So much planning and decision making would be better if it were reduced to the “back of the napkin” version.
Clients and colleagues frequently hear me talk about developing lists or ideas in the “three- to five-bullet point version” or the “back of the napkin version”. The point here is that when we have one hundred ideas and priorities, we have none. We’ll never accomplish them all, and we’re likely to get paralyzed by overwhelm and indecision and actually accomplish none!
But if we can get it down to the core, three to five ideas, or tasks, or priorities, or goals, or outcomes, we can actually make progress.
The bonus, extra step is to clarify the outcome and next action on those three to five items. Now we have the ability to move forward with confidence and ease.
Instead of thinking through all the scenarios and possibilities, mapping them out in lengthy documents and spreadsheets that few, if any, people will ever read, zoom out and get it down to the three to five key things.
Is it sometimes seven? Sure! Sometimes just two? Even better! But three to five is usually a very good range.
Simplify, focus, and prioritize the few things that really matter. Don’t overcomplicate or try to capture and manage every single detail.
Three to five key ideas. If you can get to that level, you can start moving. Remember, the results are in the action, not the (back of the napkin) planning.
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