The Power of Actions: How to Break Down Big Projects into Manageable Steps (TPS525)

The Productivity Show

Ever feel like you have a huge project looming, but you just don’t know where to start?

Whether launching a big presentation, tackling a software implementation, or planning an event, the key to making progress often lies in breaking it down into bite-sized, manageable steps. But let’s be honest — while the advice to “just break it down” is popular, many of us struggle with exactly how to do that effectively.

In this episode, we’ll walk you through the strategies that turn overwhelming projects into actionable plans.

We’ll explore the mechanics of breaking things down — from clarifying your vision to reverse-engineering your steps. Plus, we’ll share real-world examples of common projects that might feel daunting and how to make progress one small, doable action at a time.

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You can find links to everything we share in the show notes at theproductivityshow.com/.

Cheat Sheet:

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• Top 3 Productivity Resources [2:19]
• What are the steps to break a project down? [8:56]
• How do you break down a big presentation to management? [14:41]
• How do you break down a software implementation project? [28:46]
• How do you break down organizing a big customer event? [38:58]
• How do you learn from a project and improve next time? #kaizen [43:27]

Links:

• 25X Productivity Coaching
• Start Finishing: How to Go from Idea to Done by Charlie Gilkey
• Parallels
• ChatGPT mobile apps
• Clarity.fm
• Never Enough: From Barista to Billionaire by Andrew Wilkinson
• Otter.ai
• Productivity Academy
• The Productivity Show on Youtube
• The Productivity Show Youtube Clips
• Become a member of TPS+
• Take the Productivity Quiz

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