Most people have a To-Do list to organize their lives according to what needs to be done on a daily basis.

This is a very good way to start an organization plan, however as you approach more complex tasks, there is a need for an Action Program. An Action program seeks to give you a more effective way to evaluate, manage and prioritize your daily tasks.

The book “Manage Your TIME: Control your workload and make time for success” suggests that a fully comprehensive To-Do List will help de-clutter your mind and assist you with completing your tasks.

Often times, someone is always saying, “I just have so much to do and not enough time to do it.” Yet, half of the things on their “To-Do” list are left undone. Thomas Edison quoted, “Being busy does not always mean real work. The object of all work is production or accomplishment… Seeming to do is doing nothing.”

You may think that your competition seems extremely active and that they are further in their journey than you are, but sit back and analyze how much production they have actually accomplished. Busy work does not necessarily mean that things are getting done; it may just be wasted time and energy.

Therefore, here are a few things that will help you become both efficient and effective: Begin by listing all the things that you want to do and why.

1. Collect and write down important or unimportant, big or small, personal or professional tasks that are incomplete and initiate an action plan for completion.
2. After you have collected your actions, begin to prune the list by considering each item and which one should be first to complete. Organize the list according to priority, complexity and set specific deadlines for each.
3. Next formulate a project catalog, which consist of a list of all the projects that you are engaged in and the contributions that go with them.
4. Pinpoint the activity that you need to perform in order to start work on the project; if it does not require a lot of time then transfer it to your “Next Action” list.  Your “Next Action” list is a list of project tasks that you need to start on immediately or this week. Tip: This list shows the next actions you are going to take to move your projects forward.

Keep in mind that although your Action Program will contain many actions and may be several pages long, it should assist you in organizing all of your projects and daily tasks at hand.

Review and reevaluate your “Next Action” list weekly and see how much you have accomplished throughout the week. You probably will be amazed at your newfound focus and what you actually have completed.

Your competition may not be as far ahead as you may think!