Hey Reader!

Productivity is a tricky thing. There are so many philosophies, tools, habits, and systems out there.

One of the most effective strategies I use is "WITNS" - What Is The Next Step.

Being clear on what the next action you need to take helps reduce decision fatigue by giving you clarity on what action to take.

This works at both a macro and micro level.

On a macro level, knowing what is the next activity or action you should work is valuable. Sometimes it's just a quick activity to get out of the way.
Most times you should be looking for your highest leverage activity.

What is the one thing you could do that would move the needle the most?
Plan for that.

On the micro level, always documenting what the next action of a ticket or activity helps to clarify exactly what to do when you come back to the ticket/activity later.

A prompt to get unstuck

If you ever struggle to determine what your next action should be try this AI prompt:

*Replace the [Bracketed section below] with whatever task you're stuck on.*

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I'm stuck on this task and need to identify the smallest 15-30 minute action to move forward: [INSERT YOUR ACTIVITY, TICKET, OR WORK HERE].

Please help me by answering: (1) What does "done" look like for this task? (2) What is specifically blocking me right now (missing info, unclear scope, waiting on someone, wrong tool, or unclear end state)? (3) Can I move this forward alone right now, or do I need someone else first? Then, based on those answers, tell me the ONE smallest concrete action I can take in the next 30 minutes that removes at least one blocker or proves progress, what the output of that action will be, and how I'll know it's complete. If I can't identify any action, tell me which trap I'm in (don't understand "done," waiting externally, trying to do the whole thing at once, or genuinely unclear) and what 15-minute action gets me unstuck.

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For bonus productivity nerd points, use a pomodoro timer to work on whatever activity this prompt helps you generate. :)

Have a productive Week!
Todd

PS. I'm running a live workshop on March 24th.
If you want a written plan for how to support your top performers and ensure they stick around, plus a strategy for what to do about your underperformers.
Register here -> https://luma.com/67q5sbxf​

Join my community for MSP owners and operators here.