Lists and Priorities

This week I’m writing from the side of the highway near an airport. I’m waiting to pick up my girlfriend and while I’m writing, an impromptu fireworks show just started a few blocks away. That’s the stuff, man.

Ive been writing down thoughts and notes for this post throughout the week this week more than I have in the past. I’ve found that it’s far more effective to get my thoughts, or half-thoughts at least, down on paper instead of waiting until the last minute and trying to generate all the writing AND do all the editing for a post in the same sitting. The blank page can be a scary thing and this strategy has been effective so far.

This week was productive! This post is maybe the most accurately named so far, because I did just that. I made a number of lists and then worked to prioritize the tasks on those lists by importance and urgency. To do this, I revisited a favorite resource: the Eisenhower Matrix. I’m sure many of you have heard of this before, maybe even used it. I’ve had great success using it as a guide to prioritizing tasks in work and life. Here’s a picture if you’re not familiar.

It gave me a wonderful boost this time around as well. But first, I had to make some lists. I’m a list person for sure. I love them. The notes app on my phone is a meticulously organized digital filing system that is, at most times, a pretty accurate externalization of my psyche. So that part was pretty fun. I just separated ideas, milestones, goals, and necessary tasks into a growing number of categories as they all came to mind. It was hugely helpful to have a set launch date for the company too. (In case you missed the last post, we’re launching January 1st, 2024!) Having a set launch date gives me a necessary constraint in the form of a timeline to then place all the other timely tasks within.

Once I had everything down on paper and somewhat separated into categories I was able to begin to prioritize. There are sort of three big categories of tasks that are necessary yo complete for us to launch: startup financials and equipment; marketing, legal, and website; and labor (in our case, securing a network of freelancers to have on call.) I then started to plug tasks into the timeline. This was especially helpful in recognizing what tasks are dependent on other tasks and using the lists with the timeline felt like the key to prioritizing everything. Very productive!

I want to close this post with some thoughts on discouragement and to emphasize it’s presence throughout this process. For every positive aspect of this journey there has been a discovery that triggers a bout of discouragement, and they don’t stop happening as I continue. There always seem to be more challenges to think around. But, by finding different ways to navigate the challenges each time I’m confronted with one, I’ve found it’s easier to feel the moments of discouragement and process them without acting on them in a way that negatively impacts my pursuit. I want to emphasize this aspect of my journey for the sake of transparency and also in an effort to encourage you through the discouraging moments of your journey to Bosslessness by sharing my own.

Most of what I share each week are the results of my work, not necessarily all the thinking (and pacing and frustrated phone calls and glaring at my computer screen) that went into achieving those results. But I want to be clear, every time I do more research and discover that there’s an established media company already using the clever name I’m convinced I just came up with or discover someone younger than me just secured $100,000 for their second feature film, I feel that discouragement cascading into my chest. It fucking sucks. And I’ve gotten better at dealing with it, but it still. fucking. sucks. So when you feel that discouragement creeping in, feel it, and then move on to the next actionable task you have on your list.

I’m pulling for you.

This week I’m diving into making a business plan. Wish me luck. I’ll tell you all about it next week. As always, thank you for reading! If you’re enjoying the Bossless Blog, the best way to support it is by sharing it with your friends and family.

Wishing you motivation,

Will

P.S. The name Will Barnes is an alias. As mentioned in my first post, I can’t leave my current job until I have another comparable stream of income and I’d like to prevent my boss from firing me first. Please don’t seek out my real identity. I will reveal myself when the time is right.

You can reach me via email at [email protected] or on twitter, instagram, and Threads at @BosslessBlog.