Gitterdun…

My first name is Larry. As a Network Engineer, I can often be found holding cables. You can see how I might be compared to a certain comedian. In the spirit of that sleeveless farceur, I would like to share with you a few tips on how I “gitterdun”.

The ability to get things done in today’s new economy is a survival skill. Only the most productive employees will be considered untouchable during layoffs (if anyone can be considered safe.) As a job-hunter in this competitive market, you need to be able to get it done repetitively, quickly, and with gusto. However, bad news and low rewards can sap your energy as well as your gusto. Here are five tricks I use to accomplish necessary tasks:

1. Break it down/Chunk

Recently I was out for a long run. After a few miles, my legs tightened up and my energy drained. The distance between my tired body and the finish line became overwhelming and I wanted to quit. Rather than stop, I used a simple trick: I picked a tree about 50 yards ahead and decided to run to that point. Once I reached that tree, I picked another tree 50 yards ahead and ran to it. I never had to stop; I just had to change how I perceived the task.

If you are facing an overwhelming project, you may be tempted to procrastinate. To overcome this obstacle to your productivity, view the project in smaller “chunks”. If you don’t know what comes first, then just grab the lowest hanging fruit. Getting started on a small piece of the project allows you to build momentum. You may even find the work enjoyable when taken in bite-size sections.

2. Take a break

Our desks are designed to suck the life from us. The next time you find yourself moving through molasses or not moving at all, realize that the answer may be in playing harder, not working harder. This is especially true if you need an idea. I find that my best thinking is done while driving or running, not while seated at a desk. You may find that a few rounds of Wii Tennis is all you need to get into the project and knock it out.

3. Exercise

Your car is an important business asset; therefore, you change its oil and rotate the tires as recommended. You defrag your hard drive and keep the anti-virus up-to-date, right? While you are at it, perform the routine maintenance on your body as well with a walk, a game of basketball, or anything active. Just because you are not an athlete doesn’t mean you don’t need to train your body. Exercise will improve your energy, mood, stamina, and lifespan. I guarantee that exercise will make your productivity soar.

4. Talk It Out

Sometime I find that a project is so unclear that I can’t determine a starting point, nor can I recognize anything to chunk. Perhaps if you wait long enough, the project will define itself or inspiration will sneak up on you. A more reliable method would be to talk it out. Just talking to yourself is useful; the act of transforming thoughts into words can help to provide a structure. Inviting a friend out for coffee, or phoning a mentor is a great way to get started on nebulous projects. Twitter and other emerging forms of social media may become a valuable asset for this method of boosting your productivity.

5. Reconsider

Why can’t you get this project done? To think outside of the box, it helps to drop all assumptions and explore the unthinkable. For instance, ask yourself, “Does this project need to be done?” Explore the ramifications of not completing the project. Also ask what project could be completed in place of this project. You may find that your project is not as important as another pressing concern.

Remember that life is short and time is money. If you could only complete one more project, is this project important enough to be that one?

Larry Slobodzian is a customer-centric sales engineer with a passion for creative technology solutions. From integrated networks to content management, Larry has helped business leaders reduce their operating and capital expenditures, increase their efficiencies, and focus on their core competencies. He is a firm believer in the concepts of “pay it forward” and Corporate Social Responsibility. Connect with Larry on LinkedIn.