If not now, then when?
How we fool ourselves and delay the good stuff.
This is a quote on one of my tee shirts. Many people have really stopped and noticed this, some even reading it aloud to me. A client even put this up in his office.
I sometimes wear this to meetings where prospective clients are on the fence (Pretty effective!).
One thing about systems is they take time to make. Some of the main reasons are:
We are not used to thinking in terms of systems. We usually think in terms of activity.
People around us are not aligned. They don't see the value of systems
Tech can get complicated
We're not clear on exactly what’s needed
While all of these are valid, the last one is actually very easy to deal with. We'll deal with the others in future articles.
To get started now, just start writing. It's that simple.
Longish explanation:
Usually when we're not clear on what's needed, it's just a symptom of two possibilities - either you are dealing with unknowns, or it's vaguely known.
In both cases, it's just a matter of writing down whatever it is you know and then organizing it. By organizing , I mean sorting it in ways that make sense and creating meaningful connections. This simple exercise is a very powerful way to get clarity.
Even in cases of unknowns, you can write how much you know and write questions to what you don't know yet.
This immediately clears your head, giving you 2 things:
Removes the load of remembering too many things, freeing up valuable head space. Once it's written, you can always circle back to it when you need to.
It gives you a ready list of things you can use to communicate & collaborate with others. Whoever builds the system will definitely appreciate getting all your thoughts in one place.
Anyway, even as you write, thing will start crystallizing and clarifying on their own. As you notice new things and get new insights, you simply add them to your notes. It's best to write your reasoning behind each decision or change too. Do you see how powerful this can get?
Best part is, it costs nothing to do and saves you immense amounts of time and energy later on.
If it's this easy, if not now, then when‽