To be clear, asking for directions has never been my strong suit.  This could be the result of my male upbringing, my male stubbornness, my male pride… or perhaps, my wife!  With the emergence of any number of navigators available to us all now, from time-to-time, we still need to rely on others to provide directions for us.

It seems that most of us who need directions need them because the path from Point A to Point B is not a straight shot. There are twists and turns, and lefts and rights, and the sheer number of decisions that need to be made can be intimidating.  That is, unless you take these twists and turns one at a time.  Unfortunately for me, that’s not how my wife gives directions.  The moment I start the car and pleasantly ask for directions, (it’s my story, and yes, I do ask pleasantly,) I hear, “take a left out of the driveway, make a right on Stanford, left on Wisconsin, and follow that to 495 East until you hit the fork in the road…”  That’s about the time my eyes roll up in my head and I kind of pleasantly ask, “Can you just give me the turns one at a time, and only after I’ve made the turn you’ve given me?”

Maybe it’s just my simple mind not being able to process all that information at once, but I’m of the belief that all information that requires multiple decisions needs to be processed the same way; one move at a time.

For instance, think about how challenging it can be when you search for a new job.  That particular goal might require updating your resume, cleaning up your LinkedIn site, preparing and perfecting your elevator pitch, chasing down network connections, attending job fairs, and more.  Each of these goals comes with their own set of tasks, and each group of tasks can come rushing at you all at once, just like that wall of directions.  It’s not unusual to hear that some people can spend well over a year working on a resume.  In truth, it isn’t the resume that holds these people up; it’s the distraction of a sea of other tasks they are also trying to work on simultaneously. A cluster of tasks can be overwhelming, so they are often left unfinished. It takes discipline to focus on one task at a time, without being distracted by other responsibilities. Clearly, you’ll be able to navigate your way a whole lot more effectively if you do.

I’ve been helping people with time management challenges for years.  It seems to be such an overwhelming issue for many, yet the solution to most time management challenges isn’t quite as difficult as you might imagine. When it comes to conquering time management, there appears to be a lot of moving parts to tackle.  The things that usually need attention are issues like prioritization, goal setting, interruptions, planning, procrastination, scheduling and more.  It can sure seem intimidating… that is, until you establish a priority to the tasks before you, work on one identified set of skills at a time, and don’t stop until you’ve mastered it.  Another way of saying this is simply this: Take one turn at a time.

It can be as simple as giving a team a new set of procedures to learn.  It would certainly make sense to concentrate and master one task at a time, but that’s not how your typical new set of procedures gets rolled out to a team.  Like that series of twists and turns, it can be overwhelming to master, and that can significantly impact implementation.  But working through them, one turn at a time, step by step, can allow you to perfect the steps you are learning.  It can also allow you to build up momentum for the other steps ahead.

I don’t mind having a look at the big picture represented by a series of tasks. However, once you know the end result you are after, you’ll be a lot more effective if you take each task one by one, and step and step.  No matter how daunting the task may be, you’ll get to your final destination on your trip if you make sure to take it one turn at a time.

The Presentation Whisperer Show, is not just up and running; we’re celebrating our 80^th show!

You’ll hear candid conversations with top professional speakers, seasoned trainers, and authors finding their voice. We’ll be uncovering the secrets behind powerful delivery and go beyond the surface to reveal what really makes a presentation resonate. Whether you’re a keynote speaker, a trainer, or simply someone with a message to share, you’ll walk away with practical tools and inspiring ideas to elevate your delivery.  Give it a try!

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Because every presentation matters.

I’m also happy to share that Pocket Sized Pep Talks is going strong; now with over 500 episodes!

You’ll hear a dynamic mix of quick solo insights, inspirational interviews, designed to teach, motivate, inspire, and yes… entertain. Whether you’re looking for a spark of motivation, a burst of inspiration, or just a quick dose of encouragement, there’s a Pep Talk waiting for you. Give it a listen!
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Sometimes, five minutes is all it takes to change your day.

To all fans of The Blarticle®

After sixteen years and over 500 posts, I’ve gathered some of my very best into a new book: It’s a Blarticle®! 45 Quick, Powerful Lessons in Persuasion, Performance & Personal Growth.

You can find it now at all major online retailers, including Amazon, in both paperback and eBook formats…

…but since you’ve made it this far, I’ll take that as proof you’re a true Blarticle® fan! I’d like to thank you with a free copy of the eBook. Grab yours here: https://jolles-associates.kit.com/ebook

I hope you enjoy it, and as always, I hope you and can take something from it

If you follow me on LinkedIn, and I sure hope you do, https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-jolles-8a459b12/  I recently started a newsletter!  It’s called, “When Every Word Matters,” a biweekly dose of tips, tactics, and techniques to boost your communication game!  If you aren’t connected with me on LinkedIn, reach out!  https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-jolles

What do you get when combine energy, enthusiasm… and great content?  You get a “Pocket Sized Pep Talk!”  Tune in and you’ll hear a collection of BLArticles®, conversations, and interviews that are sure to teach, motivate, inspire, and dare I say, entertain!   https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pocket-sized-pep-talks/id1497772972