Work With a Pro's 4 D's system

A successful practice I use in my daily routine consists of principles called the Four D's. Do it. Delegate it. Delay it. Dump it. This simplistic ritual enables me to be SUPER-DAD, SUPER-HUSBAND, and SUPER-REAL ESTATE AGENT.

As an expert contributor, I am thrilled to share how the ease of the Four D's allows me to organize my thoughts, office space, home life, and daily tasks.

DO it. A build-up of daily tasks is inevitable. As a general rule of thumb, most things that weigh down your day are the simplest tasks. To put it in perspective, if it takes 15 minutes or less - do it. This practice gives an immediate sense of accomplishment, building motivation, and eliminating mental clutter to focus on larger or more important projects.

DELAY it. Being SUPER-DAD and WONDER-MOM does not mean everything has to be (or needs to be) done NOW. At the office, I organize folders by month. If a task can be delayed until a later date, into the selected month folder it goes. This practice allows me to focus my energy on immediate needs.

DELEGATE it. No - It is not pawning your tasks off to someone else. It is a tradition of working smarter and more efficiently.  You have never heard anyone say, "Sorry, I cannot go on vacation, I have to mow the lawn." Right?!  Think of the must-do tasks you can delegate elsewhere in your life. Saving time using the online order and pick-up system. Getting your work clothing dry cleaned vs. washing, drying, and ironing. Hiring the neighbor kid or lawn service to mow. Delegate your tasks!

DUMP it. The most vital practice of the Four D's. These are your ideas on the yellow notepad. You know, the ones you "write down so it gets off your brain.” Soon, your yellow notepad fills with 40 pages of overwhelming thoughts and tasks. Page 1 becomes mundane as you flip to pages twenty-three or thirty-seven. If it is unlikely those ideas are not worth the time, dump them. Eliminating tasks does not mean failure, it provides success to deciding what requires doing, delegating, delaying, or dumping. So, dump the unnecessary and write the items worth doing, then use the Four D's to windle down the list again and again.

Let's summarize: If it takes 15 minutes or less - do it. If it can be done next week or in a few months - delay it. Delegate it - Ask yourself, what can you delegate to make your time more efficient and meaningful? If it has been on your to-do list for months and takes time away from what you enjoy - dump it. 

Time is money and time should be yours. I hope my expert advice of the Four D’s gives you solace and does not end up unchecked on page 1 of 40 of your yellow notepad. When you are spending more time doing what you enjoy and are ready to sell your home, remember to always, Work With a Pro.