Are You Getting the Right Things Done?

Are you getting things done? More importantly, are you getting the right things done?

I use Omnifocus to keep track of every project, and every task that I need to complete. Right now, my task count stands at 228. I recently added a new perspective to Omnifocus.

The new perspective shows me what tasks I completed today. It gives me a view of what I got done. It’s a way for me to look at how I spent my time, whether or not the tasks I completed are aligned with my goals, and whether I moved the needle.

Some days it’s easier to get the right things done. Other days, life intervenes and makes it more difficult to make real progress on what’s most important.

Reviewing your progress every day allows you to maintain your focus on your highest priorities. It allows you to make adjustments to what you are doing. Most of all, it shows you how little you are getting done and how few results you are producing—when these things are true.

There is a value to keeping your score, especially when the work you do is knowledge work.

If you need to schedule appointments with your dream clients, then counting the number of appointments you booked will let you see how much you did—or didn’t get done. If you need to develop the members of your team, keeping score on the time spent serving them will give you a way to gauge whether what you are doing is in line with your priorities.

Are you keeping your own score? Are you honest with yourself about what you are getting done—and what you aren’t getting done?