I’ve had a big list of to-do items on my whiteboard in my office for a couple of months.
They are big picture items.
Some, way down the road.
I have another to-do list on the board that is more urgent and timely.
Both have things scratched out, notes that were added, some pictures of my thinking, some doodles for clarification, etc.
Some checkboxes are half-filled meaning it’s about 1/2 way done.
Some checkboxes still blank meaning it’s not been started, yet.
Some with a line through the checkbox meaning that I’ve started it.
Some fully filled in meaning it’s completed.
It’s just kind of ugly at this point.
I’ve started another project, where I will need my whiteboard as a background for a video.
And it needs to be white.
So, I took a few pictures of my to-do list and scribbles, so I can remember when I go to write it again.
So, I cleaned the board.
Then, I looked at it.
Blank.
Clear.
Even though I know it will go back up soon, a little stress seemed to roll off my back for a little bit.
For a still moment,
I could relax.
.
Sitting in the quiet.
.
Reflecting on how far we’ve come and how far we have to go.
.
It’s not that the tasks weren’t still there.
It’s just that clarity seemed to rise to the top.
Clearing the canvas lead to clarity.
What can I remove the list?
What is not needed anymore?
Where do we need to pivot?
What needs added?
What is the new information I have now that means we need to adjust our sails?
Who, What, or When needs to change?
What has risen to the top?
What has sunk?
What’s not as important as initially thought?
It’ll return shortly.
Clear the canvas. Refresh your action items. Keep the main thing the main thing.
-mllr