Transform How You Work: The Power of Execution for Busy Professionals

Are you constantly overwhelmed by tasks, wondering how you can keep up with everything on your plate?

Do you feel like you’re working hard but not moving closer to your goals?

Have you ever wished for a productivity system that actually fits your fast-paced life?

If you nodded “yes” to any of these questions, you’re in the right place.

At the Paperless Movement, we understand how busy professionals struggle with productivity every day. But, here’s the good news: there’s a way to immediately improve how you manage your time, energy, and tasks.

We’ve helped thousands of professionals just like you for decades thanks to ICOR®, our methodology, and the ICOR® Journey, our step-by-step guide toward building a productivity system that works for you.

Let’s dive into one of its most impactful workflows: The Execution Beast.

The Problem with Traditional Planning

You’ve probably followed the traditional approach to productivity: annual planning, long to-do lists, and vague project goals that never seem to get done.

The truth is, this method doesn’t fit the modern business world.

“A person, who no matter how desperate the situation, gives others hope, is a true leader.” — Daisaku Ikeda

Our goal is to give you hope through a system that works, not just for you but also for your entire team.

The Execution Beast solves this by breaking down your Output (ICOR®’s third stage) system, integrated by the Project Management System and the Task Management System, into clear, manageable steps that keep you aligned with your goals at all times.

Building Your Output Elements

Forget annual planning. It’s outdated.

The ICOR® Journey focuses on quarterly planning, where you can set clear, specific goals that align with your business outcomes.

Break these goals down into Projects, Workstreams, or Operations, and assign realistic start and end dates:

• Projects. A Project is a non-actionable Output Element encapsulating one-time tasks with a clear start and end date, leading to a specific outcome. It groups related tasks to ensure they align with one or more goals. Example: Designing a product, which concludes with the final design.

• Workstreams. A Workstream is a non-actionable Output Element consisting of ongoing, repetitive tasks executed sequentially. It groups related tasks to ensure they align with one or more goals. Example: Content creation, such as producing YouTube videos, where each cycle follows the exact same steps (tasks).

• Operations. Operations are a non-actionable Output Element that covers tasks outside the scope of Projects and Workstreams, such as, for example, administrative duties or unique asset creation. It groups related tasks to ensure the business keeps running. Example: administrative tasks.

This is where the first step of the Execution Beast comes in: Creating the initial Output Elements.

Each Output Element represents a key part of your system that helps you and your team stay on track without feeling overwhelmed.

Additional tip: During your Weekly Planning, create additional Output Elements as needed to stay flexible but focused.

The PEA Workflow (Plan, Execute, Align)

Once your Output Elements are set, it’s time to engage in the second part of the Execution Beast: The PEA workflow (Plan, Execute, Align).

This workflow answers the three crucial questions for every busy professional:

1. When am I going to do this? (Plan)

2. What do I do now? (Execute)

3. Am I doing what I should be doing? (Align)

This structured yet flexible approach allows you to adapt quickly to changing circumstances, keeping your tasks aligned with your broader goals.

Weekly Planning and The Highlight of the Day

Weekly Planning is your secret weapon.

Setting clear Weekly Goals (tasks you want to complete each week, as they’re directly aligned to your goals) and assigning one “Highlight of the Day” (one Weekly Goal) ensures that each day is spent productively, without overload.

“What gets measured gets managed.” — Peter Drucker

During your weekly Agenda Meeting, set these Weekly Goals and discuss how the team will commit to them.

Once everyone knows their Weekly Goals, it’s easy to move from planning into seamless execution.

Energy, Urgency, Speedies, and “The Unexpected”

Now that you’ve planned, how do you execute effectively?

Successful daily execution depends on understanding four key variables: Energy Level, Urgency, Speedies (quick tasks), and Unexpected Events.

1. Energy Level. Schedule Deep Work when your energy is highest, typically in the morning. Tackle your most important task (the Highlight of the Day) when you’re at your peak.

2. Urgency. Not everything is Urgent. Focus on what truly impacts your business, and avoid distractions that don’t align with your Weekly Goals or Highlight of the Day.

3. Speedies. Capture quickly Speedies (under-15-minute tasks) to handle later in scheduled batches. This will keep you focused on high-priority tasks without letting small tasks derail your day.

4. Unexpected Events. When the unexpected happens, prioritize based on what moves you closer to your goals (the task at hand or the unexpected one?). This simple “binary” decision-making process will help you stay on track.

Takeaways

• Quarterly planning is more effective than outdated annual plans. It keeps your team nimble and focused on what matters most.

• Use The Execution Beast to align your strategy with daily tasks, ensuring consistent progress toward your goals.

• The PEA workflow keeps everyone on track by answering these questions: When to plan, how to execute, and how to stay aligned with your goals.

• Master your energy, manage urgent tasks, batch your Speedies, and handle unexpected events without losing momentum.

If you’re a busy professional looking for an immediate solution to your productivity struggles, implementing The Execution Beast from the ICOR® Journey will transform how you work.

It’s time to master your productivity system and we, at the Paperless Movement®, are here to help you every step of the way.