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3. Execution – Taking Actions To Reach Your Goal

Execution is doing tasks one by one until the goal is achieved. Plans fail if tasks are not done well or delayed.

From Goal to Task​

It is easy to confuse goals, sub-goals and tasks. They sound similar, but they are not the same. Big goals break into sub-goals. But tasks are different. They are the actions you need to take to achieve your goal.

What is it?Example
GoalYour destination. The big outcome you want to achieveDo 100 customer demos per month by November
Sub-GoalA checkpoint that shows progress towards the goal. A milestone on your way to your destinationOutreach sequence to potential customers created
TaskA task is a specific step you take to complete a goalWrite email copy for the outreach sequence

How to Execute Well​

Good execution is simple. Do the right tasks, in the right order, at the right time. Execution is not about doing more. It is about doing what matters.

  • Work on the most important task first
  • Finish one task before moving to the next
  • Keep tasks small and steady; small tasks done every day beat big bursts and long gaps

Choosing and Timing the Right Tasks​

There is always too much work and too few hours. We all have limited time, and even fewer hours when we are at our best.

To get as much done as possible, you must prioritise your time and focus on what matters most. This is best done by impact and effort. Follow a simple rule to do first the work that has the highest impact, for the least time.

Classify tasks by impact:​

  • High-impact tasks: have a large and immediate effect on moving your goal forward. For example, signing a new customer
  • Medium-impact tasks: support your goal, but may not be necessary for success. They help, but don’t change the outcome on their own. Marketing often falls in this category
  • Low-impact tasks: make little difference to your success. They are often still necessary. Examples include admin tasks like booking reservations and filing tax returns. Be careful to avoid these tasks taking too much time

Tracking Your Tasks​

What gets tracked gets done. Without tracking, tasks slip, delays pile up and progress stalls.

Keep on top of execution by checking three things:

  • Alignment: Am I working on what matters?

  • Outcomes: Am I delivering good outcomes?

  • Timeliness: Am I completing tasks on time?