A self-employed entrepreneur recently hired me for time management coaching. He juggles multiple projects and was specifically asking for help in breaking things down into smaller pieces, setting mini-deadlines, and “backwards planning” in an effort to avoid the last-minute panic.
After a bit of discussion, it became evident that he actually works very productively and does a good job meeting due dates. He told me, “When I show up, it flows.” He was using “show up” in the very literal sense, that when he puts himself in the right work environment, he gets a lot done. He already knows which environments are best for him, and has a few different ones from which to choose.
Our conversation turned to one of making it easier for him to show up. No need for all those mini-deadlines and time spent on backwards planning. For him, it’s all about just showing up.