Sometimes no matter how quickly you move, you can’t get your projects complete in a day, in a week…or sometimes longer.  If you’re a high achiever, like so many of us, then you know what I’m talking about.  How do you deal with disappointment when you expected to get something done and it’s just not going to happen?

Face the necessary facts:  have a clear plan and timeline, schedule less things to do simultaneously and that gives you more likelihood you’ll meet your goal.  No plan and overbooking is gambling on the results.  Yet even when you have all systems in place, and have given yourself a little more time than you expect your project will take to complete, there are no guarantees you’ll get your project done.  Life has a way of interrupting even the most focused of us.  Hence, you may get frustrated or experience disappointment.

Solution: still plan, still put goals in a timeline, still say no to distractions, and do your best to work smarter, not harder. 

Speeding up will only cause nervousness and costly mistakes.  When you’ve given your best, been focused on the goal, and projects are still delayed, feel your disappointment for a short period when it comes up.  Then ask yourself these few questions, “What do I make this mean about me that I didn’t get this done?

Ask yourself,  “How vital was it that this be done today?“  (probably not as urgent as you make it seem).  “What do I need to do to shift my schedule to get this done at my next earliest opportunity?”  (take a look, refigure, and now just do it).  Finally, be sure not to use unexpected delays as an excuse to continually put things off!

What do you make it mean about you when you don’t complete something and how can you shift that back to the real focus – to get your project done and done calmly?