When I was a young Soldier in the US Army I was told what to do, when to do it, and how to do it. In order to keep track of everything that needed to get done, including the how and why, I made to-do lists and submitted checked-off items to show how good I was at getting things done. As I got better at my job, I got better at getting things done, and I checked off even more items on my lists. But I was also given more responsibility, and I had to start telling other Soldiers what to do. That meant I also had to start thinking about why I was telling my Soldiers to do something.

My to-do lists were effective in helping me manage my time by allowing me to see what had to be accomplished in a given time period. But they were also short-sighted. To be enthusiastic and have impact, I had to do more than just “get things done”. So, instead of just managing your time, I think the highest leverage thing you can do is manage your intent. What are you focused on right now? Are you enthusiastic or lackluster?

You can do something to get things done. Or you can do something because it furthers a bigger vision. When you keep your vision in mind, you have context. You’re focused on the reason why you’re doing it in the first place.

Just getting things done is a meaningless pursuit for a professional. After all, there will always be more things to “get done” (you only stop getting things done when you’re dead). But, when you’re fueled by a purpose that stays in the forefront of your consciousness, that’s when your actions move into a higher level of impact.

• You create change, and stop just checking things off a list.
• You build a legacy, and stop getting sucked into the minutiae.
• You have a sense of meaning, rather than a disjointed series of tasks.

Here is what you should do if you are ready to move beyond “getting things done”. Manage your intent, and allow your intent to manage your time. Focus on one thing at a time and how what you do impacts the big picture. Everyone who works for you can check-off to-do lists until they are given the responsibility to make professional decisions.