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It all begins by taking small bites of the elephant…

Have you ever felt overwhelmed with your “To-Do” list, and consequently did nothing?  We all have.

So, how can you get past this obstacle, and accomplish your tasks?  I have found that an approach to tackling any new project-and certainly a major life change-can be found in this Chinese proverb, which is “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”.

You can always find time to do one thing.  And, then another, and yet another.  By focusing on one step at a time, what you’ll find is that you create a bit of momentum that progressively brings  you closer to a goal — with each step, your life is slowly being transformed.

Personally, I have discovered that by writing down tasks (also known as “things to do”) every day, with my most important at the top, I keep focused and find that I accomplish much more than I would have otherwise.  Most people initially resist this suggestion, yet there’s an important reason to doing this: When you write down each step, you remove the guesswork and know your next step, so it’s more difficult to procrastinate.  And, you’ll consistently be reminded of what you need to do, and you’ll stay focused when life happens and something distracts you.

Believe me, if you will do this each day, you will keep moving and create momentum — and will be amazed at what you are able to get done each and every day…what a feeling!!!

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This entry was posted on Monday, July 19th, 2010 at 1:23 pm and is filed under Personal Development. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

60 Responses to “It all begins by taking small bites of the elephant…”

  1. Janette Stoll
    Twitter:
    Says:
    July 19th, 2010 at 5:49 pm

    Hey Christine,

    Writing daily tasks is very effective as your tasks completed lead to goals realized. I also find it’s easier to stay focused too and I’m more likely to finish the daily tasks.

    Janette
    Janette Stoll´s last blog ..Marketing your direct sales business this summer- tips to staying connectedMy ComLuv Profile

    ChristineCasey Reply:
    August 10th, 2010 at 12:17 pm

    Hi Janette, I too find that I stay focused when I have my lists of daily tasks. I appreciate you stopping by & sharing :-) Christine

  2. Teresa Ivory Says:
    July 19th, 2010 at 7:05 pm

    I love eating the elephant one bite at a time. It’s gotten me through quite a few projects. I agree with the idea of planning all the steps. I picked up that habit with I worked in construction management. Kind of hard to build a building without planning all the way through! The same goes for any project – your best success comes from your best planning.
    Teresa Ivory´s last blog ..Justin Glover – From 3 Jobs to Full-Time Internet IncomeMy ComLuv Profile

    ChristineCasey Reply:
    August 10th, 2010 at 12:19 pm

    Hi Teresa, even though I think as a society we tend to want to get to the finish as fast as possible, I just don’t believe you can maintain focus and progress unless you do things in stages. Thanks for sharing :-) Christine

  3. Angela Says:
    July 19th, 2010 at 7:38 pm

    Hey Christine! I have recently started a daily “to do” list to break down my tasks into smaller pieces. I can’t say enough about doing things this way because I feel so much more productive. Thanks for sharing this great post.
    Angela´s last blog ..10 Ways to Find the Motivation to ExerciseMy ComLuv Profile

    ChristineCasey Reply:
    August 10th, 2010 at 12:20 pm

    Hi Angela, I appreciate you taking time to share & am glad you enjoyed my post ;-)

  4. MaryKay Edelen Says:
    July 20th, 2010 at 8:40 am

    Hi Christine,
    Great tip! I write a “to do list” everyday. It makes life so much easier. If I stay organized, I get much more accomplished.
    MaryKay
    MaryKay Edelen´s last blog ..The Power Of TribesMy ComLuv Profile

    ChristineCasey Reply:
    August 10th, 2010 at 12:22 pm

    Mary Kay, thanks for sharing. I find that the days I do not take time to do my most important for the day list, that I just kind of “float” through the day without accomplishing as much as I probably could have otherwise. I am one of those people who do well with daily task lists :-) Christine

  5. Lloyd Dobson
    Twitter:
    Says:
    July 20th, 2010 at 9:24 am

    Hi Christine,

    A great post. I love the reference of an elephant. I too will use an elephant as a reference when I am attempting share the importance of watching out and dealing with the small details. As an example, I’ll ask: “Have you ever been bitten by an elephant?” Answer no! We’ll have you ever been bitten by a mosquito?” Answer yes! “Then you must always be dialed into the customers small details . . .They are important to him oe her!

    Go out and make it a great day!
    Lloyd Dobson :)
    Lloyd Dobson´s last blog ..Become The Sponsor You Never Had My ComLuv Profile

    ChristineCasey Reply:
    August 10th, 2010 at 12:23 pm

    Hi Lloyd, wow! what a great idea, and I really appreciate you sharing :-) Christine

  6. Jeremiah M. Wean
    Twitter:
    Says:
    July 20th, 2010 at 8:32 pm

    Christine, I agree I find that I sometime just get overwhelmed and don’t know where to start. I really like the system advocated by David Allen “Getting Things Done” I’ve set out my outlook in a similar fashion to that described. Setting up the system you use the most, for me it is outlook, to work with you helps you keep going and work in those small idle moments.
    Jeremiah M. Wean´s last blog ..Rates and APR- What Do They Tell YouMy ComLuv Profile

    ChristineCasey Reply:
    August 10th, 2010 at 12:25 pm

    Hi Jeremiah, I feel the key is to find what works best for you, and to use it! I have not yet heard of the system you mention, and will be sure to check it out. Thanks for sharing! ;-) Christine

  7. Nicole Rushin Says:
    July 21st, 2010 at 9:20 pm

    Sometimes it is just hard to get started on things, but once you get going it starts to get easier. Real procrastinators won’t even make a list. It is a hard cycle to break. Thanks so much for sharing this.
    Nicole Rushin´s last blog ..Blogging- Crogging and Lessons in Key Word TagsMy ComLuv Profile

    ChristineCasey Reply:
    July 29th, 2010 at 1:11 pm

    Hi Nicole, you are so right about procrastinators not making lists…lol! Lists keep me going!!!!! :-)

  8. Mark Hiatt
    Twitter:
    Says:
    July 21st, 2010 at 10:55 pm

    I’m an off and on again list maker but when I do make a list and get things done on there I feel great. The next article you might write is how to follow through on your list. :)

    Thanks for the article.
    Mark Hiatt´s last blog ..Networking Lessons From a CockroachMy ComLuv Profile

    ChristineCasey Reply:
    August 10th, 2010 at 12:25 pm

    Hi Mark, thanks for stopping by & taking a few minutes to share & I am the exact same way about lists :-) Christine

  9. Beverly Monical Says:
    July 22nd, 2010 at 9:02 am

    Christine, I agree with writing things down.Planning your day out the night before really helps me stay on task. The internet can distract the most focused person. Thanks for sharing.Looking forward to SEEING you on video soon!
    Beverly

    ChristineCasey Reply:
    August 10th, 2010 at 12:27 pm

    Hi Beverly, too much going on out there on the internet & social media, so yes, totally agree with you that it can be overwhelming if you don’t have a plan & break tasks down into smaller pieces. And, me too! ;-) Christine

  10. Dr. Adam Sheck
    Twitter:
    Says:
    July 23rd, 2010 at 9:13 pm

    Christine,
    Great advice! I certainly get overwhelmed and occasionally paralyzed by my “to do” lists. Chunking it down is definitely the solution to making things more manageable.
    Thanks for the reminder,
    Adam
    Dr. Adam Sheck´s last blog ..Love Is Not Enough!My ComLuv Profile

    ChristineCasey Reply:
    August 10th, 2010 at 12:34 pm

    Hi Adam, I have had that happen may times myself…if I keep my lists smaller & a little bit more organized, I tend to do better at accomplishing those daily tasks…thanks for sharing :-) Christine

  11. Yorinda Says:
    July 26th, 2010 at 5:46 pm

    Hi Casey,

    that quote about the thousand miles is one of my favorites too.

    Writing a list definitely helps. I like dividing a piece in two halves and on the right hand side go all the things I will absolutly do and on the other side go the ones I am asking the Universe to help me with.

    Love and Light
    from
    Yorinda
    Yorinda´s last blog ..Joy is the GoalMy ComLuv Profile

    ChristineCasey Reply:
    August 10th, 2010 at 12:35 pm

    Hi Yorinda, so glad you enjoyed the post & appreciate you stopping by :-) Christine

  12. Debbie Stevens Says:
    July 26th, 2010 at 9:10 pm

    I have had that feeling so many times . . . and I agree that the best way is to just start somewhere and do something and soon you at least feel like you’re making progress. I have learned that the first step is always the hardest. Thanks for sharing the great tips, Christine. Have a great week!
    Debbie Stevens´s last blog ..Diamond in the RoughMy ComLuv Profile

    ChristineCasey Reply:
    August 10th, 2010 at 12:37 pm

    Hi Debbie, the first step(s) is the hardest to do, so right about that! Like you stated, start somewhere & when you something it makes you feel good & you start to build up the momentum to accomplish more each day. I’m so glad that you stopped by! :-) Christine

  13. Larry and Laura Morris Says:
    July 27th, 2010 at 9:48 am

    Hi Christine,

    Great post. Life can be very demanding, especially for us “multi-taskers”!! My mom is the ultimate list maker and taught me to do the same growing up. As you say it breaks the tasks down into bite size chunks so that we are not overwhelmed, which is a feeling I know all to well sometimes I must admit. I love your honest tone, and thank you for that.

    Laura Morris
    Larry and Laura Morris´s last blog ..The 1 Secret To Success In MLMMy ComLuv Profile

    ChristineCasey Reply:
    August 10th, 2010 at 12:38 pm

    Hi Laura, I appreciate your comments & sharing a little about how lists have worked for you as well :-) Christine

  14. Vanessa
    Twitter:
    Says:
    July 27th, 2010 at 1:52 pm

    Christine:

    Talk about dejavu… This is the subject of my most recent blog post. Well, you know what they say, “Great minds run in the same rut.” ;-)

    You’ve made some great points here and I agree that just taking one step will lead to another and another. You never know what you can accomplish until you start.

    Live with passion and purpose,
    Vanessa
    Vanessa´s last blog ..I Think My Business is Caught in a Time WarpMy ComLuv Profile

    ChristineCasey Reply:
    August 10th, 2010 at 12:42 pm

    LOL! Hi Vanessa, I too have occasionally run into dejavu when I visit friends blogs, and I think its like you stated, that we all seem to be on the same page with our thoughts…which I think is a great thing! I appreciate you sharing your thoughts and am glad that you found my post helpful :-) Christine

  15. Rob Franta Says:
    July 27th, 2010 at 4:42 pm

    Great tip, I have a list of tasks stored in my outlook. I can see the value of even just handwriting them in order of importance daily. Day by day the order I am sure will change. So doing this wisely will surely help. I am going to try this starting tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow. LOL JK

    Thanks for the great idea.

    Rob
    Rob Franta´s last blog ..How to create true- recession proof- residual incomeMy ComLuv Profile

    ChristineCasey Reply:
    August 10th, 2010 at 12:43 pm

    Hi Rob, I appreciate you stopping by & taking time to share your thoughts. Glad that you found the information helpful :-) Christine

  16. Val Wilcox Says:
    July 27th, 2010 at 5:15 pm

    Christine,
    Your post reminds me of a book that I enjoyed reading. All about creating movement by creating and following a list. I myself have a more productive day when I make a list of what I want to accomplish.

    The book I was mentioning:
    Eat That Frog by Brian Tracy
    Val :)
    Val Wilcox´s last blog ..What’s Your FocusMy ComLuv Profile

    ChristineCasey Reply:
    July 29th, 2010 at 1:09 pm

    Hi Val, great book by the way…I’ve had excepts from it shared with me through the years, and truly believe that by accomplishing your task that you least look forward to first, you have so much energy & are ready to tackle anything else that comes your way during the day :-)

  17. Joe Malinowski Says:
    July 28th, 2010 at 9:38 am

    Lol I like the human check question instead of the stupid letter number thing!

    Thank you for the reminder. Lists and sorting have saved me sooo much time it is ridiculous. I remember the first time I heard that multitasking actually hinder progress, so now it is all about setting the objective and game plan then getting to work.

    Thanks again, I wish you all the best.

    Have a great day!

    Joe
    Joe Malinowski´s last blog ..The Jonny Carson MethodMy ComLuv Profile

    ChristineCasey Reply:
    August 10th, 2010 at 12:48 pm

    Hi Joe, yeah…I’m not too crazy about the captcha (as I 9/10 times get it wrong…lol!) yet was receiving too much automated comment spam that I needed to come up with something, and this was one that I liked the best (in a perfect world I wouldn’t have had to do anything, right?)

    So right about setting objectives and having a game plan…I don’t do well when I try to do too much at one time, Thanks for sharing :-)

    Christine

  18. Julie Elliott Says:
    July 29th, 2010 at 12:13 am

    Great post Christine

    I go through this process everyday to keep myself going. Thank you
    Julie Elliott´s last blog ..Are you ready to take a standMy ComLuv Profile

    ChristineCasey Reply:
    July 29th, 2010 at 1:10 pm

    Thanks Julie – I appreciate you sharing :-)

  19. Donna Merrill Says:
    July 29th, 2010 at 6:44 pm

    Hi Christine, I really enjoyed this analogy! Each day I have to remind myself of this, otherwise, my head spins. Thank you for bringing up this important point of marketing!
    Regards
    Donna

    ChristineCasey Reply:
    July 29th, 2010 at 7:05 pm

    Thank you Donna :-)

  20. Evelin Nolasco Says:
    July 30th, 2010 at 2:19 am

    Taking down notes based on its importance a day ahead is a good idea. I’ve been doing this for several years now I have to say it really works for me. For a mother two without househelp, I have to say, prioritizing things is a must. But remember, if the day ends with some tasks undone, don’t get frustrated… You still have tomorrow to accomplish them!

    ChristineCasey Reply:
    August 10th, 2010 at 12:50 pm

    Hi Evelin, thanks for taking time to share your thoughts about the subject & you are right, some tasks won’t be completed for the day, and you just write them at the top of things to do tomorrow ;-) Christine

  21. Beverly Monical Says:
    July 30th, 2010 at 9:19 am

    To do lists are awesome. Have you added a video camera to your To Buy List? :) I can hardly wait for you to incorporate video in your blog.I look forward to helping you too.
    Beverly Monical´s last blog ..Four Powerful Strategies for Becoming The “Go To” Person In Your BusinessMy ComLuv Profile

    ChristineCasey Reply:
    August 10th, 2010 at 12:51 pm

    Hi Beverly, yes, a camera is on my list, just not on my daily to do list…more like on my monthly list for September/October. :-)

  22. Gary Young Says:
    July 30th, 2010 at 11:59 am

    Sometimes several mice can eat the elephant faster. What I am talking about is delegation of your to do list. Do thing things on you list that you do well and get someone else to do the other thing.

    New TSA member- Gary Young
    Gary Young´s last blog ..A Ship in Port is Safe vs China SourcingMy ComLuv Profile

    ChristineCasey Reply:
    August 10th, 2010 at 12:52 pm

    Hi Gary, welcome to TSA! And, great idea…I have found delegation to be a powerful concept to use as well…I appreciate you sharing :-) Christine

  23. Tim Somers Says:
    July 31st, 2010 at 9:03 am

    Christine, my uncle is in an upper management position and always uses “take small bites of the elephant” to his staff thought it was pretty cool to read this post after hearing him say it for years and years.

    I usually start the day by organizing my bites and dive right in – keep the great content coming Christine.
    Tim Somers´s last blog ..Neglected Customers Will Burn Away Like An Unwatered LawnMy ComLuv Profile

    ChristineCasey Reply:
    August 10th, 2010 at 12:53 pm

    Hi Tim, thanks…I am glad you found the post to be helpful, and I appreciate you sharing your thoughts about it as well :-) Christine

  24. Peter Fuller MBA
    Twitter:
    Says:
    July 31st, 2010 at 10:04 am

    Christine, your title made me laugh because I am pretty sure I ate an elephant last night :)

    That is the thing about overwhelming tasks, one needs to break it down to manageable steps.
    Peter Fuller MBA´s last blog ..Does your Retirement Plan include Jumping out of a WindowMy ComLuv Profile

    ChristineCasey Reply:
    August 10th, 2010 at 12:55 pm

    LOL! So true about breaking tasks down into manageable steps…thanks for stopping by Peter (and appreciated the chuckle!) ;-) Christine

  25. arlan murata Says:
    August 3rd, 2010 at 7:24 pm

    Hi Christine: Great tip. Let’s all take the first step, then the next and don’t quit on your way. Your smile communicates many things on your journey. Keep it going

    ChristineCasey Reply:
    August 10th, 2010 at 12:56 pm

    Hi Arlan, I’m so glad you stopped by & that you enjoyed my post this week, and thank you for the kind words :-) Christine

  26. Kim Jensen Says:
    August 9th, 2010 at 12:59 am

    Yes, that damned elephant can be overwhelming! You are absolutely right about writing it down, it keeps me focused. Thanks for taking the time to give us your thoughts…it helps us to remember to keep it simple… it’s funny, but there’s comfort in knowing that we’re not alone. Luv n’ stuff, Kim
    Kim Jensen´s last blog ..Deciding- Kickin’ the ‘Buts’My ComLuv Profile

    ChristineCasey Reply:
    August 10th, 2010 at 12:58 pm

    Hi Kim, I appreciate you taking time to share your thoughts & you are right, that by having daily tasks written down somewhere (even if its on your iPhone) that you stay focused. Thanks for stopping by! ;-) Christine

  27. Richard Goutal Says:
    August 17th, 2010 at 2:56 pm

    I am reminded of a (kids ?) song with these lyrics:

    Put one foot in front of the other
    And soon you’ll be walking cross the floor
    Put one foot in front of the other
    And soon you’ll be walking out the door

    You never will get where you’re going
    If you never get up on your feet
    Come on, there’s a good tail wind blowing
    A fast walking man is hard to beat

    (There’s more…)

    I also found this YouTube video of the song – enjoy!
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWIJy3AJ84k
    Richard Goutal´s last blog ..Why Do So Many Not “Get” Attraction MarketingMy ComLuv Profile

  28. Pat and Lorna Shanks Says:
    August 24th, 2010 at 8:13 pm

    Christine,

    We’ve got To-Do Lists, but we haven’t narrowed them down to which steps we do next and in what order. That’s great advice… and we’ll be sure to try it out.

    Thanks,
    ~ Pat and Lorna
    http://TheCoolestCouple.com

  29. Monika Genehr
    Twitter:
    Says:
    August 31st, 2010 at 3:08 pm

    Thank you for the reminder that one step at a time is all I can manage at any given time. That one bite at a time is the only way to eat that elephant. I know these truths well but I don’t always heed them. Maybe now I will do better because you’ve put a face to these truths. What I mean is that I hope you will come to my mind from now on, whispering in my ear: one step at a time… one bite at a time… you’ve made your list, now work on and check of one item at a time. Great post, Christine! Now I gotta go do some stepping and biting.

  30. Mike Pedersen Says:
    September 12th, 2010 at 7:52 pm

    Hey Christine!

    I can easily get overwhelmed and not do anything. It’s because I look at the BIG obstacle, and not taking a little step to get momentum and eventually achieve a result. My garage is absolutely a mess at the moment, and just last week we brought a hauling company over and cleared out nearly half our garage. Now that’s one BIG step :)

    Cheers,
    Mike
    Mike Pedersen´s last blog ..The Secret To Success When Networking For RealtorsMy ComLuv Profile

  31. Lynn Glaser Says:
    September 15th, 2010 at 6:36 am

    Hi Christine,

    I went through a stage where I would feel really overwhelmed (and this was nearly everyday) I had so much to do but couldn’t get any of it done. I decided to take action so every night I would write out a small ‘to do’ list ready for the next day and it made a huge difference to my day even my week.

    I really like the Chinese Proverb that you gave. When you think about it each little step is worth so much when you look at the bigger picture so we really just have to take that first step and get started!!

    Cheers,

    Lynn
    Lynn Glaser´s last blog ..BrainstormingMy ComLuv Profile

  32. Linnea
    Twitter:
    Says:
    February 25th, 2011 at 10:47 pm

    Hi Christine,

    I’m a HUGE believer in lists and have been all my life. Not only do they help me stay focused on the right stuff but they also help me calm my monkey mind :)

    I’ve also found that if I review my list at the end of the day, (instead of beginning of the day) then I’m ready to go first thing in the morning instead of starting by trying to remember where I left off and figuring out what I need to do next. Lists are truly a great tool. Not sure what I would do if I couldn’t have my lists! Thanks for your post.
    Linnea´s last blog ..Blog Mastery AwardMy ComLuv Profile

  33. Miss Leslie
    Twitter:
    Says:
    March 25th, 2011 at 8:19 pm

    Hi Christine. I love this post. This is a favorite saying of mine, and I call it up when I’m getting stressed over too much to do. I’ve really enjoyed using Evernote, because I can just break down a project in one of my notes and then step through the process to finish the tasks needed. Thanks for sharing your insights.

    Wishing you a song in your heart,
    Miss Leslie @ Music with Miss Leslie.com
    Miss Leslie´s last blog ..Music for Strong GirlsMy ComLuv Profile

  34. Andy Nathan Says:
    April 14th, 2011 at 9:35 pm

    Life sure can get overwhelming with all of the different tasks that need to be finished. I think as I get older I get better at not letting the list dominate me.