This is part of a series of posts about how to make your ideas actually happen.

Introduction
Figure out the Steps
Bring Order to Chaos
Ask for Help
Conquer Your Fear
Get It Done

Get It Done

Wow, you’ve come far. Everything is set so you can make your idea actually happen. I love this part!

Reap the benefits of your hard work

The work you’ve done to get to this place of clarity and organization is going to make making your idea actually happen so much easier than if you hadn’t done the planning. Proper prior planing prevents perplexing problems, as they say.

You have a task list that’s been broken down into tiny, doable action steps. Start taking small bites regularly, and you’ll make steady progress.

One step at a time. One day at a time.

Make evidence of your progress

If you’ve put your index cards up on a wall as I suggested, they’re easily visible and accessible. Whenever you complete a task, mark that index card with a big star, check mark, or smiley face as a reminder of the progress you’ve made. Sometimes when we’re in the middle of a mess of tasks, it’s easy to forget how far we’ve actually come. Visibly marking the tasks as complete will help you confirm and affirm your progress.

Use bribery as needed

Often, making progress is encouragement enough for me. However, if I’m dragging on a particular task that needs to get done, I have no problem using bribery to keep me moving. The type of bribery depends on the task. If it’s writing I need to do and I’m stalling, I’ll grab a pen and some paper and head to Starbucks for a mocha and give myself two hours to make some headway. Other times, I’ll go for a walk, bake something yummy, or sit and do nothing for an hour. You can goof off for awhile, watch some TV, get a massage, buy a book you’ve been wanting, light a beautiful candle, purchase a bouquet of flowers, or anything else that will positively feed you, giving you a little juice to work on your next task.

Choose whatever bribery tool works best for you. Also, some people are more likely to get something done if they give themselves the bribery before the task. Others need to reward themselves after the task is done. There is not just one way to bribe yourself–do whatever will work for you.

You’re almost there!

On Friday I’ll wrap up this series, so check back in and learn more about how to make your ideas actually happen.