Make Progress Where it Matters

You want to feel like the work you’re doing matters.

But too often, you wait for the perfect moment to start. You overthink how hard it will be. Or you stay busy doing things that don’t move the needle.

The best people and teams take a different approach. They focus on one thing: making progress on meaningful work.

Take the story of Matthew Neice, who became the manager of the Technical Data Center at a Fortune 500 company. When he stepped into the role, the department was in disarray. A massive filing closet was filled to the brim, boxes stacked everywhere, years of hard drives untouched, and a mountain of backlogged work.

Instead of getting overwhelmed, he set one clear goal: eliminate the backlog within 18 months. Then he broke the work into measurable, weekly steps.

Every Thursday, the team gathered around one table to archive files together. The first week, they filled two carts. The next week, a few more. Each Thursday, they measured progress, saw results, and gained momentum.

Week by week, progress replaced frustration. And over time, they not only achieved the goal.

Part of your job is to do the same. To ensure you’re making measured progress on meaningful work.

So today, decide what meaningful work looks like for you and make progress.
Maybe it’s the laundry pile that keeps growing.
Maybe it’s the book chapter that’s still blank.
Maybe it’s the prospect list that hasn’t been called.

Whatever it is, stop waiting for perfect conditions. Just make progress on meaningful work.

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