Last week I attended the PASS Summit 2017. Almost every time I’m around that many geeks, I’m asked a question. In fact, I’d say this is the most frequently asked question I hear. What’s the question?

“How do you get so much done?”

My first response is half-joking, “Insomnia.” I don’t believe I suffer from insomnia so much as I require fewer hours of sleep to feel rested, or rested-enough. I recall a handful of deadline-driven death marches where I did things like:

• Work 40 hours straight; and
• Worked 8 hours and slept 4 hours around the clock for days.

I don’t recommend either; I’m sure it’s unhealthy. What do I recommend?

Shipping

The Biml Book is arriving for those who pre-ordered. I know because they’re posting pictures of themselves holding the book and tagging me. Thanks! It warms my heart to see those posts!

I was honored to co-lead the team of authors that wrote The Biml Book. In an early email to the team I wrote:

Our top priority is to ship. We will deliver a book, no matter what. I think it’s going to be an awesome book because you’re an awesome team.

   The #1 skill in writing is not language or communications or technical savvy, it’s discipline.

The screenshot above is from the actual email I sent in early February 2017. I am proud to report the team shipped.

Results…

Years ago I learned the slogan “Results, not excuses.” I tell myself this and variations of this all the time – especially when I’m tired or don’t want to complete the work for some reason. Some variations:

• “If it was easy, anyone could do it.”
• “Today is going to pass whether I do something with it or not.”
• “Make the problem give up before you do.”

People notice results. They don’t know how long the work took. They don’t know how many times I tried and failed. They don’t know how many hours were spent gaining the prerequisite knowledge. But they notice the results.

Competition?

Oh, absolutely I have competition. Do you know who my competition is? It’s Yesterday-Andy. I want to ship more work today than 10-Nov-2017-Andy shipped yesterday. I want to finish the stuff that slacker left hanging. I want to deliver what he didn’t. I want to ship!

My Advice?

To quote the wise philosopher Larry the Cable Guy, “Git-r-done!”

Ship. Ship today. You can do it. If you don’t do it, who will?

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