You will find that instead of saying to yourself "this can't be done" you will be saying "Yes, it can! Yes, it can!".
You will find that the plan energizes you to continue onward.
You have the plan? You have the steps? You have your resources?
Its time to eat the elephant.
Use your timeline and make a day to day goal to accomplish a bit more on your plan, step by step, bit by bit. Mark off your calendar the accomplishments of your steps. Add a sticker! Celebrate each step and move on. Write your next step on your calendar and keep the date. Show up for your project!
One day you will find the elephant is reduced in size and manageable to the completion of the task.
Eating an elephant one bite at a time will encourage you that if you were able to eat one elephant, you are capable of eating a rhinosaurus next!
Girls, Get Going!
