Getting to It: Accomplishing the Important, Handling the Urgent, and Removing the Unnecessary

by Jones Loflin, Todd Musig

From the authors of Juggling Elephants comes a practical guide to sorting through the many priorities in your life, showing you how to carefully and consistently evaluate what your IT (Important Thing) should be, and how to get IT done

How busy are you? In the daily struggle to get it all done, what are you forgetting? Is your mind constantly racing with lists of all the things you could and should be doing? Does your day often feel like you're treading water in an ocean of rushes and deadlines, trying to keep from drowning while handling increasing work and life demands?

Don't give up-help is on the way. You just have to find your It. The Important Thing. Define It. Plan It. Focus on It. Get excited about It.

Identifying It isn't just the first step in the process of getting focused and heading in the right direction, it's every step. Getting to It provides the necessary tools to accomplish the important, handle the urgent, and get rid of the unnecessary. Want to enjoy a more fulfilling life? Get to It.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Productivity, Business, Psychology

240 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2011

About the author

Jones Loflin is an internationally recognized author, speaker and corporate trainer with 30 years of experience in helping people achieve excellence. He is best known for his unique ability to develop and deliver practical solutions that specifically address the complex needs of an organization. Jones also believes that when people are laughing, they are learning.

You can learn more about him at www.jonesloflin.com

Jones is no stranger to using the power of story with engaging parables, real-life experiences and an exceptional ability to draw individuals into the story line. Jones is the co author of two books; the award-winning book, Juggling Elephants, a witty and profound parable about one man's search for solutions for the struggle of too much to do, and Getting to It, a field guide to accomplishing what is most important. He is also the author of Getting the Blue Ribbon, a unique story offering simple strategies to get better results in your work and life. Always Growing tackles a common leadership challenge: How to successfully motivate, develop, and empower a diverse group of people to work together and achieve remarkable results.

Jones' newest book, Focused As A Bee, addresses how to accomplish what is most important in a world of constant distractions.

Jones lives with his family in North Carolina.

Reviews

[Charles Dull · Rating 2 out of 5]

The authors are all excited about it but turns out there are few new ideas as they brag so much about their last book, which I never read, that this book never gets anywhere.

[Ben Silver · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sh...it!

[Mark Roossinck · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick read. Acquired the book from a conference. Thought I would finally read it to gain something. A simple straightforward story of how a manager learned to improve his division through the principles of growing apples. Gleaned some benefit from the book.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a book about focus and implementing change, which I read at a time that I could accept the suggestions. Really not much new here but I love productivity books so I read them regularly. When you are ready to acknowledge your flaws and do better, this is a good one to choose.

[Mark Warner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

Book details a robust process to ensure a person can determine, work on, complete and celebrate the most important things.

[tj · Rating 3 out of 5]

it got a bit dry near the end when it goes on about managing a team; I'm not a manager. but all in all it's a nice book, some good points, easy read.

[Carole P. Roman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Important book for our overextended, hectic world filled with impossible deadlines. Jones Loflin and Todd Musig have developed a wonderful guide to harness success and live peaceably with it. Too often we are thrown into situations where we accept too much responsibility or make impossible goals and promises. The authors have identified the problem and have come up with easy rules to bring a spinning life back into control. Fencing in and containing one's world is the first step to restore order. Eliminating negativity and the vacant space that pulls a person off course, creates a direction towards achieving all of one's goals. Employing the four d strategy of delegate, delete, delay and finally do- puts any procrastinator into the right frame of mind. Surrounding yourself with the right kind of help by engaging the important people in your life leads a smoother running machine. The tools they propose are free, available and right at your fingertips. All one has to do is recognize them, adapt them to their purpose to be able to fulfill their dreams and be happy at the same time. I liked this book and think these authors make you realize you can have your cake, eat it too, as long as you take one bite at a time.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the case of this book, "IT" stands for "the Important Thing." The book's authors want to help us stay focused in an unfocused world, which is a need I definitely have.

Getting to It is a very quick read with lots of great reminders about things I already know but tend to forget. I didn't learn anything new, but I did read lots of great advice about things like not wasting time on interruptions and tasks that are urgent but not important.

This particular passage hit me hard: "There may be people who are satisfied with a life of trivialities; they'll continue to punch the clock, aimlessly surf the Web, play solitaire, mow the lawn, and be content settling into what Theodore Roosevelt called 'the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.'" (p. 213) No thank you!

The book also discussed something that can't be said often enough - multitasking is a MYTH. "[D]ividing our attention can often be detrimental to our natural way of getting tasks done well, or at all." (p. 137)

If you need a quick read to remind you of tips and techniques to stay focused on the Important Thing, I recommend Getting to It.

[Pamela · Rating 2 out of 5]

A lot of filler and fluff in this book. Some good ideas that gave me insights on how to manage my time and tasks. The general concept of the 'IT' was a bit bogus and led to rambling from the authors. Not anything special and a bit boring. Would not recommend.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

The anecdotes contained within sometimes made me cringe, and the text seemed less than polished in some places. However, this book is worth a skim for a few useful nuggets, such as a recommended process for collaborating with others on goals.

[Meg · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had some good tips for figuring out what your most important things are and getting them done ... but the constant use of the acronym IT (important things) stopped the flow of the words and made the book really hard to read.

[James Barr · Rating 2 out of 5]

Better to spend your time reading The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and How to Get Control of Your Time and Life.

[Erin Coughlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is great. It doesn't really tell you anything new, but it's a great reminder/daily affirmation type tool.

[Garmisch Riley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although this book is aimed for those working I still found it useful from a stay at home mum perspective. It's a fairly easy read with a great layout.

[منيرھ · Rating 3 out of 5]

if you feel overwhelmed by you life goals this book is your savior